Automotive LED Matrix Lighting Control Driver
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automotive lighting units with LED sources face challenges in increasing the complexity and dynamic nature of lighting effects without complicating existing electronic control systems, particularly PWM control drivers, and increasing production costs.
Innovation Solution
An automotive lighting unit with an LED matrix display and a control driver that processes image frames to determine activation intervals for LED arrays based on switched-on or switched-off conditions, adjusting activation times and PWM signal duty cycles to optimize light intensity and reduce unnecessary LED activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the complexity and dynamic nature of lighting effects are increased, then the performance and versatility of the automotive lighting unit is improved, but the complexity of electronic control systems and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The LED display is divided into multiple independently controllable LED arrays arranged in rows and columns. The control driver selectively activates specific arrays based on image frame data, enabling complex lighting patterns through simple binary control signals without requiring complex per-LED control circuitry.
Solution Approach 2:
The control driver uses periodic PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signals to control the LED arrays. By varying the duty cycle of periodic control signals, the system achieves different light intensities and dynamic effects while maintaining simple control logic and avoiding the need for complex analog control circuits.
2Illumination intensity
If more LED arrays are activated simultaneously, then the light intensity is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control driver dynamically adjusts the duty cycle parameter of PWM signals based on the number of activated LED arrays. When fewer arrays are active, the duty cycle is increased to maintain average light intensity, while energy consumption is reduced by keeping inactive arrays completely off rather than dimly lit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts the activation intervals and duty cycles of LED arrays based on real-time control requirements. The control driver processes image frames and determines optimal activation patterns, enabling the lighting unit to achieve desired visual effects with minimal energy consumption by activating only necessary arrays for the required duration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the average light intensity of the automotive lighting unit by selectively extending activation intervals of switched-on LEDs and skipping those intended to remain off, improving efficiency without increasing current supply to on LEDs, thus maintaining or reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
an LED display consisting of multiple LED arrays (7) arranged so as to form the rows or columns of an LED matrix
Implementation Method 2
a lighting device provided with an emissive LED display consisting of multiple LED arrays (7)
Implementation Method 3
generate first PWM command signals to selectively activate, one after the other, said LED arrays of said LED display, said control driver also being configured to vary the duty cycle of said first PWM command signals based on determined activation times
Data Source
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AI summary
A automotive lighting unit (1) comprising a lighting device (4) provided with an emissive LED display (5) consisting of multiple LED arrays (7) arranged so as to form the rows or columns of an LED matrix, and a control driver (11) configured in order to: receive an image frame (F1) containing multiple data arrays (D(i)) that codify the light image to be be displayed during a refresh interval (TR) via corresponding LED arrays (7) of the LED display (5), process the image frame (F1) to determine the data arrays (D(i)) that codify a first operating condition of first LED arrays (D(i)) in the LED display (5), determine the activation intervals (TA) based on the refresh interval (TR) and the data arrays (D(i)) of the image frame (F1) meeting the first operating condition, during the refresh interval (TR), control the sequential and selective activation, one after the other, of the first LED arrays (7) based on the activation intervals (TA) determined, and prevent the remaining LED arrays (7) from being activated.