Multicolor LED Module Temperature Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multicolor LED lighting devices for motor vehicles have insufficient local operating condition compensation, leading to non-uniform appearances due to centralized parameterization, which fails to account for varying temperature conditions across individual LED units.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a temperature sensor within each multicolor LED unit, coupled with a microcontroller that adjusts the LED operation based on real-time temperature measurements, allowing for precise temperature-dependent control and maintaining consistent brightness and color locus across the lighting device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a central processing module is used to store parameters for controlling LED units, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of local temperature conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidmeasurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the temperature measurement function into separate segments by integrating individual temperature sensors into each LED module rather than using a single central measurement point. This segmentation allows each module to independently measure its own temperature conditions, improving measurement precision while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by placing temperature sensors directly within each LED module to measure local temperature conditions specific to that module. This ensures that parameterization accurately reflects the actual operating conditions of each individual module, improving measurement precision for local environmental variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If parameters are centrally stored in a processing module, then ease of manufacture is improved, but uniformity of lighting appearance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoiduniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the parameter storage and control function to each individual LED module, allowing each module to have its own temperature-dependent parameterization. This enables uniform lighting appearance across all modules by compensating for local temperature variations, while ease of manufacture is maintained through standardized modular designs that can be produced using conventional techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes operating parameters based on measured temperature conditions. Each module adjusts its parameters according to its local temperature, ensuring uniform lighting appearance despite environmental variations. This parameter adaptation is implemented within standardized modules, maintaining ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If temperature sensors are integrated in each LED unit, then measurement precision of temperature conditions is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the temperature sensor, microcontroller, and LED components into an integrated LED module. This combination allows temperature measurement and control functions to be embedded within each module, improving measurement precision while managing device complexity through functional integration rather than separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service by enabling each LED module to autonomously measure its own temperature and adjust its operating parameters accordingly. The integrated microcontroller automatically compensates for temperature effects without requiring external control, improving measurement precision while simplifying the overall control architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables precise adaptation of LED operation to local environmental conditions, ensuring a uniform and consistent appearance of the lighting device by directly measuring and responding to temperature fluctuations, thereby preventing damage from excessive temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

a temperature sensor is integrated in the semiconductor component of a respective multicolor LED unit, which measures a current (i.e. currently present) temperature value of the respective multicolor LED unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature sensing: Thermistor

Data Source

PatentEP3453228B1Illumination device
Publication Date: 2020.07.29 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP3453228B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3453228B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to an illumination device, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising one or more multi-color LED units (3) which each have a settable brightness and a settable color point. Each multi-color LED unit (3) is an individual semiconductor component having multiple single-color LEDs (301, 302, 303, 304) of different colors and a microcontroller (4), wherein the single-color LEDs (301, 302, 303, 304) and the microcontroller (4) are surrounded by a housing of the semiconductor component. A temperature sensor (TS) which measures a current temperature value of the associated multi-color LED unit (3) and supplies this value to the microcontroller (4) is integrated in the semiconductor component. The microcontroller (4) is designed to control an associated multi-color LED unit (3) depending on the current temperature value of the associated multi-color LED unit (3).