Vehicle Light Circuit Arrangement Bus System Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern vehicle lights, particularly LED-based headlights, face high theft risks due to their financial value, leading to complex circuit arrangements for monitoring and operation, which require separate transmission paths for identification and temperature values, increasing circuit complexity and pin connections.

Innovation Solution

A circuit arrangement for motor vehicle lights that outputs identification and temperature values to a single bus system, eliminating the need for separate transmission paths and simplifying the circuitry by using a unidirectional data interface and a one-time programmable memory, potentially integrated into the LED carrier, allowing for automatic, time-controlled data output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate transmission paths are used for identification values and temperature values, then data transmission reliability is improved, but circuit complexity and pin connections increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidcircuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines identification data and temperature data transmission into a single bidirectional bus system. The circuit arrangement uses one data line for both data types, eliminating the need for separate transmission paths. This merging reduces the number of pin connections and circuit complexity while maintaining reliable data transmission through structured communication protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single bus system serves multiple functions: transmitting identification values, temperature values, and enabling two-way communication between the circuit arrangement and control units. This multi-functional approach replaces what would traditionally require multiple dedicated transmission paths, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If more pin connections are provided for separate transmission paths, then data transmission capability is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple data transmission functions are merged into a single bus connection. The circuit arrangement transmits both identification and temperature data through one data line, reducing the number of required pin connections from multiple separate paths to a single unified interface, thereby lowering manufacturing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If microcontrollers and control software are used, then operational flexibility is improved, but circuit complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidcircuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the microcontroller and control software from the circuit arrangement, leaving only the essential data transmission functionality. The operational flexibility previously provided by the microcontroller is transferred to external control units that communicate with the simplified circuit arrangement via the bus system, reducing on-chip complexity while maintaining system flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit arrangement performs self-service by directly outputting data through the bus interface without requiring an on-board microcontroller for data processing. The simplified design relies on external units to handle complex control logic, allowing the circuit arrangement to focus solely on reliable data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If cable plug connections with more connection pins are used, then transmission reliability is improved, but space requirements and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidspace for cable plug connections
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple connection pins for separate data transmission paths are merged into a single cable plug connection. The unified bus system requires fewer physical connectors and pin assignments, reducing the space needed for cable plug connections while maintaining reliable data transmission through the consolidated interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3689686B1Motor vehicle light and system
Publication Date: 2023.01.11 MARELLI GERMANY GMBH
  • EP3689686B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention provides a circuit arrangement (10) for a vehicle light (100), wherein the circuit arrangement (10) comprises a memory (12) which includes an identification memory area (24) for storing at least one identification value for identifying the vehicle light (100), a temperature measuring device (14) for measuring a temperature value, in particular of the vehicle light (100), and a data interface (16) for connection to a first bus system (32), wherein the circuit arrangement (10) is configured to output the identification value and the temperature value to the first bus system (32) via the data interface (16). Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle light (100), a control circuit (34), a system (31), and a method. The invention enables the monitoring and operation of a vehicle light (100), thereby reducing the required circuit complexity.