Modular Vehicle Lighting Control Device Using Intermediate Voltage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle lighting control devices require complete redevelopment of their hardware when the type or number of light sources changes, making it impossible to use the same control device for different lighting devices with varying light sources without significant modifications.
Innovation Solution
A two-stage control device design where the first stage generates a constant intermediate voltage and provides it to the second stage, which converts it into a suitable supply voltage for the light sources, with the intelligence for controlling the lighting device housed in the first stage, allowing for reprogramming to control different lighting devices without hardware changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the hardware of the first stage of the control unit is completely redeveloped and designed to adapt the supply voltage to new requirements of changed light sources, then the supply voltage can be adapted to the new requirements, but the development time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is divided into a first stage that generates a standardized intermediate voltage and a second stage that converts this intermediate voltage to the specific supply voltage required by different light sources. This segmentation allows the first stage to remain unchanged while the second stage is adapted to different light source requirements, significantly reducing development time when changing light source types.
Solution Approach 2:
The first stage of the control unit is designed with universal functionality to generate a standardized intermediate voltage that can serve multiple different light source types. By making the first stage universal and independent of specific light source requirements, the system achieves high adaptability without requiring redevelopment of the first stage when light sources change.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the hardware of the first stage of the control unit is completely redeveloped and designed to adapt the supply voltage to new requirements of changed light sources, then the supply voltage can be adapted to the new requirements, but the development cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is divided into a first stage that generates a standardized intermediate voltage and a second stage that converts this intermediate voltage to the specific supply voltage required by different light sources. This segmentation allows the first stage to remain unchanged while the second stage is adapted to different light source requirements, significantly reducing development time when changing light source types.
Solution Approach 2:
The first stage of the control unit is designed with universal functionality to generate a standardized intermediate voltage that can serve multiple different light source types. By making the first stage universal and independent of specific light source requirements, the system achieves high adaptability without requiring redevelopment of the first stage when light sources change.
3Device complexity
If the first stage provides the supply voltage directly to the light sources, then the control is simple, but the energy supply is unstable when light source requirements change
Solution Approach 1:
A standardized intermediate voltage is introduced as an intermediary between the first stage and the second stage. The first stage generates this intermediate voltage independently of specific light source requirements, and the second stage converts it to the appropriate supply voltage for different light sources. This intermediary approach ensures stable energy supply while maintaining controlled complexity.
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 a stable energy supply and flexible control of various lighting devices using the same hardware for the first stage, reducing development costs and time, and allowing easy adaptation to different lighting configurations by reprogramming the control unit.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one first stage (20.1, 20.2) has means for generating a constant intermediate voltage (U_Z) and means for applying the intermediate voltage (U_Z) to the at least one second stage (12, 14, 16, 24)
Implementation Method 2
the at least one second stage (12, 14, 16, 24) has means for converting the intermediate voltage (U_Z) present into a supply voltage (U_V) which is suitable for supplying the at least one light source (10, 13, 15, 25)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a control unit for controlling a lighting system of a motor vehicle, and to a motor vehicle lighting system with such a control unit. The lighting system has at least one light source (10, 13, 15, 25). The control unit is divided into several stages (20; 12, 14, 16, 24). A first stage (20) provides the electrical energy to supply the light sources (10, 13, 15, 25). The second stage (12, 14, 16, 24) passes the energy provided by the first stage (20) to the light source (10, 13, 15, 25).In order to enable a modular design based on a modular concept for the control unit, it is proposed that the first stage (20) has the intelligence for controlling the lighting device as well as means for generating an intermediate voltage (U_Z) and that the second stage (12, 14, 16, 24) has means for converting the intermediate voltage (U_Z) into a supply voltage (U_V) for the light sources (10, 13, 15, 25) as well as means for forwarding the applied control signals to the light sources (10, 13, 15, 25).