LIGHT SOURCE LIGHTING CIRCUIT AND LAMP SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE

• US 20120032591A1
• Filed: 08/05/2011
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Matsui, Kotaro, Sugiyama, Takao
• Granted Patent: US 8,476,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/77
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/345 Current stabilisation; Maintaining constant current
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/38 using boost topology
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A lighting circuit includes: a countercurrent prevention unit including a first control terminal and a second control terminal, the countercurrent prevention unit transmitting a first current or a second current; and a current controller including: a common terminal connected to the first control terminal and the second control terminal; and a switching terminal connected to the first control terminal, the current controller providing a first driving current or a second driving current from the common terminal to the light source. The countercurrent prevention unit further includes: a first rectifier, wherein voltage at the first control terminal is provided to the switching terminal through the first rectifier; a first P-FET provided between the first control terminal and the common terminal; a second P-FET provided between the second control terminal and the common terminal; and a second rectifier provided between the second P-PET and the common terminal.

Claims

1. A lighting circuit for a light source, comprising:

a countercurrent prevention unit comprising a first control terminal and a second control terminal, the countercurrent prevention unit configured to transmit a first current or a second current that is smaller than the first current to the light source; and

a current controller comprising;

a common terminal connected to the first control terminal and the second control terminal; and

a switching terminal connected to the first control terminal, the current controller configured to provide a first driving current or a second driving current from the common terminal to the light source, wherein the first driving current corresponds to the first current, and the second driving current corresponds to the second current,

wherein the countercurrent prevention unit further comprises;

a first rectifier, wherein voltage at the first control terminal is provided to the switching terminal through the first rectifier;

a first P-FET provided between the first control terminal and the common terminal;

a second P-FET provided between the second control terminal and the common terminal; and

a second rectifier provided between the second P-PET and the common terminal, wherein the second rectifier is series-connected to the second P-PET, and

wherein when DC power voltage is provided to the first control terminal, the first P-FET is turned-on and the second P-FET is turned-off, and then the countercurrent prevention unit transmits the first current to the light source, and

wherein when the DC power voltage is not provided to the first control terminal but provided to the second control terminal, the second P-FET is turned-on, and then the countercurrent prevention unit transmits the second current to the light source.

2. The lighting circuit of claim 1, wherein the countercurrent prevention unit further comprises:

a first resistor, wherein one end of the first resistor is connected to a gate terminal of the first P-FET and the other end of the first resistor is connected to the second P-FET and the second rectifier; and

a second resistor, wherein one end of the second resistor is connected to the gate terminal of the first P-FET and the other end of the second resistor is connected to a ground, wherein a resistance value of the second resistor is larger than that of the first resistor.

3. The lighting circuit of claim 2, wherein the countercurrent prevention unit further comprises:

a third rectifier provided between the first resistor and the second P-FET and connected in series with the first resistor.

4. The lighting circuit of claim 1, wherein the countercurrent prevention unit further comprises:

switch driving circuits configured to receive control signals from the first control terminal and the second control terminal and transmit a switch driving signal to a gate terminal of the second P-FET.

5. The lighting circuit of claim 2, wherein the countercurrent prevention unit further comprises:

switch driving circuits configured to receive control signals from the first control terminal and the second control terminal and transmit a switch driving signal to a gate terminal of the second P-FET.

6. The lighting circuit of claim 3, wherein the countercurrent prevention unit further comprises:

switch driving circuits configured to receive control signals from the first control terminal and the second control terminal and transmit a switch driving signal to a gate terminal of the second P-FET.

7. A lamp system for a vehicle comprising:

the lighting circuit of claim 1; and

the light source.