Lamp circuit for automobiles

• US 6,452,337 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2000
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Murata, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, CHUC
• Application Number:
  US09/596,197
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 315/82, 315/77, 315/79, 315/76, 315/80, 307/10.6, 307/10.7, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 315/82
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1407 General lighting circuits comprising dimming circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1415 Dimming circuits

Abstract

There is provided a lamp circuit for automobiles which complies with DRL illumination and reduces the number of electrically functional components and circuits. The lamp circuit for automobiles includes a DRL controller complying with DRL illumination, a lamp switch box, and a DRL relay which is also used for the head lamps. The DRL relay has two contact points, a common contact point, and two coils. This allows only one relay to be provided within the area in which two relays have conventionally been applied, thereby reducing the number of relays and necessary circuits.

Claims

1. A lamp circuit for an automobile, including a lamp circuit which complies with a DRL illumination for a low beam lamp and a high beam lamp in a head lamp, said lamp circuit comprising:

a DRL controller, a lamp switch box, a relay, at least one low beam lamp, at least one high beam lamp, an ignition switch, an engine rotation signal output component, and a battery;

said relay being provided with a common contact point, two contact points which are normally open, and two coils;

said common contact point being connected with the battery, either one of said two contact points being connected with said at least one low beam lamp, the other of said two contact points being connected with said at least one high beam lamp, respectively, and said two coils being connected with said DRL controller;

said DRL controller being connected in such a manner that respective signals from said lamp switch box, said ignition switch, and said engine rotation signal output component are entered in said DRL controller;

wherein said contact point connected with one of said at least one low beam lamp and said at least one high beam lamp is closed and the DRL is illuminated as a result of energizing one of said two coils of said relay, when signals from said ignition switch and said engine rotation signal output component are entered in said DRL controller; and

,

the other of said two coils of said relay being energized according to the signal when a signal from said lamp switch box is entered to the DRL controller, and the other of said at least one low beam lamp and said at least one high beam lamp is illuminated as a result of closing said relay which corresponds to the other of said two coils.

2. The lamp circuit for an automobile according to claim 1, further comprising at least two said low beam lamps.

3. The lamp circuit for an automobile according to claim 1, further comprising at least two said high beam lamps.

4. The lamp circuit for an automobile according to claim 1, further comprising at least two said low beam lamps and at least two said high beam lamps.

5. A lamp circuit which provides a DRL illumination for a vehicle, said lamp circuit comprising:

at least one low beam lamp and at least one high beam lamp;

a controller, a lamp switch box, a switching mechanism, said at least one low beam lamp, said at least one high beam lamp, an ignition switch, an engine rotation signal output component, and a battery;

said switching mechanism being provided with a common contact point, first and second contact points which are normally open, a movable connecting piece connected to said common contact point, and operating mechanism for moving said connecting piece from a neutral position to a selected one of said first contact point and said second contact point;

said common contact point being connected with the battery, one of said first and second contact points being connected with said at least one low beam lamp, the other of said first and second contact points being connected with said at least one high beam lamp, respectively, and said operating mechanism being connected with said controller;

said controller being connected in such a manner that respective signals from said lamp switch box, said ignition switch, and said engine rotation signal output component are entered in said controller;

said connecting piece being connected with said first contact point and one of said at least one low beam lamp and said at least one high beam lamp as a result of actuation of said operating mechanism of said switching mechanism, when signals from said ignition switch and said engine rotation signal output component are entered in said controller to thereby illuminate the DRL; and

,

said operating mechanism of said switching mechanism being actuated according to the signal when a signal from said lamp switch box is entered to the controller to connect said connecting piece to said second contact point, and the other of said at least one low beam lamp and said at least one high beam lamp is illuminated.

6. The lamp circuit for an automobile according to claim 5, further comprising at least two said low beam lamps.

7. The lamp circuit for an automobile according to claim 5, further comprising at least two said high beam lamps.

8. The lamp circuit for an automobile according to claim 5, further comprising at least two said low beam lamps and at least two said high beam lamps.

9. The lamp circuit for an automobile according to claim 5, wherein said controller comprises a DRL controller.

10. The lamp circuit for an automobile according to claim 5, wherein said switching mechanism comprises a relay.

11. The lamp circuit for an automobile according to claim 10, wherein said relay comprises first and second coils, said first coil being energizable to move said connecting piece to engage said first contact point, and said second coil being energizable to move said connecting piece to engage said second contact point.

12. The lamp circuit for an automobile according to claim 5, wherein said controller comprises a DRL controller, said switching mechanism comprises a relay, and said relay comprises first and second coils, said first coil being energizable to move said connecting piece to engage said first contact point, and said second coil being energizable to move said connecting piece to engage said second contact point.