Device for triggering a lighting device in a motor vehicle

• US 6,815,898 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2003
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hirt, Juergen, Schumpelt, Michael, Scarlata, Primo, Schenk, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thuy Vinh
• Application Number:
  US10/257,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20030168990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 315/77, 315/82, 315/246, 315/362, 307/10.1, 307/10.8, 307/116, 307/118, 307/120, 340/936
• US Class Current: 315/82
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/047 with pulse width modulation from a DC power source
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

A device for triggering a lighting device of a motor vehicle includes a control arrangement which generates at least one pulse width modulated control signal for at least one switching arrangement via which at least one lighting device may be supplied with electric power. The control arrangement receives a measure of the power supply voltage supplied at least to the lighting device in order to influence the control signal as a function of the power supply voltage. The control arrangement determines the control signal as a function of at least one additional operating parameter, in addition to the power supply voltage, of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A device for triggering a lighting device of a motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one switching arrangement via which the lighting device is supplied with electric power; and

a control arrangement that generates at least one pulse width modulated control signal for the at least one switching arrangement, wherein;

the control arrangement receives a measure of a power supply voltage supplying the lighting device to influence the at least one pulse width modulated control signal as a function of the power supply voltage,

the control arrangement determines the at least one pulse width modulated control signal as a function of at least one additional operating parameter, in addition to the power supply voltage, of the motor vehicle, and

the at least one additional operating parameter includes a signal indicating whether the motor vehicle is one of moving and at a standstill.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

the control arrangement specifies a maximum pulse width as the at least one pulse width modulated control signal when the power supply voltage drops below a lower limit value.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein:

the lower limit value is variable as a function of the at least one additional operating parameter.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein:

the lower limit value increases with an increase in a charge state of a battery of the motor vehicle.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

the control arrangement specifies a minimum pulse width as the at least one pulse width modulated control signal when the power supply voltage exceeds an upper limit value.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein:

the minimum pulse width is variable as a function of the at least one additional operating parameter.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one additional operating parameter includes at least one of a driving speed and a charge state of a battery of the motor vehicle.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

the power supply voltage is used as a measure of a charge state of a battery of the motor vehicle.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one signal of an operating element is sent to the control arrangement, and

the at least one pulse width modulated control signal is generated as a function of the at least one signal of the operating element.

10. A device for triggering a lighting device of a motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one switching arrangement via which the lighting device is supplied with electric power; and

a control arrangement that generates at least one pulse width modulated control signal for the at least one switching arrangement, wherein;

the control arrangement receives a measure of a power supply voltage supplying the lighting device to influence the at least one pulse width modulated control signal as a function of the power supply voltage,

the control arrangement determines the at least one pulse width modulated control signal as a function of at least one additional operating parameter, in addition to the power supply voltage, of the motor vehicle,

the control arrangement specifies a maximum pulse width as the at least one pulse width modulated control signal when the power supply voltage drops below a lower limit value; and

the lower limit value increases with an increase in a driving speed.