Method and device for ballast management in particular for a motor vehicle headlamp
First Claim
1. A method for managing a ballast of a gas discharge lamp for a motor vehicle headlamp so as to optimize a service life of said gas discharge lamp, said method comprising the steps of:
- controlling an initial supply power and a nominal supply power of said gas discharge lamp by means of control signals during the operating phases of said gas discharge lamp which comprise a start-up phase, an ignition phase and a steady-state phase;
generating externally of said ballast said control signals comprise command signals which force each of said initial and nominal supply powers to a value selected from a set of predetermined powers as a function of each of said phases;
providing said command signals to an electronic control of said ballast using a bidirectional data transfer line; and
providing an unidirectional signaling line for providing at least one of a validation signal to said electronic control of said ballast.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for managing a gas discharge lamp in particular for a motor vehicle headlamp. The method is of the type which consists in controlling initial and nominal supply powers of the lamp by means of control signals during the operating phases of the lamp which comprise a start-up phase, an ignition phase and a steady-state phase. The method is wherein the control signals comprise command signals which are generated externally of the ballast and which force each of the supply powers to a value selected from a set of predetermined powers as a function of each of the phases. The method makes it possible for example to manage the different modes defined by the new regulations of the AFS type, and to optimize the service life of the lamp.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for managing a ballast of a gas discharge lamp for a motor vehicle headlamp so as to optimize a service life of said gas discharge lamp, said method comprising the steps of:
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controlling an initial supply power and a nominal supply power of said gas discharge lamp by means of control signals during the operating phases of said gas discharge lamp which comprise a start-up phase, an ignition phase and a steady-state phase; generating externally of said ballast said control signals comprise command signals which force each of said initial and nominal supply powers to a value selected from a set of predetermined powers as a function of each of said phases; providing said command signals to an electronic control of said ballast using a bidirectional data transfer line; and providing an unidirectional signaling line for providing at least one of a validation signal to said electronic control of said ballast. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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8. A method for managing a ballast of a gas discharge lamp for a motor vehicle headlamp so as to optimize a service life of said gas discharge lamp, said method comprising the steps of:
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controlling an initial supply power and a nominal supply power of said gas discharge lamp by means of control signals during the operating phases of said gas discharge lamp which comprise a start-up phase, an ignition phase and a steady-state phase; generating externally of said ballast said control signals to comprise command signals which force each of said initial and nominal supply powers to a value selected from a set of predetermined powers as a function of each of said phases; wherein, in the absence of said command signals, a value of said initial supply power during said start-up and ignition phases is a predetermined default initial power and said nominal supply power during said steady-state phase is a predetermined default nominal power; wherein each command signal is associated with a specific operating mode of said gas discharge lamp and forces said supply powers to a predetermined specific initial power and to a predetermined specific nominal power for each of said phases; wherein each of said command signals consists of a first square-wave pulse train of predetermined frequency and of predetermined duty factor, and in that said validation signal is a first square-wave pulse which is transmitted simultaneously with said command signals and for a duration that is at least equal to a minimum number of periods of said first square-wave pulse train, preferably two. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method for managing a ballast of a gas discharge lamp for a motor vehicle headlamp so as to optimize a service life of said gas discharge lamp, said method comprising the steps of:
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controlling an initial supply power and a nominal supply power of said gas discharge lamp by means of control signals during the operating phases of said gas discharge lamp which comprise a start-up phase, an ignition phase and a steady-state phase; generating externally of said ballast said control signals to comprise command signals which force each of said initial and nominal supply powers to a value selected from a set of predetermined powers as a function of each of said phases; wherein said control signals also comprise an anomaly signal which is generated by said ballast in the event of an operating anomaly; wherein said anomaly signal, a status request signal and an anomaly code are respectively a first square-wave pulse, a third square-wave pulse and a second square-wave pulse train, the duration of each of the pulses of said second square-wave pulse train being representative of a type of anomaly. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification