Lighting tool for vehicle, illumination system and lamp control method

• US 10,638,573 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2019
• Issued: 04/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Yokobori, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Thai
• Application Number:
  US16/414,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20190364648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0088 Details of electrical connections B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/304 Adaptations of signalling devices having a part on the vehicle body and another on the boot door
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

Provided is a lighting tool for a vehicle including a first power supply, and a lamp for a vehicle operated with electric power supplied from the first power supply, a detection unit that detects a waveform of first electric power, a generation unit that generates a first control signal that is a signal controlling the lamp for a vehicle according to the waveform of the detected first electric power, an output control unit that superimposes the first control signal on the first electric power and wirelessly transmit the signal obtained by the superimposition from a power transmission section, a conversion unit that acquires a second control signal based on the signal received by a power receiving section that receives the signal wirelessly transmitted from the power transmission section, and a lamp control unit that controls the lamp for a vehicle according to the second control signal.

Claims

1. A lighting tool for a vehicle comprising:

a first power source mounted on the vehicle for providing electric power;

a lamp for the vehicle attached to the vehicle and operated with first electric power supplied from the first power source;

a detection unit configured to detect a waveform of the first electric power supplied from the first power source;

a generation unit configured to generate a first control signal that is a signal controlling the lamp for the vehicle according to the waveform of the first electric power detected by the detection unit;

an output control unit configured to superimpose the first control signal generated by the generation unit on the first electric power supplied from the first power source and wirelessly transmit the signal obtained by the superimposition from a power transmission section;

a conversion unit configured to acquire a second control signal based on the signal received by a power receiving section configured to receive the signal wirelessly transmitted from the power transmission section provided on the lamp for the vehicle; and

a lamp control unit configured to control the lamp for the vehicle according to the second control signal acquired by the conversion unit.

2. The lighting tool for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a second power source is provided,

the detection unit detects either one or both of the waveform of the first electric power supplied from the first power source and a waveform of second electric power supplied from the second power source,

the generation unit generates the first control signal according to either one or both of the waveform of the first electric power and the waveform of the second electric power detected by the detection unit, and

the output control unit superimposes the first control signal generated by the generation unit on either one or both of the first electric power and the second electric power.

3. The lighting tool for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the output control unit generates a first control signal having different frequency components according to either one or both of the waveform of the first electric power and the waveform of the second electric power detected by the detection unit.

4. The lighting tool for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the output control unit generates first control information having a frequency component determined according to power consumption of the lamp for the vehicle.

5. The lighting tool for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the output control unit generates the first control signal having different amplitudes according to either one or both of the waveform of the first electric power and the waveform of the second electric power detected by the detection unit.

6. The lighting tool for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the output control unit generates the first control signal having an amplitude determined according to power consumption of the lamp for the vehicle.

7. An illumination system configured to operate a lamp for a vehicle using electric power supplied from a power-supply-power source mounted on the vehicle, the illumination system comprising:

a detection unit configured to detect a waveform of electric power supplied from the power source;

a generation unit configured to generate a first control signal that is a signal controlling the lamp for the vehicle according to the waveform of the electric power detected by the detection unit;

an output control unit configured to superimpose the first control signal generated by the generation unit on the electric power supplied from the power source and wirelessly transmit the signal obtained by the superimposition from a power transmission section;

a conversion unit configured to acquire a second control signal from the signal received by a power receiving section configured to receive the signal wirelessly transmitted from the power transmission section provided on the lamp for the vehicle; and

a lamp control unit configured to control the lamp for the vehicle according to the second control signal acquired by the conversion unit.

8. A lamp control method performed by an illumination system configured to operate a lamp for the vehicle using electric power supplied from a power source mounted on the vehicle, the lamp control method comprising:

detecting a waveform of electric power supplied from the power source;

generating a first control signal that is a signal controlling the lamp for the vehicle according to the waveform of the electric power detected in the detecting step;

superimposing the first control signal generated in the generating step on the electric power supplied from the power source;

wirelessly transmitting a signal obtained by the superimposing step;

receiving the signal wirelessly transmitted in the wirelessly transmitting step;

acquiring a second control signal based on the signal received in the receiving step; and

controlling the lamp for the vehicle according to the second control signal acquired by the acquiring step.