HEADLAMP LIGHT SOURCE LIGHTING APPARATUS AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS

• US 20110273282A1
• Filed: 11/04/2009
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Ohsawa, Takashi
• Application Number:
  US13/144,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20110273282A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/458
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 11/005 for lighting devices, e.g. indicating if lamps are burning or not
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/50 responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDs; responsive to LED life; Protective circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/22 with communication between the lamps and a central unit

Abstract

Lighting apparatus 100 lights a light source 2 of a headlamp, and includes: a connection terminal 113 to which a abnormality notification apparatus 200 is connected; a notification signal output unit for outputting a notification signal relating to a condition of the light source 2 and/or a condition of the light source lighting apparatus 100 to the abnormality notification apparatus 200 via the connection terminal 113; and a communication signal output unit for outputting a communication signal having a different signal form to the notification signal to an external communication apparatus 300, from the connection terminal 113. Therefore the notification of an abnormality relating to the light source 2 and/or the light source lighting apparatus 100 and the communication with an external communication apparatus 300 can be performed using a single connection terminal 113.

Claims

1. A headlamp light source lighting apparatus for lighting a light source of a headlamp, comprising:

a notification signal output unit for outputting a notification signal relating to a condition of the light source and/or a condition of the light source lighting apparatus to a first apparatus; and

a communication signal input/output unit for transmitting a communication signal having a different signal form to the notification signal to a second apparatus that is different to the first apparatus, and receiving the communication signal from the second apparatus,

wherein a connection terminal of a signal line connected to the first apparatus and the second apparatus is shared.

2. The headlamp light source lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first apparatus is a condition notification apparatus for notifying a driver of the condition of the light source and/or the light source lighting apparatus.

3. The headlamp light source lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second apparatus is an inspection apparatus that is connected during an inspection of the headlamp light source lighting apparatus.

4. The headlamp light source lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second apparatus is an in-vehicle control apparatus connected to the headlamp light source lighting apparatus.

5. The headlamp light source lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication signal includes lighting control information relating to the light source and/or information relating to the condition of the light source.

6. The headlamp light source lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification signal output unit continuously outputs the notification signal having a predetermined signal waveform, when the light source and/or the headlamp light source lighting apparatus is normal.

7. The headlamp light source lighting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the notification signal is a rectangular wave, and

the notification signal output unit varies a period and/or a duty of the notification signal in accordance with an abnormality in the light source and/or the headlamp light source lighting apparatus.

8. The headlamp light source lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a communication signal input unit for identifying the notification signal output to the first apparatus and the communication signal from the second apparatus that is input via the connection terminal.

9. The headlamp light source lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a signal voltage of the notification signal and a signal voltage of the communication signal are set at different voltages.

10. The headlamp light source lighting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the notification signal and the communication signal are rectangular waves, and

a low level side voltage of a rectangular wave of the notification signal is a higher voltage than a low level side voltage of a rectangular wave of the communication signal.

11. The headlamp light source lighting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the notification signal and the communication signal are rectangular waves, and

a high level side voltage of a rectangular wave of the notification signal is a lower voltage than a high level side voltage of a rectangular wave of the communication signal.

12. The headlamp light source lighting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the notification signal output unit includes a first resistor connected in series to the connection terminal, and

the communication signal output unit includes a second resistor connected in series to the connection terminal.

13. The headlamp light source lighting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the notification signal output unit includes a first resistor connected in series to the connection terminal, and

the communication signal output unit includes a second resistor connected in series to the connection terminal.

14. The headlamp light source lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a control operation is performed in accordance with the communication signal from the second apparatus that is input via the connection terminal.

15. (canceled)

16. A communication apparatus comprising:

a connection terminal into which a communication signal output by a headlamp light source lighting apparatus for lighting a light source of a headlamp is input via a signal line;

a communication signal output unit for outputting a communication signal including lighting control information relating to the light source and/or information relating to a condition of the light source to the headlamp light source lighting apparatus;

a communication signal input unit for inputting a communication signal including the lighting control information relating to the light source and/or the information relating to the condition of the light source that is output from the headlamp light source lighting apparatus;

a notification unit for notifying an inspector of information including the lighting control information relating to the light source and/or the information relating to the condition of the light source; and

an operating unit for storing or setting the information including the lighting control information relating to the light source and/or the information relating to the condition of the light source in the headlamp light source lighting apparatus via the communication signal output from the communication signal output unit.