Lighting control system for vehicle lamp

• US 9,187,026 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2013
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Kurebayashi, Toshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Daniel D
• Application Number:
  US14/053,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20140111087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 315/82, 315/77
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/04 the devices being headlights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor

Abstract

There is provided a lighting control system of a vehicle lamp. The system includes: a plurality of lamps including: a main lamp; and a separate lamp which is separated from the main lamp; and a lighting controller configured to control lighting of the plurality of lamps. The main lamp includes: a first lamp lighting circuit configured to perform a lighting operation of the main lamp; and a control circuit configured to output a lighting signal based on a lighting control signal output from the lighting controller. The separate lamp includes: a second lamp lighting circuit configured to perform a lighting operation of the separate lamp. The first lamp lighting circuit and the second lamp lighting circuit are configured to perform the lighting operations based on the lighting signal output from the control circuit.

Claims

1. A lighting control system for a vehicle lamp, the system comprising:

a plurality of lamps comprising;

a main lamp; and

a separate lamp which is separated from the main lamp;

a lighting controller configured to control lighting of the plurality of lamps; and

a relay switch coupled to each of the plurality of lamps, wherein the relay switch is configured to provide power to the plurality of lamps based on a relay signal output from the lighting controller,

wherein the main lamp comprises;

a first lamp lighting circuit configured to perform a lighting operation of the main lamp; and

a control circuit configured to output a lighting signal based on a lighting control signal output from the lighting controller,

wherein the separate lamp comprises;

a second lamp lighting circuit configured to perform a lighting operation of the separate lamp, and

wherein the first lamp lighting circuit and the second lamp lighting circuit are configured to perform the lighting operations based on the lighting signal output from the control circuit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein

the main lamp further comprises a first semiconductor light emitting element as a light source, and

the separate lamp further comprises a second semiconductor light emitting element as a light source,

wherein the first lamp lighting circuit is a first light emitting drive circuit for emitting the first semiconductor light emitting element, and

the second lamp lighting circuit is a second light emitting drive circuit for emitting the second semiconductor light emitting element, and

wherein the first light emitting drive circuit has the same configuration as the second light emitting drive circuit.

3. The system of claim 1,

wherein the separate lamp comprises a first separate lamp and a second separate lamp, wherein the first separate lamp and the second separate lamp uses the same light source, and the light intensity of the first separate lamp is different from that of the second separate lamp,

wherein the lighting signal output from the control circuit is a modulated signal, and

wherein the second lamp lighting circuit is configured to perform the lighting operations of the first separate lamp and the second separate lamp such that the light intensity of the first separate lamp is different from that of the second separate lamp, based on the lighting signal.

4. The system of claim 1,

wherein a common power line is connected to the main lamp and the separate lamp, and

wherein the lighting controller is configured to control ON and OFF of the common power line.

5. The system of claim 4,

wherein the main lamp and the lighting controller are connected to each other by a main lighting control line which transmits the lighting control signal, and

wherein the main lamp and the separate lamp are connected to each other by a secondary lighting control line which transmits the lighting signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first lamp lighting circuit and the control circuit are integrally configured as a lamp controller.

7. A lighting control system for a vehicle lamp, the system comprising:

a plurality of lamps comprising;

a main lamp; and

a separate lamp which is separated from the main lamp; and

a lighting controller configured to control lighting of the plurality of lamps,

wherein the main lamp comprises;

a first lamp lighting circuit configured to perform a lighting operation of the main lamp; and

a control circuit configured to output a lighting signal based on a lighting control signal output from the lighting controller,

wherein the separate lamp comprises;

a second lamp lighting circuit configured to perform a lighting operation of the separate lamp,

wherein the lighting controller is configured to determine which of a bright, dim or dark environment a vehicle is in and to control the lamps in accordance therewith, and

wherein the first lamp lighting circuit and the second lamp lighting circuit are configured to perform the lighting operations based on the lighting signal output from the control circuit.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein

the main lamp further comprises a first semiconductor light emitting element as a light source, and

the separate lamp further comprises a second semiconductor light emitting element as a light source,

wherein the first lamp lighting circuit is a first light emitting drive circuit for emitting the first semiconductor light emitting element, and

the second lamp lighting circuit is a second light emitting drive circuit for emitting the second semiconductor light emitting element, and

wherein the first light emitting drive circuit has the same configuration as the second light emitting drive circuit.

9. The system of claim 7,

wherein the separate lamp comprises a first separate lamp and a second separate lamp, wherein the first separate lamp and the second separate lamp uses the same light source, and the light intensity of the first separate lamp is different from that of the second separate lamp,

wherein the lighting signal output from the control circuit is a modulated signal, and

wherein the second lamp lighting circuit is configured to perform the lighting operations of the first separate lamp and the second separate lamp such that the light intensity of the first separate lamp is different from that of the second separate lamp, based on the lighting signal.

10. The system of claim 7,

wherein a common power line is connected to the main lamp and the separate lamp, and

wherein the lighting controller is configured to control ON and OFF of the common power line.

11. The system of claim 10,

wherein the main lamp and the lighting controller are connected to each other by a main lighting control line which transmits the lighting control signal, and

wherein the main lamp and the separate lamp are connected to each other by a secondary lighting control line which transmits the lighting signal.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the first lamp lighting circuit and the control circuit are integrally configured as a lamp controller.

13. A lighting control system for a vehicle lamp, the system comprising:

a plurality of lamps comprising;

a main lamp; and

a separate lamp which is separated from the main lamp; and

a lighting controller configured to control lighting of the plurality of lamps,

wherein the main lamp comprises;

a first lamp lighting circuit configured to perform a lighting operation of the main lamp; and

a control circuit configured to output a lighting signal based on a lighting control signal output from the lighting controller,

wherein the separate lamp comprises;

a second lamp lighting circuit configured to perform a lighting operation of the separate lamp,

wherein the control circuit is in closer proximity to the first lamp lighting circuit than it is to the second lamp lighting circuit, and

wherein the first lamp lighting circuit and the second lamp lighting circuit are configured to perform the lighting operations based on the lighting signal output from the control circuit.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein

the main lamp further comprises a first semiconductor light emitting element as a light source, and

the separate lamp further comprises a second semiconductor light emitting element as a light source,

wherein the first lamp lighting circuit is a first light emitting drive circuit for emitting the first semiconductor light emitting element, and

the second lamp lighting circuit is a second light emitting drive circuit for emitting the second semiconductor light emitting element, and

wherein the first light emitting drive circuit has the same configuration as the second light emitting drive circuit.

15. The system of claim 13,

wherein the separate lamp comprises a first separate lamp and a second separate lamp, wherein the first separate lamp and the second separate lamp uses the same light source, and the light intensity of the first separate lamp is different from that of the second separate lamp,

wherein the lighting signal output from the control circuit is a modulated signal, and

wherein the second lamp lighting circuit is configured to perform the lighting operations of the first separate lamp and the second separate lamp such that the light intensity of the first separate lamp is different from that of the second separate lamp, based on the lighting signal.

16. The system of claim 13,

wherein a common power line is connected to the main lamp and the separate lamp, and

wherein the lighting controller is configured to control ON and OFF of the common power line.

17. The system of claim 16,

wherein the main lamp and the lighting controller are connected to each other by a main lighting control line which transmits the lighting control signal, and

wherein the main lamp and the separate lamp are connected to each other by a secondary lighting control line which transmits the lighting signal.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the first lamp lighting circuit and the control circuit are integrally configured as a lamp controller.