AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention provides an automotive lighting device associated with vehicle electronics where the device includes light sources, a current sink device and a light driver. The current sink device is connected with the light sources so that each light source with a current sink device forms a light group. The light driver is configured to be electrically fed by a power source where the light driver includes terminals configured to selectively activate or deactivate current flow in each terminal, in such a way that each light group is connected. The light driver is arranged in series with the light groups relative to the power source, either located between the power source and the light groups or located between the light groups and the ground connection. The current sink device includes an input configured to receive an activation signal, in such a way that the current sink device can be selectively activated to consume power.

Claims

1. An Automotive lighting device for an automotive vehicle, the automotive lighting device comprising a plurality of light sources configured to be electrically fed between a power source and a ground connection; at least one current sink device, each current sink device being in connection with one of the light sources, so that each light source with one current sink device forms a light group; a light driver configured to be electrically fed by the power source, the light driver comprising a number of terminals and being configured to selectively activate or deactivate current flow in each terminal, in such a way that each light group is connected to one of the terminals; wherein the light driver is arranged in series with a number of light groups with respect to the power source, either between the power source and the light groups or between the light groups and the ground connection, and wherein each current sink device comprises an input configured to receive an activation signal, in such a way that the current sink device is configured to be selectively activated to consume power.

2. The Automotive lighting device according to claim 1, wherein each current sink device is arranged in parallel with one of the light sources, so that each light source in parallel with one current sink device forms a light group.

3. The Automotive lighting device according to claim 1, comprising more than one current sink device, each current sink device being in connection with at least one of the light sources.

4. The Automotive lighting device according to claim 1, wherein each current sink device comprises a transistor with an emitter, a base and a collector, a first resistor stage between the emitter and the terminal, and a reference system which branches from a point between the base and the terminal.

5. The Automotive lighting device according to claim 4, wherein the first resistor stage comprises at least two resistors in parallel.

6. The Automotive lighting device according to claim 5 wherein the reference system comprises a linear regulator.

7. The Automotive lighting device according to claim 6, wherein the linear regulator comprises a Zener diode.

8. The Automotive lighting device according to claim 5 wherein the reference system is connected in series with the light source, so as to form a current mirror.

9. The Automotive lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light sources are configured to perform more than one different lighting functionality.

10. The Automotive lighting device according to claim 9, wherein the functionalities are daily running light and position light, stop light and tail light or turning indicator.

11. The Automotive lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light sources are solid-state light sources, such as LEDs.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] To complete the description and in order to provide for a better understanding of the invention, a set of drawings is provided. Said drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate an embodiment of the invention, which should not be interpreted as restricting the scope of the invention, but just as an example of how the invention can be carried out. The drawings comprise the following figures:

[0036] FIGS. 1a and 1b show general electric schemes of automotive lighting devices according to the invention.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a particular example of a current sink device belonging to an automotive lighting device of the invention.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows an automotive lighting device according to the invention installed in an automotive vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The example embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

[0040] Accordingly, while embodiment can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Elements of the example embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate.

[0041] FIGS. 1a and 1b show general electric schemes of automotive lighting devices 10 according to the invention.

[0042] Both automotive lighting devices 10 comprises LEDs 1 powered between a power source 2 and a ground connection. Further, each lighting device 10 comprises a current sink device 4 connected in parallel with each LED 1, forming light groups.

[0043] Each automotive lighting device 10 further comprises a light driver 3 configured to be electrically fed by the power source 2, the light driver 3 comprising terminals 32 and being configured to selectively activate or deactivate current flow in each terminal 32, in such a way that each light group is connected to one of the terminals 32.

[0044] In FIG. 1a, the light driver 3 is arranged in series with the light groups with respect to the power source 2, being located between the power source and the light groups. The current therefore flows from the light driver 3 to the light groups.

[0045] In FIG. 1b, the light driver 3 is also arranged in series with the light groups with respect to the power source 2, but in this case, the light driver 3 is located between the light groups and the ground connection. In this case, the current flows from the light groups to the light driver.

[0046] In both cases, each current sink device 4 comprises an input 41 configured to receive an activation signal, in such a way that the current sink device is configured to be selectively activated to consume power. When the current sink device 4 is activated, it consumes power so that the current is divided between the LED 1 and the current sink device 4, so that the LED 1 may receive different current values without this difference being noticed by the light driver 3.

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a particular example of a current sink device 4 belonging to an automotive lighting device of the invention.

[0048] This current sink device 4 comprises

[0049] a transistor 42 with an emitter, a base and a collector, a first resistor stage 43 between the emitter and the terminal, and

[0050] a reference system 44 which branches from a point between the base and the terminal.

[0051] The first resistor stage 43 comprises two resistors in parallel, to provide a more accurate control of the current value.

[0052] In this particular embodiment, the reference system 44 comprises a linear regulator with a Zener diode.

[0053] When an activation signal is received in the input 41, due, e.g., to a change in the lighting functionality, the transistor 42 is switched on, so that the current sink device 4 starts consuming a current value which is defined by the voltage which feds the LED 1 and the resistor stage 43. This current value is designed so that the LED 1 may perform two different functions, a first one when receiving the whole current value (current sink deactivated) and a second one when receiving only part of the current value (current sink activated).

[0054] In an alternative example of a current sink device belonging to an automotive device of the invention, the reference system is connected in series with the light source, so as to form a current mirror. This causes the current sink device consume a current value which is proportional to the current value consumed by the LED.

[0055] FIG. 3 shows an automotive lighting device 10 according to the invention installed in an automotive vehicle 100. In this case, instead of one LED for each light group, there is a plurality of LEDs 1 configured to provide a daily running light and a position light. Depending on the lighting functionality required, the LEDs 1 will be fed with a different intensity, without the driver 3 noticing an important change in the output value.