LIGHTING MODULE WITH CONFIGURABLE ELECTRICAL NETWORK FOR DRIVING LIGHT SOURCE THEREOF

Abstract

A Lighting module for an automotive vehicle, comprising: a light source; a binning electrical network comprising a configurable resistance; and an electrical driver module configured to supply an electrical current to the light source through the binning electrical network. And a method for configuring a lighting module for an automotive vehicle to electrically drive a light source thereof according to predetermined characteristics of the light source, the method comprising: providing the lighting module for an automotive vehicle, the lighting module comprising: the light source with the brightness class; and an electrical driver module configured to supply an electrical current to the light source through a binning electrical network; providing the binning electrical network, the binning electrical network comprising a configurable resistance.

Claims

1. Lighting module for an automotive vehicle, comprising: a light source; a binning electrical network comprising a configurable resistance; and an electrical driver module configured to supply an electrical current to the light source through the binning electrical network.

2. Lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the binning electrical network comprises a plurality of electrical paths electrically connectable to the light source; wherein one electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths comprises a resistor with a resistance associated with predetermined characteristics of the light source; and wherein each of remaining electrical paths of the plurality of electrical paths comprises a resistor.

3. Lighting module according to claim 2, wherein each electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths is electrically connected to the light source, each electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths being in parallel with each other; and wherein each electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths further comprises a fuse resistor in series with the resistor.

4. Lighting module according to claim 2, wherein each electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths is electrically connected to the light source, each electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths being in parallel with each other; and wherein for each of the remaining electrical paths of the plurality of electrical paths, a conductive track thereof and/or the resistor is disconnected by breakage thereby resulting in an open circuit, the breakage preferably comprising a laser cut or electrical breaking.

5. Lighting module according to claim 2, wherein the binning electrical network further comprises a multiplexer electrically connected to the light source and to each electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths.

6. Lighting module according to claim 2, wherein the binning electrical network further comprises an electrical connection between the one electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths and the light source, the electrical connection comprising one of: a wire bond, a ribbon bond, a jumper, and a trace.

7. Lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the binning electrical network comprises an electronic component with tunable resistance, the electronic component preferably comprising a digitally programmable potentiometer or a variable resistor.

8. Lighting module according to claim 1, further comprising: an at least second light source; and an at least second binning electrical network comprising a second configurable resistance; wherein the electrical driver module is further configured to supply an electrical current to the at least second light source through the at least second binning electrical network.

9. Method for configuring a lighting module for an automotive vehicle to electrically drive a light source thereof according to predetermined characteristics of the light source, the method comprising: providing the lighting module for an automotive vehicle, the lighting module comprising: the light source; and an electrical driver module configured to supply an electrical current to the light source through a binning electrical network; providing the binning electrical network, the binning electrical network comprising a configurable resistance.

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein: the binning electrical network comprises a plurality of electrical paths electrically connectable to the light source; one electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths comprises a resistor with a resistance associated with the predetermined characteristics of the light source; each of remaining electrical paths of the plurality of electrical paths comprises a resistor; and the method further comprises electrically connecting at least one electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths to the light source.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein: each electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths further comprises a fuse resistor in series with the resistor; and the method further comprises melting the fuse resistor of each of the remaining electrical paths of the plurality of electrical paths by supplying, at each of the remaining electrical paths, an electrical current adapted to melt the fuse resistor thereby resulting in an open circuit; and electrically connecting the at least one electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths to the light source comprises electrically connecting each electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths to the light source, each electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths being in parallel with each other.

12. Method according to claim 10, further comprising: for each of the remaining electrical paths, disconnecting by breakage a conductive track thereof and/or the resistor thereby resulting in an open circuit, wherein the breakage preferably comprises laser cutting the conductive track or electrically breaking the resistor; wherein electrically connecting the at least one electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths to the light source comprises electrically connecting each electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths to the light source, each electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths being in parallel with each other.

13. Method according to claim 10, wherein the binning electrical network further comprises a multiplexer connected to the light source and to each electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths; and electrically connecting the at least one electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths to the light source comprises selecting, in the multiplexer, the one electrical path thereby electrically connecting the one electrical path to the light source.

14. Method according to claim 10, wherein the binning electrical network comprises an electronic component with tunable resistance, the electronic component preferably comprising a digitally programmable potentiometer or a variable resistor; and wherein electrically connecting the at least one electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths to the light source comprises varying the tunable resistance of the electronic component to a resistance associated with the predetermined characteristics.

15. Lighting module according to claim 2, wherein the light source comprises at least one LED with the predetermined characteristics.

16. Lighting module according to claim 2, further comprising: an at least second light source; and an at least second binning electrical network comprising a second configurable resistance; wherein the electrical driver module is further configured to supply an electrical current to the at least second light source through the at least second binning electrical network.

17. Lighting module according to claim 9, wherein the light source comprises at least one LED with the predetermined characteristics.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] 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 embodiments of the invention, which should not be interpreted as restricting the scope of the invention, but just as examples of how the invention can be carried out. The drawings comprise the following figures:

[0061] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a lighting module in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0062] FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows an electrical network suitable for a lighting module in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0063] FIGS. 3A-3B diagrammatically show another electrical network suitable for a lighting module in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0064] FIGS. 4A-4B diagrammatically show another electrical network suitable for a lighting module in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0065] FIG. 5 diagrammatically shows another electrical network suitable for a lighting module in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0066] FIG. 6 diagrammatically shows another electrical network suitable for a lighting module in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0067] FIG. 7 diagrammatically shows another electrical network suitable for a lighting module in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0068] FIG. 8 diagrammatically shows another electrical network suitable for a lighting module in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0069] FIG. 9 shows a portion of a PCB with an electrical network suitable for a lighting module in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0070] FIG. 10 shows a portion of another PCB with an electrical network suitable for a lighting module in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0071] FIG. 11 shows a portion of another PCB with an electrical network suitable for a lighting module in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0072] FIG. 12 shows a portion of another PCB with an electrical network suitable for a lighting module in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0073] FIG. 13 shows a portion of another PCB with an electrical network suitable for a lighting module in accordance with the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF A WAY OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0074] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a lighting module 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The lighting module 100 comprises: a light source 101 such as at least one LED with predetermined characteristics, an electrical driver module 102 configured to supply an electrical current to the light source 101 or, in other words, configured to drive the light source 101, and an electrical driving circuit 103 in turn comprising a binning electrical network 104.

[0075] Both the light source 101 and the electrical driver module 102 are electrically connected to the electrical driving circuit 103. The electrical driver module 102 supplies a voltage to the electrical driving circuit 103 thereby resulting in an electrical current that drives the light source 101 connected thereto. The intensity of the electrical current depends on both the voltage supplied by the electrical driver module 102 and the electrical driving circuit 103. Typically, an electrical network 104 includes an electrical path with a resistor (sometimes referred to as binning resistor or R.sub.bin) that modifies the electrical current driving the light source 101. The light source 101 may be correctly driven when the voltage and the electrical driving circuit 103 (including the electrical network 104) are adjusted according to the predetermined characteristics of the light source 101, namely, according to the bin assigned to the light source 101.

[0076] The binning electrical network 104 must be designed such that its impedance (particularly its resistance) may be configured to provide a resistance associated with the predetermined characteristics of the light source 101.

[0077] The electrical driving circuit 103 may be formed on a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board includes electronic components and conductive traces electrically connecting different nodes thereby providing different electrical paths for the currents to flow. There is at least one electrical path that electrically connects the electrical driver module 102 to the light source 101 through the electrical network 104.

[0078] FIG. 2 shows an electrical network 220. The electrical network 220 comprises a first terminal 201 and a second terminal 202 for electrical connection of the electrical network 220 to an electrical driving circuit of a lighting module, for example the electrical driving circuit 103 of the lighting module 100 of FIG. 1. For instance, an electrical driver module (such as the electrical driver module 102 of FIG. 1) may be electrically connected to the electrical network 220 at the first terminal 201, and a light source (such as the light source 101 of FIG. 1) may be electrically connected to the electrical network 220 at the second terminal 202, or vice versa; in any of both cases, between the electrical driver module and the electrical network 220, and between the light source and the electrical network 220, there may be different electronic components and/or electrical paths (that is, the electrical driver module and/or the light source may not be directly connected to the electrical network 220 at the first terminal 201 or the second terminal 202).

[0079] The electrical network 220 further comprises a plurality of electrical paths, in this example four electrical paths (each of them being illustrated comprising a resistor 231-234) that may be used for configuring the electrical network 220 and, accordingly, the lighting module comprising the electrical network 220 to electrically drive a light source thereof according to predetermined characteristics of the light source. Each of the four electrical paths are electrically connectable to the electrical driver module and to the light source, but in this embodiment only one of the four electrical paths (the electrical path with the resistor 233 that comprises a resistance associated with the predetermined characteristics of the light source) is electrically connected to both the electrical driver module and to the light source with electrical connections 281. The remaining electrical paths (the electrical paths with resistors 231, 232 and 234) are not electrically connected to terminals 201 and 202. The electrical connections 281 may comprise wire bonds, ribbon bonds, jumpers or zero-ohm resistors, or conductive traces (of the printed circuit board).

[0080] For a same voltage supplied by the electrical driver module, depending on the electrical path connected to the electrical driver module and the light source, a different electrical current will drive the light source. In the case of the electrical network 220, the electrical current is conditioned by the resistor 233 and the resistance thereof.

[0081] Each electrical path at least includes a binning resistor 231-234 such that each different binning resistor comprises a resistance associated with different predetermined characteristics or brightness classes.

[0082] FIGS. 3A and 3B show another electrical network 221. The electrical network 221 comprises a plurality of electrical paths (with four electrical paths), each electrical path in turn comprising a resistor 231-234. All four electrical paths are in parallel with each other due to the electrical connections 282 (e.g. in the form of wire bonds, ribbon bonds, jumpers or zero-ohm resistors, or conductive traces). A first terminal of all four resistors 231-234 share a common potential (the one of the first terminal 201), and a second terminal of all four resistors 231-234 share another common potential (the one of the second terminal 202).

[0083] Since only one electrical path shall connect the electrical driver module to the light source, some electrical paths may be disconnected by providing an open circuit as shown in FIG. 3B. Particularly, a first electrical path that comprises the resistor 233 is not altered, whereas remaining electrical paths of the plurality of electrical paths are disconnected by breakage thereby resulting in respective open circuits 261, 262 and 264. Two electrical paths (the ones comprising the resistors 231 and 232) have the conductive traces thereof broken, whereas another electrical path (the one comprising the resistor 234) has its resistor 234 broken.

[0084] In some embodiments, only the conductive traces are broken; in some other embodiments, only the resistors are broken; and in some embodiments such as the one depicted in FIG. 3B, at least one resistor and at least one conductive trace are both broken. Preferably, the breakage comprises laser cutting the conductive traces and/or electrically breaking the resistors.

[0085] FIGS. 4A and 4B show another electrical network 222. The electrical network 222 comprises a plurality of electrical paths (with four electrical paths), each electrical path in turn comprising a resistor 231-234 in series with a fuse resistor 241-244. Further, each of the four electrical paths also comprises a terminal 290 for supplying a voltage, if necessary, to disconnect the respective electrical path by melting the respective fuse resistor 241-244. All four electrical paths are in parallel with each other due to the electrical connections 282.

[0086] Since only one electrical path shall connect the electrical driver module to the light source, some electrical paths may be disconnected by providing an open circuit as shown in FIG. 4B. Particularly, one electrical path that comprises both the resistor 233 and the fuse resistor 243 is not altered. For the remaining electrical paths of the plurality of electrical paths, each electrical path is disconnected by melting the fuse resistors 241, 242 and 244 thereby resulting in respective open circuits 251, 252 and 254.

[0087] The fuse resistors 241-244 are fuses with a low resistance (few ohms, e.g. 5 , 2 , 1, or even less than 1, e.g. 500 m, 200 m, or even less). When an electrical current with high intensity (e.g. 0.5 A, 0.8 A, 1.0 A, 1.5 A, 2.0 A, or even greater) flows through the fuse resistor (when it is not blown), it melts the fuse (the fuse resistor is then blown) thereby resulting in an open circuit. Therefore, the electrical network 222 may be configured by blowing some of the fuse resistors 241-244 such that only one electrical path remains connected (due to the existence of an open circuit 251, 252 and 254 in the remaining electrical paths).

[0088] If the electrical path comprising the resistor 233 and the fuse resistor 243 has a resistance or impedance associated with predetermined characteristics of a light source, each of the fuse resistors 241, 242 and 244 needs to be blown as shown in FIG. 4B. Accordingly, when the electrical network 270 is being configured, a voltage is provided at the terminal 290 of the respective electrical paths during a short period of time (e.g. 0.5 seconds, 1 second, 2 seconds, etc.) so that an electrical current of a high intensity (due to the small resistance) flows through the fuse resistor 241, 242 or 244 until it melts. Once the fuse resistor has melted, if the voltage is still supplied at the terminal it does not damage the rest of the electrical network since the electrical current decreases in intensity as it now flows through the resistor 231, 232 or 234. In this sense, each of the resistors 231-234 has a resistance larger than that of the fuse resistors 241-244, so for a same voltage (e.g. 12 volts), the electrical current will have a lower intensity once the electrical current cannot flow through the fuse resistor 241-244 anymore because it is blown.

[0089] The electrical network 222 of FIG. 4B illustrates open circuits 251, 252 and 254 resulting from applying a voltage at the terminal 290 of each of the respective electrical paths. Accordingly, the electrical current provided by an electrical driver module will depend on the electrical path that comprises the resistor 233 and the fuse resistor 243. Since the fuse resistor 243 features a low resistance, this resistance is negligible and the effective impedance of the electrical path (and of the electrical network 271) is that of the resistor 233 whose resistance is associated with the predetermined characteristics of the light source.

[0090] FIG. 5 shows another electrical network 223. The electrical network 223 comprises a plurality of electrical paths (with four electrical paths), each electrical path in turn comprising a resistor 231-234. The electrical network 223 further comprises a demultiplexer 283 for electrically connecting the first terminal 201 to one electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths, and a multiplexer 284 for electrically connecting one electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths to the second terminal 202, particularly a same electrical path selected by the demultiplexer 283.

[0091] Both the demultiplexer 283 and the multiplexer 284 are provided with one or more inputs (not illustrated) for selecting one of the outputs of the demultiplexer 283 and one of the inputs of the multiplexer 284. The resistance of the electrical network 223 is then configured by selecting in both the demultiplexer 283 and the multiplexer 284 the appropriate electrical path for driving a light source, that is, the electrical path comprising the resistor with a resistance associated with predetermined characteristics of the light source.

[0092] FIG. 6 shows another electrical network 224 similar to the electrical network 223 of FIG. 5. The electrical network 224 comprises electrical connection 282 for connecting each of the plurality of electrical paths to the first terminal 201. Then, by selecting one of the electrical paths in the multiplexer 284, only that electrical path will be connected to both an electrical driver module and a light source thereby adjusting the configurable resistance of the electrical network 223.

[0093] In other embodiments, an electrical network comprises a demultiplexer 283 and an electrical connection 282 that replaces the multiplexer 284, however the electrical network operates in a way similar to that of the electrical network 224.

[0094] FIG. 7 shows another electrical network 225 comprising an electrical path between first and second terminals 201 and 202, the electrical path comprising an electronic component 301 with tunable resistance. The electronic component 301 may be a variable resistor such as a potentiometer that permits tuning its resistance. The range of resistances that may be selected from the electronic component 301 at least includes a resistance associated with predetermined characteristics of a light source that may be electrically connected to the electrical network 225.

[0095] FIG. 8 shows another electrical network 226 similar to the electrical network 225. The electrical network 226 comprises an electronic component 311 with tunable resistance. The resistance of the electronic component 311 is digitally modified by means of a component 312 configured to tune the resistance of the electronic component 311. The component 312 comprises several inputs, such as inputs 313 and 314 for powering the component 312, and inputs 315 for tuning the resistance of the electronic component 311. The range of resistances that may be selected from the electronic component 311 at least includes a resistance associated with predetermined characteristics of a light source that may be electrically connected to the electrical network 226.

[0096] Any of the electrical networks 220-226 may be included in a lighting module such as the lighting module 100 of FIG. 1. Particularly, any of the electrical networks 220-226 may be used as the electrical network 104 included in the electrical driving circuit 103 so as to configure the lighting module 100 to electrically drive the light source 101 according to the predetermined characteristics of the light source 101.

[0097] Even though the electrical networks 220-224 comprise a plurality of electrical paths having four electrical paths, it is readily apparent that other electrical networks may comprise two, three, four, five, or more than five electrical paths without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0098] FIG. 9 shows a portion of a printed circuit board 1000 comprising an electrical network that includes a configurable resistance. The electrical network comprises a first terminal 1001, a second terminal 1002, and a plurality of electrical paths (in the form of conductive tracks): five electrical paths 1011-1015 each comprising a binning resistor 1030.

[0099] The electrical network configures a lighting module comprising the electrical network to electrically drive a light source of the lighting module according to predetermined characteristics of the light source. This is carried out by adjusting the configurable resistance of the electrical network resulting from providing electrical connections 1021 (comprising, for instance, wire bonds) between the first terminal 1001 and one electrical path such as the electrical path 1012, and between the one electrical path 1012 and the second terminal 1002. The remaining electrical paths do not affect the impedance of the electrical network since they are arranged as open circuits.

[0100] FIG. 10 shows a portion of another printed circuit board 1100 comprising an electrical network. The electrical network comprises a first terminal 1101, a second terminal 1102, and a plurality of electrical paths (in the form of conductive tracks): five electrical paths 1111-1115 each comprising a binning resistor 1130. Initially, each of the five electrical paths 1111-1115 are electrically connected to both the first terminal 1101 and the second terminal 1102.

[0101] The electrical network configures a lighting module comprising the electrical network to electrically drive a light source of the lighting module according to predetermined characteristics of the light source. This is carried out by adjusting the configurable resistance of the electrical network resulting from laser cutting several electrical paths 1111, 1113-1115 so as to disconnect them by breakage 1140, which in turn results in respective open circuits. The only electrical path 1112 that is still electrically connected to the first and second terminals 1101 and 1102 is provided with a binning resistor 1130 associated with the predetermined characteristics of the light source so that the electrical current driving the light source has the appropriate intensity.

[0102] FIG. 11 shows a portion of a printed circuit board 1200 comprising an electrical network. The electrical network comprises a first terminal 1201, a second terminal 1202, and a plurality of electrical paths (in the form of conductive tracks): five electrical paths 1211-1215 each comprising a binning resistor 1230 in series with a fuse resistor 1240.

[0103] The electrical network configures a lighting module comprising the electrical network to electrically drive a light source of the lighting module according to predetermined characteristics of the light source. This is carried out by programming the configurable resistance of the electrical network resulting from melting several fuse resistors 1240 so as to provide respective open circuits. The only electrical path that is still electrically connected to the first and second terminals 1101 and 1102 (because the respective fuse resistor 1240 has not been blown) is provided with a binning resistor 1230 associated with the predetermined characteristics of the light source so that the electrical current driving the light source has the appropriate intensity.

[0104] FIG. 12 shows a portion of a printed circuit board 1300 comprising an electrical network. The electrical network comprises a first terminal 1301, a second terminal 1302, and a plurality of electrical paths (in the form of conductive tracks): five electrical paths 1311-1315 each comprising a binning resistor 1330 in series with a fuse resistor 1340.

[0105] The electrical network of FIG. 12 works in the same way as the electrical network of FIG. 11, however the electrical paths 1311-1315 are arranged on the printed circuit board 1300 with a different, more compact, layout.

[0106] FIG. 13 shows a portion of a printed circuit board 1400 comprising an electrical network. The electrical network comprises a first terminal 1401, a second terminal 1402, and a plurality of electrical paths (in the form of conductive tracks): four electrical paths 1411-1414 each comprising a binning resistor 1430. The electrical network further comprises a demultiplexer 1420 electrically connected to each of the four electrical paths 1411-1414 and to the second terminal 1402.

[0107] The electrical network configures a lighting module comprising the electrical network to electrically drive a light source of the lighting module according to predetermined characteristics of the light source. This is carried out by programming the configurable resistance of the electrical network resulting from modifying selection signals of the demultiplexer 1420 (terminals 1421) that modify which one of the electrical paths 1411-1414 is electrically connected to the second terminal 1402, whereas the remaining electrical paths 1411-1414 are not electrically connected to the second terminal 1402.

[0108] In this text, the term comprises and its derivations (such as comprising, etc.) should not be understood in an excluding sense, that is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include further elements, steps, etc.

[0109] The invention is obviously not limited to the specific embodiment(s) described herein, but also encompasses any variations that may be considered by any person skilled in the art (for example, as regards the choice of materials, dimensions, components, configuration, etc.), within the general scope of the invention as defined in the claims.