Patent Application
20250202164
This invention is related to the field of automotive lighting devices, and more particularly, to the electric connections between elements comprised therein.
Card edge connections are massively used in different electronic assemblies. Automotive vehicles also make use of these connections in their lighting devices, where multitude of different channels need independent control electric signals.
The connection operation of a card edge connector is easy, since it relies on introducing a plane portion inside a female housing. No individual pins are used in these connections, so the risk of bending or breaking very thin elements is eliminated.
However, due to the ease of this connection operation, these two portions may be easily disconnected as well, and a reliable mechanism to detect an accidental disconnection is useful in these cases.
Connector position assurance pins are a good solution for this problem. One of the pins of the connector provides information about the connection state of the whole connector: if the connector position assurance pin is connected, the rest of the pins are connected for sure.
However, the main connector does not usually have such an amount of spare pins to be dedicated to this function.
A solution for this problem is therefore sought.
The invention provides a solution for this problem by an electronic device for an automotive vehicle, the electronic device comprising a main connector, a first module, a first module connector and an electrically conductive part comprising at least a portion accessible from the exterior of the electronic device, wherein
With such an arrangement, the connection status of the first luminous module may be obtained from an impedance measurement between the electrically conductive part and the main ground connection, since the information about connection is transmitted to this element, which receives the equivalent resistance value of the resistors which are involved in the connection of the connector position assurance terminals. These resistor values provide a reliable information about the connection of the connector position assurance terminals without the need of a dedicated pin in the main connector.
In some embodiments, there is a single main power input but in other embodiments there are more than one main power input. This is a frequent arrangement when there is more than one function to be supplied.
The electrically conductive part is an element which has at least a portion which is accessible from the exterior of the luminous device (e.g., from the exterior of the zone defined by the housing and an outer lens, in a standard luminous device). The skilled person construes the meaning of the “exterior” of the luminous device without any effort.
The concept of “terminals” is used as a generic way of referring to the elements which produce the electric contact between a wired portion of a connector and the corresponding receptacle portion. In some cases, the connector is needles connector, so the first terminals are spring plates and the second terminals are needles (or vice versa). In other embodiments, the connector is a card edge connector, so the receptacle portion are the tracks of the circuit, while the wired portion comprise the complementary tracks which are to be connected with the tracks of the circuit. Hence, the concept of terminals may be extended to any type of male-female electrical connection, especially the ones used in automotive electric connections.
The first connector position assurance terminal is usually connected to the electrically conductive part by means of retention elements like screws, or by using blade springs, or a conductive paste, or by other means which do not need the use of physical wires. Conductive elements which may be simultaneously used for a different function may be used to perform this connection, thus saving material and, hence, reducing the final cost of the device
In some particular embodiments, the electronic device further comprises a second module and a second module connector,
The invention is particularly advantageous when more than one module is involved, since all the first connector position assurance terminals (no matter how many of them there are) are connected together, and the equivalent impedance of the corresponding connector position assurance can therefore be measured in the electrically conductive element.
In some particular embodiments, the second resistor has a different value than the first resistor
When more than one module is present, if each module is associated to a different resistor value, the resistor value measured at the conductive part not only provides information about how many connectors are connected, but also provides information about which connector is connected or not: for a given failed connection (i.e., when the first CPA terminal is not connected to the corresponding second CPA terminal), the particular measurement provides information to determine which is the specific connector that is not properly connected. This can be used for statistics on failed connections and so for better quality control and assembly procedures adjustment.
In some particular embodiments, the electronic element of the first electronic circuit and/or the electronic element of the second electronic circuit is a solid-state light source or an auxiliary electronic element which is configured to provide control or power supply to a solid-state light source.
The term “solid state” refers to light emitted by solid-state electroluminescence, which uses semiconductors to convert electricity into light. Compared to incandescent lighting, solid state lighting creates visible light with reduced heat generation and less energy dissipation. The typically small mass of a solid-state electronic lighting device provides for greater resistance to shock and vibration compared to brittle glass tubes/bulbs and long, thin filament wires. They also eliminate filament evaporation, potentially increasing the life span of the illumination device. Some examples of these types of lighting comprise semiconductor light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), or polymer light-emitting diodes (PLED) as sources of illumination rather than electrical filaments, plasma or gas.
The auxiliary electronic element may be a micro-controller or a driver, which is in charge of providing a controlled power to the light source.
In some particular embodiments, the first connector position assurance terminals are only connected with each other.
The first connection position assurance terminals have the relevant information of the connection status of the modules of the electronic device. Hence, when more than one module is present, it is enough that the first connection position assurance terminals are interconnected with each other to provide this information by means of the connection of the second connection position assurance terminal of the first electronic circuit with the electrically conductive element.
In some particular embodiments, at least one of the connection impedances also comprises a capacitor arranged in parallel with the corresponding resistor.
The role of such a capacitor is to let very high voltage peaks, caused by electrostatic discharges (ESDs) directly discharge to the ground without damaging other circuit elements. The parallel connection to the resistor allows the capacitor to desaturate when no tension is applied. On the other hand, the resistor (apart from the main function of providing information about connection) allows the reduction of the current in the event current would flow from the heatsink (e.g., if there is a contact with a power supply pin, which could happen during vehicle maintenance). The capacitor is saturated whenever a stationary current is supplied, even a weak current such as for a resistance measurement so the resistance measurement can be done without disturbance from the capacitor.
Hence, this parallel arrangement offers two independent advantages: on one side, it prevents damage from ESD/unwanted power supply on the heatsink and, on the other hand, it allows for CPA validation.
In some particular embodiments, the second connector position assurance terminal is configured to be the last in making electric contact with the corresponding first connector position assurance terminal.
One way to check electric connection between the wired portion and the receptacle portion is the fact that the electric connection between the first connector position assurance terminal and the second connector position assurance terminal is only performed once the connection between the rest of the terminals of the wired portion and the receptacle portion have taken place. One possible way of achieving this is by the second connector position assurance terminal ending at a distance from the connection line which is higher than the rest of the terminals. Since this second connector position assurance terminal ends “earlier”, it is the last one to couple with their respective connector position assurance terminal. Hence, if this connector position assurance terminal is connected, it is sure that the rest of the terminals are connected as well. Other way of achieving this goal is by the first connector position assurance terminal being located at a different distance from the connection line that the rest of the first terminals. This is an alternative option based in the same principle: the second connector position assurance terminal is the last one to couple with their respective first connector position assurance terminal.
In some particular embodiments, the conductive part is a metallized element.
Metallization process are common in the manufacturing of automotive luminous devices, so there are some metallized elements which may be used in this context.
In some particular embodiments, the conductive part is a metallic element.
Instead of a metallized part, a metallic part may also be used.
In some particular embodiments, the conductive part is a heatsink.
In any case, either metallized or metallic, a heatsink is an element which is easily accessible to perform this measuring and which is a conductive part, so it is an especially adapted for this mission.
In some particular embodiments, the electronic device further comprises a housing and an outer lens, wherein the joint between the housing and the outer lens is watertight, and wherein the housing comprises holes which are sealed in a watertight manner.
This watertight connection is required by some car manufacturers, and the present invention is able to provide it without compromising the solution of the main technical problem, which is the detection of the correct connection of the connectors without using a dedicated pin in the main connector.
In some particular embodiments, the main connector is the only connector accessible from the exterior of the region defined by the housing and the outer lens. Further, in some particular embodiments, the connection position assurance pin is not connected to the main connector.
The fact that the main connector is the only connector which is accessible from the outside improves and simplifies the mechanical assembly within the automotive vehicle. Further, this arrangement help in the sense that the main connector does not usually have many spare pins. Providing CPA information without using a pin of the main connector is also advantageous.
In some particular embodiments, the first and/or the second module connector is a card edge connector.
This is one of the most representative embodiments, although not the only one. In this case, the receptacle portion would be the portion of the tracks of the circuit which are to be contacted by the corresponding matching tracks of the wired portion of the connector.
In some particular embodiments, each electronic circuit is comprised in a corresponding printed circuit board, and at least one of the printed circuit boards has a retention portion which forms a retention element, such as a pair of resilient arms, configured for resiliently receive the card edge connector and retaining it after reception.
These retention means are advantageous to prevent an accidental disconnection of the connectors.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealised or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
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
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:
according to the invention.
In these figures, the following reference numbers have been used:
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.
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
This automotive lighting device 10 comprises a plurality of lighting modules 30. Each lighting module 30 comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 9 arranged in a printed circuit board together with a driver configured to control the operation of these groups of LEDs.
The matrix configuration is a high-resolution module, having a resolution greater than 2000 pixels. However, no restriction is attached to the technology used for producing the projection modules.
A first example of this matrix configuration comprises a monolithic source. This monolithic source comprises a matrix of monolithic electroluminescent elements arranged in several columns by several rows. In a monolithic matrix, the electroluminescent elements can be grown from a common substrate and are electrically connected to be selectively activatable either individually or by a subset of electroluminescent elements. The substrate may be predominantly made of a semiconductor material. The substrate may comprise one or more other materials, for example non-semiconductors (metals and insulators). Thus, each electroluminescent element/group can form a light pixel and can therefore emit light when its/their material is supplied with electricity. The configuration of such a monolithic matrix allows the arrangement of selectively activatable pixels very close to each other, compared to conventional light-emitting diodes intended to be soldered to printed circuit boards. The monolithic matrix may comprise electroluminescent elements whose main dimension of height, measured perpendicularly to the common substrate, is substantially equal to one micrometre
The monolithic matrix is coupled to the control centre so as to control the generation and/or the projection of a pixelated light beam by the matrix arrangement 6. The control centre is thus able to individually control the light emission of each pixel of the matrix arrangement.
Alternatively to what has been presented above, the matrix arrangement 6 may comprise a main light source coupled to a matrix of mirrors. Thus, the pixelated light source is formed by the assembly of at least one main light source formed of at least one light emitting diode emitting light and an array of optoelectronic elements, for example a matrix of micro-mirrors, also known by the acronym DMD, for “Digital Micro-mirror Device”, which directs the light rays from the main light source by reflection to a projection optical element. Where appropriate, an auxiliary optical element can collect the rays of at least one light source to focus and direct them to the surface of the micro-mirror array.
Each micro-mirror can pivot between two fixed positions, a first position in which the light rays are reflected towards the projection optical element, and a second position in which the light rays are reflected in a different direction from the projection optical element. The two fixed positions are oriented in the same manner for all the micro-mirrors and form, with respect to a reference plane supporting the matrix of micro-mirrors, a characteristic angle of the matrix of micro-mirrors defined in its specifications. Such an angle is generally less than 20° and may be usually about 12°. Thus, each micro-mirror reflecting a part of the light beams which are incident on the matrix of micro-mirrors forms an elementary emitter of the pixelated light source. The actuation and control of the change of position of the mirrors for selectively activating this elementary emitter to emit or not an elementary light beam is controlled by the control centre.
In different embodiments, the matrix arrangement may comprise a scanning laser system wherein a laser light source emits a laser beam towards a scanning element which is configured to explore the surface of a wavelength converter with the laser beam. An image of this surface is captured by the projection optical element.
The exploration of the scanning element may be performed at a speed sufficiently high so that the human eye does not perceive any displacement in the projected image.
The synchronized control of the ignition of the laser source and the scanning movement of the beam makes it possible to generate a matrix of elementary emitters that can be activated selectively at the surface of the wavelength converter element. The scanning means may be a mobile micro-mirror for scanning the surface of the wavelength converter element by reflection of the laser beam. The micro-mirrors mentioned as scanning means are for example MEMS type, for “Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems”. However, the invention is not limited to such a scanning means and can use other kinds of scanning means, such as a series of mirrors arranged on a rotating element, the rotation of the element causing a scanning of the transmission surface by the laser beam.
In another variant, the light source may be complex and include both at least one segment of light elements, such as light emitting diodes, and a surface portion of a monolithic light source.
A main printed circuit board 1 comprises an electronic circuit. This electronic circuit starts in an edge portion 11 of the main printed circuit board 1 and communicate this edge portion 11 with a driver 2, which is intended to manage the lighting and signalling functions of the light sources located in the luminous device.
A main connector 3 is coupled to the edge portion 11 of the main substrate 1. This main connector 3 provides the main printed circuit board 1 with power supply and control signals coming from the body control module of the vehicle.
The main connector 3 comprises five electrical inputs 31 and five electrical outputs 32. The electrical inputs 31 are configured to transmit the power supply and the control signals to the main printed circuit board 1. To achieve this aim, they couple electrically to the electric tracks of the main substrate 1 when the main connector 3 is plugged into the edge portion 11 of the main printed circuit board 1.
The electrical connections described in these figures are performed by means of card edge connectors, so each printed circuit board has tracks as a particular example of the terminals of the receptacle portion of the connector, while the card edge connectors have tracks which correspond to the wired portion of the connectors. In different embodiments, the connection between the connectors and the circuits may be performed with different types of connections.
The electrical outputs 32 are also coupled to the electrical tracks of the opposite side of the main printed circuit board 1.
There are also three secondary printed circuit boards 4, 6, 12. In different embodiments, there may be more secondary printed circuit boards, since the invention is not limited to a specific number of them.
Each secondary printed circuit boards 4, 6, 12 comprises a LED 9 and electric tracks which communicate the edge portions 41, 61, 14 of the corresponding secondary printed circuit board with the corresponding LED 9.
The LEDs 9 of each secondary printed circuit board 4, 6, 12 are intended to be controlled by the driver 2 of the main printed circuit board 1.
This control is achieved by means of a daisy-chain connection, as shown in
The main connector 3 is coupled to the edge portion 11 of the main printed circuit board 1. Each electrical input 31 is configured to receive power supply and control signals from the body control module and is electrically coupled to an electric track of the main printed circuit board 1. After feeding the circuit of the main printed circuit board 1, the electric tracks of the opposite side are coupled to the electrical outputs 32 of the main connector 3.
The first secondary connector 5 is coupled to the edge portion of the first secondary printed circuit board 4. The first secondary connector comprises five inputs 51, each input 51 being connected by wire with one output 32 of the main connector 3. After feeding the circuit of the first secondary printed circuit board 4, the electric tracks of the opposite side are coupled to the electrical outputs 52 of the first secondary connector 5.
The second secondary connector 7 is coupled to the edge portion of the second secondary printed circuit board 6. The second secondary connector 7 comprises five inputs 71, each input 71 being connected by wire with one output 52 of the first secondary connector 5. After feeding the circuit of the second secondary printed circuit board 6, the electric tracks of the opposite side are coupled to the electrical outputs 72 of the second secondary connector 7.
The third secondary connector 13 is coupled to the edge portion of the third secondary printed circuit board 12. The third secondary connector 13 comprises five inputs 15, each input 15 being connected by wire with one output 72 of the second secondary connector 7.
Each conductive track 17 reaches its respective connector terminal and the second connector position assurance track 20 is shorter than the rest of the second tracks 17, thus ending at a distance from the edge of the connector 11 which is higher than the rest of the second tracks 17.
With this arrangement, the second connector position assurance track 20 is the last to be connected to its respective first connector position assurance terminal 27, thus ensuring that, if this connection is produced, the rest of the electric connections are achieved.
In both
Therefore, with any of the embodiments shown in
This connection between the second connector position assurance track 20 and its corresponding first connector position assurance terminal feeds one sub-circuit which is independent from the one of the light source.
This sub-circuit has a first branch 21, which contains the first connector position assurance terminal 27, and a second branch 22, which comprises an impedance which comprises a parallel connection of a resistor 23 and a capacitor 28, this impedance being grounded. When the circuit is closed (i.e., when the second connector position assurance track is connected to the first connector position assurance terminal 27), the first branch sees this impedance value.
The role of the capacitor 28 is to let very high voltage peaks, caused by electrostatic discharges (ESDs) directly discharge to the ground without damaging other circuit elements. The parallel connection to the resistor allows the capacitor to desaturate when no tension is applied. On the other hand, the resistor (apart from the main function of providing information about connection) allows the reduction of the current in the event current would flow from the heatsink (e.g., if there is a contact with a power supply pin, which could happen during vehicle maintenance). The capacitor is saturated whenever a stationary current is supplied, even a weak current such as for a resistance measurement so the resistance measurement can be done without disturbance from the capacitor.
Since each sub-circuit has its own resistor value, the resistance value measured between the heatsink and the ground connection provides information about the connection state of every printed circuit board: if every connector is properly connected, the resistance value will see all the resistors in parallel. However, if one of them is not connected, the resistance value will see a different value, depending on which is the resistor that is not connected to the circuit. Thus, the control of all the printed circuit boards is performed with a single resistance measurement. If the first resistor value is 1 Ω, the second resistor value is 2 Ω and the third resistor value is 3 Ω, when the first and third are connected, the measured value will be 0.75 Ω. When the first and second are connected, the equivalent is 0.67 Ω, when the second and third are connected, the measured value will be 1.2 Ω and when all of them are connected, 0.55 Ω will be measured. Hence, depending on the value, the operator may know whether everything is connected or not and, in case there is a module which is not connected, which module or modules are not connected.
As may be seen in this figure, the first connector position assurance terminals are only connected between themselves. In different embodiments, this connection could be slightly different, by means of the interposition of known elements which may cause known affections in the resistance measurement. These known elements may be predetermined impedances or circuit boards, but in any case, the CPA circuit, comprising the first CPA terminals and these known elements, is not mixed with the circuits in charge of providing the lighting and/or signalling functions to the vehicle.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR2206702 | Jun 2022 | FR | national |
| 22190842.9 | Aug 2022 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2023/068120 | 6/30/2023 | WO |
