# US 10,485,075 B2 · Automotive lamp with compensation of the luminous flux of the light source > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,485,075 B2 - Document ID: US10485075B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/951,660 - Filed: 2018-04-12 - Published: 2018-10-18 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-13 - Assignees: Valeo Iluminacion - Applicants: Valeo Iluminacion - Inventors: Miguel-Angel Pena; Manuel Calmaestra; Antonio Domingo Illan; Juan-Jose Santaella; Miguel Angel Cantudo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10485075B2 ## CPC - H05B 45/30: Driver circuits - B60Q 1/0088: {Details of electrical connections (B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195)} - B60Q 1/20: Fog lights - G01K 7/021: {Particular circuit arrangements (G01K7/026, G01K7/12, G01K7/14 take precedence)} - H05B 45/18: using temperature feedback - H05B 45/56: involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) ## Abstract An automotive lamp including a light source driven by an electric current, and an electronic circuit configured to modify the electric current. The electronic circuit includes a plurality of discrete analog electronic components. The electronic circuit is configured to modify the electric current driving the light source so as to drive the light source with a first electric current IL1 or with a second electric current IL2; to switch from the first electric current IL1 to the second electric current IL2 when a temperature T of the light source increases and exceeds a first temperature level TL1inc; and to switch from the second electric current IL2 to the first electric current IL1 when the temperature T increases and exceeds a second temperature level TL2inc, where IL2 is greater than ILL and TL2inc is greater than TL1inc. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automotive lamp comprising: a light source driven by an electric current; and an electronic circuit configured to modify the electric current driving the light source; wherein the electronic circuit comprises a plurality of discrete analog electronic components; the electronic circuit is configured: to modify the electric current driving the light source so as to drive the light source with a first electric current IL1 or with a second electric current IL2; to switch from the first electric current IL1 to the second electric current IL2 when a temperature T of the light source increases and exceeds a first temperature level TL1inc (330); and to switch from the second electric current IL2 to the first electric current IL1 when the temperature T increases and exceeds a second temperature level TL2inc; the second electric current IL2 is greater than the first electric current IL1; and the second temperature level TL2inc is greater than the first temperature level TL1inc. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automotive lamp of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit is further configured: to switch from the first electric current IL1 to the second electric current IL2 when the temperature T decreases and is less than a third temperature level TL2dec; and to switch from the second electric current IL2 to the first electric current IL1 when the temperature T decreases and is less than a fourth temperature level TL1dec; wherein the third temperature level TL2dec is greater than the fourth temperature level TL1dec. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The automotive lamp of claim 2, wherein: the second temperature level TL2inc is greater than the third temperature level TL2dec; the third temperature level TL2dec is greater than the first temperature level TL1inc; and the first temperature level TL1inc is greater than the fourth temperature level TL1dec. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The automotive lamp of claim 3, wherein the plurality of discrete analog electronic components comprises a plurality of resistors configured to adjust a value of each of the first, second, third and fourth temperature levels TL1inc, TL2inc, TL2dec and TL1dec. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The automotive lamp of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a branch of a plurality of semiconductor-based light sources. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The automotive lamp of claim 5, further comprising a thermistor configured to sense the temperature T of the branch of a plurality of semiconductor-based light sources or a substrate of the light source. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The automotive lamp of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit does not comprise a microcontroller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The automotive lamp of claim 1, wherein the automotive lamp is a rear fog lamp for a motor vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A motor vehicle comprising a rear fog lamp, the rear fog lamp comprising an automotive lamp of claim 1. ### Claim 10 A method for driving a light source of an automotive lamp, the method being implemented in an electronic circuit comprising a plurality of discrete analog electronic components, the method comprising: driving the light source with a first electric current IL1; switching from the first electric current IL1 to a second electric current IL2 when a temperature T of the light source increases and exceeds a first temperature level TL1inc; and switching from the second electric current IL2 to the first electric current IL1 when the temperature T increases and exceeds a second temperature level TL2inc; wherein the second electric current IL2 is greater than the first electric current IL1; and wherein the second temperature level TL2inc is greater than the first temperature level TL1inc. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: switching from the first electric current IL1 to the second electric current IL2 when the temperature T decreases and is less than a third temperature level TL2dec; and switching from the second electric current IL2 to the first electric current IL1 when the temperature T decreases and is less than a fourth temperature level TL1dec; wherein the third temperature level TL2dec is greater than the fourth temperature level TL1dec. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein: the second temperature level TL2inc is greater than the third temperature level TL2dec; the third temperature level TL2dec is greater than the first temperature level TL1inc; and the first temperature level TL1inc is greater than the fourth temperature level TL1dec. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of discrete analog electronic components comprises a plurality of resistors, and the method further comprises: selecting a resistor for each of the resistors of the plurality of resistors to adjust a value of each of the first, second, third and fourth temperature levels TL1inc, TL2inc, TL2dec and TL1dec. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the light source comprises a branch of a plurality of semiconductor-based light sources, and the method further comprises: providing a thermistor for sensing the temperature T in one of the branch of a plurality of semiconductor-based light sources or a substrate of the light source. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) A method for producing an automotive lamp, the method comprising: providing a light source; and connecting an electronic circuit to drive the light source according to the method of claim 10. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The automotive lamp of claim 2, wherein the light source comprises a branch of a plurality of semiconductor-based light sources. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) The automotive lamp of claim 2, wherein the electronic circuit does not comprise a microcontroller. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) The automotive lamp of claim 2, wherein the automotive lamp is a rear fog lamp for a motor vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 2) A motor vehicle comprising a rear fog lamp, the rear fog lamp comprising an automotive lamp of claim 2. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the light source comprises a branch of a plurality of semiconductor-based light sources, and the method further comprises: providing a thermistor for sensing the temperature T in one of the branch of a plurality of semiconductor-based light sources or a substrate of the light source.