# US 11,310,890 B2 · Vehicle lamp control apparatus

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,310,890 B2
- Document ID: US11310890B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/656,371
- Filed: 2019-10-17
- Published: 2020-04-23
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2018-10-18
- Assignees: Silicon Works Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Silicon Works Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Ju Hyun Lee; Hai Feng Jin; Sung Gon Kim; Dong Hyeon Kim; Ho Jeong Jin; Chang Sik Shin; Ju Pyo Hong
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310890B2

## CPC

- H05B 45/46: having LEDs disposed in parallel lines
- H05B 47/16: by timing means
- B60Q 1/381: {with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect}
- H05B 45/00: Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
- H05B 45/32: Pulse-control circuits
- H05B 45/37: Converter circuits
- B60Q 1/34: for indicating change of drive direction (B60Q1/22 takes precedence)
- B60Q 2900/40: Several lamps activated in sequence, e.g. sweep effect, progressive activation
- B60R 16/033: characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries (for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36)
- Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
- 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
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

The present disclosure discloses a vehicle lamp control apparatus. The vehicle lamp control apparatus includes a timing generator configured to detect first and second setting voltages, which are varied, and measure a time in which each of the first and second setting voltages reaches a reference voltage to generate first and second delay times, and a lamp control circuit configured to control sequential turn-on of LED channels using the first and second delay times.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle lamp control apparatus comprising:
a timing generator configured to detect a first setting voltage and a second setting voltage, which are varied, and measure a time in which each of the first setting voltage and the second setting voltage reaches a reference voltage to generate a first delay time and a second delay time; and
a lamp control circuit configured to control sequential turn-on of light-emitting diode (LED) channels using the first delay time and the second delay time, and
wherein the first setting voltage and the second setting voltages are varied with different slopes from each other.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle lamp control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first external module and a second external module that are connected to the timing generator,
wherein the timing generator detects the first setting voltage and the second setting voltage that vary according to currents of the first external module and the second external module.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The vehicle lamp control apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the first external module and the second external module includes at least one of a capacitor and a resistor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vehicle lamp control apparatus of claim 3, wherein the timing generator adjusts the first delay time and the second delay time according to at least one of a value of the capacitor, a value of the resistor, a level of the reference voltage, and an intensity of the current.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

the vehicle lamp control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the timing generator detects the first setting voltage and the second setting voltage that are varied according to at least one of values of a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal and an analog signal that are provided from the outside.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The vehicle lamp control apparatus of claim 5, wherein the timing generator adjusts the first delay time and the second delay time according to at least one of the PWM signal, the analog signal, and the level of the reference voltage.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The vehicle lamp control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the timing generator receives a battery status signal, which is activated when battery power supplied in conjunction with a turn signal is stabilized, and provides the first delay time and the second delay time to the lamp control circuit in response to the battery status signal.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The vehicle lamp control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a switch circuit configured to supply battery power in response to a turn signal; and
a converter configured to regulate the battery power supplied from the switch circuit and provide a predetermined voltage, which is obtained by regulating the battery power, to the LED channels.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The vehicle lamp control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lamp control circuit includes:
a timing controller configured to generate a start signal using a battery status signal and the first delay time and generate a channel control signal using the start signal and the second delay time; and
a constant current controller configured to turn on at least one of the LED channels in response to the start signal and sequentially turn on the remaining LED channels in response to the channel control signal.

### Claim 10

A vehicle lamp control apparatus comprising:
a timing generator configured to detect a setting voltage, which is varied, in response to a battery status signal and generate a delay time by measuring a time in which the setting voltage reaches a reference voltage;
a lamp control circuit configured to sequentially turn on light-emitting diode (LED) channels at an interval of the delay time;
an external module connected to the timing generator, and
wherein the timing generator receives the battery status signal, which is activated when battery power supplied in conjunction with a turn signal is stabilized, and provides the delay time to the lamp control circuit in response to the battery status signal, and
wherein the external module includes at least one of a capacitor and a resistor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The vehicle lamp control apparatus of claim 10,
wherein the timing generator detects the setting voltage varied according to a current of the external module.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The vehicle lamp control apparatus of claim 11, wherein the timing generator adjusts the delay time according to at least one of a value of the capacitor, a value of the resistor, a level of the reference voltage, and an intensity of the current.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The vehicle lamp control apparatus of claim 10, wherein the timing generator detects the setting voltage varied according to at least one of values of a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal and an analog signal that are provided from the outside.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The vehicle lamp control apparatus of claim 13, wherein the timing generator adjusts the delay time according to at least one of the PWM signal, the analog signal, and the level of the reference voltage.

### Claim 15

A vehicle lamp control apparatus comprising:
a timing generator configured to detect setting voltages, which are varied, in response to a battery status signal and generate delay times by measuring a time in which each of the setting voltages reaches a reference voltage;
a timing controller configured to generate a start signal using the battery status signal and at least one of the delay times and generate channel control signals using the start signal and the delay times not used to generate the start signal; and
a constant current controller configured to turn on at least one of light-emitting diode (LED) channels in response to the start signal and to control sequential turn-on of the remaining LED channels in response to each of the channel control signals.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The vehicle lamp control apparatus of claim 15, wherein the timing generator receives the battery status signal, which is activated when battery power supplied in conjunction with a turn signal is stabilized, and provides the delay times to the timing controller in response to the battery status signal.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The vehicle lamp control apparatus of claim 15, further comprising external modules connected to the timing generator,
wherein the timing generator detects the setting voltages varied according to currents of the external modules,
each of the external modules includes at least one of a capacitor and a resistor, and
the timing generator adjusts each of the delay times according to at least one of a value of the capacitor, a value of the resistor, a level of the reference voltage, and an intensity of the current of each of the external modules.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The vehicle lamp control apparatus of claim 15, wherein when a lamp control circuit includes a plurality of integrated circuits (ICs), at least one of the ICs sets the start signal to a time at which all the LED channels driven in the previous ICs are turned on.