LED headlight assembly and control
AssigneeTesla, Inc.
InventorRoss Harvey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure includes methods and systems for creating, using, and controlling LED headlight topologies and matrices that require fewer parts, electricity, and power, while allowing for advanced features such as bend lighting. The disclosed methods and systems can enable the use of smaller electrical systems, including control systems for LED and other headlight topologies. The disclosed methods and systems can also take advantage of pixel pairing and time multiplexing, among other methods, to manage electrical flow to minimize power needed over the circuit at given times, thus reducing the amount of material needed to create the LED headlight topology and related methods and systems for creating, using, and controlling the LED headlight topology.
Claims20
A system for controlling light emitting diodes (LEDs) in a vehicle, comprising:
- an electronic control unit (ECU) which is configured to control current, voltage, or power to an LED driver circuit;
- a first LED and a second LED electrically connected to the LED driver circuit;
- a first shunt connected to the ECU and configured to control an intensity of the first LED to control a first LED function;
- and
- a second shunt connected to the ECU and configured to control an intensity of the second LED to control a second LED function;
- the ECU being configured to:
- pair the first LED with the second LED, wherein a total intensity of the pairing of the first LED with the second LED is below a maximum intensity of any individual pixel powered by the LED driver circuit;
- determine a threshold number of volt-seconds for the LED driver circuit to output;
- and
- output a number of volt-seconds from the LED driver circuit that is below the threshold number.
A method of controlling a light emitting diode (LED) matrix in a vehicle, the method comprising:
- receiving a signal to activate a set of LEDs in the vehicle electrically connected to an LED driver circuit, the set of LEDs comprising a first LED and a second LED;
- controlling a first shunt connected to the first LED to control an intensity of the first LED;
- controlling a second shunt connected to the second LED to control an intensity of the second LED;
- pairing the first LED with the second LED, wherein a total intensity of the pairing of the first LED with the second LED is below a maximum intensity of any individual pixel powered by the first LED driver;
- determining a threshold number of volt-seconds for the LED driver circuit to output;
- outputting a number of volt-seconds from the LED driver circuit that is below the threshold number;
- and
- activating the LED driver circuit to provide power to the set of LEDs.
A method of controlling a light emitting diode (LED) matrix in a vehicle headlight assembly, the method comprising:
- identifying a first LED and a second LED of the LED matrix powered by an LED driver;
- pairing the first LED with the second LED, wherein a total intensity of the pairing of the first LED with the second LED is below a maximum intensity of any individual pixel powered by the LED driver;
- determining a threshold number of volt-seconds for the LED driver to output;
- and
- outputting a number of volt-seconds from the LED driver that is below the threshold number.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.