US 12,690,104 B2Granted

Method for controlling the illumination of at least one light source arranged at an end of at least one light guide

AssigneeValeo Vision

InventorJulien Roy

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Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling the illumination of at least one light source arranged at an end of at least one at least partially transparent or translucent light guide, the method being implemented by a driver device for driving the light source. According to the invention, the driver device is configured to control the illumination of the light source by means of pulse-width modulation and the method includes a first phase in which the illumination of the light source is controlled according to a first control ramp until a first level of intermediate lighting of the light source is reached and a second phase in which the illumination of the light source is controlled according to a second control ramp until a second level of lighting of the light source is reached, the slopes of the first and second control ramps being separate.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method for controlling turn-on of at least one assembly, the at least one assembly including a light guide that is at least partially transparent or translucent and two light sources, each light source being placed at a separate end of the light guide and being connected to the driver with the driver being configured to use pulse-width-modulation-based control to turn on the light source, and in that the method comprises:

employing a first phase with a pulse-width-modulation-based control according to a first control ramp to turn on the light source, the first control ramp being up to a first duty-cycle value corresponding to a first intermediate illumination level of the light source;
and,
employing a second phase with the pulse-width-modulation-based control according to a second control ramp to turn on the light source, the second control ramp being up to a second duty-cycle value corresponding to a second illumination level of the light source, the slopes of the first and second control ramps being distinct, the luminous intensity of the light emitted by the light source at its second illumination level being greater than the luminous intensity of the light emitted by the light source at its first illumination level,
employing the first phase includes:
turning on a first light source with the pulse-width-modulation-based control according to a first control ramp, the first control ramp being up to a first duty-cycle value corresponding to a first intermediate illumination level of the first light source, and,
turning on a second light source with the pulse-width-modulation-based control according to a third control ramp, the third control ramp being up to a third duty-cycle value corresponding to a first intermediate illumination level of the second light source;
and
employing the second phase includes:
turning on the first light source with the pulse-width-modulation-based control according to a second control ramp to a second illumination level of the first light source, the second control ramp being up to a second duty-cycle value corresponding to the second illumination level of the first light source, and,
turning on the second light source with the pulse-width-modulation-based control according to a fourth control ramp to a second illumination level of the second light source, the fourth control ramp being up to a fourth duty-cycle value corresponding to the second illumination level of the second light source,
wherein the slopes of the first and second control ramps, and of the third and fourth control ramps, respectively, are distinct.

8 more elements

A vehicle luminous device comprising at least one light guide that is at least partially transparent or translucent, at least one light source placed at one end of the light guide, and a light-source driver connected to the at least one light source, the at least one light guide includes, on an external surface, at least one striation extending substantially transversely to a main direction of extension of the light guide,

with the driver is configured to employ a first phase with a pulse-width-modulation-based control according to a first control ramp to turn on the light source, the first control ramp being up to a first duty-cycle value corresponding to a first intermediate illumination level of the light source and employ a second phase with the pulse-width-modulation-based control according to a second control ramp to turn on the light source, the second control ramp being up to a second duty-cycle value corresponding to a second illumination level of the light source, the slopes of the first and second control ramps being distinct, the luminous intensity of the light emitted by the light source at its second illumination level being greater than the luminous intensity of the light emitted by the light source at its first illumination level, to turn on the at least one light source.

A vehicle headlamp comprising a luminous device that includes at least one light guide that is at least partially transparent or translucent, at least one light source placed at one end of the light guide, and a light-source driver connected to the at least one light source, with the driver is configured to employ a first phase with a pulse-width-modulation-based control according to a first control ramp to turn on the light source, the first control ramp being up to a first duty-cycle value corresponding to a first intermediate illumination level of the light source and employ a second phase with the pulse-width-modulation-based control according to a second control ramp to turn on the light source, the second control ramp being up to a second duty-cycle value corresponding to a second illumination level of the light source, the slopes of the first and second control ramps being distinct, the luminous intensity of the light emitted by the light source at its second illumination level being greater than the luminous intensity of the light emitted by the light source at its first illumination level, to turn on the at least one light source

wherein employing the first phase includes:
turning on a first light source with the pulse-width-modulation-based control according to a first control ramp, the first control ramp being up to a first duty-cycle value corresponding to a first intermediate illumination level of the first light source, and,
turning on a second light source with the pulse-width-modulation-based control according to a third control ramp, the third control ramp being up to a third duty-cycle value corresponding to a first intermediate illumination level of the second light source;
employing the second phase includes:
turning on the first light source with the pulse-width-modulation-based control according to a second control ramp to a second illumination level of the first light source, the second control ramp being up to a second duty-cycle value corresponding to the second illumination level of the first light source, and,
turning on the second light source with the pulse-width-modulation-based control according to a fourth control ramp to a second illumination level of the second light source, the fourth control ramp being up to a fourth duty-cycle value corresponding to the second illumination level of the second light source,
wherein the slopes of the first and second control ramps, and of the third and fourth control ramps, respectively, are distinct.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/716,316Filed 6 Dec 2022
Priority: FR 21130316 Dec 2021
Published: US 2025/0040011 A130 Jan 2025
Granted: 21 Jul 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

B60Q 1/381
Using immovably-mounted light sources, e.g. fixed flashing lamps: with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
H05B 45/325
Pulse-control circuits: pulse-width modulation [PWM]
B60Q 1/0011
Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor: with light guides for distributing…
B60Q 1/1415
Having dimming means: dimming circuits