# US 9,434,298 B2 · Direction indicator circuit for controlling a direction indicator in a vehicle

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- Number: US 9,434,298 B2
- Document ID: US9434298B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/036,031
- Filed: 2013-09-25
- Published: 2014-03-27
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-09-25
- Assignees: Infineon Technologies AG
- Applicants: Infineon Technologies AG
- Inventors: Gebhart Dippold; Stephane Fraisse; Robert Illing; Albino Pidutti
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434298B2

## CPC

- B60Q 1/34: for indicating change of drive direction (B60Q1/22 takes precedence)
- B60Q 1/382: {Electronic temporisation with semiconductor amplification}
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL

## Abstract

In various embodiments, a direction indicator circuit for controlling a direction indicator in a vehicle is provided. The direction indicator circuit may include: a first terminal for connecting to a supply voltage; a second terminal for connecting to a direction indicator switch and a lighting means; a third terminal for connecting to a capacitor; and a switch for providing a current, wherein the switch is connected to the first terminal and to the second terminal; wherein the direction indicator circuit is designed to provide the lighting means with a current during an on state using the switch and with no current during an off state; wherein during the on state the direction indicator circuit checks the provided current at least once and goes into the off state if the check detects a current which is lower than a predefined current.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A direction indicator circuit for controlling a direction indicator in a vehicle, the direction indicator circuit comprising:
a first terminal directly connected to a supply voltage;
a second terminal for connecting to a direction indicator switch and a lighting means;
a third terminal for connecting to a capacitor; wherein the third terminal is directly connected to the first terminal; and
a switch for providing a current, wherein the switch is directly connected to the first terminal and to the second terminal;
wherein the direction indicator circuit is designed to provide the lighting means with a current during an on state using the switch and with no current during an off state;
wherein during the on state the direction indicator circuit checks the provided current at least once and goes into the off state if the check detects a current which is lower than a predefined current.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The direction indicator circuit of claim 1,
wherein during the on state the direction indicator circuit checks the voltage which is present across the switch and goes into the off state if the check detects a voltage which is lower than a predefined switch voltage.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The direction indicator circuit of claim 2,
wherein the direction indicator circuit firstly checks the voltage which is present at the switch and then checks the provided current if the checking of the voltage detects a voltage which is lower than the predefined switch voltage.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The direction indicator circuit of claim 1,
wherein the switch is a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor and the voltage which is present is a drain-source voltage.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The direction indicator circuit of claim 1,
wherein the direction indicator circuit goes from the off state into the on state if a voltage between the second terminal and the third terminal exceeds a specific upper value.

### Claim 6

A direction indicator circuit for controlling a direction indicator in a vehicle, the direction indicator circuit comprising:
a first terminal for connecting to a supply voltage;
a second terminal for connecting to a direction indicator switch and a lighting means;
a third terminal for connecting to a capacitor; and
a switch for providing a current, wherein the switch is connected to the first terminal and to the second terminal;
wherein the direction indicator circuit is designed to provide the lighting means with a current during an on state using the switch and with no current during an off state;
wherein during the on state the direction indicator circuit checks the provided current at least once and goes into the off state if the check detects a current which is lower than a predefined current;
wherein the direction indicator circuit checks the voltage present at the switch and then checks a provided current if the voltage check detects a voltage lower than a predefined switch voltage.

### Claim 7

A direction indicator circuit for controlling a direction indicator in a vehicle, the direction indicator circuit comprising:
a first terminal directly connected to a supply voltage;
a second terminal for connecting to a direction indicator switch and a lighting means;
a third terminal for connecting to a capacitor; wherein the third terminal is directly connected to the first terminal; and
a p-channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor switch for providing a current, wherein the switch is directly connected to the first terminal and to the second terminal;
wherein the direction indicator circuit is designed to provide the lighting means with a current during an on state using the switch and with no current during an off state;
wherein during the on state the direction indicator circuit checks the provided current at least once and goes into the off state if the check detects a current which is lower than a predefined current.