Lighting module for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10220780-B2
Application number	US-201815960741-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2018
Priority date	May 4, 2017
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a lighting module for a vehicle, the lighting module comprising: a light emitting device; and a control unit configured to control a lighting state of the lighting device, wherein the lighting module is adapted for arrangement in a first location of at least two spatially separated locations of the vehicle; wherein the control unit of the lighting module comprises a connection port, wherein the control unit is configured to receive a voltage status via the connection port, the voltage status being indicative of that the lighting module is configured to be arranged in the first location.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lighting module for a vehicle, the lighting module comprising:
a light emitting device; and
a control unit configured to control a lighting state of the light emitting device;
wherein the lighting module is arrangeable in a first location of at least two spatially separated locations of the vehicle, the control unit of the lighting module comprises a connection port, and the control unit is configured to receive a passive voltage status via the connection port, the passive voltage status being indicative of that the lighting module is configured to be arranged in the first location.

2. The lighting module according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a storage device, the control unit is pre-configured for use in any one of the at least two locations of the vehicle before the vehicle has stored a value indicative of an intended mounting location in the vehicle, and the control unit is configured to receive a value indicative of the mounting location, whereby the control unit is configured to store the value indicative of the mounting location in the storage device so that the control unit is operable in the mounting location.

3. The lighting module according to claim 2 , wherein at least one passive voltage status and associated location value pair is stored on the storage device, and wherein the control unit is configured to:
determine a value indicative of the first location based on the received passive voltage status and the stored at least one passive voltage status and associated location value pair,
compare the value indicative of the mounting location with the value indicative of the first location, and
provide an alert signal that the control unit is installed in a wrong location when the mounting location is determined to not match the first location.

4. The lighting module according to claim 3 , wherein the storage device has stored a look-up table comprising a plurality of passive voltage status and associated location value pairs.

5. The lighting module according to claim 2 , wherein when the control unit is transitioned from an at least partly in-active mode to an at least partly active mode, the control unit is configured to receive a further passive voltage status indicative of a present location where the control unit is installed,
wherein the control unit is further configured to:
compare the present location with the mounting location, and
when the present location does not match the mounting location, provide an alert signal that the control unit is installed in a wrong location.

6. The lighting module according to claim 1 wherein the passive voltage status receivable via the connection port is one of a floating voltage, ground, or a reference voltage level.

7. A vehicle comprising the lighting module according to claim 1 .

8. A lighting system comprising the lighting module according to claim 1 , wherein the lighting module is a first lighting module and the control unit is a first control unit, the lighting system further comprising:
a second lighting module including:
a second lighting device; and
a second control unit configured to control a lighting state of the second lighting device, wherein the second lighting module is arrangeable in a second location of the at least two locations of the vehicle;

wherein the second control unit comprises a second connection port, the second control unit is configured to receive a passive voltage status via the second connection port, the passive voltage status being indicative of that the second lighting module is configured to be arranged in the second location.

9. The lighting system according to claim 8 , wherein the passive voltage status receivable from the first connection port is a one of a floating voltage, ground, or a first reference voltage, and the passive voltage status receivable from the second connection port is another one of a floating voltage, ground, or a reference voltage different from the first reference voltage.

10. The lighting system according to any claim 8 , wherein the first lighting module and the second module are head light modules for the vehicle.

11. The lighting system according to claim 8 , wherein the first lighting module and the second lighting module are tail light modules for the vehicle.

12. The lighting system according to claim 8 , wherein the first lighting module and the second lighting module each comprise a main connection port so that the first control unit and the second control unit can communicate with electronic circuitry of the vehicle.

13. A vehicle comprising the lighting system according to claim 8 .

14. A method for configuring a lighting module for operating in a first location of at least two spatially separated locations of a vehicle, the lighting module including a light-emitting device, and a control unit configured to control a lighting state of the lighting device, wherein the control unit includes a connection port, the method comprising:
receiving, by the control unit, a value indicative of a mounting location for the lighting module;
receiving, by the control unit, a passive voltage status via the connection port, the passive voltage status being indicative of that the lighting module is configured to be arranged in the first location;
comparing, by the control unit, the mounting location with the first location; and
providing an alert signal that the control unit is installed in a wrong location when the mounting location and the first location are determined to not match.

15. The method according to claim 14 , comprising:
when the control unit is transitioned from an at least partly in-active mode to an at least partly active mode and the control unit has stored a value indicative of the mounting location,
receiving, by the control unit, a further passive voltage status indicative of a present location where the control unit is installed,
comparing, by the control unit, the present location with the mounting location, and
when the present location does not match the mounting location, providing an alert signal that the control unit is installed in the wrong location.

16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein when the lighting module is mounted in the first location in the vehicle, and having received a passive voltage status indicative of a mounting location which matches the first location:
initiating communication, by the control unit, with a node address within electronic circuitry of the vehicle, the node address being associated with the mounting location.

17. A lighting module for a vehicle, the lighting module comprising:
a light emitting device; and
a control unit configured to control a lighting state of the light emitting device;
wherein the lighting module is arrangeable in a first location of at least two spatially separated locations of the vehicle, the control unit of the lighting module comprises a connection port, and the control unit is configured to receive a voltage status via the connection port, the voltage status being indicative of that the lighting module is configured to be arranged in the first location;
wherein the control unit comprises a storage device, the control unit is pre-configured for use in any one of the at least two locations of the vehicle before the vehicle has stored a value indicative of an intended mounting location in the vehicle, and the control unit is configured to receive a value indicative of the mounting location, whereby the control unit is configured to store the value indicative of the mounting location in the storage devic

Assignees

• Volvo Car Corp

Inventors

• Bengtsson Christopher

Classifications

• B60Q11/005 Primary

  for lighting devices, e.g. indicating if lamps are burning or not · CPC title

• B60Q1/1407

  General lighting circuits comprising dimming circuits · CPC title

• B60Q1/0064 Primary

  with provision for maintenance, e.g. changing the light bulb (swivel arrangements  B60Q1/0425) · CPC title

• B60Q1/26

  the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic · CPC title

• B60Q1/0094

  Arrangement of electronic circuits separated from the light source, e.g. mounting of housings for starter circuits for discharge lamps (arrangements being part of the light source holder F21V17/06, F21S43/195) · CPC title