Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – Special application – Vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-22
2001-07-17
Wong, Don (Department: 2821)
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
Special application
Vehicle
C315S077000, C307S010800, C362S802000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06262537
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 11-077822, filed on Mar. 23, 1999, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a headlight circuit for an automobile. More particularly, the present invention relates to a circuit that can be used in cars configured for different operating environments.
2. Background and Material Information
Cars for the Japanese domestic market have “ordinary lighting” type headlight circuits (hereinafter “lamp circuits”) which light the headlight bulb or high beam bulb when a driver turns a light switch ON. On the other hand, in view of poor ambient lighting, the headlights for cars in Northern Europe must be on during the daytime. These cars use a DRL (Daytime Running Light) circuit that operates the high beam headlight at a reduced power level if (1) the ignition switch is ON, (2) the hand brake is released, and (3) the head lamp switch is OFF. The DRL lamp circuit turns the high beam light off and turns the regular head light(s) on when the light switch is switched ON.
FIG. 3
shows a prior art ordinary lighting lamp circuit
1
for a conventional automobile configured for use in the Japanese market. The lamp circuit
1
includes a left side lamp circuit
1
-L and a right side lamp circuit
1
-R. In the left side lamp circuit
1
-L, wires d
1
-d
9
connect a lamp switch
2
(for ordinary lighting), an ECU (i.e., an electronic control unit)
3
, a relay box
4
, a junction box
5
, a battery
6
, a head lamp
7
L, and a high beam lamp
8
L. Wires d
1
-d
9
are configured in a wire harness for the left side lamp for exclusive use for lighting as a group of wires by bundling the wires d
1
-d
9
.
FIG. 4
shows a conventional lamp circuit
1
′ for DRL. Lamp circuit
1
′ includes a left side lamp circuit
1
-L′ and a right side lamp circuit
1
-R′, similar to ordinary lighting circuit
1
. In the left side lamp circuit
1
-L′, wires d
1
′-d
12
′ connect a lamp switch
2
′ (for DRL lighting), an ECU
3
′, a relay box
4
′, a junction box
5
′, battery
6
, head lamp
7
L, and the high beam lamp
8
L. Also, in the right side lamp circuit
1
-R′, there is a relay box
9
′ specific to the lighting conditions of DRL. The above electric wires d
1
′-d
12
′ are configured in a wire harness for the left side lamp for exclusive use for DRL lighting as a group of wires by bundling the wires d
1
′-d
12
′.
In the above lamp circuits
1
and
1
′, various circuit elements are provided exclusively for the different circuits, such that the connections between the each apparatus differ. As a result, the setup of the electric wires to form the appropriate circuit are also different. This in turn requires different wire harnesses and/or assembly procedures for the different connections. This leads to an increase in labor and in manufacturing costs for different kinds of the wire harnesses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a lamp circuit lighting a head lamp and a high beam lamp in an automobile. A first lamp circuit includes a common circuit, an ordinary lighting circuit, and a DRL lighting circuit. Part of the common circuit is connected to positive and negative sides, respectively, of the head lamp and the high beam on one side of the vehicle.
When the lamp circuit is used for ordinary lighting, the remainder of the common circuit is connected to the control apparatus for ordinary lighting and a second lamp circuit. The ordinary lighting circuit connects the common circuit to the positive side of the high beam lamp with the control apparatus for the ordinary lighting. The DRL lighting circuit is not connected in this configuration.
When the lamp circuit is used for DRL lighting, the remainder of the common circuit and the DRL lighting circuit connect to the control apparatus for DRL lighting and the second lamp circuit. The ordinary lighting circuit is not connected in this configuration.
The common circuit, ordinary lighting circuit, and DRL lighting circuit of the first lamp circuit can thus be commonly used for vehicles that are configured for ordinary lighting or DRL lighting.
As described above, since the first lamp circuit is a part of the lamp circuit by a common circuit, an ordinary lighting circuit and a DRL lighting circuit, a single type of wire harness can be used to connect these circuits. Further, while the above configuration will result in an increased wiring cost (as wires are present for both DRL and ordinary lighting, albeit, only one set is actively used), the use of a single wiring harness decreases the overall cost of the device.
The control elements to be used in the above lamp circuit include an ECU, a relay and a relay box having a fuse connected to the lamp switch, and a junction box connected to the battery. For ordinary lighting, the control elements for exclusive ordinary lighting are used, and for the DRL lighting, the control elements for exclusive DRL lighting are used. Therefore, though the connection methods are different, by using the first lamp circuit including the above common circuit, an ordinary lighting circuit and a DRL lighting circuit, such that a lamp circuit that meets the respective requirements can be formed.
The first and second lamp circuits connect through the terminal at the ends of the respective circuits. The positions of the connection terminals of the first lamp circuits are common for both the ordinary lighting and DRL lighting. The positions of the connection terminals of the second lamp circuit differ between the ordinary lighting and DRL lighting based on the intended use.
As described above, by connecting the first lamp circuit and the second lamp circuit through connectors of the respective circuit terminals, the entire lamp circuit can be easily connected. Also, as the first lamp circuit is commonly used for ordinary lighting as well as for DRL lighting, the connector terminals can be universal. Similarly, as the second lamp circuit is designed for exclusive use for a specific application, the connector terminals may be made exclusive.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lamp circuit for lighting a head lamp and a high beam lamp of an automobile. A first lamp circuit includes a common circuit, an ordinary lighting circuit, and a daylight running lighting circuit. A second lamp circuit is connected to the first lamp circuit. A portion of the common circuit is connected to positive and negative sides of the head lamp and the high beam lamp on one side of the automobile;. When the automobile is configured for ordinary lighting conditions, a remaining portion of the common circuit is connected to circuit elements for ordinary lighting and the second lamp circuit, the ordinary lighting circuit connects the common circuit, as connected to the positive side of the high beam lamp, with the circuit elements for ordinary lighting, and the daylight running lighting circuit does not form any circuit. When the automobile is configured for daylight running lighting, the remainder of the common circuit and the daylight running lighting circuit is connected to circuit elements for daylight running lighting and the second lamp circuit, and the ordinary lighting circuit does not form any circuit.
According to a feature of the above embodiment, the first lamp circuit and the second lamp circuit connect by connecting first and second connectors through terminals at the ends of the respective circuits, connection terminals in the first connector of the first lamp circuit being common for both ordinary lighting and daylight ruing lighting, and the positions for inserting terminals in the connector of the second lamp circuit are different for ordinary lighting use and daylight running lighting.
According to another embodiment of the present inv
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
Vo Tuyet T.
Wong Don
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