Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – Current and/or voltage regulation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-26
2001-04-17
Wong, Don (Department: 2821)
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
Current and/or voltage regulation
C315S363000, C362S800000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06218790
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a light-emitting diode having a code, particularly for different light intensity classes, and having a connection element with at least two electrical contact elements for connecting a power supply.
Such light-emitting diodes (LED) are frequently used in practice for illumination in the area of the dashboard of a motor vehicle and serve as a signal or monitor light, for example, but also, to an increasing extent, for illuminating instrument dials. Light-emitting diodes are used in preference on account of their low susceptibility to faults in comparison to incandescent lamps, as well as their relatively low power consumption. Contributions in this area have been provided not only by the achievement of virtually any desired colors, but also, above all, by a considerable increase in light intensity. It is already possible to obtain light-emitting diodes whose light intensity is sufficient for motor vehicle brake lights to be equipped with them, for example.
Difficulties with the use of light-emitting diodes are, in practice, caused by the light intensity, which cannot be defined exactly in advance in the manufacturing process. Hence, the light intensities of different diodes, which may even come from the same batch, for example, fluctuate despite constant voltage and current consumption. This causes considerable problems, depending on the area of application. For example, reading accuracy is impaired in those display devices equipped with such light-emitting diodes, and these fluctuations in the brightness of a number of light-emitting diodes arranged next to one another create an inferior impression.
Attempts have hitherto been made to counter this problem by measuring the light intensity of the different light-emitting diodes during the manufacturing process and then providing the light-emitting diodes with a code denoting the light intensity class. In this context, the code usually comprises a bar code which is attached to the light-emitting diode or to a connection element connected to the light-emitting diode. When the light-emitting diode is being fitted, the code is then read first of all and, depending on the light intensity class, a series resistor is selected and connected upstream of the light-emitting diode, so that the light intensity of different light-emitting diodes of one type is guaranteed to be approximately constant.
In this case, a particular disadvantage is the considerable effort which is necessary to detect the bar code and then to connect an appropriate series resistor upstream of the light-emitting diode. Furthermore, in the event of any replacement being necessary, the series resistor and the light-emitting diode always have to be replaced together on account of being individually matched to one another. Alternatively, additional outlay is involved in the manufacture of the component having the light-emitting diode, since the light-emitting diode and the corresponding series resistor form an inseparable unit.
It might be conceivable to integrate an appropriate series resistor during the actual manufacture of the light-emitting diode. However, this causes the range of applications to be limited straight away by the change in dimensions compared with known light-emitting diodes, in particular.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is therefore based on the object of designing a light-emitting diode such that different possible light intensity classes of the light-emitting diode can be compensated for, during fitting, automatically, i.e. without the code being read beforehand and the appropriate series resistor subsequently being selected and fitted.
The invention achieves this object in that the connection element has at least one further electrical contact element and in that the code is produced by using the at least one further contact element either to make or break an electrical connection. As a result, simply by connecting the contact elements, the light-emitting diode is connected just to that electrical or electronic component which is suitable for compensating for the light intensity class. This means that prior detection of a bar code is not necessary. The electrical or electronic components necessary to compensate for the light intensity classes of the different light-emitting diodes can thus at this stage be permanently fitted to the components to be connected to the light-emitting diode, e.g. a printed circuit board in a combined instrument in a motor vehicle, and are connected automatically by means of the contact elements on the basis of the light intensity class defined by the code. In addition, any replacement of light-emitting diodes which may be necessary is simplified considerably because the light intensity class of the new light-emitting diode is detected and corrected automatically. It is therefore not necessary to know the light intensity class of the original light-emitting diode, which makes it possible for even a layman to carry out the replacement.
A particularly simple embodiment of the invention is provided here if at least one of the contact elements is connected to a series resistor. In comparison to known light-emitting diodes in which the corresponding series resistor is fitted specifically for the light-emitting diode, any series resistor likely to be needed is already available in the context of the present invention. The series resistor to be connected to the light-emitting diode is governed by the coding of the contact elements.
The components necessary to compensate for the light intensity could be integrated in a coupling element compatible with the connection element. It is particularly advantageous, however, if the light-emitting diode is connected to a ribbon conductor or printed circuit board. As a result, the components can to a large extent be prefitted and standardized. This allows greater quantities to be achieved and at the same time manufacturing costs to be reduced. It is then also a simple matter to arrange a number of light-emitting diodes together for the purpose of increasing the light intensity, and accordingly to provide them with a single code. Advantageously, these combined light-emitting diodes are all in the same light intensity class.
Another, particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is provided if the code is designed so that it can be read by a control element. In this case, the code is first of all detected by means of the control element, and is used to determine the data necessary to compensate for the light intensity. The current required to operate the light-emitting diode can therefore be introduced independently of the circuit required for detecting the code. Hence, faulty contact elements do not cause failure of the power supply to the light-emitting diode. Furthermore, light intensity classes of other light-emitting diodes can also be detected and compared with one another in a single central control element.
Matching the light intensity class, as is necessary in this arrangement, can be achieved particularly easily if the light-emitting diode has a series resistor which can be connected upstream as a function of the code, using the control element. This enables a high degree of operational reliability to be achieved. At the same time, this arrangement makes it possible to provide a common series resistor when using a number of light-emitting diodes of the same light intensity class.
A particularly advantageous development allows operation without a series resistor if the power supply for the light-emitting diode can be set as a function of the code, using the control element. In this arrangement, pulse width control, in preference, ensures that the power supply is matched to the respective light intensity class of the light-emitting diode. There is therefore no need for any additional series resistors.
Another advantageous development of the invention is provided if the code is produced by interrupting electrical connections between individual contact elements or by interrupting electrical connections bet
Jansa Frank
Noll Heinrich
Olbrich Helmut
Vogel Michael
Farber Martin A.
Mannesmann VDO AG
Vo Tuyet T.
Wong Don
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