Patent · US Active

Vehicle lighting apparatus

US7479743B2 · kind B2 · utility

20Cited by
5References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 11, 2006
Grant dateJan 20, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 18, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02B20/30
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A vehicle lighting apparatus includes a plurality of semiconductor light sources that are connected with each other in series, a switching regulator for supplying an electric power from a power source to each of said plurality of semiconductor light sources, forward voltage detection circuitry for detecting a forward voltage of each of said plurality of semiconductor light sources, and failure detection circuitry for detecting the failure of each of said semiconductor light sources based on the detected value of said forward voltage detection means. A semiconductor light source having a lower forward voltage is connected closer to a reference potential side of said power source among said plurality of semiconductor light sources.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.