Lighting and/or indicating system for a vehicle, with improved actuator control

Abstract

The lighting and/or signaling system according to the invention comprises at least one lighting and/or signaling device which is able to emit at least one light beam and is equipped with at least one actuator for adjusting an angle of the light beam, and at least one actuator control device for controlling the actuator. According to the invention, the actuator control device transmits an active setpoint information item to the actuator only when a current value of the setpoint information item differs substantially from a previous value of the setpoint information item. The improved actuator control incorporated in the system according to the invention helps to achieve greater reliability and a longer service life.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . A lighting and/or signaling system for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising:
 (a) at least one lighting and/or signaling device which may selectively emit at least one light beam;   (b) at least one actuator for adjusting an angle of the light beam, the actuator comprising a DC motor; and   (c) at least one actuator control device for controlling the actuator wherein the actuator control device transmits an active setpoint information item to the actuator only when a current value of the setpoint information item differs substantially from a previous value of the setpoint information item.   
   
   
       13 . The lighting and/or signaling system according to  claim 12 , wherein the actuator control device further comprises a switching device which is able to interrupt an electrical power supply to the actuator when no active setpoint information item is transmitted to the actuator by the actuator control device. 
   
   
       14 . The lighting and/or signaling system according to  claim 13 , wherein the switching device comprises a controllable switch such as a transistor of the MOS type. 
   
   
       15 . The lighting and/or signaling system according to  claim 13 , wherein the switching device comprises a controllable switch such as a switch circuit of the SmartMOS type. 
   
   
       16 . The lighting and/or signaling system according to  claim 12 , wherein the actuator control device comprises:
 (a) a register which stores the previous value of said setpoint information item; and   (b) a comparator which compares the current and previous values of the setpoint information item and orders the transmission of the active setpoint information item to the actuator when a difference is detected between the current and previous values of the setpont information item.   
   
   
       17 . The lighting and/or signaling system according to  claim 16 , wherein the comparator orders the transmission of the active setpoint information item to the actuator when the detected difference is above a predetermined threshold. 
   
   
       18 . The lighting and/or signaling system according to  claim 12  wherein the actuator control device further comprises an interface for managing communications with a connection of the CAN or LIN type. 
   
   
       19 . The lighting and/or signaling system according to  claim 12 , wherein the actuator control device is embodied at least partially by operational amplifiers. 
   
   
       20 . The lighting and/or signaling system according to  claim 12 , wherein the actuator control device is integrated at least partially in a controller of the system. 
   
   
       21 . The lighting and/or signaling system according to  claim 20 , wherein the actuator control device is implemented in the controller at least partially by program instructions.