Vehicle control system
A local ECU includes a processor adaptive to execute a software program. An electronic device does not include a processor, and operates under control by the local ECU. The electronic device is structured to store control information required for the local ECU to control the electronic device itself, and to transmit the control information to the local ECU. The local ECU is structured to receive the control information from the electronic device, and to control the electronic device based on the control information.
1 . A vehicle control system comprising:
an Electronic Control Unit (ECU); and
a lamp including a plurality of light-emitting elements and a driver integrated circuit (driver IC),
wherein the ECU comprises:
nonvolatile memory structured to store a software program;
a processor adaptive to execute the software program stored in the nonvolatile memory;
a first communication circuit structured to receive an instruction of animated lighting from vehicle side; and
a second communication circuit structured to communicate with the driver IC,
wherein the driver IC comprises:
nonvolatile memory structured to store control information including time-series data indicating the lighting sequence and lighting timing of the plurality of light-emitting elements during animated lighting;
a third communication circuit structured to transmit the control information to the second communication circuit, and to receive a lighting instruction from the second communication circuit; and
a lighting circuit structured to drive the plurality of light-emitting elements according to the lighting instruction;
wherein, in the ECU, when the first communication circuit receives the instruction of the animated lighting from the vehicle side, the processor generates brightness setting values of the plurality of light-emitting elements at each time based on the control information, and the second communication circuit transmits the lighting instruction including the brightness setting values of the plurality of light-emitting elements to the driver IC, and
wherein, in the driver IC, when the third communication circuit receives the lighting instruction, the lighting circuit supplies driving currents to the plurality of light-emitting elements according to the command values of brightness included in the control information received by the third communication circuit.
2 . The vehicle control system according to claim 1 , wherein, when the ECU and the lamp are first coupled, the third communication circuit transmits the control information to the second communication circuit.
3 . A lamp structured to operate under control by an Electronic Control Unit (ECU), the lamp comprising:
a plurality of light-emitting elements; and
and a driver integrated circuit (IC),
wherein the ECU comprises:
nonvolatile memory structured to store a software program;
a processor adaptive to execute the software program stored in the nonvolatile memory;
a first communication circuit structured to receive an instruction of animated lighting from vehicle side; and
a second communication circuit structured to communicate with the driver IC,
wherein the driver IC comprises:
nonvolatile memory structured to store control information including time-series data indicating the lighting sequence and lighting timing of the plurality of light-emitting elements during animated lighting;
a third communication circuit structured to transmit the control information to the second communication circuit, and to receive a lighting instruction from the second communication circuit; and
a lighting circuit structured to drive the plurality of light-emitting elements according to the lighting instruction;
wherein, in the ECU, when the first communication circuit receives the instruction of the animated lighting from the vehicle side, the processor generates brightness setting values of the plurality of light-emitting elements at each time based on the control information, and the second communication circuit transmits the lighting instruction including the brightness setting values of the plurality of light-emitting elements to the driver IC, and
wherein, in the driver IC, when the third communication circuit receives the lighting instruction, the lighting circuit supplies driving currents to the plurality of light-emitting elements according to the command values of brightness included in the control information received by the third communication circuit.
4 . An Electronic Control Unit (ECU) structured to control a lamp including a plurality of light-emitting elements and a driver integrated circuit (driver IC), the ECU comprising:
nonvolatile memory structured to store a software program;
a processor adaptive to execute the software program stored in the nonvolatile memory;
a first communication circuit structured to receive an instruction of animated lighting from vehicle side; and
a second communication circuit structured to communicate with the driver IC,
wherein the driver IC comprises:
nonvolatile memory structured to store control information including time-series data indicating the lighting sequence and lighting timing of the plurality of light-emitting elements during animated lighting;
a third communication circuit structured to transmit the control information to the second communication circuit, and to receive a lighting instruction from the second communication circuit; and
a lighting circuit structured to drive the plurality of light-emitting elements according to the lighting instruction;
wherein, in the ECU, when the first communication circuit receives the instruction of the animated lighting from the vehicle side, the processor generates brightness setting values of the plurality of light-emitting elements at each time based on the control information, and the second communication circuit transmits the lighting instruction including the brightness setting values of the plurality of light-emitting elements to the driver IC, and
wherein, in the driver IC, when the third communication circuit receives the lighting instruction, the lighting circuit supplies driving currents to the plurality of light-emitting elements according to the command values of brightness included in the control information received by the third communication circuit.