Patent ID: 8598735

Claim:
A controller for controlling an illumination device of a motor vehicle, the illumination device including at least one light source ( 10 , 13 , 15 , 25 ) and said controller comprising: at least one first stage ( 20 ) that provides electric energy for supplying power to the illumination device; and at least one second stage ( 12 , 14 , 16 , 24 ) that forwards said electric energy ( 20 ) to the light source ( 10 , 13 , 15 , 25 ), wherein said first stage ( 20 ) includes intelligence for controlling the illuminating device, control signals supplied to the illumination device, a generator for generating a constant intermediate voltage (U_Z), and a second supplier ( 27 ) for supplying said second stage ( 12 , 14 , 16 , 24 ) with said intermediate voltage (U_Z), said second stage ( 12 , 14 , 16 , 24 ) includes a converter ( 33 ) for conversion of said intermediate voltage (U_Z) into a supply voltage (U_V) suitable for supplying said power to the light source ( 10 , 13 , 15 , 25 ), a third supplier ( 31 ) for supplying the light source ( 10 , 13 , 15 , 25 ) with said supply voltage (U_V), and a mechanism for controlling the light source ( 10 , 13 , 15 , 25 ) in dependency on said control signals, and said first stage ( 20 ) is connected via at least one first communications connection ( 26 ) to a controller of the motor vehicle, at least one second communications connection ( 18 , 28 . 3 , 28 . 4 ) between said first stage ( 20 ) and second stage ( 12 , 14 , 16 , 24 ) supplies the illumination device with said control signals, and said second communications connection ( 18 , 28 . 3 , 28 . 4 ) is adapted to gather, prepare, and convey diagnostic information to said first stage ( 20 ) via said second communications connection ( 18 , 28 . 3 , 28 . 4 ).