IT202000000967U1 - CEILING LAMP FOR VEHICLES WITH LIGHT INTENSITY ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM AND RELATED VEHICLE. - Google Patents

Description

TITLE: CEILING LAMP FOR VEHICLES WITH INTENSITY ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM BRIGHT AND ITS VEHICLE.

The present invention relates to a ceiling light suitable to be placed in vehicles, for example motor vehicles, for lighting a passenger compartment.

The present invention also relates to a vehicle comprising the ceiling light according to the present invention.

? It is known, in the automotive field, to arrange inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle, for example a car, a ceiling light, placed at least in part on the ceiling of the same passenger compartment, capable of emitting light following its activation to substantially illuminate from above, the same cockpit.

The ceiling lights currently used in vehicles, and in particular in motor cars, are relatively simple devices, comprising one or more? light sources and one or more? switches designed to voluntarily activate said light sources.

Even in high-end cars, currently there are no known ceiling lights which are more? simple and innovative use, possibly eliminating mechanical keys or buttons and including touch surfaces capable of creating a virtual key for activating said light sources.

Solutions are known in which, when the passenger compartment of the vehicle is closed or opened, the light sources present in the ceiling light are activated in such a way as to provide a gradual lighting and / or switch-off, to make the that the user of the vehicle can take the correct countermeasures not being immediately at maximum intensity? lighting or in complete darkness without having a sufficiently long reaction time.

Furthermore, being able to activate more? of a light source to increase the intensity? of the light emitted not? optimal as the activation of a specific light source by a passenger for his needs, could cause annoyance or distraction for the driver, as the various light sources are suitably arranged to illuminate a specific area of the passenger compartment.

Currently, there are no known manufacturing solutions in which the user can actively vary the intensity? lighting of a specific area of the passenger compartment, without having to activate or deactivate other light sources.

Are known for domestic environments light sources suitably connected to Dimmer and / or Trimmer devices in such a way as to be able to vary the intensity? of light emitted by a light source.

These solutions provide for the installation of a specific mechanical adjustment device, normally placed far from the light source, in order to vary its intensity.

In the automotive field? more and more? required to implement more solutions? simple to use, at low cost, and to create passenger compartment lighting devices for cars which also have shapes dictated by stylistic and aesthetic specifications, which often go in contrast with the technical solutions for the realization of such devices.

For example ? more and more? the implementation of touch devices is required, therefore having no physical buttons or buttons that must be pressed, making a non-negligible run to activate and / or deactivate a device or function? present in the passenger compartment of a vehicle.

The present invention aims to solve the aforesaid technical problems and many others by realizing a ceiling light for vehicles which? adapted to regulate the intensity? lighting.

An aspect of the present invention relates to a ceiling light with the characteristics of the attached claim 1.

A further aspect of the present invention also relates to a vehicle with the characteristics of the attached claim 11.

The accessory characteristics of the ceiling light and of the vehicle are included in the dependent claims.

The characteristics and advantages of the ceiling light will be clear and evident from the following patent description which I will describe? different possible embodiments of the present invention and from the attached figures which respectively illustrate:

? Figure 1 shows, in a top plan view, a possible embodiment of a ceiling light for vehicles, particularly suitable for being positioned in a passenger compartment of a car having an intensity adjustment system. light emission;

? Figure 2 shows, in a schematic view, a possible visualization of the area of the ceiling light in which? present the control surface which? electrically connected to a? unit? control for adjusting the intensity? bright inside the cockpit;

? Figure 3 shows a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprising a ceiling lamp according to the present invention.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, the numerical reference 3 indicates a ceiling light as a whole. Instead, the numerical reference 2 indicates a vehicle as a whole.

The ceiling light 3, according to the present invention,? particularly suitable for use in vehicles 2, in particular passenger cars.

The ceiling light 3? adapted to illuminate a passenger compartment 22 of the vehicle 2, in particular illuminating it from above.

The ceiling light 3, according to the present invention, comprises a support structure 30, able to be fixed to at least a portion of the ceiling of said passenger compartment 22.

The ceiling light 3, according to the present invention, further comprises at least one light source 32. Said at least one light source 32? able to emit light rays to illuminate said passenger compartment 22.

The ceiling light 3, according to the present invention, further comprises at least one button 34. Said at least one button 34? adapted to suitably activate and deactivate said light source 32. Preferably, by means of said at least one button 34 the user can? selectively switch on or off at least one light source 32 to illuminate the passenger compartment 22.

The ceiling light 3, according to the present invention, further comprises a control surface 4, preferably of the capacitive type. Said control surface 4? able at least to detect the approach to and / or the touch of said control surface 4 by at least a portion of the body of a user, for example a finger.

In a possible exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, said control surface 4 in turn comprises at least one touch and / or proximity sensor.

Pi? in general, said control surface 4 comprises at least one tactile and / or proximity sensor, for example of the capacitive type, distributed over an area, capable of at least detecting the touch of and / or approaching said control surface 4 by at least a portion of the user's body, preferably at least one finger.

The ceiling light 3, according to the present invention, further comprises a unit? control surface 6. Said control surface 4, and in particular said at least one tactile and / or proximity sensor? included in it,? electronically connected to said unit? control 6.

The unit? control 6? adapted to regulate the intensity? luminous rays emitted by said at least one light source 32. In particular the unit? control 6? adapted to regulate the intensity? light of the light rays emitted by said at least one light source 32 as a function of at least the approach to and / or the touch of said control surface 4 by the user.

The present solution, according to the present invention, provides particular utility. to the ceiling light 3, allowing the user to vary the intensity? light of the light rays emitted by said at least one light source 32 according to requirements, interacting with said control surface 4, without having to activate or deactivate other light sources 32 to vary the intensity? of the light rays emitted to illuminate at least part of the passenger compartment 22.

Pi? in general, the regulation of the light rays emitted by said at least one light source 32 can? vary by an? intensity? minimum, preferably higher than zero, at an intensity? maximum, the latter defined as a function of the intrinsic characteristics of the light source 32 used. In particular, said intensity? minimum? preferably different from a deactivated or switched off light source 32.

Between the two extremes of the intensity interval? of the rays of light emitted can? there be a variable number of intermediate, preferably finite, states. Generally, minor? the number of intermediate states between the two extremes will be greater? the user's perception of the occurrence of a change of state.

In an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, the unit? control 6 varier? the intensity light of the light rays emitted by said at least one light source 32 whenever said control surface 4 detects the touch by the user of the same control surface 4. Preferably, the unit? control 6 passer? from one state to the next at each detection by the control surface 4, for example starting from the intensity? minimum until reaching the maximum. In a possible implementation variant, once you reach the intensity? maximum, if you continue to detect the touch of this control surface 4, the unit? control 6 reger? again the intensity? in the state with intensity? minimal, creating a closed loop. Instead, in a further embodiment, to increase the intensity? bright ? need to touch one or more? times, progressively, in a first defined region of said control surface 4; while to decrease the intensity? bright ? need to touch one or more? times, progressively, in a second defined region of said control surface 4, in which said first region and said second region are distinct and separated from each other.

Said at least one light source 32 can? be made in different technologies, such as LED, incandescent, halogen etc .; in particular in the technologies for which? possible to vary the intensity? luminous of the emitted light rays, preferably acting on one or more? operating parameters of the same light source 32, for example voltage, current, frequency, duty cycle etc.

Said at least one button 34? suitably connected to said light source 32 in such a way that a switching of said at least one button 34 causes a switching of the light source 32, in particular passing from an active state, in which it emits light rays, to an inactive state, in which it does not emit light rays, and vice versa.

The conformation and the dimensions of said support structure 30 of the ceiling lamp 3 can? vary according to the number of light sources 32 and / or buttons 34 included in the ceiling light 3.

In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of the ceiling light 3 according to the present invention, said control surface 4? able to detect at least one movement, along at least one direction, of at least a part of the user's body in the vicinity of the or in contact with the same control surface 4. Preferably, said control surface 4? able to detect at least one sliding on the same control surface 4, along at least one direction, and / or a gesture, performed in proximity? of said control surface 4, along at least one direction, of at least a part of the user's body.

Pi? in general, said control surface 4 can? be a touch sensor, a proximity sensor? gestural or both types of sensor.

In a first possible embodiment of the ceiling light 3, according to the present invention, said control surface 4? able to detect at least a sliding on the same control surface 4 along at least one direction, of at least a part of the user's body.

In another possible embodiment, said control surface 4, in addition to or as an alternative to the previous embodiment,? able to detect at least one gesture made in the vicinity? of said control surface 4 along at least one direction, of at least a part of the user's body.

Pi? in general, the ceiling light 3, according to the present invention, preferably allows not only to detect that in any point of said control surface 4 a user is? touching, or? in the vicinity? di, this control surface 4, but allows to determine that the user is? making a movement, along a direction, in contact with, or in proximity? di, said control surface 4.

In a preferred embodiment of the ceiling light 3, according to the present invention, said unit? control 6? able to vary the intensity? light of the light rays emitted by said at least one light source 32 as a function of the sliding direction of and / or of the gesture performed by at least a part of the user's body with respect to the control surface 4. Even more? preferably, called unit? control 6? able to vary the intensity? light of the light rays emitted by said light source 32 as a function of the direction and direction of movement of and / or of the gesture performed by at least a part of the user's body with respect to the control surface 4.

Alternatively, the movement can? be along different directions between them and / or independently of the direction, for example in which to increase the intensity? the movement will be? along a first direction; while to decrease the intensity? the movement will be? along a second direction, for example in which the two directions are perpendicular to each other.

The ceiling light 3, in a preferred embodiment, provides that said unit? control 6 is able to vary the intensity? light of the light rays emitted by said light source 32 as a function of the direction, and even more? preferably also of the direction of sliding of at least a part of the user's body, in particular a finger, on the control surface 4. The present solution allows the user, by sliding even just one finger along one direction in a contact direction with said control surface 4, to vary the intensity? light of the light rays emitted by said at least one light source 32, increasing or decreasing it. Preferably, swiping your finger in one direction and in a specific direction will be? possible to increase the intensity? bright; instead, sliding the finger along substantially the same direction, but with the opposite direction, it will be? possible to decrease the intensity? bright.

In a possible alternative embodiment, to increase the intensity? bright ? it is necessary to perform a gesture, preferably with the hand or fingers, along a first direction above said control surface 4; instead, to decrease the intensity? luminous, it may be necessary to perform a gesture, preferably with the hand or fingers, along substantially the same direction but with the opposite direction.

In such embodiments, the change in intensity? bright can be directly proportional to the stroke made by the user in his movement. By way of example, pi? the movement, sliding or gestural, will be? longer greater will it be? the variation of intensity? obtained and vice versa.

In a possible embodiment of the ceiling light 3, according to the present invention, at least two light sources 32 are included, located in two different lateral areas of the support structure 30. In this embodiment, said control surface 4 being positioned in a central area of the support structure 30, with respect to said light sources 32.

Pi? in general, said control surface 4? advantageously positioned in a central area of the support structure 30, for example in order to be easily reachable by all the users present in the passenger compartment 22.

In a possible embodiment of the ceiling light 3, according to the present invention, at least three light sources 32 are included, two of them located in two different lateral areas of the support structure 30, while the remaining one has greater capacities. of lighting compared to the lateral ones,? located in a central area of the support structure 30, at least with respect to an axis of the same support structure 30. In this embodiment, said control surface 4? positioned in a central area of the support structure 30, in the vicinity of of the light source 32 with greater capacity? lighting.

Pi? in general, if there is only one light source 32, it? advantageously placed in a central area of the support structure 30.

In a preferred embodiment of the ceiling light 3, according to the present invention, said unit? control 6? adapted to activate at least one lighting device 42. Said lighting device 42? able to make the location of said control surface identifiable to the user 4.

Said lighting device 42 can? be activated whenever a light source 32 is activated, for example by means of the corresponding button 34, or whenever said control surface 4 detects the approach of a portion of the user's body to the same control surface 4 , preferably only when said at least one light source 32? already? active.

Pi? in general, said control surface 4 can? be identified as a programmable key, defined by the same control surface area 4, which? activated only if said light source 32? been activated by a user, for example by acting on said button 34 or following a particular voice activation command.

Preferably, said control surface 4? able to detect the approach to and / or the touch of said control surface 4 only if said light source 32? already? been activated.

In a preferred embodiment, the unit? control 6? electronically connected also to said at least one button 34, in order to detect when said at least one light source 32? enabled or disabled. For example, said at least one button 34 can? perform the function of activation system of said control surface 4.

In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of the ceiling light 3 according to the present invention, said at least one lighting device 42? able to define on said control surface 4 at least one symbol to indicate the direction of movement, a sliding or a gesture, to vary the intensity? light of the light rays emitted by said at least one light source 32. For example said lighting device 42? adapted to make a symbol appear, for example a line or a strip, able to define the direction of the movement to be performed.

In a preferred but not limiting embodiment, said symbol? suitable to indicate the direction and the direction of the movement, a sliding or a gesture, to vary the intensity? light of the light rays emitted by said at least one light source 32, in particular to increase it.

In one embodiment even more? preferred of the ceiling light 3, said at least one symbol extends along a whole longitudinal extension of the control surface 4. Said at least one symbol? suitable to indicate both the direction and the direction of the movement to be made to increase the intensity? light of the light emitted by said at least one light source 32.

In such an embodiment, so? like the other embodiments in which it? able to detect the direction of movement along a direction,? implicit that making the movement along substantially the same direction but with the opposite direction it will be? possible to decrease the intensity? light of the light rays emitted by said at least one light source 32.

For the purposes of the present description, the term substantially the same direction means a bundle of straight lines which can be parallel to each other or with inclination angles less than? 20? with respect to a reference axis defined by the control surface 4.

In a possible embodiment, said lighting device 42 could simply be a light source, for example an LED, placed inside said support structure 30, capable of letting light go outwards through a suitable? mask defining said at least one symbol.

Pi? in general, said lighting device 42 could be a pi? complex able to generate animations in order to provide visual feedback to the user to make them understand the possible actions that can be performed. This lighting device 42 could be a portion of a lighting system for the interior of the motor vehicle. Said lighting system could include one or more? optical systems, for example including light guides for suitably channeling and directing the light rays emitted by light sources, for example RGB LEDs, so? to create illuminated blocks with defined edges, which can be illuminated according to animations and plays of light.

Figure 2 shows, in a schematic view, a possible visualization of the area of the ceiling light 3 in which? present the control surface 4 which? electrically connected to a? unit? control 6 for adjusting the intensity? light inside the passenger compartment 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the lighting device 42? designed to bring out a series of symbols, equally spaced between them, in the shape of an arrowhead. This embodiment allows to clearly understand which is the direction and the direction along which to perform the movement to increase the intensity? light of the light rays emitted by said at least one light source 32. Consequently, by making a movement in the opposite direction, substantially along the same direction, it will be? possible to decrease the intensity? light rays emitted by said at least one light source 32. The illustrated form of said symbols? purely illustrative and? It is possible to select other forms all equally suitable to provide an indication at least on the direction, preferably also on the direction, with which to perform a movement to vary the intensity? lighting.

Preferably, when said light source 32? deactivated, said lighting device 42? deactivated not making the location of said control surface identifiable 4.

Said control surface 4, and in particular the touch or proximity sensor? included in the control surface 4,? electronically connected to said unit? control 6. The same unit? control 6? electronically connected also to said at least one button 34, in order to detect when said at least one light source 32? enabled or disabled. The same light source 32? electronically connected to the unit? control 6 in such a way that said unit? control 6 can adjust the intensity? light according to the electronic signals received by the control surface 4, and in particular by the sensors included therein.

Said lighting device 42 can? be a mask or a plurality? of lighting elements as described in patent applications n? 102018000010732 and n? 102019000004825 whose technical content? to be considered included in the content of this patent application.

Returning to the description of the ceiling light 3, according to the present invention, in one more exception? in general and not limited to the embodiments illustrated, said support structure 30 comprises a fixing portion, suitable for being fixed, at least in part, to the ceiling of the passenger compartment 22 of the vehicle 2, and a covering structure, in some points transparent, cos? to define an area in which the devices of the ceiling light 3 are present, according to the present invention.

Said support structure 30 defines one or more? housings for one or more? buttons 34. Said button 34 can? being a mechanical key or a virtual key, for example comprising a capacitive sensor capable of detecting the touch by a portion of the body of a user, for example a finger.

Said at least one button 34? advantageously electronically connected to said unit? control 6.

Said unit? control 6 includes at least one? unit? processing capable of processing the electronic signals coming from said control surface 4 in order to emit a control signal in order to vary the intensity? of the light rays emitted by said at least one light source 32. Said unit? processing advantageously processes the data received from said pushbutton 34 in order to conveniently activate said lighting device 42, at least in order to make the location of said control surface 4 identifiable to the user.

Said control surface 4? for example a surface of said covering structure of the support structure 30 under which? positioned one or more? a touch sensor and / or proximity ?.

Said touch sensor and / or proximity? ? suitable for detecting the touch of and / or approaching to said control surface 4 by a user, preferably following its activation, for example by the unit? control 6. Preferably Only following the activation of the control surface 4, by said unit? control 6, the touch of and / or the approach to said control surface 4, by the user, will allow? to vary the lighting inside the passenger compartment 22, according to the various embodiments described above.

In a possible embodiment of the ceiling light 3, according to the present invention, it comprises a plurality of elements. of keys 7. Said keys 7 are adapted to selectively activate or deactivate one or more? functionality? of the vehicle 2. Said functionalities? they can be, for example, central locking of the doors, opening the trunk, switching on the door lights, switching on the trunk lights, etc.

Said keys 7 can be mechanical keys or programmable keys, comprising a sensor for example capacitive capable of detecting the touch by a user.

In a possible embodiment of the ceiling light 3, according to the present invention, it comprises an audio system 8. Preferably, said audio system 8 in turn comprises at least one microphone and one or more? speakers.

Said audio system 8 can? also be electronically connected to said unit? control 6, being usable as an activation system, for example with voice recognition, to activate said control surface 4 through which it is possible to adjust the intensity? lighting of the passenger compartment 22. Said audio system 8 can? be used to receive voice commands useful for the operation of systems and / or devices present in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, such as the heating system, speakerphone, etc.

Figure 1 shows, in a top plan view, a possible embodiment of a ceiling light 3 for vehicles 2 The ceiling light 3 illustrated? particularly suitable for being positioned in a passenger compartment 22 of a motor vehicle.

The ceiling light 3, according to the present invention, comprises a control surface 4, indicated with a square for one more? quick identification on the figure, and a? unit? control 6, not visible, for adjusting the intensity? of light emission by the light sources 32 included in the ceiling light 3.

The illustrated embodiment shows three light sources 32, in particular two lateral and one central, the latter with intensity more light than the side 32 light sources.

In a central area, in addition to said control surface 4 are positioned both buttons 34, adapted to selectively activate said light sources 32, and a plurality of light sources 32. of keys 7, suitable to selectively activate one or more? functionality? of the vehicle.

The ceiling light 3, shown in figure 1 also comprises, in proximity? of said control surface 4 also an audio system 8 comprising in turn at least one microphone, used for example for voice recognition, either one or more? speakers, through which? It is possible to reproduce sounds, for example to provide acoustic feedback to the user of the ceiling light 3 and / or of the functionalities? controlled by keys 7 on the ceiling light 3.

The shape of the external structure 30 illustrated? purely illustrative and can? be modified according to the needs and the vehicle, in particular the car, on which this ceiling light 3 will be? applied.

The ceiling light 3? particularly suitable for use on vehicles 2.

In general, said vehicle 2 comprises a passenger compartment 22. Said passenger compartment 22? suitable to accommodate at least one user or passenger.

The vehicle 2 comprises a ceiling light 3, according to the present invention, which? designed to illuminate said cockpit from above 22.

The vehicle 2, according to the present invention,? a car, even more? preferably a high-end car.

Figure 3 shows a passenger compartment 22 of a motor vehicle 2 comprising a ceiling light 3 according to the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, said ceiling light? placed in a front area of the cockpit 22, for example in the vicinity? of the rear-view mirror, in a central area, for example between the driver's and passenger's sun visors. Other locations of the ceiling light 3, according to the present invention, are possible, in particular as a function of the model and range of the motor vehicle on which said ceiling light will come. applied.

The present invention provides an innovative solution to be able to regulate the intensity? lighting of the passenger compartment 22 of a vehicle 2 in an innovative way.

Embodiments not described in detail in the present patent application but easily deducible for a person skilled in the art in the light of the technical content of the present patent application, must be considered included in the content of the present patent application.

REFERENCE NUMBERS:

Alley 2

Cockpit 22

Ceiling light 3

Support structure 30

Light source 32

Button 34

Control surface 4

Lighting device 42

Unit? processing 6

Keys 7

Audio System 8

Claims (12)

CLAIMS: 1. Vehicle ceiling lamp (3) (2) adapted to illuminate a passenger compartment (22) of the vehicle (2); said ceiling light (3) comprising: - a support structure (30), able to be fixed to at least a portion of the ceiling of said passenger compartment (22); - at least one light source (32) capable of emitting light rays to illuminate said passenger compartment (22); - at least one button (34) adapted to suitably activate and deactivate said light source (32); said ceiling light (3) being characterized by the fact that it comprises: - a control surface (4) of the capacitive type, able at least to detect the approach to and / or the touch of said control surface (4) by at least a portion of a body of a user; - a? unit? control (6) to which? electronically connected said control surface (4); said unit? control (6) being able to regulate the intensity? light of the light rays emitted by said at least one light source (32) as a function of at least the approach to and / or the touch of said control surface (4) by the user. Ceiling light (3) according to claim 1, wherein said control surface (4)? able to detect at least one movement, along at least one direction, of at least a part of the user's body in the vicinity of the of and / or in contact with the same control surface (4). Ceiling light (3) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said control surface (4)? able to detect: - at least one sliding on the same control surface (4) along at least one direction; and / or - a gesture made in proximity? of said control surface (4) along at least one direction, of at least one part of the user's body. 4. Ceiling lamp (3) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said unit? control (6) being able to vary the intensity? light of the light rays emitted by said at least one light source (32) as a function of the direction and direction of movement of and / or of the gesture performed by at least a part of the user's body with respect to the control surface (4). 5. Ceiling lamp (3) according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least two light sources (32) are included, located in two different lateral areas of the support structure (30); said control surface (4) being positioned in a central area of the support structure (30), with respect to said light sources (32). 6. Ceiling lamp (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said unit? control (6) being able to activate at least one lighting device (42) able to make the location of said control surface (4) identifiable to the user. 7. Ceiling lamp (3) according to claims 2 and 6, wherein said at least one lighting device (42) being able to define on said control surface (4) at least one symbol to indicate the direction of movement to vary the intensity ? light of the light rays emitted by said at least one light source (32). 8. Ceiling lamp (3) according to claim 7, wherein said at least one symbol extends along a whole longitudinal extension of the control surface (4) and? act to indicate the direction and the direction of the movement to increase the intensity? light of the light rays emitted by said at least one light source (32). Ceiling light (3) according to one of the preceding claims, in which? including a plurality? of keys (7), which are adapted to selectively activate or deactivate one or more? functionality? of the vehicle (2). Ceiling light (3) according to one of the preceding claims, in which? including an audio system (8), comprising in turn at least one microphone and one or more? speakers. 11. Vehicle (2) comprising a passenger compartment (22) suitable for accommodating at least one user or passenger; said vehicle (2) comprising a ceiling light (3) adapted to illuminate said passenger compartment (22) from above; said ceiling light (3)? a ceiling light according to claim 1. Vehicle (2) according to claim 11, wherein said vehicle (2)? a car.