JP2014524381A - Lighting system for components inside the vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

  The vehicle ventilation assembly includes a movable vent configured to direct an air flow from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HAVC) system to the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle ventilation assembly also includes a lighting assembly configured to illuminate the movable vent surface.

Description

  The invention particularly relates to a lighting system for components inside a vehicle.

  Cup holders are placed everywhere inside the vehicle to attach beverage containers. For example, the vehicle's central console, armrest, door panel, or other internal structure may include one or more cup holders. Certain cup holder configurations include a recess disposed within the internal structure and a tab extending inwardly from the recess. It is biased inside the tab and is configured to retract to fit various beverage container diameters. The contact between the tab and the beverage container limits the movement of the beverage container during vehicle operation. A typical cup holder can be adapted to various types of cups, cans, bottles, and / or other small items such as, for example, electronics, sunglasses, and food containers.

  Certain cup holders include ambient lighting to improve the visibility of the cup holder and / or beverage container in dark conditions (eg, night driving). For example, certain cup holders can include a lighted ring that extends around the cup holder to improve the visibility of the cup holder in dark conditions. Unfortunately, the use of lighted rings for ambient lighting significantly increases the cost of manufacturing cup holder assemblies. Further, by directly illuminating the lighted ring assembly (eg, a light emitting diode coupled to a circuit board located adjacent to the lighted ring), exposing the lighted assembly to liquids that may spill out of the beverage container. become.

  A typical vehicle interior also includes a ventilation assembly configured to provide heated and / or cooled air to the vehicle occupant. Each ventilation assembly typically includes a plurality of movable vents configured to direct airflow from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HAVC) system to the interior of the vehicle. The ventilation assembly may also include an adjustment knob coupled to the movable vent and configured to adjust the direction of the vent relative to the air flow. The adjustment knob allows the vehicle occupant to direct the air flow to a desired area inside the vehicle. Unfortunately, under dark conditions (eg, night driving), the adjustment knobs cannot be immediately identified, making vent adjustment difficult.

  The present invention relates to a vehicle ventilation assembly comprising a movable vent configured to direct an air flow from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HAVC) system to the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle ventilation assembly also includes an adjustment knob coupled to the movable vent and configured to adjust the direction of the vent relative to the air flow. The vehicle ventilation assembly further includes an illumination assembly configured to illuminate the surface of the adjustment knob.

  The invention further relates to a vehicle ventilation assembly comprising a movable vent configured to direct an air flow from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HAVC) system to the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle ventilation assembly also includes a lighting assembly configured to illuminate the movable vent surface.

  The invention further relates to a vehicle ventilation assembly comprising a movable vent configured to direct an air flow from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HAVC) system to the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle ventilation assembly also includes a lighting assembly configured to illuminate the movable vent surface. The lighting assembly includes a fiber optic cable configured to transmit light from a remote light source to a movable vent surface. The illumination assembly also includes a light guide disposed within the movable vent and optically coupled to the fiber optic cable. The light guide is configured to illuminate the surface of the movable vent. In addition, the lighting assembly includes a fastener configured to attach the fiber optic cable to the light guide.

1 is a perspective view of an exemplary vehicle including a lighting system for vehicle interior components. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part inside the vehicle of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cup holder assembly comprising a plurality of tabs configured to hold a beverage container. FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram of an embodiment of an illumination assembly configured to emit light from a plurality of tabs in a cup holder assembly. 1 is a perspective view of a tab including an embodiment of a lighting assembly configured to illuminate the surface of the tab. FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative tab including an embodiment of a lighting assembly configured to emit light from the tab to illuminate an interior surface of the cup holder assembly. FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the tab shown in FIG. 5. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle ventilation assembly with a movable vent and adjustment knob. FIG. It is an exploded view of the adjustment knob shown in FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automobile 10 that may include a lighting system for vehicle interior components. As shown, the vehicle 10 includes an interior 12 that includes a seat 14, an armrest 16, and a central console 18. As detailed below, a cup holder configured to secure a beverage container may be included in the seat 14, the armrest 16, the central console 18, and / or other areas of the interior 12. In an embodiment of the present invention, the cup holder assembly can include a receptacle configured to receive a beverage container. The cup holder assembly can also include a movable portion configured to secure the beverage container within the receptacle. For example, the movement of the beverage container while the vehicle 10 is operating is limited by the contact between the movable part and the beverage container. In certain embodiments, the cup holder assembly includes an illumination assembly configured to emit light from the movable portion. For example, in certain embodiments, the illumination assembly is configured to illuminate the surface of the movable portion. In addition, the illumination assembly may be configured to emit light from the movable portion to illuminate the interior surface of the receptacle. Light emitted from the surface of the movable part and / or reflected from the interior surface of the receptacle facilitates identification of the cup holder even in low light conditions (eg, night driving). As will be described in detail below, the lighting assembly may include a fiber optic cable configured to transmit light from a remote light source to the movable portion. Since the light source can be disposed at a position away from the cup holder, the possibility of liquid spilling from the beverage container to the light source circuit board can be substantially reduced or eliminated.

  Further, in certain embodiments, the vehicle interior 12 also includes a ventilation assembly configured to provide heated and / or cooled air to the vehicle occupant. As detailed below, each ventilation assembly includes a plurality of movable vents configured to direct airflow from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HAVC) system to the vehicle interior 12. The ventilation assembly also includes an adjustment knob coupled to the movable vent and configured to adjust the direction of the vent relative to the air flow. The adjustment knob allows the vehicle occupant to direct the air flow to a desired area inside the vehicle interior 12. In some embodiments, the ventilation assembly includes a lighting assembly configured to illuminate the surface of the adjustment knob. Therefore, the visibility of the ventilation assembly is improved even under low light conditions (for example, driving at night).

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 of FIG. As shown, the vehicle interior 12 includes a central console 18 with a cup holder assembly 20. As described above, the cup holder may be located anywhere in the interior 12 of the vehicle 10. For example, the cup holder may be located in the inner door panel 22, armrest or seat 14. As described in detail below, the cup holder assembly 20 includes a movable portion (eg, a tab) configured to hold a beverage container and illumination configured to emit light from the movable portion. Includes assembly. For example, in certain embodiments, the illumination assembly is configured to illuminate the surface of each movable portion. Further, the illumination assembly may be configured to emit light from the movable portion to illuminate the internal surface of the cup holder receptacle. The light emitted from the surface of the movable part and / or the light reflected from the inner surface of the receptacle facilitates identification of the cup holder even in low light conditions (eg night driving).

  The vehicle interior 12 also includes an instrument panel 24 that includes a ventilation assembly 26. While the illustrated instrument panel 24 employs a single ventilation assembly 26, it should be appreciated that alternative embodiments may include multiple ventilation assemblies 26 that may be disposed in the instrument panel 24. Further, the ventilation assembly may be coupled to the interior door panel 22, central console 18, seat 14, and / or other structures within the vehicle interior 12 (eg, floor consoles, armrests, etc.). As will be described in detail below, the ventilation assembly 26 illuminates the adjustment knob and a surface of the adjustment knob configured to allow the vehicle occupant to direct airflow to a desired area inside the vehicle. Includes a configured lighting assembly. The illuminated surface of the adjustment knob improves the visibility of the ventilation assembly even in low light conditions (eg, driving at night).

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the cup holder assembly 20. As shown, the cup holder assembly 20 includes two receptacles 28, each receptacle configured to receive a beverage container. Of course, alternative cup holder assembly 20 may include more or fewer receptacles (eg, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or more). In the illustrated embodiment, the cup holder assembly 20 includes a plurality of movable portions such as the illustrated tabs 30 that extend from the housing 32 of the cup holder assembly 20. Each tab 30 is biased in a radially central direction 34 and is configured to retract to fit various beverage container diameters. For example, as the beverage container enters below the receptacle 28, each tab 30 is driven in a radially outward direction 36 by contact between the beverage container and the tab 30. Because the tab 30 is biased in the radial center direction 34, the tab 30 limits the movement of the beverage container within the receptacle 28 when the vehicle 10 is operating. In the illustrated embodiment, each receptacle 28 includes four tabs 30, but it should be understood that alternative embodiments may include more or fewer tabs 30. For example, in certain embodiments, each receptacle 28 may include 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more tabs 30.

  The cup holder assembly 20 also includes an illumination assembly 38 that is configured to emit light from each tab 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the illumination assembly 38 is configured to illuminate a portion 40 of the upper surface 42 of each tab 30. As described in detail below, certain embodiments of the illumination assembly 38 include fiber optic cables that are configured to transmit light from a distant light source to each tab 30. In such an embodiment, each tab 30 is optically coupled to a respective fiber optic cable and includes a light guide configured to emit light from the surface 40 of the tab 30. Each tab 30 includes an illuminated surface 40 in the illustrated embodiment, but it should be understood that in alternative embodiments, only a portion of the tab 30 (e.g., one-half, quarter, etc.). It may be irradiated.

  Furthermore, the particular tab 30 is configured to emit light from the lower surface 44, thus illuminating 46 the internal surface of each receptacle. For example, in some embodiments, fiber optic cables are employed to transmit light from a remote light source to each tab 30. In such an embodiment, each tab includes an opening in the lower surface 44 and a fiber optic cable is directed to the opening to illuminate the interior surface 28 of the receptacle. Each receptacle 28 includes a single tab 30 configured to illuminate 46 the internal surface, although it will be appreciated that alternative embodiments may include additional illuminated tabs. Light emitted from the surface of each tab 30 and / or reflected from the interior surface 28 of the receptacle facilitates recognition of the cup holder assembly 20 even in low light conditions (eg, night driving). In embodiments employing a remote light source to illuminate the tab 30, the possibility of liquid spilling from the beverage container into the light source circuit board can be substantially reduced or eliminated. In addition, separate lighting simplifies the configuration of the cup holder assembly and substantially reduces the manufacturing cost of manufacturing the cup holder compared to directly lighting the ambient lighting assembly (eg, lighting the ring cup holder). To do.

  FIG. 4 is a wiring diagram of an embodiment of an illumination assembly 38 configured to emit light from a plurality of tabs 30 in the cup holder assembly 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the cup holder assembly 20 includes a first tab 48, a second tab 50, a third tab 52 and a fourth tab 54. In certain embodiments, tabs 48, 50, 52 and 54 are disposed on the inner periphery of receptacle 28 and are configured to hold a beverage container. In the illustrated embodiment, the lighting assembly 38 includes a circuit board 56 that is located remotely from the cup holder assembly 20 (eg, within the central console 18, floor console, etc.). Light is transmitted to the tab 30 from the remote circuit board 56 via the optical fiber cable 58. In particular, light from the first light source 60 is transmitted to the illuminated surface 40 of the first tab 48 via the first optical fiber cable 62, and light from the second light source 64 is transmitted to the second optical fiber. Light transmitted from the third light source 68 to the irradiated surface 40 of the third tab 52 via the third optical fiber cable 70 is transmitted to the irradiated surface 40 of the second tab 50 via the cable 66. Transmitted and light from the fourth light source 72 is transmitted via the fourth fiber optic cable 74 to the illuminated surface 40 of the fourth tab 54. Further, the circuit board 56 includes a fifth light source 76 that is optically coupled to the fifth optical fiber cable 78. The fifth fiber optic cable 78 faces the opening of the fourth tab 54 so as to provide illumination 46 to the inner surface of the cup holder receptacle. Remote light sources 72 and 76 and remote fiber optic cables 74 and 78 are employed to illuminate surface 40 and provide illumination 46. However, it will be appreciated that alternative embodiments use a single light source and a single fiber optic cable to provide light to the fourth tab 54 for the illuminated surface 40 and receptacle illumination 46. May be.

  Of course, the light source may be any suitable device, such as a light emitting diode (LED), an incandescent bulb, or a fluorescent lamp, configured to emit sufficient light to illuminate the tub. For example. In some embodiments, the circuit board may be manufactured using light sources with substantially similar colors and / or intensities (eg, selected from the same distribution (bin)). Thus, the illuminated surface is provided with substantially uniform illumination as compared to the use of circulating light sources with different colors and / or intensities. Further, the circuit board 56 is not a structure limited by the cup holder, but can be placed in a structure (eg, central console 18, floor console, etc.) having sufficient space to fit the dimensions of the board. . Further, since the circuit board 56 is located away from the cup holder 20, the possibility of liquid spilling from the beverage container onto the circuit board can be substantially reduced or eliminated. Therefore, the life of the circuit board is extended.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the circuit board 56 includes a control circuit 80 configured to drive each light source. In some embodiments, the control circuit 80 is configured to selectively emit light from the illumination surface 40 of each tab in a desired pattern. For example, the control circuit 80 may sequentially brighten the first light source 60, the second light source 64, the third light source 68, and then the fourth light source 72. As a result, the tab 30 illuminates the periphery of the receptacle with a sequential pattern, thus providing a marquee lighting effect. Of course, the control circuit 80 may be adapted to illuminate the light source in alternative patterns, thus producing various lighting effects. Further, the control circuit 80 may be configured to change the intensity, frequency and / or color of each light source. For example, each light source may include a tri-color LED configured to emit various colors by a combination of red, green and blue components. In such a configuration, the color of the illuminated surface 40 and / or receptacle illumination 46 may be adjusted, for example, based on user input, among others. Further, the control circuit 80 may include a dimming function for adjusting the illumination intensity and / or a voltage adjustment element for supplying a desired voltage to the light source.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the lighting assembly 38 includes a sensor 82 that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit 80. The sensor 82 is configured to output a signal indicating the presence of the activated object, the temperature of the activated object and / or the ambient temperature. The control circuit 80 is in turn configured to adjust the color, intensity and / or frequency of light emitted from each tab based on the signal. For example, the sensor 82 may be a thermocouple embedded in one of the tabs. In the embodiment, the sensor 82 outputs a signal indicating the beverage container temperature to the control circuit 80. The control circuit 80 then adjusts the color emitted from each light source based on the detected temperature. For example, when a cold drink is placed in the cup holder receptacle, the tab can emit blue light, and when a hot drink is placed in the cup holder receptacle, the tab can emit red light. Similarly, the color of the tab may be adjusted based on the ambient temperature detected inside the vehicle. In certain embodiments, the cup holder assembly 20 may be configured to actively heat or cool the beverage container (eg, by directing heated or cooled air from the HAVC system to the cup holder assembly 20). . In such an embodiment, the control circuit 80 can instruct each light source to emit red light when the beverage container is actively heated, and emits blue light when the beverage container is actively cooled. You can instruct.

  Sensor 82 can also be configured to detect the presence of an activated object (eg, key, sunglasses, coins, food / beverage container, etc.) within cup holder assembly 20. When an object is detected, the control circuit 80 can instruct each light source to reduce the illumination intensity or to be completely dark. In this way, the light reflected from the object in the cup holder can be significantly reduced or eliminated, reducing the risk of driver distraction. Furthermore, once the sensor detects that the object has been removed from the cup holder, the control circuit 80 instructs the light source to return to the initial illumination state, making it easy to identify the cup holder assembly under low light conditions. To do. In an alternative embodiment, when an activated object is detected, the control circuit 80 can be configured to issue an instruction to the light source to increase the illumination intensity, to change the color and / or frequency of the emitted light.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view 30 of a tab with an embodiment of a lighting assembly 38 configured to illuminate the surface 40 of the tab. As described above, each tab 30 extends from the inner surface 28 of the receptacle and is biased radially centrally. In the illustrated embodiment, the tab 30 is coupled to the receptacle 28 by a pivot 84 that rotates the tab in a radially central direction 34 and a radially outward direction 36. In certain embodiments, the tab 30 includes a notch configured to receive a biasing member that presses the tab 30 in the radially inward direction 34. For example, an elastic band may be placed around the receptacle 28 so that the band engages the notch of each tab 30. In such an embodiment, the tension of the elastic band drives each tab 30 to rotate about each pivot axis 84 in the radial center direction 34. Thus, when a beverage container is inserted into the receptacle 28, each tab 30 is driven in a radially outward direction 36 by contact between the beverage container and the tab 30. Because the tab 30 is biased in the radial center direction 34, the tab 30 limits the movement of the beverage container within the receptacle 28 when the vehicle 10 is operating.

  In the illustrated embodiment, light from a distant light source is transmitted to the illuminated surface 40 of the tab 30 by a fiber optic cable 58. As shown, the illumination assembly 38 includes a light guide 88 disposed within the tab 30 and optically coupled to the fiber optic cable 58. In addition, the upper surface 42 of the tab 30 includes an opening 90 configured to expose a portion of the light guide 88. In this configuration, light from the fiber optic cable 58 is transmitted through the light guide 88 and is emitted from the illuminated surface 40 so that the cup holder assembly 20 is visible in low light conditions (eg, night driving). Improves. In the illustrated embodiment, the illuminated surface 40 is substantially rectangular, although it will be appreciated that alternative embodiments comprise other dimensions and / or shapes (eg, circular, polygonal, elliptical, etc.). An illuminated surface may be included. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the light guide 88 may be colored to provide the desired illuminated color. For example, if blue light is the desired color and white light is emitted from a remote light source, the light guide 88 may be colored blue to provide the desired appearance.

  Further, the irradiation surface 40 of the light guide 88 may be coated with a reflective material 92 in order to improve the visibility of the tab 30 under daylight conditions. For example, the tab 30 may include chrome plating on the irradiated surface 40. Since the plating can be configured to facilitate the passage of light from the light guide 88, the visibility of the tab 30 is maintained even under low light conditions. Of course, alternative light transmissive coloring and / or texture coatings may be used in alternative embodiments to improve the appearance of the tab 30.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view 30 of an alternative tab that includes an embodiment of an illumination assembly 38 configured to emit light from the tab to illuminate the interior surface of the receptacle. In the illustrated embodiment, light from a distant light source is transmitted to the tab 30 by a fiber optic cable 58. As shown, the tab 30 includes a fiber optic cable holder 94 that is configured to couple the cable 58 with the tab 30 and guide the fiber optic cable to the opening 96 in the lower surface 44 of the tab 30. Since the opening 96 faces the inner surface of the receptacle, the light from the optical fiber cable 58 illuminates the receptacle, so that the visibility of the cup holder assembly 20 is improved even under low light conditions (for example, driving at night). Although the illustrated embodiment includes a single opening 96, it will be appreciated that alternative embodiments may include additional openings 96 (eg, 2) configured to direct light to different regions of the cup holder assembly 20. 3, 4, 5, or more). Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the shape and size of the opening 96 can be configured to provide a particularly desired lighting effect. In addition, certain embodiments may include a lens disposed within the opening 96 and configured to expand or narrow the light beam emitted from the fiber optic cable 58.

  FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the tab 30 shown in FIG. As shown, the lighting assembly 38 includes a fastener 98 configured to attach the fiber optic cable 58 to the light guide 88. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener 98 includes a protrusion 100 configured to hold the fiber optic cable 58. For example, since the protrusion 100 can be bent inward from the fastener body, the protrusion 100 allows the optical fiber cable 58 to easily pass through the fastener and prevents the cable 58 from moving off the fastener. (For example, by contact between the protrusion 100 and the outer sheath of the optical fiber cable 58). As shown, the fastener 98 also includes an externally angled protrusion 102 configured to attach the fastener 98 to the light guide 88. In particular, the angled protrusion 102 facilitates the fastener 98 entering the cavity 104 of the light guide 88 and prevents the fastener from being removed from the cavity 104. In some embodiments, fasteners 98 may be formed by an injection molding process, and protrusions 100 and protrusions 102 may be stamped into the surface of the fastener body. By employing the injection molded fastener 98 to attach the optical fiber cable 58 to the light guide 88, the manufacturing cost can be substantially reduced as compared with the case where a communication grade optical connector is employed.

  Next, the light guide 88 is coupled to the tab 30, and the protrusion 106 of the light guide 88 engages the opening 90. As a result, light from the fiber optic cable 58 passes through the light guide 88 and illuminates the surface 40 of the tab 30. In certain embodiments, the light guide 88 may be glued, heat-taken, clamped, and / or otherwise connected to the tab 30. Alternatively, the light guide 88 may be integrally formed with the tab, thereby providing a single structure that is configured to receive light from the fiber optic cable 58. Since the light source can be disposed at a position away from the cup holder, the possibility of liquid spilling from the beverage container to the light source circuit board can be substantially reduced or eliminated.

  Although the cup holder assembly described above employs tabs to hold the beverage container, it will be appreciated that alternative embodiments may use other movable parts to mount the beverage container in the receptacle. For example, in certain embodiments, the cup holder assembly may include a rotatable arm that presses the beverage container against the interior surface of the receptacle. In such embodiments, the lighting assembly may be configured to emit light from a rotatable arm to facilitate recognition of the cup holder assembly in low light conditions. Furthermore, although the lighting system has been described with reference to the cup holder assembly as described above, it will be appreciated that the lighting assembly may be employed in other holding assemblies within the vehicle. For example, a vehicle may include a receptacle configured to hold a portable electronic device and a movable portion configured to attach the portable electronic device to the receptacle. In this configuration, the illumination assembly may be configured to emit light from the movable portion to facilitate identification of the holding assembly in low light conditions.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the vehicle ventilation assembly 26 with the movable vent 108 and the adjustment knob 110. The movable vent 108 is configured to direct the air flow from the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HAVC) system to the interior of the vehicle interior 12. The adjustment knob 110 is configured to adjust the orientation of the vent 108 relative to the air flow. As shown, the ventilation assembly 26 includes three horizontal vents 108 with adjustment knobs 108 coupled to the central vent 108. Although three horizontal vents 108 are included in the illustrated embodiment, it will be appreciated that more or fewer horizontal vents 108 (eg, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or more) can be substituted. You may employ | adopt by embodiment. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that certain embodiments may include a vertical vent, alone or in combination with a horizontal vent. The adjustment knob 110 is configured to direct the horizontal and / or vertical vents in the horizontal direction 112 and / or the vertical direction 114.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the illumination assembly 38 is configured to illuminate the surface 116 of the adjustment knob 110, thereby improving the visibility of the adjustment knob 110 in low light conditions (eg, driving at night). In certain embodiments, the illumination assembly 38 includes a fiber optic cable configured to transmit light from a remote light source to the adjustment knob 110 and light disposed within the adjustment knob 110 and optically coupled to the fiber optic cable. Including a guide. In such embodiments, the light guide is configured to receive light from the fiber optic cable and illuminate the surface 116 of the adjustment knob. Similar to the illuminated surface of the tab, the surface 116 of the adjustment knob 110 may be coated with a reflective material 118 to improve the visibility of the adjustment knob 110 even in daylight conditions. For example, the adjustment knob 110 may include chrome plating on the illuminated surface 116. Since the plating can be configured to facilitate the passage of light from the light guide, the visibility of the adjustment knob 110 is maintained even under low light conditions. Of course, alternative light transmissive coloring and / or texture coatings may be used in alternative embodiments to improve the adjustment knob 110 appearance.

  In certain embodiments, the illumination assembly 38 includes a control circuit, such as the control circuit 80 described above, configured to drive a remote light source. The control circuit may be configured to change the light intensity, light frequency and / or light color of the distant light source to obtain the desired lighting effect. For example, the light source may include a tri-color LED configured to emit various colors by a combination of red, green and blue components. In such embodiments, the color of the illuminated surface 116 may be adjusted, for example, based on user input, among others. In a further embodiment, the control circuit can be communicatively coupled to the HAVC system. In such embodiments, the HAVC system is configured to output a signal indicative of the target air temperature to the control circuit. The control circuit sequentially adjusts the color of the light source based on the signal. For example, the light source may emit blue when the air conditioner is activated, and the light source may emit red when the heater is activated. With this configuration, the vehicle occupant can visually recognize the HAVC target temperature. Alternatively, the lighting assembly 38 may include a sensor, such as the sensor 82 described above, configured to detect the temperature of the air emitted from the ventilation assembly 26, and the control circuit may be based on the detected air temperature. The color of the light source may be adjusted. In further embodiments, the intensity, frequency and / or color of the light source may be adjusted based on air filter conditions, humidity, ambient temperature, and / or other detected or measured parameters.

  FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the adjustment knob 110 shown in FIG. Similar to the illuminated tab described above, the illumination assembly 38 includes a fastener 98 configured to attach the fiber optic cable 58 to the light guide. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener 98 includes a protrusion 100 configured to hold the fiber optic cable 58. For example, since the protrusion 100 can be bent inward from the fastener body, the protrusion 100 allows the fiber optic cable 58 to easily pass into the fastener and allows the cable 58 to move away from the fastener. Prevent (for example, by contact between the protrusion 100 and the outer sheath of the optical fiber cable 58). As shown, the fastener 98 also includes an externally angled protrusion 102 configured to attach the fastener 98 to the light guide. In particular, the angled protrusion 102 facilitates the fastener 98 entering the cavity 120 of the light guide 122 and prevents the fastener from moving away from the cavity 120. In some embodiments, fasteners 98 may be formed from metal by a stamping process. Alternatively, the fastener 98 may be formed by an injection molding process, and the protrusion 100 and protrusion 102 may be stamped onto the surface of the fastener body. By employing the injection molding / punching fastener 98 to attach the optical fiber cable 58 to the light guide 122, the manufacturing cost can be substantially reduced as compared to the case of employing a communication grade optical connector.

  Next, the light guide 122 is placed in the cavity 124 of the adjustment knob 110. As a result, light from the fiber optic cable 58 passes through the light guide 122 and illuminates the surface 116 of the adjustment knob 110. In certain embodiments, the light guide 122 may be glued, tucked, clamped, and / or otherwise connected to the adjustment knob 110. In such embodiments, the adjustment knob 110 is formed of a substantially transparent material (eg, glass, transparent plastic, etc.) so that light from the light guide 122 can illuminate the surface 116 of the adjustment knob 110. Become. Alternatively, the light guide 122 may be molded integrally with the adjustment knob, thereby providing a single structure that is configured to receive light from the fiber optic cable 58. In this configuration, the illuminated surface 116 of the adjustment knob 110 corresponds to the outer surface of the light guide 122.

  In order to transmit the light from the distant light source to the irradiated trim part, the optical fiber cable is used in the above-described embodiment. However, it is understood that a direct illumination configuration may be used in the alternative embodiment. For example, in certain embodiments, a light source (eg, LED) may be placed in each tab of the cup holder assembly. In such an embodiment, the light source is optically coupled to the light guide, thus directly illuminating the surface of the tab. Similarly, the light source may be placed in the adjustment knob of the ventilation assembly. In this configuration, the light source is optically coupled to the light guide, thus directly illuminating the surface of the adjustment knob. In embodiments employing direct illumination, electrical conductors (eg, electrical wiring, flex circuits, etc.) may be used to supply power to the distributed light sources.

  Further, while the illumination assembly described above is configured to illuminate the surface of the adjustment knob, it will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, it is configured to illuminate the surface of a movable vent, such as the illustrated horizontal vent 108. A lighting assembly may be employed. For example, the lighting assembly is configured to illuminate the movable vent disposed within the movable vent and a fiber optic cable configured to transmit light from a distant light source to the movable vent. A light guide may be included. The arrangement also includes a control circuit configured to adjust the color, intensity and / or frequency of light emitted from the surface of the movable vent.

  While only certain features and embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, many changes and modifications can be made without departing from the novel teachings and the advantages of the invention as claimed. Easy to implement by a vendor (eg dimensions, sizes, structures, shapes and ratios of various components, parameter values (eg temperature, pressure, etc.), mounting methods, materials used, colors, orientations Change). In alternative embodiments, the order or sequence of all process or method steps may be changed or reconfigured. Therefore, it should be understood that it is intended to include all such changes and modifications within the true spirit of the invention. In addition, efforts have been made to provide a concise description of exemplary embodiments, but all features in an actual implementation (ie, forms unrelated to the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention) Or a form irrelevant to carrying out the invention described in the claims). Of course, in the actual implementation improvement, every working or design project makes a number of decisions specific to implementation. Such development efforts may be complex and time consuming, but nonetheless, routine design, production, and manufacturing work for those skilled in the art who would benefit from this disclosure without undue experimentation. It will be understood that.

Claims (20)

A movable vent configured to direct an air flow from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HAVC) system to the interior of the vehicle;
An adjustment knob coupled to the movable vent and configured to adjust a direction of the vent relative to the air flow;
A vehicle ventilation assembly including a lighting assembly configured to illuminate a surface of the adjustment knob. The vehicle ventilation assembly of claim 1,
The illumination assembly includes a fiber optic cable configured to transmit light from a remote light source to the adjustment knob. The vehicle ventilation assembly of claim 2,
The lighting assembly includes a light guide disposed in the adjustment knob and optically coupled to the fiber optic cable, the light guide configured to illuminate a surface of the adjustment knob. .   4. The vehicle ventilation assembly of claim 3, wherein the lighting assembly includes a fastener configured to attach the fiber optic cable to the light guide. The vehicle ventilation assembly of claim 4,
The fastener includes a plurality of first protrusions configured to hold the fiber optic cable and a plurality of second protrusions configured to attach the fastener to the light guide. Assembly. The vehicle ventilation assembly of claim 4,
The fastener is a vehicle ventilation assembly formed by an injection molding process. The vehicle ventilation assembly of claim 3,
The adjustment knob includes a reflective coating disposed on a surface, the reflective coating configured to allow light to easily pass through the light guide. The vehicle ventilation assembly of claim 1,
A vehicle ventilation assembly including a control circuit configured to adjust the color, intensity, frequency, or combination thereof of light emitted from the surface of the adjustment knob. The vehicle ventilation assembly of claim 1,
The lighting assembly is:
A sensor configured to output a signal indicative of the temperature of the air stream;
A vehicle including a control circuit that is communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to adjust the color, intensity, frequency, or combination thereof of light emitted from the surface of the adjustment knob based on the signal Ventilation assembly. A vehicle ventilation assembly,
A movable vent configured to direct an air flow from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HAVC) system to the interior of the vehicle;
A vehicle ventilation assembly including an illumination assembly configured to illuminate a surface of the movable vent. The vehicle ventilation assembly of claim 10.
The illumination assembly includes a fiber optic cable configured to transmit light from a remote light source to the movable vent. The vehicle ventilation assembly of claim 11,
The illumination assembly includes a light guide disposed within the movable vent and optically coupled to the fiber optic cable, the light guide configured to illuminate a surface of the movable vent. Vehicle ventilation assembly. The vehicle ventilation assembly of claim 12,
The movable vent includes a reflective coating disposed on a surface, the reflective coating configured to allow light to easily pass through the light guide. The vehicle ventilation assembly of claim 10.
A vehicle ventilation assembly including a control circuit configured to adjust the color, intensity, frequency, or combination thereof of light emitted from the surface of the movable vent. The vehicle ventilation assembly of claim 10.
The lighting assembly is:
A sensor configured to output a signal indicative of the temperature of the air stream;
A vehicle including a control circuit communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to adjust the color, intensity, frequency, or combination thereof of light emitted from the movable vent surface based on the signal Ventilation assembly. A vehicle ventilation assembly,
A movable vent configured to direct an air flow from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HAVC) system to the interior of the vehicle;
An illumination assembly configured to illuminate the movable vent surface;
The lighting assembly is:
A fiber optic cable configured to transmit light from a remote light source to the surface of the movable vent;
A light guide disposed within the movable vent and optically coupled to the fiber optic cable, the light guide configured to illuminate a surface of the movable vent;
A vehicle ventilation assembly including a fastener configured to attach the fiber optic cable to the light guide. The vehicle ventilation assembly of claim 16, wherein
The fastener is a vehicle ventilation assembly formed by a metal stamping process.   17. The vehicle ventilation assembly of claim 16, wherein the fastener is a plurality of first protrusions configured to hold the fiber optic cable, and a plurality of fasteners configured to attach the fastener to the light guide. A vehicle ventilation assembly including a second protrusion. The vehicle ventilation assembly of claim 16, wherein
The movable vent includes a reflective coating disposed on a surface, wherein the reflective coating is configured to allow light to easily pass through the light guide. The vehicle ventilation assembly of claim 16, wherein
A vehicle ventilation assembly including a control circuit configured to adjust the color, intensity, frequency, or combination thereof of light emitted from the surface of the movable vent.

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