Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q3/00—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
  • B60Q3/80—Circuits; Control arrangements
  • B60Q3/82—Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q3/00—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
  • B60Q3/10—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors for dashboards
  • B60Q3/16—Circuits; Control arrangements
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q3/00—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
  • B60Q3/10—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors for dashboards
  • B60Q3/16—Circuits; Control arrangements
  • B60Q3/18—Circuits; Control arrangements for varying the light intensity
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q3/00—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
  • B60Q3/80—Circuits; Control arrangements
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q3/00—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
  • B60Q3/80—Circuits; Control arrangements
  • B60Q3/85—Circuits; Control arrangements for manual control of the light, e.g. of colour, orientation or intensity
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q2500/00—Special features or arrangements of vehicle interior lamps
  • B60Q2500/30—Arrangements for illuminating different zones in the vehicle, e.g. front/rear, different seats

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to vehicle interior lighting systems and, in particular, to an intensity adjustable and color adjustable lighting system for a vehicle interior.
• vehicle interior lighting is viewed primarily as functional. For example, a certain amount of light is needed to illuminate a selected area within the interior of the vehicle cab and a certain amount of light is needed to backlight the instrumentation panel of the vehicle to be visible at night. Almost always the illumination was provided from incandescent bulbs and was almost always white light. Further, and with the exception of certain instrument backlighting, most vehicle lighting does not include adjustable intensity.
• LED's Light-Emitting Diodes
• LED's have made significant inroads into motor vehicle lighting systems. While initially the new LED lighting was limited to headlights and taillights, LED's gradually found their way into vehicle interior lighting. New vehicles now use LED's rather extensively for passenger compartment general lighting, instrumentation lighting and warning lights.
• LED's typically last longer than the vehicles they are installed in. Thus bulb replacement may become a thing of the past.
• LED's have reduced power consumption, which enables smaller, and thus cheaper, power wiring. The lower power consumption enables redirection of available electrical power to other devices and applications that are becoming increasingly common in today's motor vehicles.
• LED vehicle interior lighting that can be adjusted in both intensity and color.
• LED vehicle interior lighting would enable variable lighting schemes and would improve driver safety by reducing excessive light reflections while driving at night.
• the disclosed vehicle interior lighting system may provide aesthetically improved interior lighting. Those principles specifically provide for LED vehicle interior lighting that can be adjusted in both intensity and color. Such LED vehicle interior lighting enables aesthetically attractive lighting schemes at relatively low cost and with easy driver adjustability.
• the LED vehicle interior lighting provides numerous colors and is highly configurable in lighting intensities.
• the disclosed vehicle interior lighting system may include a controller, a selector control applying a user adjustable selector input to the controller, a color control applying a user adjustable color input to the controller, an intensity control applying a user adjustable intensity input to the controller and a plurality of illumination devices emitting light, the light including a color and an intensity.
• the controller controls the color of the illumination devices based on a color input.
• the controller controls the intensity of the illumination devices based on an intensity input.
• the disclosed vehicle interior lighting system may include a control device, a multi -position selector control applying a user adjustable selector input to the control device, a color adjustment potentiometer applying a user adjustable color input to the control device, an intensity adjustment potentiometer applying a user adjustable intensity input to the control device, an instrument cluster having instrument illumination devices emitting light having a color and an intensity, and an array of indicators having indicator illumination devices emitting light having a color and an intensity.
• the control device controls the color of the instrument illumination devices based on a color input.
• the control device controls the color of the indicator illumination devices based on a color input.
• the control device controls the intensity of the instrument illumination devices based on an intensity input.
• the control device controls the intensity of the indicator illumination devices based on an intensity input.
• the controller when in a first position, the instrument illumination devices, the indicator illumination devices, and the compartment interior illumination devices are off. When in a second position, the controller sets the intensity and color of the instrument illumination devices. When in a third position, the controller sets the intensity and color of the indicator illumination devices. When in a fourth position, the controller sets the intensity and color of the compartment interior illumination devices. When in a fifth position, the controller sets the intensity and color of the instrument illumination devices, the indicator illumination devices, and the compartment interior illumination devices on an even and consistent manner.
• the controller is a microcontroller
• the vehicle interior lighting system includes a programming input port for receiving an operating program
• the microcontroller is a flash programmable microcontroller.
• the disclosed vehicle interior lighting system may include a first control device for turning the instrument illumination devices on/off, a second control device for turning the indicator illumination devices on/off, and a third control device for turning the compartment interior illumination devices on/off.
• the vehicle interior lighting system may also include a vehicle operation control device for selectively applying external electrical power to the vehicle interior lighting system.
• FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the disclosed vehicle interior lighting system, shown installed in a motor vehicle passenger compartment, according to the present invention
• FIG. 2 is an electrical block diagram depicting major components of the vehicle interior lighting system of FIG. 1 ; and [0020]
• FIG. 3 is an electrical schematic of the major components of the vehicle interior lighting system of FIGS. 1 and 2, specifically including a multi-color LED driving circuit.
• Relative terms such as “front” or “rear” or “left” or “right” or “top” or “bottom” or “below” or “above” or “upper” or “lower” or “horizontal” or “vertical” may be used herein to describe a relationship of one element, feature or region to another element, feature or region as illustrated in the figures. It should be understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. It should also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. It should also be understood that the sizes and relative orientations of the illustrated elements are not shown to scale, and in some instances they have been exaggerated for purposes of explanation.
• the system 10 generally includes a lighting system for the interior of a motor vehicle having variable (e.g., multiple) intensity settings and variable (e.g., multiple) color settings, and combinations of the two.
• variable e.g., multiple
• variable e.g., multiple
• the passenger compartment 15 may include well-known devices such as a driver's seat 20, a steering wheel 25, an instrument cluster 30, and vehicle control devices 35, such as a gas pedal and a brake.
• the instrument cluster 30 may include multiple illumination devices
• the instrument cluster 30 may include all of the lighting devices typically seen within a motor vehicle passenger compartment 15 during night driving.
• the system 10 may enable driver and/or passenger control of the color and intensity level of the instrument cluster illumination devices 40, the LED indicator lights 45 and/or the passenger compartment interior lights 50, either concurrently (e.g., they all change at the same time) or independently (e.g., only one group of lights is adjusted).
• the system 10 may include a multi-position selector control switch 55, a color adjustment potentiometer 60, and an intensity adjustment potentiometer 65, all of which may be located on a dashboard 70 of the motor vehicle passenger compartment 15.
• the operations of the multi-position selector control switch 55, the color adjustment potentiometer 60, and the intensity adjustment potentiometer 65 are described in more detail herein below.
• electrical power for the system 10 may be provided by a vehicle electrical system 75 (e.g., a vehicle battery).
• the system 10 may be protected by an overcurrent protective device 80, such as one or more fuses.
• electrical power passing through the overcurrent protective device 80 e.g., fuse
• a vehicle operation control device 85 such as an ignition circuit or a relay.
• the switched power is applied to a main control module 90, to a first multi-color LED driving circuit 95, to a second multi-color LED driving circuit 100, and to a third multi-color LED driving circuit 105.
• the main control module 90 may sense the positions of the multi- position selector control switch 55, the color adjustment potentiometer 60, and the intensity adjustment potentiometer 65.
• the multi-position selector control switch 55 may include five (5) positions.
• the first position may be an OFF position.
• the second position may select the first multi-color LED driving circuit 95, which provides lighting for the instrument cluster illumination devices 40 (FIG. 1) for color and intensity adjustments.
• the third position may select the second multi-color LED driving circuit 100, which provides lighting for the LED indicator lights 45 (FIG. 1) for color and intensity adjustments.
• the fourth position may select the third multi-color LED driving circuit 105, which provides lighting for the passenger compartment interior lights 50 (FIG. 1) for color and intensity adjustments.
• the fifth position may select all of the multi-color LED driving circuits (e.g., driving circuits 95, 100, and 105) for simultaneous color and intensity adjustments.
• the fifth position may control all three of the multi-color LED driving circuits 95, 100, and 105 at the same time while positions two through four independently control individual multi-color LED driving circuits 95, 100, and 105.
• the respective resistances of the color adjustment potentiometer 60 and the intensity adjustment potentiometer 65 may be observed and/or collected by the main control module 90.
• the main control module 90 may selectively (e.g., based on the position of the multi -position selector control switch 55) apply a signal that is representative of the resistance for the first multi-color LED driving circuit 95, to the second multi-color LED driving circuit 100, and/or the third multi-color LED driving circuit 105.
• the signals may be determined by a microcontroller 140.
• the microcontroller 140 may be integrated within the main control module 90.
• applicable logic might be provided by any number of other types of devices such as discrete logic, a RAM or EPROM, a programmable logic controller, or the like, all of which are well known in the art.
• the output of the first multi-color LED driving circuit 95 may be applied to one or more tricolor (e.g., RGB) LED's 1 10 through one or more resistors 1 15. While FIG. 2 shows only three tricolor LED's 1 10 and three first resistors, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the actual number may be much higher (e.g., being up to a hundred) by continuing the parallel connection scheme illustrated in FIG. 2. Thus, the actual number of tricolor LED's 1 10 and resistors 115 associated with the first multi-color LED driving circuit 95 is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present disclosure as different applications may use different numbers.
• tricolor LED's 1 10 and resistors 115 associated with the first multi-color LED driving circuit 95 is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present disclosure as different applications may use different numbers.
• Illumination control of the tricolor LED's 1 10 associated with the first multi-color LED driving circuit 95 may be provided by a first control device 120.
• the first control device 10 may be a logic circuit, relay contacts or the like.
• the first control device 120 may deactivate the tricolor LED's 110 connected to it, thus extinguishing the instrument cluster illumination devices 40 (FIG. 1).
• the tricolor LED's 1 10 connected to the first control device 120 may be lit.
• the output of the second multi-color LED driving circuit 100 may be passed to tricolor (e.g., RGB) LED's 1 10 through resistors 115. While FIG. 2 shows only three tricolor LED's 1 10 associated with the second multi-color LED driving circuit 100, the actual number may be much higher (e.g., being up to a hundred) by continuing the parallel connection scheme as depicted in FIG. 2. Thus, the actual number of tricolor LED's 1 10 and resistors 115 associated with the second multi-color LED driving circuit 100 is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present disclosure as different applications may use different numbers.
• tricolor LED's 1 10 and resistors 115 associated with the second multi-color LED driving circuit 100 is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present disclosure as different applications may use different numbers.
• Illumination control of the tricolor LED's 110 associated with the second multi-color LED driving circuit 100 may be provided by a second control device 125 (e.g., a logic circuit, relay contacts or the like).
• a second control device 125 When in an open position, the second control device 125 may deactivate the tricolor LED's 1 10 connected to it, thus extinguishing the LED indicator lights 45 or switches light (FIG. 1). Again, this may occur during daytime driving, or when the headlights are off, or the like.
• the second multi-color LED driving circuit 100 may control the color and/or brightness of the LED indicator lights 45, such as a radio on/off switch, a radio/CD switch, a car fog switch, door lock and unlock switches, door handles lights, release lever light of the glove box, window switches, A/C switch, max/min heater switch, and associated other switches, handles, or release levers.
• a radio on/off switch such as a radio on/off switch, a radio/CD switch, a car fog switch, door lock and unlock switches, door handles lights, release lever light of the glove box, window switches, A/C switch, max/min heater switch, and associated other switches, handles, or release levers.
• the output of the third multi-color LED driving circuit 105 may be passed to tricolor (e.g., RGB) LED's 1 10 through resistors 1 15. While FIG.2 depicts only three tricolor LED's 1 10 associated with the third multi-color LED driving circuit 105, the actual quantity can be much more (e.g., being up to a hundred) by continuing the parallel connection scheme shown in FIG.2. Thus, the actual number of tricolor LED's 1 10 and resistors 1 15 associated with the third multi-color LED driving circuit 105 is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present disclosure as different applications may use different numbers.
• tricolor LED's 1 10 and resistors 1 15 associated with the third multi-color LED driving circuit 105 is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present disclosure as different applications may use different numbers.
• Illumination control of the tricolor LED's 1 10 associated with the third multi-color LED driving circuit 105 may be provided by a third control device 130.
• the third control device 130 may be a door pin switch, a trunk pin switch, a dash- mounted control switch, or the like. This may enable both automatic and manual control of the passenger compartment interior lights 50, which may be located at various positions within the motor vehicle passenger compartment 15 (FIG. 1).
• the tricolor LED's 110 associated with the third multi-color LED driving circuit 105 may aid in entry, egress or simple illumination of interior surfaces of the passenger compartment 15. Therefore, the output of the third multi-color LED driving circuit 105 may control the color and/or brightness of the car interior lights 50.
• FIG. 3 illustrates an electrical schematic diagram depicting major components of the first multi-color LED driving circuit 95, the second multicolor LED driving circuit 100, and/or the third multi-color LED driving circuit 105.
• the construction, features, and operation for the first multi-color LED driving circuit 95, the second multi-color LED driving circuit 100, and the third multi-color LED driving circuit 105 may be substantially identical. Accordingly, each of the multi-color LED driving circuits 95, 100, and 105 may include a similar driving circuit 135.
• the driving circuit 135 may incorporate a microcontroller 140 as the main controlling component of the system 10.
• the microcontroller 140 may be a CMOS FLASH-based 8-bit microcontroller in a forty-pin package.
• the microcontroller 140 may be a PIC16F887 or equivalent component.
• the microcontroller 140 may include two hundred fifty-six (256) bytes of EEPROM data memory, two comparators, fourteen channels of 10-bit Analog-to-Digital (A/D) converter, a synchronous serial port, and an Enhanced Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (EUSART).
• 256 fifty-six
• A/D Analog-to-Digital
• EUSART Enhanced Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter
• microcontroller 140 may be used and, thus, the specific example of microcontroller 140 is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present disclosure.
• the PIC16F887 is widely available, widely used, low cost, well supported by its manufacturer, and has a small number of op-codes that makes programming relatively simple.
• microcontroller 140 timing may be supplied to the driving circuit 135 by a quartz oscillator 145. Power may be supplied by a voltage regulator 150. Resistors 155 may be included to control current levels, as required. The microcontroller 140 may runs in accord with a customized program, which may be written, for example, in the C programming language.
• the customized program may controls the microcontroller
• the color may be governed by the color adjustment potentiometer 60, while the intensity may be controlled by the adjustment potentiometer 65 (FIG. 1).
• the resistances of the color adjustment potentiometer 60 and the adjustment potentiometer 65 may be digitized, such as by use of built-in A/D converters. The digitized results may be applied (e.g., after further processing) to the tricolor LED's 1 10 (FIG. 2) via the four- wire output connection 170.
• the example embodiments of the disclosed system 10 may be used by in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training.
• the disclosed system 10 may be constructed in general accordance with FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 and may be installed in general accordance with FIG. 1.
• the present disclosure recognizes and takes into account that the disclosed system 10 may be adapted as standard or optional equipment on new motor vehicles. However, the disclosed system 10 may be adapted into an aftermarket kit for an existing motor vehicle.
• the disclosed system 10 is described in terms of a specific, non-limiting example as being connected to and/or utilized with an automobile. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosed system 10 may be connected to and/or utilized with any type of motor vehicle including automobiles, trucks, vans, SUV's, buses, boats, motorcycles, and planes.
• the disclosed system 10 may be ready for operation.
• a user located in the motor vehicle passenger compartment 15 e.g., the driver
• the driver may place the multi-position selector control switch 55 in the second position to adjust the lighting for the instrument cluster illumination devices 40. That enables the driver to adjust the color adjustment potentiometer 60 and the intensity adjustment potentiometer 65 to the desired levels for the instrument cluster illumination devices 40.
• the driver may position the multi-position selector control switch
• the driver may position the multi-position selector control switch 5 in the fourth position to adjust the lighting for the passenger compartment interior lights 50 (FIG. 1). That enables the driver to adjust the color adjustment potentiometer 60 and the intensity adjustment potentiometer 65 to the desired levels for the passenger compartment interior lights 50.
• the driver may place the multi -position selector control switch 55 to the fifth position. That enables the color adjustment potentiometer 60 and intensity adjustment potentiometer 65 to control the intensity for all lighting circuits at once.
• the operation of the instrument cluster illumination devices 40, the LED indicator lights 45, and the passenger compartment interior lights 50 may continue in an automatic and transparent manner as directed by the first control device 120, the second control devices 125, and the third control device 130 (FIG. 2). Should operation of any lighting circuit be desired or caused, the driver is rewarded with illumination at his desired intensity and with his preferred color.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Arrangements Of Lighting Devices For Vehicle Interiors, Mounting And Supporting Thereof, Circuits Therefore (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=51297298

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (22)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (22)

• 2013
  • 2013-05-29 US US13/904,674 patent/US9434300B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2014
  • 2014-05-02 WO PCT/CA2014/000402 patent/WO2014190410A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2014-05-02 JP JP2016515577A patent/JP6496306B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2014-05-02 CN CN201480025391.0A patent/CN105246740B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2014-05-02 EP EP14804479.5A patent/EP3003784A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2014-05-02 KR KR1020157033075A patent/KR20160016789A/ko not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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