Automotive lamp control

• US 10,266,102 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2018
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph P. Zizzadoro
• Original Assignee: Joseph P. Zizzadoro
• Inventors: Zizzadoro, Joseph P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Anh Q
• Application Number:
  US15/919,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20180201180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0076 Switches therefor B60Q1/1446, B60Q1/343, B60Q1/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/02 the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1407 General lighting circuits comprising dimming circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/50 Arrangements to reconfigure features of lighting or signalling devices, or to choose from a list of pre-defined settings

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for configuring automotive lamp illumination control are provided. One example method includes, at a computing device, generating a graphical user interface for configuring at an automotive lamp illumination pattern. The graphical user interface includes user input elements and is displayed by way of a display device. An input command is received by way of at least one of the plurality of user input elements. The input command corresponds to the at least one of the user input elements. A message is transmitted to an automotive lamp control device by way of a communication path including a first communication port of the computing device and a second communication port of the automotive lamp control device, based on the received input command. The message is received at the automotive lamp control device, and an action is performed in response to receiving the message.

Claims

1. An automotive lamp control device comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor and having instructions stored thereon;

a first communication port configured to be coupled to a communication port of a vehicle; and

a second communication port configured to be coupled to a computing device,

wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the automotive lamp control device to;

receive, from the computing device via the second communication port, a configuration message corresponding to an illumination pattern to be commenced in response to a command,

store an illumination control pattern setting in the memory based on the configuration message,

receive the command from a user input device of the vehicle via the first communication port, and

in response to receiving the command and based on the illumination control pattern setting, cause the illumination pattern to be commenced by transmitting a message to a lamp control module of the vehicle via the first communication port.

2. The automotive lamp control device of claim 1, wherein the illumination pattern defines a periodic sequence of initiating and ceasing illumination of one or more of the automotive lamps of the vehicle.

3. The automotive lamp control device of claim 2, wherein the one or more automotive lamps includes at least one of a high beam lamp, a low beam lamp, a fog lamp, a front turn signal, a daytime running lamp, a parking lamp, a rear turn signal, a brake lamp, a reverse lamp, a center-mounted center stop lamp, or a license plate lamp.

4. The automotive lamp control device of claim 1, wherein the illumination pattern is one of a plurality of illumination patterns that are selectable via the computing device.

5. The automotive lamp control device of claim 1, wherein the illumination pattern includes a preconfigured illumination pattern or a custom illumination pattern.

6. The automotive lamp control device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing automotive lamp control device to continuously or periodically monitor the user input device of the vehicle for entry of the command.

7. The automotive lamp control device of claim 1, wherein the user input device of the vehicle includes at least one of a steering wheel button, a dashboard button, a wireless key fob button, a button located on a door of the vehicle, a key ignition, or a voice-based user input device.

8. The automotive lamp control device of claim 1, wherein the command includes a single command or a combination of a plurality of commands.

9. The automotive lamp control device of claim 1, wherein the first communication port is an on-board diagnostic (OBD) port of the vehicle.

10. The automotive lamp control device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the automotive lamp control device to:

determine whether the vehicle is in motion; and

in response to determining that the vehicle is in motion, prevent commencement of the illumination pattern.

11. A method for automotive lamp control via an automotive lamp control device comprising a first communication port configured to be coupled to a communication port of a vehicle and a second communication port configured to be coupled to a computing device, the method comprising:

receiving, by the automotive lamp control device from the computing device via the second communication port, a configuration message corresponding to an illumination pattern to be commenced in response to a command;

storing an illumination control pattern setting in a memory of the automotive lamp control device based on the received configuration message;

receiving, by the automotive lamp control device, the command from a user input device of the vehicle via the first communication port; and

in response to receiving the command and based on the stored illumination control pattern setting, causing the illumination pattern to be commenced by transmitting a message from the automotive lamp control device to a lamp control module of the vehicle via the first communication port.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the illumination pattern defines a periodic sequence of initiating and ceasing illumination of one or more of the automotive lamps of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more automotive lamps includes at least one of a high beam lamp, a low beam lamp, a fog lamp, a front turn signal, a daytime running lamp, a parking lamp, a rear turn signal, a brake lamp, a reverse lamp, a center-mounted center stop lamp, or a license plate lamp.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the illumination pattern is one of a plurality of illumination patterns that are selectable via the computing device.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the illumination pattern includes a preconfigured illumination pattern or a custom illumination pattern.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising continuously or periodically monitoring, at the automotive control device, the user input device of the vehicle for entry of the command.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the user input device of the vehicle includes at least one of a steering wheel button, a dashboard button, a wireless key fob button, a button located on a door of the vehicle, a key ignition, or a voice-based user input device.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the command includes a single command or a combination of a plurality of commands.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the first communication port is an on-board diagnostic (OBD) port of the vehicle.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions encoded thereon that when executed by control circuitry cause the control circuitry to:

receive, from a computing device via a second communication port, a configuration message corresponding to an illumination pattern to be commenced in response to a command;

store an illumination control pattern setting in a memory based on the configuration message;

receive the command from a user input device of a vehicle via the first communication port; and

in response to receiving the command and based on the stored illumination control pattern setting, cause the illumination pattern to be commenced by transmitting a message to a lamp control module of the vehicle via the first communication port.