Illumination device for vehicle compartment

• US 20030156422A1
• Filed: 01/23/2003
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Inagaki, Satoshi, Tatewaki, Yasumasa
• Granted Patent: US 7,012,384 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/487
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

An illumination device having a first light source, a second light source, whose luminous color differs from that of said first light source, and a controller for controlling the illuminating condition of each of the first light source and the second light source is configured. The controller turns on the first light source so that the light intensity of the first light source gradually increases at an early stage of a turning-on operation. Moreover, the controller turns on the second light source when the light intensity of the first light source gradually increases after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of the turning-on of the first light source.

Claims

1. An illumination device for a vehicle compartment, comprising:

a first light source;

a second light source, a luminous color of which is different from a luminous color of said first light source; and

a controller for controlling an illuminating condition of each of said first light source and said second light source;

wherein said controller turns on said first light source so that light intensity of said first light source gradually increases at an early stage of a turning-on operation of said first light source; and

said controller turns on said second light source when the light intensity of said first light source gradually increases after a lapse of a predetermined time from starting said turning-on operation of said first light source.

2. An illumination device for a vehicle compartment according to claim 1, wherein said controller turns on said second light source so that light intensity of said second light source gradually increases at an early stage of a turning-on operation of said second light source.

3. An illumination device for a vehicle compartment, according to claim 1, wherein the luminous color of said second light source is white.

4. An illumination device for a vehicle compartment according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first light source and said second light source is constituted by LED.

5. An illumination device for a vehicle compartment according to claim 1, wherein said controller controls the light intensity of the first and second light sources directly in an electrical manner.

6. An illumination device for a vehicle compartment, having:

a first light source;

a second light source, a luminous color of which is different from a luminous color of said first light source; and

a controller for controlling an illuminating condition of each of said first light source and said second light source,

wherein said controller turns off said second light source so that light intensity of said second light source gradually decreases; and

said controller turns off said first light source when the light intensity of said second light source gradually decreases after a lapse of a predetermined time from starting of turning-off of said second light source.

7. An illumination device for a vehicle compartment, according to claim 6, wherein said controller turns off said first light source so that light intensity of said first light source gradually decreases.

8. An illumination device for a vehicle compartment, according to claim 6, wherein the luminous color of said second light source is white.

9. An illumination device for a vehicle compartment according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said first light source and said second light source is constituted by LED.

10. An illumination device for a vehicle compartment according to claim 6, wherein said controller controls the light intensity of the first and second light sources directly in an electrical manner.

11. An illumination device for a vehicle compartment, comprising:

a first light source;

a second light source, a luminous color of which is different from a luminous color of said first light source; and

a controller for controlling an illuminating condition of each of said first light source and said second light source;

wherein said controller performs a turning-on control by turning on said first light source so that light intensity of said first light source gradually increases at an early stage of a turning-on operation of said first light source, and by turning on said second light source when the light intensity of said first light source gradually increases after a lapse of a predetermined time from starting of turning-on of said first light source, whereby light intensity of said second light source gradually increases at an early stage of a turning-on operation of said second light source; and

said controller performs a turning-off control by turning off said second light source so that light intensity of said second light source gradually decreases, and by turning off said first light source when the light intensity of said second light source gradually decreases after a lapse of a predetermined time from starting a turning-off of said second light source, whereby light intensity of said first light source gradually decreases.

12. An illumination device for a vehicle compartment according to claim 11, wherein luminous color of said first light source is chromatic color, and wherein the luminous color of said second light source is white.

13. An illumination device for a vehicle compartment according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said first light source and said second light source is constituted by LED.

14. An illumination device for a vehicle compartment according to claim 11, wherein said controller controls the light intensity of the first and second light sources directly in an electrical manner.