Lighting system

• US 20040113754A1
• Filed: 08/26/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Takashi, Suyama, Terumasa, Shibagaki, Toshimasa
• Granted Patent: US 7,057,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• 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: G07C 2009/00507 keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A lighting system that automatically turns on lights with a key used for locking the doors of a car and a house. The system includes the key and a lighting device. The key generates and transmits a transmission signal containing verification subject information. A light control unit connected to the lighting device receives the transmission signal from the key and verifies the key with an ID code. The light control unit activates the lighting device.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising:

a lighting device;

a portable device including a signal output unit, wherein the signal output unit generates and transmits a transmission signal containing verification subject information;

a light control unit connected to the lighting device, wherein the light control unit receives the transmission signal from the portable device and verifies the verification subject information with verification reference information, the light control unit controlling activation and deactivation of the lighting device.

2. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the light control unit includes a selecting device for selecting one of an enablement mode, which enables the activation of the lighting device, and a disablement mode, which disables the activation of the lighting device, the light control unit activating the lighting device if the verification subject information matches the verification reference information when the selecting device selects the enablement mode.

3. The lighting system according to claim 2, wherein the selecting device selects the enablement mode when the luminance of the environment surrounding the lighting device is a predetermined value or less and selects the disablement mode when the luminance of the environment surrounding the lighting device exceeds the predetermined value.

4. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the portable device includes a key for locking and unlocking a door.

5. The lighting system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a lock control unit for controlling the locking and unlocking of the door, wherein the key is an electronic key for transferring a signal related to the locking and unlocking of the door through wireless communication.

6. The lighting system according to claim 5, wherein the door is a door of a house, and the lock control unit is located near the door of the house to control the locking and unlocking of the house door through wireless communication with the electronic key.

7. The lighting system according to claim 5, wherein the door is a door of a vehicle, and the lock control unit is located in the vehicle to control the locking and unlocking of the vehicle door through wireless communication with the electronic key.

8. The lighting system according to claim 7, wherein the door includes a door of a house, and the lock control unit is located near the door of the house.

9. The lighting system according to claim 8, wherein the lighting device includes a plurality of lamps for lighting an area between a parking of the vehicle and the house door.

10. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the light control unit instructs the lighting device to perform basic lighting when the verification subject information matches the verification reference information and instructs the lighting device to perform lighting that differs from the basic lighting when the verification subject information does not match the verification reference information.

11. A lighting system comprising:

a lighting device;

an electronic key including a signal output unit, wherein the signal output unit generates and transmits a transmission signal containing verification subject information;

a light control unit connected to the lighting device, wherein the light control unit receives the transmission signal from the electronic key through wireless communication and verifies the verification subject information with verification reference information, the light control unit controlling activation and deactivation of the lighting device; and

a lock control unit for receiving the transmission signal through wireless communication and verifying the verification subject information with the verification reference information to control locking and unlocking of a door in accordance with the verification.

12. The lighting system according to claim 11, wherein the light control unit includes a selecting device for selecting one of an enablement mode, which enables the activation of the lighting device, and a disablement mode, which disables the activation of the lighting device, the light control unit activating the lighting device if the verification subject information matches the verification reference information when the selecting device selects the enablement mode.

13. The lighting system according to claim 11, wherein:

the door includes a door of a house and a door of a vehicle; and

the lock control unit includes;

a first lock control unit arranged near the door of the house to control the locking and unlocking of the house door; and

a second lock control unit arranged in the vehicle to control the locking and unlocking of the vehicle door.

14. The lighting system according to claim 13, wherein the light control unit includes;

a main controller located near the house door, the main controller having a first transmitting circuit for transmitting a request signal to the electronic key and a first receiving circuit for receiving the transmission signal from the electronic key; and

a transmitting-receiving circuit connected to the main controller and located near a parking of the vehicle, the transmitting-receiving circuit having a second transmitting circuit for transmitting a request signal to the electronic key and a second receiving circuit for receiving the transmission signal from the electronic key.

15. The lighting system according to claim 13, wherein the light control unit includes a receiving circuit located near a parking of the vehicle to receive the transmission signal from the electronic key, the light control unit being connected to the first lock control unit to receive the verification subject information from the receiving circuit and the first lock control unit.