Vehicle illumination system and method

• US 20060271261A1
• Filed: 05/18/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Chernoff, Adrian B., Flores, Patricia A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,987,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• 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 3/267 Door handles; Hand grips
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/283 Steering wheels; Gear levers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

An apparatus and method for illuminating a vehicle including a light source connected to an illuminatable component such as an interior or exterior vehicle door handle or steering wheel, and a control system including a plurality of sensors that monitor the vehicle and surroundings for predetermined conditions and selectively illuminate the component as a means of conveying information or warnings about the vehicle or its surroundings. Illumination may be enhanced by other auditory signals such as audio alarms or vibration. Predetermined conditions may include the proximity of a vehicle user, key fob activation or proximity, input from an entertainment system, activation of a pressure sensor, the presence of a person or object in proximity to the vehicle, or the vehicle'"'"'s ignition or gear state.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting system comprising:

a door having an inside handle operatively connected to a latch, an outside handle operatively connected to said latch, and a pull handle;

at least one of said inside handle, said outside handle, and said pull handle having a portion being at least partially selectively lightable by at least one light source for illumination thereof;

a controller operatively connected to said at least one light source and configured to selectively cause said at least one light source to illuminate said at least one of said handles;

a sensor configured to monitor vehicle conditions and transmit signals indicative of the conditions to said controller;

said controller being configured to determine whether said signals are indicative of the presence or existence of at least one predetermined condition and to cause said at least one light source to illuminate in response to the signals indicating the presence or existence of said at least one predetermined condition.

2. A vehicle lighting system comprising:

a passenger compartment;

a steering wheel having a rim operatively connected to a hub;

said rim having an illuminatable portion being at least selectively illuminatable by at least one light source;

a controller operatively connected to said at least one light source and configured to selectively cause said at least one light source to illuminate at least part of said steering wheel;

a sensor configured to monitor predetermined vehicle conditions and transmit signals indicative of at least one of said conditions to the controller;

the controller being configured to determine whether the transmitted signals are indicative of the presence or existence of said at least one of said predetermined conditions and to cause the at least one light source to illuminate in proportional response to the signals indicating the presence or existence of said at least one of said predetermined conditions.

3. The lighting system of claim 2, wherein at least part of said steering wheel is constructed from non-opaque material;

and

wherein said at least one light source is configured to illuminate said illuminatable portion, thereby illuminating said passenger compartment.

4. The lighting system of claim 2, wherein the color or intensity of the light emitted by said lighting source may be varied by the controller in proportion to said at least one predetermined condition.

5. The lighting system of claim 2, wherein said at least one predetermined condition is the presence of another object;

and

wherein said at least one predetermined condition causes said at least one light source to illuminate said illuminatable portion at a position on said rim corresponding to the position of said another object relative to said vehicle.

6. The lighting system of claim 2, wherein said controller is further configured to selectively activate at least one audio or vibrational alarm in proportional response to said signals.

7. The lighting system of claim 2, wherein said proportional response of said at least one light source includes strobing, pulsing, a change in color, or a change in intensity.

8. The lighting system of claim 5, wherein the size of the illuminated area of said illuminatable portion is proportional to the size, length, or proximity of said another object.

9. The lighting system of claim 8, wherein the brightness of said illuminatable portion is further proportional to the size, length, or proximity of said another object.

10. A control system for selectively lighting one vehicle component in response to another vehicle'"'"'s presence, comprising:

at least one vehicle component having a light source connected thereto;

a controller operatively connected to said light source and configured to selectively cause said light source to illuminate said at least one vehicle component;

a sensor configured to monitor said other vehicle'"'"'s presence and transmit 10 signals indicative of such vehicle presence to said controller; and

wherein the controller is configured to determine whether said transmitted signals are indicative of the presence of said other vehicle and to cause the light source to illuminate in response to the signals indicating such vehicle presence.

11. The control system of claim 10, wherein said at least one predetermined condition is selected from the group consisting of:

key fob location, key fob utilization, occupant presence, exterior obstacles, occupant entry, door handle position, entertainment system setting, vehicle condition, grip pressure, type of entertainment, state of ignition switch, state of gear shift, and external ambient light conditions.

12. A method of avoiding interference between first and second vehicles moving concurrently along substantially adjacent lanes comprising:

providing one of said first and second vehicles with an illuminatable structure; and

selectively illuminating a portion of said structure in proportion to at least one of the location, proximity, and size of the other of said first and second vehicles.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the illuminatable structure provided is a steering wheel.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein one of said first and second vehicles is a motorcycle.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the steering wheel is formed with a rim including said portion of said structure.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the selective illumination of said portion is in accordance with the length and orientation of said portion along said rim.