System and method for proactively controlling interior light in vehicles

• US 20070109785A1
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Hoffmann, Lars, Wittorf, Marten
• Application Number:
  US11/515,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20070109785A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/276
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2500/30 Arrangements for illuminating different zones in the vehicle, e.g. front/rear, different seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/16 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and a method for interior light. More specifically, the invention concerns a system and a method for proactively controlling interior light in vehicles. The system according to the present invention comprises at least one light source, at least one data retrieval unit which is adapted to retrieve data on at least one object located in said vehicle or in the immediate surroundings of the vehicle, and at least one processing unit which is adapted to analyze said retrieved data. Said processing unit is also adapted to proactively control light patterns inside the vehicle based on said analyzed data. Advantages achieved by the invention imply that the amount of light in the vehicle can be minimized while at the same time traffic safety can be increased by individuals in the vehicle not having to keep track of more than a necessary and relevant amount of light-related information, and they may concentrate on the driving of the vehicle instead. Moreover, the present invention adds to the sense of response and interaction between man and vehicle being increased.

Claims

1. A system for controlling interior light in a vehicle, comprising

at least one light source,

at least one data retrieval unit which is adapted to retrieve data on at least one object located in said vehicle,

and at least one processing unit which is adapted to analyze said retrieved data,

wherein

said processing unit is also adapted to proactively control light patterns inside the vehicle based on said analyzed data.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises at least one unit for retrieving data on the immediate surroundings of the vehicle.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, in which said unit for retrieving data on the immediate surroundings of the vehicle comprises at least one of a camera, a radar and a unit for retrieving position based navigation information.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which said analyzed data concerns at least one of data on presence, size and movement of said at least one object.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which said at least one object is an individual.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing unit further comprises adapted logics, said light patterns being proactively controllable according to special adjusted patterns.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which said processing unit comprises the ECU of the vehicle.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, which system comprises means for speech control.

9. A system as claimed in claim 1, which system comprises different activity levels.

10. A method for controlling interior light in a vehicle, comprising the steps of

retrieving data on at least one object located in said vehicle,

analyzing said retrieved data,

proactively controlling light patterns inside the vehicle based on said analyzed data.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, which further comprises the step of retrieving data on the immediate surroundings of the vehicle.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10, in which said steps of retrieving data and analyzing data concern at least one of data on presence, size and movement of said at least one object.

13. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said light patterns are proactively controllable according to special adjusted patterns.

14. A method as claimed in claim 10, which method comprises speech control.

15. A method as claimed in claim 10, which methods comprises different activity levels.