Method for controlling a vehicle's lighting functionality

• US 20070142988A1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Inbarajan, Krishnaraj, Ampunan, Nathan, Ziehr, Lawrence, Nemesh, Mark, Tumas, Todd, Willey, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,567,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/305 Calendar date or clock time
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/33 Driving situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/3321 Detection of streetlights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station

Abstract

A method for controlling a vehicle'"'"'s lighting functionality is disclosed herein. The method may include realizing a preferred vehicle lighting configuration and transmitting a signal to the vehicle via a radio frequency communication system. In response to the signal, the vehicle lighting system may alter a current vehicle lighting configuration to correspond with the preferred vehicle lighting configuration.

Claims

1. A method for realizing a preferred vehicle lighting configuration, the method comprising:

determining a location of a vehicle via a location detection system in communication with the vehicle; and

determining the preferred vehicle lighting configuration based upon recognition and analysis of the vehicle'"'"'s location relative to ambient light conditions.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the location detection system comprises a radio frequency communication system.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the location detection system is a global positioning system.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the preferred vehicle lighting configuration includes at least one of an internal vehicle lighting configuration or an external vehicle lighting configuration.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the preferred vehicle lighting configuration includes vehicle headlamp configuration.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the preferred vehicle lighting condition is selected from ON and OFF.

7. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the location detection system transmits a signal indicative of the location of the vehicle upon a request from a vehicle user.

8. A method for controlling a vehicle'"'"'s lighting functionality, the method comprising:

realizing a preferred vehicle lighting configuration; and

altering a current vehicle lighting configuration to correspond with the preferred vehicle lighting configuration.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 wherein the current vehicle lighting configuration is altered by a vehicle lighting system in operative communication with a telematics unit.

10. The method as defined in claim 9 wherein the telematics unit sends a signal to the vehicle lighting system to alter the current vehicle lighting configuration to correspond with the preferred vehicle lighting configuration.

11. A method of controlling a vehicle lighting system, the method comprising:

realizing a predetermined vehicle lighting configuration;

transmitting a signal to the vehicle via a radio frequency communication system, the signal being indicative of at least one condition ambient to the vehicle; and

altering a current vehicle lighting configuration to coincide with the predetermined vehicle lighting configuration based upon recognition and analysis of the at least one condition ambient to the vehicle.

12. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein the information is transmitted to the vehicle by a call center.

13. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein the information is provided in a form selected from a signal, a display, an audio prompt, and combinations thereof.

14. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein the predetermined vehicle lighting configuration is a function of at least one condition ambient to the vehicle.

15. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein the at least one condition ambient to the vehicle is selected from vehicle location, time of day, weather ambient to the vehicle, light ambient to the vehicle, and combinations thereof.

16. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein realizing the predetermined vehicle lighting configuration comprises:

determining a location of the vehicle via a location detection system in operative communication with the vehicle;

providing information to the vehicle via a two-way radio frequency communication system; and

determining the predetermined vehicle lighting configuration based upon recognition and analysis of at least one of the vehicle location relative to ambient light conditions, the information provided, or combinations thereof.

17. The method as defined in claim 16 wherein the location detection system is a global positioning system.

18. The method as defined in claim 16 wherein the two-way radio frequency communication system is in communication with a call center.

19. The method as defined in claim 16 wherein the two-way radio frequency communication system transmits the information to the vehicle at predetermined intervals during vehicle operation.

20. The method as defined in claim 16 wherein the two-way radio frequency communication system transmits the information to the vehicle in response to a request for the information from a user.