Lighting Device For The Interior Of Motor Vehicles

• US 20080239739A1
• Filed: 08/11/2005
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Griesinger, Manfred
• Application Number:
  US11/659,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20080239739A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/488
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/76 for spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps spotlighting on or for specific fittings B60Q3/20; spotlighting in mass transit vehicles B60Q3/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/041 Ball lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2106/00 Interior vehicle lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/10 on concave supports or substrates, e.g. on the inner side of bowl-shaped supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

In a lighting device with low intensity light-emitting light sources for incident lighting of areas in a motor vehicle interior, the light sources are distributed in a mount above a converging lens, and aligned via the converging lens onto at least one area to be illuminated in the interior.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. A device for incident lighting of areas in a motor vehicle interior, said device comprising:

a plurality of low intensity light-emitting light sources; and

a converging lens;

wherein,

the light sources are placed in a distributed manner in a mount above said converging lens; and

the light sources are aligned via the converging lens onto at least one area to be illuminated in the interior.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the converging lens is fastened in the roof lining of the vehicle.

16. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein a center point of at least one light source and a center point of the area to be illuminated thereby lie substantially on a straight line through an optical center point of the converging lens.

17. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the converging lens is a spherical lens.

18. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the light sources are light-emitting diodes.

19. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the extent of the illuminated areas is determined by the number or size of adjoining light sources on the mount.

20. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the converging lens comprises an acrylic polymer.

21. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the mount is a spherically shaped grid.

22. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the converging lens (1) is inserted fixedly in a recess, corresponding to the outline of the converging lens, in a fastening plate and is fastened by means thereof in the roof lining.

23. The device as claimed in claim 22, wherein an intended alignment of the converging lens is predetermined by inclination of the recess in relation to the fastening plate.

24. The device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the mount is fastened to the fastening plate.

25. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the light sources are connected to and are switchable on and off individually by, a control unit.

26. The device as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:

sensors connected to the control unit for detecting an intended control operation; and

wherein predetermined light sources may be switched on or off by the control unit in accordance with signals received from the sensors.

27. A light source for selectively illuminating targeted areas, said light source comprising:

a converging lens;

a mounting structure disposed adjacent to said converting lens, and having a contour that accommodates an adjacent contour of the converging lens;

a plurality of light sources mounted on said mounting structure, facing toward said adjacent contour of said converging lens; and

control means for illuminating selected ones of said light sources, opposite said targeted area.

28. The light source according to claim 27, wherein said converging lens is a spherical lens.

29. The light source according to claim 27, wherein said light sources are light emitting diodes.

30. The light source according to claim 27, wherein said control means controls an extent and location of an illuminated area by controlling the number and size of adjoining light sources which are illuminated.

31. The light source according to claim 27, wherein a center point of at least one light source and a center point of the targeted area lie substantially on a straight line through an optical center point of the converging lens.