LIGHTING SYSTEM

• US 20110222302A1
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Pacheco, Kathleen M., Hamelink, Robert L., Hodgson, Thomas S., Arendsen, Randy L., Spoerre, Steven M.
• Application Number:
  US12/672,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20110222302A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/490
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2500/30 Arrangements for illuminating different zones in the vehicle, e.g. front/rear, different seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/51 for mounting lighting devices onto vehicle interior, e.g. onto ceiling or floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/74 for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43
• 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: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens

Abstract

Lighting systems for a vehicle are disclosed that can include a removable power source, a touch activation system, tasked lighting and a directional lighting system. The lighting systems, can be used, for example, to illuminate the interior of a vehicle.

Claims

1. A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising:

a console, having a light source;

and a removable power source, electrically connected to the light source.

2. The lighting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the removable power source is a battery.

3. The lighting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the console is configured to attach to a surface of a vehicle.

4. The lighting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source is an LED or an incandescent bulb.

5. The lighting device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a circuit for monitoring an amount of energy in the removable power source and producing a signal indicating the amount of energy stored in the removable power source.

6. The lighting device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a button for toggling the light source on and off;

a lens for directing light emitted by the light source; and

a chamber, for housing the removable power source.

7. The lighting device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the chamber is provided in the console and includes a docking station for electrically connecting the removable power source to the light source.

8. The lighting device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the chamber is accessed via a door positioned on an outer surface of the console.

9. An overhead console for the interior of a vehicle, comprising:

a light source; and

a removable power source, electrically connected to the light source.

10. A rear lamp for the interior of a vehicle, comprising:

a light source; and

a removable power source, electrically connected to the light source.

11. A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising:

a light source; and

a touch-sensitive control circuit, electrically connected to the light source, for controlling the light source.

12. The lighting device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the light source is a LED.

13. The lighting device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

an exterior surface for toggling the light source on and off; and

a lens for directing light emitted by the light source.

14. The lighting device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the light source and the touch-sensitive control circuit are coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB).

15. The lighting device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the touch-sensitive control circuit is a capacitive touch switch.

16. The lighting device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the touch-sensitive control circuit is a field effect switch.

17. The lighting device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the exterior surface is configured to sense physical contact.

18. The lighting device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the exterior surface is repeatedly charged and discharged to detect a change in capacitance.

19. An overhead console for a vehicle interior, comprising:

a light source; and

a touch-sensitive control circuit, electrically connected to the light source, for controlling the light source.

20. A rear lamp for a vehicle interior, comprising:

a light source; and

a touch-sensitive control circuit, electrically connected to the light source, for controlling the light source.

21. A lighting device for a vehicle interior, comprising:

a housing;

a light source attached to the housing; and

a lens positioned at an end of the housing, wherein the housing, light source and lens are located above a headliner of the vehicle.

22. The lighting device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the light source is an incandescent bulb.

23. The lighting device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the light source is a LED.

24. The lighting device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the lens is a diffuser lens.

25. The lighting device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the lens is a concentrator lens.

26. The lighting device as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

a reflector at least partially surrounding the light source; and

a bezel attached to the housing for holding the lens in place.

27. The lighting device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the lens and the bezel are formed as a single component.

28. The lighting device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the bezel is a film applied to the lens.

29. A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising:

a light source; and

a light-directing device for directing light emitted from the light source.

30. The lighting device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the light source is an LED.

31. The lighting device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the light-directing device is manually controlled.

32. The lighting device as claimed in claim 29, further comprising a control circuit for controlling the movement of the light-directing device so that light emitted from the light source is projected in a preprogrammed path.

33. The lighting device as claimed in claim 32, further comprising a sensor, wherein the control circuit controls the movement of the light-directing device in response to input from the sensor.

34. The lighting device as claimed in claim 29, further comprising a lighting module, having a frame, for housing the light source and the light-directing device, wherein the light-directing device is pivotally mounted to the frame about at least one axis.

35. The lighting device of claim 34, further comprising:

a motion transmission device connected to the at least one axis; and

a motor connected to the motion transmission device for causing the motion transmission device to rotate the light-directing device about the at least one axis.

36. The lighting device as claimed in claim 34, wherein the light-directing device is pivotally mounted to the frame about two axes.

37. The lighting device of claim 36, wherein a first axis is perpendicular to a second axis.

38. The lighting device of claim 37, further comprising:

a first motion transmission device connected to the first axis;

a second motion transmission device connected to the second axis;

a first motor connected to the first motion transmission device for causing the first motion transmission device to rotate the light-directing device about the first axis; and

a second motor connected to the second motion transmission device for causing the second motion transmission device to rotate the light-directing device about the second axis.

39. An overhead console for a vehicle interior, comprising:

a light source; and

a light-directing device for directing light from the light source.

40. A rear lamp for a vehicle interior, comprising:

a light source; and

a light-directing device for directing light from the light source.