VEHICLE LIGHTING SYSTEM, AND METHODS OF USE AND MANUFACTURE THEREOF

• US 20180027634A1
• Filed: 07/22/2016
• Published: 01/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: DALAVAYI, Visishta
• Application Number:
  US15/217,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20180027634A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/14 having dimming means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/20 Fog lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2669 on door or boot handles lighting devices for vehicle interior on door handles B60Q3/267
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/20 Indexing codes relating to the driver or the passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• 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 3/74 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 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/02 with provision for adjustment, e.g. for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A vehicle lighting system for use with a fob, the fob being configured to transmit a signal including a position of the fob relative to the vehicle, the vehicle including at least one area of passenger ingress/egress. The vehicle lighting system can include a plurality of light sources disposed at different locations on the vehicle. The vehicle lighting system can also include a processor. The processor can be configured to: receive the signal from the fob; determine a path of travel of the fob to the at least one area of passenger ingress/egress; select certain of the plurality of light sources that are capable of illuminating the path of travel; and activate the selected plurality of light sources to illuminate the path of travel.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting system for use with a fob, the fob being configured to transmit a signal including a position of the fob relative to the vehicle, the vehicle including at least one area of passenger ingress/egress, the vehicle lighting system comprising:

a plurality of light sources disposed in different housings on the vehicle; and

a processor configured to;

receive the signal from the fob;

determine a path of travel of the fob to the at least one area of passenger ingress/egress;

select multiple of the plurality of light sources in different housings that are capable of illuminating the path of travel; and

activate the selected plurality of light sources to illuminate the path of travel.

2. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 1, further comprising a first sensor configured to measure presence of a condition and transmit the measurement to the processor such that the processor is configured to determine whether the condition is present, the processor configured to activate the selected plurality of light sources in the presence of the condition.

3. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 2, wherein the first sensor is configured to measure presence of at least one of rain, snow, hail, ice.

4. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 3, wherein the first sensor is configured to measure surface composition of that which the vehicle is disposed on.

5. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 2, further comprising a second sensor configured to measure an amount of light and transmit the measurement to the processor such that the processor is configured to determine whether the amount of light exceeds a threshold, the processor configured to activate the selected plurality of light sources in the presence of the amount of light exceeding the threshold.

6. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 5, wherein the second sensor is configured to measure ambient light outside the vehicle.

7. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to adjust an intensity of the selected plurality of light sources.

8. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to adjust a pattern of the selected plurality of light sources.

9. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the selected plurality of light sources is configured to be motorized so as to be moveable, and the processor is configured to control movement of the selected plurality of light sources to illuminate the path of travel.

10. The vehicle lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the fob is configured as a smartphone to perform additional functions including calling and data transfer.

11. A vehicle for use with a fob, the fob being configured to transmit a signal including a position of the fob relative to the vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

at least one area of passenger ingress/egress; and

a lighting system disposed at different locations on the vehicle, the lighting system including;

a plurality of light sources disposed in different housings on the vehicle; and

a processor configured to;

receive the signal from the fob;

determine a path of travel of the fob to the at least one area of passenger ingress/egress;

select multiple of the plurality of light sources in different housings that are capable of illuminating the path of travel; and

activate the selected plurality of light sources to illuminate the path of travel.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the lighting system further comprises a first sensor configured to measure presence of a condition and transmit the measurement to the processor such that the processor is configured to determine whether the condition is present, the processor configured to activate the selected plurality of light sources in the presence of the condition.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the first sensor is configured to measure presence of at least one of rain, snow, hail, ice.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the first sensor is configured to measure surface composition of that which the vehicle is disposed on.

15. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the lighting system further comprises a second sensor configured to measure an amount of light and transmit the measurement to the processor such that the processor is configured to determine whether the amount of light exceeds a threshold, the processor configured to activate the selected plurality of light sources in the presence of the amount of light exceeding the threshold.

16. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the second sensor is configured to measure ambient light outside the vehicle.

17. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to adjust at least one of an intensity and a pattern of the selected plurality of light sources.

18. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the selected plurality of light sources is configured to be motorized so as to be moveable, and the processor is configured to control movement of the selected plurality of light sources to illuminate the path of travel.

19. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the fob is configured as a smartphone to perform additional functions including calling and data transfer.

20. A method of illuminating a vehicle lighting system of a vehicle for use with a fob, the fob being configured to transmit a signal including a position of the fob relative to the vehicle, the vehicle including at least one area of passenger ingress/egress, the vehicle lighting system including a plurality of light sources disposed in different housings on the vehicle, and a processor, the method comprising:

receiving the signal from the fob to the processor;

determining a path of travel of the fob to the at least one area of passenger ingress/egress via the processor;

selecting multiple of the plurality of light sources in different housings that are capable of illuminating the path of travel via the processor; and

activating the selected plurality of light sources to illuminate the path of travel via the processor.