VEHICLE LIGHTING SYSTEM WITH DIRECTIONAL CONTROL

• US 20180339651A1
• Filed: 05/26/2017
• Published: 11/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Buttolo, Pietro, Singer, Jeffrey, Surman, James J.
• Application Number:
  US15/606,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20180339651A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 1/323 on or for doors illuminated exterior door handles B60Q1/2669; illuminated door locks E05B17/10
• 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 3/225 Small compartments, e.g. glove compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/54 Lighting devices embedded in interior trim, e.g. in roof liners
• 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: F21S 43/16 Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/02 by movement of light sources in vehicle head lamps F21S41/657
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2106/00 Interior vehicle lighting devices

Abstract

A vehicle lighting apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a positioning apparatus configured to provide multi axis motion and a light source configured to output an emission in connection with the apparatus. The apparatus further comprises a light controller in communication with the positioning apparatus and the light source. The light controller is configured to control the positioning apparatus to orient the light source directing the emission to a location in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting apparatus comprising:

a positioning apparatus configured to provide multi axis motion;

a light source configured to output an emission in connection with the apparatus;

a light controller in communication with the positioning apparatus and the light source, wherein the light controller is configured to control the positioning apparatus to orient the light source directing the emission to a location in the vehicle.

2. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning apparatus comprises at least one motor.

3. The lighting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one motor is configured to adjust the orientation of the light source about a plurality of axes.

4. The lighting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one motor comprises a servo motor.

5. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a motor controller configured to control the positioning apparatus orienting the light source directing the emission to a plurality of predetermined locations in the vehicle.

6. The lighting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the predetermined locations comprises a photoluminescent portion.

7. The lighting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the emission comprises a wavelength of light configured to excite the photoluminescent portion.

8. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an access detection sensor configured to detect an access of a compartment within the vehicle.

9. The lighting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the light controller is further configured to:

control the positioning apparatus orienting the light source to a predetermined location based on the detection of the access by the access detection sensor.

10. The lighting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined location is located in a passenger cabin of the vehicle proximate the access detection sensor.

11. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an object detection sensor disposed on a vehicle headliner proximate the light source and the positioning apparatus.

12. The lighting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the object detection sensor comprises a capacitive sensor array disposed over a surface of the headliner of the vehicle.

13. The lighting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the object detection sensor comprises a capacitive sensor array comprising a plurality of detection fields distributed around the light source.

14. The lighting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the object detection sensor is configured to output a directional signal indicating a rotational direction of the object about the light source.

15. The lighting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the controller is further operable to:

control the positioning apparatus directing the emission in the rotational direction in response to receiving the directional signal.

16. The lighting apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the object detection sensor is operable to output a detection signal indicating a motion of the object among the plurality of detection zones of the sensor array.

17. The lighting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the controller is further operable to identify a motion and direction of the object based on the detection signal indicating the motion, wherein the controller is further operable to control the positioning apparatus to adjust a direction of the emission according to the motion and the direction.

18. The lighting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to:

identify a gesture in response to the motion of the object.

19. The lighting apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to:

control a beam width of the emission in response to the gesture.

20. A vehicle lighting apparatus comprising:

a positioning apparatus comprising at least one motor configured to provide multi axis motion;

a light source configured to output a directional emission in connection with the positioning apparatus;

a controller in communication with the positioning apparatus and the light source, wherein the controller is configured to control the positioning apparatus orienting the light source and directing the emission to a location in the vehicle.