Lighting system for use in vehicle cabin

• US 5,149,187 A
• Filed: 09/18/1991
• Issued: 09/22/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Tanabe, Yoshinori, Shigeta, Teruaki, Matsuno, Yoshio, Matsui, Hitoshi, Okamura, Izumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US07/761,057
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 362/61, 362/74, 362/75, 362/80, 362/153, 362/227, 362/251, 362/234, 362/276, 362/802, 362/83.3, 315/77, 315/152, 315/153, 315/155
• US Class Current: 362/464
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2500/30 Arrangements for illuminating different zones in the vehicle, e.g. front/rear, different seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/217 Doors, e.g. door sills; Steps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47

Abstract

A lighting system for use in a vehicle cabin comprises a plurality of first lamps which are arranged between a roof and a plane including an eye point of a seat occupant for illuminating predetermined surfaces, and at least one second lamp for illuminating a floor. Luminance levels of the predetermined surfaces are controlled by, for example, an illuminance measuring apparatus, a luminance measuring apparatus, and a lighting controller.

Claims

1. A lighting system for use in a cabin of a vehicle, the vehicle having a roof, a floor, a door and a seat occupant, the lighting system comprising:

a plurality of first lamps arranged between the roof and a plane including an eye point of the seat occupant, said plurality of first lamps illuminating predetermined surfaces;

at least one second lamp so constructed and arranged as to illuminate the floor; and

first means for allowing said predetermined surfaces to obtain predetermined luminance levels.

2. A lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of first lamps are mounted to the roof at peripheral portions thereof.

3. A lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of first lamps are arranged in the vicinity of the roof.

4. A lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of first lamps include a seat lamp and a reading lamp.

5. A lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first means include an illuminance measuring apparatus, a luminance measuring apparatus, and a lighting controller.

6. A lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined surfaces include a visual work surface, a first surrounding surface, and a second surrounding surface, each being exposed by said reading lamp, said seat lamp, and said at least one second lamp.

7. A lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of first lamps include a ceiling lamp.

8. A lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first means include front and rear pillar trims.

9. A lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined surfaces include peripheral portions and center portions of the roof.

10. A lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of first lamps include an audio lamp.

11. A lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first means include a decorated member.

12. A lighting system for use in a cabin of a vehicle, the vehicle having a roof, a floor, a seat and a seat occupant, the lighting system comprising:

a plurality of seat lamps arranged between the roof and a plane including an eye point of the seat occupant, said plurality of first lamps illuminating predetermined surfaces;

a plurality of reading lamps arranged in the vicinity of said plurality of seat lamps;

at least one second lamp so constructed and arranged as to illuminate the floor; and

means for measuring an illuminance of said seat and generating an illuminance indicative signal indicative of said illuminance measured;

means for measuring a luminance of said predetermined surfaces and generating a luminance indicative signal indicative of said luminance measured; and

means for controlling said plurality of seat lamps, said plurality of reading lamps, and said at least one foot lamp in response to said illuminance indicative signal and said luminance indicative signal.

13. A lighting system for use in a cabin of a vehicle, the vehicle having a roof, a floor, a door, a seat cushion and a seat occupant, the lighting system comprising:

a plurality of ceiling lamps arranged between the roof and a plane including an eye point of the seat occupant;

at least one second lamp arranged between the seat cushion and the floor;

a plurality of third lamps supported to the door; and

means for defining illumination ranges of said plurality of ceiling lamps, said at least one second lamp, and said plurality of third lamps.

14. A lighting system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said defining means include front and rear pillar trims.

15. A lighting system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said defining means include a cover.

16. A lighting system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said defining means include an inside handle escutcheon.