Electric light switching arrangement for illuminating the interior of a motor vehicle

• US 5,174,643 A
• Filed: 05/27/1992
• Issued: 12/29/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Wolfgang Priesemuth
• Inventors: Priesemuth, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Richard R.
• Application Number:
  US07/889,786
• Time in Patent Office: 216 Days
• Field of Search: 362/61, 362/74, 362/80, 362/276, 362/295, 362/394, 362/802, 315/84, 315/159, 315/363
• US Class Current: 362/464
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

An electric light, especially for illuminating the interior of a motor vehicle. The light includes a sensor that is at least electrically connected with the light and that, without a switch, senses the opening of at least one door that leads to the interior of the vehicle. After the opening of the door has been detected, a signal is delivered to a switching mechanism that turns on the electric light for a predetermined and possibly selectable period of time.

Claims

1. An electric light switching arrangement for illuminating an interior of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a sensor that is electrically connected to said light, with said sensor sensing an opening of at least one door of said vehicle that leads to said interior thereof and subsequently delivering a signal to a switching mechanism that then turns said light on for a predetermined period of time; and

a transmitter disposed in said interior of said vehicle for generating an alternating field, wherein said sensor is responsive to a change of said alternating field resulting from said opening of at least one door of said vehicle.

2. An electric light switching arrangement according to claim 1, which includes at least one electrical current pulse relay, a retention time of which can be set in conformity with a desired period of time for said light to be turned on.

3. An electric light switching arrangement according to claim 1, in which said sensor is disposed in an immediate vicinity of said light.

4. An electric light switching arrangement according to claim 1, in which said sensor is disposed in said interior of said vehicle.

5. An electric light switching arrangement according to claim 1, in which said sensor is disposed in a door frame of said vehicle.

6. An electric light switching arrangement according to claim 1, in which said alternating field is a high frequency field.

7. An electric light switching arrangement according to claim 1, in which said alternating field is an ultrasonic field.

8. An electric light switching arrangement according to claim 1, in which said alternating field is an microwave field.

9. An electric light switching arrangement according to claim 1, in which said alternating field is a UV-radiation field.