Lighting system for use in cabin of automotive vehicle

• US 5,304,896 A
• Filed: 06/02/1992
• Issued: 04/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kawanobe, Osamu, Asada, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KINKEAD, ARNOLD M
• Application Number:
  US07/892,302
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 307/10.5, 307/10.8, 315/77, 315/84, 315/320, 362/74, 362/80, 362/276, 362/802
• US Class Current: 315/84
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2500/30 Arrangements for illuminating different zones in the vehicle, e.g. front/rear, different seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47

Abstract

A lighting system for use in a cabin of a vehicle is disclosed, in which when a room lamp for a seat occupied by a passenger is in gradual light reduction due to the passenger getting-in, gradual light reduction of the room lamp is continued even if another door is opened.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a lighting system for use in a cabin having a plurality of doors, the lighting system including a plurality of lamps arranged to correspond to the plurality of doors, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a value corresponding to a first one of the plurality of doors which is closed and generating a first door value indicative signal;

starting a gradual light reduction of a first one of the plurality of lamps corresponding to said first one of the plurality of doors;

storing a value corresponding to a second one of the plurality of doors which is opened and generating a second door value indicative signal;

determining whether or not said first door value indicative signal is identical to said second door value indicative signal and generating a door value identical indicative signal when said first door value indicative signal is identical to said second door value indicative signal; and

continuing said gradual light reduction of said first one of the plurality of lamps when said door value identical indicative signal fails to be generated.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

lighting a second one of the plurality of lamps corresponding to said second one of the plurality of doors at a first predetermined level of intensity of illumination, and the other ones of the plurality of lamps at a second predetermined level of intensity of illumination when said door value identical indicative signal fails to be generated.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

lighting said first one of the plurality of lamps at a first predetermined level of intensity of illumination, and a second one and the other ones of the plurality of lamps at a second predetermined level of intensity of illumination when said door value identical indicative signal is generated.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first predetermined level of intensity of illumination is 100%, and said second predetermined level of intensity of illumination is 50%.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

checking whether or not said gradual light reduction of said first one of the plurality of lamps corresponding to said first one of the plurality of doors is continued and generating a gradual light reduction indicative signal when said gradual light reduction of said first one of the plurality of lamps corresponding to said first one of the plurality of doors is continued; and

erasing said value corresponding to said first one of the plurality of doors when said gradual light reduction indicative signal fails to be generated.

6. A lighting system for use in a cabin having a plurality of doors, comprising:

a plurality of lamps arranged to correspond to the plurality of doors;

detection means for detecting an opening and closing of the plurality of doors; and

a controller connected to said plurality of lamps and said detection means for controlling said plurality of lamps, said controller including;

means for storing a value corresponding to a first one of the plurality of doors which is closed and generating a first door value indicative signal;

means for starting a gradual light reduction of a first one of said plurality of lamps corresponding to said first one of the plurality of doors;

means for storing a value corresponding to a second one of the plurality of doors which is opened and generating a second door value indicative signal;

means for determining whether or not said first door value indicative signal is identical to said second door value indicative signal and generating a door value identical indicative signal when said first door value indicative signal is identical to said second door value indicative signal; and

means for continuing said gradual light reduction of said first one of said plurality of lamps when said door value identical indicative signal fails to be generated.

7. A lighting system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said detection means include a plurality of door switches.