Automotive illuminating apparatus

• US 6,351,072 B1
• Filed: 08/15/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Mutoh, Masanobu, Takahashi, Goro, Sugihara, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Wilson
• Application Number:
  US09/638,391
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 315/77, 315/82, 315/292-295, 315/DIG.5, 315/DIG.4, 362/276, 362/802, 340/438, 340/463, 340/464, 340/469, 340/441
• US Class Current: 315/77
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47

Abstract

A detection whether a vehicle is stopped or movable is executed, and based on the result, the light source is controlled to be in the first light emitting state when the vehicle is stopped while the light source is controlled to be in the second light emitting state when the vehicle is drivable.

Claims

1. An automotive illuminating apparatus for illuminating interior of a vehicle room, comprising:

a detecting device for determining whether a vehicle is stopped or drivable;

a light source; and

a controller for control of said light source based on a result of detection by said detecting device,

wherein said light source is controlled by said controller to be in a first light emitting state when the vehicle is stopped while said light source is controlled to be in a second light emitting state when said vehicle is drivable.

2. An automotive illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light source illuminates areas under a beltline inside the vehicle room.

3. An automotive illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second light emitting state is dimmer than said first light emitting state.

4. An automotive illuminating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein brightness in said second light emitting state is approximately 95% of brightness in said first light emitting state.

5. An automotive illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a change from said first light emitting state to said second light emitting state and a change from said second light emitting state to said first light emitting state are carried out gradually.

6. An automotive illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting device detects whether said vehicle is stopped or drivable with reference to a gearshift position.

7. An automotive illuminating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, when said gearshift is set to a parking position, said detecting device detects that said vehicle is stopped.

8. An automotive illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting device detects whether said vehicle is stopped or drivable with reference to a parking brake state.

9. An automotive illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting device detects whether said vehicle is stopped or drivable with reference to an accelerator state.

10. An automotive illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting device detects whether said vehicle is stopped or drivable with reference to a vehicle speed.

11. An automotive illuminating apparatus for illuminating interior of a vehicle room, comprising:

a detecting device for determining whether a gearshift is set to a parking position;

a light source illuminates areas under a beltline inside said vehicle room; and

a controller for control of said light source based on a result of detection by said detecting means,

wherein said light source is controlled to be in a first light emitting state when said gearshift is set to a parking position while said light source is controlled to be in a second light emitting state, which is dimmer than said first light emitting state, when said gearshift is set to any position other than a parking position.

12. An automotive illuminating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said light source fades out when said gearshift is set from a parking position to another position while said light source fades in when said gearshift is set from any position other than parking position to a parking position.