Non-PWM vehicle lamp dimming arrangement

• US 7,482,763 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Randel, Robert J, Rudzewicz, Robert G, Rodriguez, Russell G
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene; Haissa
• Application Number:
  US11/343,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20060170365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 315/77, 315/82, 315/149, 315/158, 315/291, 315/224, 315/226, 315/307, 315/308, 362/466, 362/475, 362/488, 362/372, 362/545, 345/102, 345/207
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/349 Adjustment of brightness
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/349 Adjustment of brightness
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/18 for varying the light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/395 Linear regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

This invention provides an arrangement for selectively varying the illumination level of an interior light source in a vehicle. The arrangement includes supplying a current to at least one interior light source to achieve a predetermined level of illumination, and reducing the level of illumination via a shunt arrangement in response to detection of a nighttime condition.

Claims

1. A method for selectively controlling a level of illumination for an interior light in a vehicle, the method comprising:

supplying a current to at least one interior light source to produce a predetermined level of illumination;

detecting existence of a nighttime condition; and

reducing the current to the at least one interior light source using a shunt circuit whenever the nighttime condition is detected to produce a reduced level of illumination.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting a nighttime condition further comprises monitoring for activation of an exterior vehicle light source.

3. A system for selectively varying an illumination level of an interior light of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a current source;

at least one interior light source coupled to the current source and receiving a current supplied by the current source to produce a predetermined level of illumination; and

a nighttime determination controller coupled to the at least one interior light source and arranged to detect existence of a nighttime condition, where the nighttime determination controller reduces the current supplied to the at least one interior light source using a shunt circuit whenever the nighttime condition is detected to produce a reduced level of illumination.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the nighttime determination controller is arranged to detect activation of an exterior vehicle light source.

5. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

an illumination module coupled to the at least one interior light source, where the illumination module cycles the current supplied to the at least one interior light source from OFF to ON after an illumination indication is received from the vehicle.