Transitional lighting system for vehicle interior

• US 7,800,483 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2007
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rebo Lighting & Electronics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Federal-Mogul Worldwide Incorporated (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bucher, Lloyd K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mortell; John F
• Application Number:
  US11/936,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20080112175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 362/490
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2500/30 Arrangements for illuminating different zones in the vehicle, e.g. front/rear, different seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/74 for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47

Abstract

A method for controlling the intensity of light within an interior passenger compartment in a motor vehicle to create perceived sensations of safety, comfort and personal accommodation in conjunction with specified, night time, driving-related occurrences. The natural human desire for safety is satisfied as a driver approaches a parked motor vehicle by illuminating the interior passenger compartment with a plurality of light sources (18, 20, 22) in response to having produced a safety approach signal. The natural human desire to be comfortable within a confined space is satisfied by the act of opening the door (28), whereupon the interior illumination intensity is automatically lowered to a second intensity level. Once the transmission shift selector is moved out of its Park condition, the interior light intensity is automatically decreased to a third intensity level to provide the sensation of stress reduction and thus satisfy the natural human desire to be at peace. Intermittently during the third intensity level mode, the driver or other occupants may have a task driven desire to illuminate a localized region of the passenger compartment, which is accommodated by a spot light sub-assembly (22) creating a directional beam of light within the passenger compartment.

Claims

1. A method for deliberately controlling the intensity of light within an interior passenger compartment in a motor vehicle to create perceived sensations of safety, comfort and personal accommodation in conjunction with specified occurrences, said method comprising the steps of:

approaching a parked motor vehicle of the type having an interior passenger compartment, at least one door for accessing the passenger compartment, and a transmission shift selector disposed within the passenger compartment;

producing a safety approach signal;

illuminating the interior passenger compartment with a plurality of light sources inside the passenger compartment to achieve a maximum first intensity level of light in response to said step of producing a safety approach signal;

opening the door following said step of illuminating the interior passenger compartment;

automatically decreasing the interior illumination intensity to a lower second intensity level in response to said step of opening the door;

automatically decreasing the interior light intensity to a third intensity level, lower than the second intensity level, in response to moving the transmission shift selector away from a Park condition;

said step of producing a safety approach signal including generating a wireless electromagnetic wave;

said step of illuminating the interior passenger compartment with a plurality of light sources to the first intensity level including energizing at least one spot light sub-assembly;

said step of illuminating the interior passenger compartment with a plurality of light sources including passing at least a portion of the emitted light through a diffuser lens;

said step of automatically decreasing the interior light intensity to a third intensity level including projecting a non-white colored light into the passenger compartment;

selectively energizing and de-energizing the spot light sub-assembly during the third intensity level; and

automatically returning the interior illumination intensity to the second intensity level in response to moving the transmission shift selector into the Park condition from any other condition.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating a wireless electromagnetic wave includes depressing a button on a key fob.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of illuminating the interior passenger compartment with a plurality of light sources includes energizing at least one light emitting diode.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of energizing at least one spot light sub-assembly includes swiveling a beam of light projected by the spot light sub-assembly.