Ambient LED lighting system and method

• US 8,258,702 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2009
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Zielinski, Mark Andre, Wojcik, Karl William, Miller, Robert Andrew, Lawlis, James Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thuy Vinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): COOPER, JONATHAN G
• Application Number:
  US12/469,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20090289579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 315/77, 315/291, 315/294, 315/307, 315/76, 315/297, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 315/77
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, an ambient lighting system comprising a lighting module and a controller is provided. The lighting module is configured to drive a light emitting device (LED) arrangement to display a desired ambient color in response to a lighting control signal and to transmit a lighting status signal providing diagnostic information for one of the lighting module and the LED arrangement. The controller is configured to transmit the lighting control signal including first digital data indicative of the desired ambient color and a feed signal for powering the lighting module on a bi-directional data communication bus between the controller and the lighting module. The controller is further configured to receive the lighting status signal on the bi-directional data communication bus.

Claims

1. An ambient lighting system comprising:

a lighting module configured to drive a light emitting device (LED) arrangement to display a desired ambient color in response to a lighting control signal and to transmit a lighting status signal providing diagnostic information for at least one of the lighting module and the LED arrangement;

a controller configured to;

transmit the lighting control signal including first digital data indicative of the desired ambient color and a feed signal for powering the lighting module on a bi-directional data communication bus between the controller and the lighting module; and

receive the lighting status signal on the bi-directional data communication bus;

wherein the lighting module comprises a comparator configured to receive the first digital data and to compare the first digital data to a predetermined voltage reference to decode the first digital data.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the bi-directional data communication bus is comprised of a single wire.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the lighting status signal includes second digital data indicative of the diagnostic information.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the controller comprises a comparator configured to receive the second digital data and to compare the second digital data to a predetermined voltage reference to decode the second digital data.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the feed signal provides a voltage of between 5 and 16 volts.

6. A device in a vehicle ambient lighting system that includes a controller configured to transmit lighting control signal including first digital data indicative of a desired ambient color and a feed signal for powering the lighting module and to receive a lighting status signal, the device comprising:

a lighting module configured to;

drive a light emitting device (LED) arrangement to display the desired ambient color in response to receiving the lighting control signal on a single wire data communication bus from the central controller; and

transmit a lighting status signal providing diagnostic information for at least one of the lighting module and the LED arrangement on the single wire data communication bus to the central controller;

wherein the lighting module comprises a comparator configured to receive the first digital data and to compare the first digital data to a predetermined voltage reference to decode the first digital data.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the lighting module comprises a voltage regulator configured to separate the feed signal from the first digital data on the lighting control signal and to provide a substantially constant voltage with the feed signal such that the lighting module is powered therefrom.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the feed signal provides a voltage of between 5 and 16 volts.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the lighting status signal includes second digital data indicative of the diagnostic information.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the controller comprises a comparator configured to receive the second digital data and to compare the second digital data to a predetermined voltage reference to decode the second digital data.

11. An ambient lighting device in a vehicle system that includes a controller configured to transmit a lighting control signal including first digital data indicative of a desired ambient color selected by a user, the device comprising:

a lighting module configured to drive a light emitting device (LED) arrangement to display the desired ambient color in response to receiving the lighting control signal on a single wire data communication bus from the central controller;

the lighting module comprising;

a voltage regulator configured to separate a feed signal from the first digital data on the lighting control signal such that the lighting module is powered from the feed signal; and

a comparator configured to receive the first digital data and to compare the first digital data to a predetermined voltage reference to decode the first digital data.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the lighting module is further configured to transmit a lighting status signal indicative of diagnostic information for at least one of the lighting module and the LED arrangement.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the lighting module is further configured to transmit the lighting status signal on the single wire data communication bus to the central controller.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein the lighting status signal comprises second digital data indicative of the diagnostic information.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the central controller comprises a comparator configured to receive the second digital data and to compare the second digital data to a predetermined voltage reference to decode the second digital data.