User-following vehicle illumination system

• US 9,821,707 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2016
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Decaluwe, Mary, Wellborn, Carl W., Brown, Thomas R., Kumle, Christopher, Rudd, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): A, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US15/343,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20170120802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 315 80
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/20 Multi-color single source or LED matrix, e.g. yellow blinker and red brake lamp generated by single lamp
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/16 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A user-position-focused vehicle lighting system comprising a hardware-based processing unit and a non-transitory computer-readable storage device having a user-position-determination module that, when executed by the processing unit, determines a vehicle user position proximate a vehicle. The storage device also includes a vehicle-lighting-identification module that, when executed by the processing unit, determines, based on the vehicle user position, which of multiple vehicle lighting features should be illuminated, yielding a presently selected lighting feature. The storage device also includes a vehicle-lighting-activation module configured to, when executed by the processing unit, send a signal to the presently selected lighting feature to illuminate the presently selected lighting feature. In various embodiments, the technology includes the storage device separate from the processing unit, and processes performed by the system.

Claims

1. A user-position-focused vehicle lighting system comprising:

a hardware-based processing unit; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprising;

a user-position-determination module that, when executed by the processing unit, determines a vehicle user position proximate a vehicle;

a vehicle-lighting-identification module that, when executed by the processing unit, determines, based on the vehicle user position, which of multiple vehicle lighting features should be illuminated, yielding a presently selected lighting feature; and

a vehicle-lighting-activation module configured to, when executed by the processing unit, send a signal to the presently selected lighting feature to illuminate the presently selected lighting feature.

2. The user-position-focused vehicle lighting system of claim 1 comprising the multiple vehicle lighting features being configured to activate selectively in response to said signal from the processor executing the vehicle-lighting-activation module.

3. The user-position-focused vehicle lighting system of claim 1 comprising a user-proximity sensor configured and arranged at a vehicle to sense presence of the vehicle user proximate the vehicle, wherein the processing unit executing the user-position-determination module to determine the vehicle user position proximate a vehicle is performed using output from the user-proximity sensor or in response to the output.

4. The user-position-focused vehicle lighting system of claim 1 comprising a user-position sensor configured and arranged at the vehicle to sense position of the vehicle user with respect to the vehicle, wherein the user-position-determination module executing the processing unit to determine a vehicle user position proximate the vehicle is performed using output of the user-position sensor.

5. The user-position-focused vehicle lighting system of claim 1 wherein:

the vehicle user position is a first vehicle user position; and

the modules are configures so that module functions are repeated to determine an updated selected lighting feature corresponding with a second vehicle user position determined while or after the user moves from the first position.

6. The user-position-focused vehicle lighting system of claim 1 wherein the user-position-determination module is configured to, in determining vehicle user position proximate the vehicle, receive a signal from a user-carried device.

7. The user-position-focused vehicle lighting system of claim 1 wherein the user-position-determination module is configured to, in determining that the user is proximate the vehicle using the proximity sensor, receive a signal from a user-carried device.

8. The user-position-focused vehicle lighting system of claim 7 wherein the user-carried device is a key fob, a user wearable device, or other user mobile communication device.

9. The user-position focused vehicle lighting system of claim 1 wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprises:

a user-proximity-determination module configured to, when executed by the processing unit, determine that the user is proximate the vehicle using the proximity sensor;

wherein the user-position-determination module, when executed by the processing unit, determines the vehicle user position in response to the user-proximity-determination module determining that the vehicle user is proximate.

10. The user-position focused vehicle lighting system of claim 1 wherein the presently selected lighting feature includes one or both of an interior vehicle light and an exterior vehicle light.

11. The user-position focused vehicle lighting system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle-lighting-identification module, with determining which of multiple vehicle lighting features should be illuminated when executed by the processing unit, determines for the presently selected lighting feature at least one option to actuate selected from a group of options consisting of:

one of multiple brightness options for the lighting feature;

one of multiple color options for the lighting feature; and

one of multiple fade-function options for the lighting feature.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device, for use at a user-position-focused vehicle lighting system, comprising:

a user-position-determination module that, when executed by a processing unit, determines a vehicle user position proximate a vehicle;

a vehicle-lighting-identification module that, when executed by the processing unit, determines, based on the vehicle user position, which of multiple vehicle lighting features should be illuminated, yielding a presently selected lighting feature; and

a vehicle-lighting-activation module configured to, when executed by the processing unit, send a signal to the presently selected lighting feature to illuminate the presently selected lighting feature.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 12 wherein:

the vehicle user position is a first vehicle user position; and

the modules are configures so that module functions are repeated to determine an updated selected lighting feature corresponding with a second vehicle user position determined while or after the user moves from the first position.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 12 wherein the user-position-determination module is configured to, in determining vehicle user position proximate the vehicle, receive a signal from a user-carried device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 12 wherein the user-position-determination module is configured to, in determining that the user is proximate the vehicle using the proximity sensor, receive a signal from a user-carried device.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 12 comprising:

a user-proximity-determination module configured to, when executed by the processing unit, determine that the user is proximate the vehicle using the proximity sensor;

wherein the user-position-determination module, when executed by the processing unit, determines the vehicle user position in response to the user-proximity-determination module determining that the vehicle user is proximate.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 12 wherein the presently selected lighting feature includes one or both of an interior vehicle light and an exterior vehicle light.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 12 wherein:

the vehicle-lighting-identification module, with determining which of multiple vehicle lighting features should be illuminated when executed by the processing unit, determines for the presently selected lighting feature at least one option to actuate selected from a group of options consisting of;

one of multiple brightness options for the lighting feature;

one of multiple color options for the lighting feature; and

one of multiple fade-function options for the lighting feature.

19. A method, performed by a user-position-focused vehicle lighting system having a hardware based processing unit and a non-transitory computer-readable storage device, the method comprising:

determining, by the processing unit executing a user-position-determination module at the storage device, a vehicle user position proximate a vehicle;

determining, by the processing unit executing a vehicle-lighting-identification module of the storage device, based on the vehicle user position, which of multiple vehicle lighting features should be illuminated, yielding a presently selected lighting feature; and

sending, by the processing unit executing a vehicle-lighting-activation module, a signal to the presently selected lighting feature to illuminate the presently selected lighting feature.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein:

the vehicle user position is a first vehicle user position; and

the determining, determining, and sending are repeated to determine an updated selected lighting feature corresponding with a second vehicle user position determined while or after the user moves from the first position.