Lighting module for illuminating the vehicle interior of a motor vehicle

• US 10,703,265 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2018
• Issued: 07/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Fuhrmann, Daniel, Knapp, Daniela, Holz, Michael, Staib, Florian, Gramlich, Timo, Kalberer, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Jimmy T
• Application Number:
  US16/617,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20200114817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/122 Instrument input devices with reconfigurable control functions, e.g. reconfigurable menus
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1526 Dual-view displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/171 Vehicle or relevant part thereof displayed
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/331 Electroluminescent elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/349 Adjustment of brightness
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/656 the user being a passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2500/30 Arrangements for illuminating different zones in the vehicle, e.g. front/rear, different seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47

Abstract

A lighting device for illuminating the vehicle interior of a motor vehicle is provided. The motor vehicle includes a plurality of light sources for illuminating the vehicle interior and a control device that can be used to actuate the plurality of light sources independently of one another. The motor vehicle further has an operator control device connected to the control device and includes segments and operator control elements that can be used to actuate the light sources independently of one another by a user. A display unit displays at least a partial image of the vehicle interior that can be illuminated or is illuminated by the controllable light sources.

Claims

1. A lighting device configured to light a vehicle interior of a motor vehicle, the lighting device comprising:

a plurality of light sources configured to light the vehicle interior;

a control device configured to control at least two of the light sources independently of one another;

an operating device connected to the control device and comprising operating elements configured to receiver a user input to control the at least two light sources independently of one another by a user,

wherein the operating device comprises a display unit that displays a partial image of the vehicle interior that is lit by the plurality of light sources, wherein the display unit comprises selectable segments corresponding to zones of the vehicle interior that are to be lit,

wherein the operating device is configured such that a lighting program selected by the user via one of the operating elements is shown as a simulated image or in a relevant display zone of the display unit,

wherein the display unit is a touch-sensitive display, and

wherein the partial image displayed by the display unit is a live image of the vehicle interior recorded by a camera installed in the vehicle interior of the motor vehicle.

2. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein a left-hand zone and a right-hand zone of a rear region of the vehicle interior is shown in the partial image, wherein the rear region is lit by at least one of the plurality of light sources.

3. The lighting device of claim 2, wherein

the plurality of light sources and the partial image of the rear region that is shown in the display unit are coordinated to one another such that the lighting of the rear region shown in the partial image is adjustable by actuating at least one of the operating elements,

a segment of the partial image is assigned by one of the operating elements, the lighting of which is varied by actuating one of the operating elements.

4. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the partial image displayed by the display unit is a graphic stored in an image memory of the control device or the operating device.

5. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the display unit and the operating elements of the operating device are part of the touch-sensitive display.

6. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of light sources is configured such that brightness, light color, or lighting angle of the at least one of the plurality of light sources is varied by the operating device.

7. An operating device configured to control a lighting device of a motor vehicle, the operating device comprising:

a plurality of operating elements; and

a display unit, which is a touch-sensitive display,

wherein at least one image of a rear region of an interior of the motor vehicle is displayed on the display unit in at least one display zone,

wherein the at least one image is divided into a plurality of actuatable segments, each of the plurality of actuatable segments being configured so that, a user actuating one or more of the plurality of actuatable segments, selects which zone of the rear region is to be lit or in which zone the lighting should be changed by the lighting device,

wherein at least one operating element of the plurality of operating elements is configured to allow the user to select a preset lighting program that is shown and simulated on the display unit,

wherein the at least one display zone includes left-hand and right-hand display zones, an image of a left-hand zone of the rear region is displayed in the left-hand display zone in the display unit, and an image of a right-hand zone of the rear region is displayed in the right-hand display zone of the display unit.

8. The operating device of claim 7, wherein at least one operating element of the plurality of operating elements is provided in the touch-sensitive display, the at least one operating element configured such that actuation of the at least one operating element adjusts brightness or light color of light to be generated by light sources of the lighting device.

9. The operating device of claim 7, wherein at least one operating element of the plurality of operating elements is displayed as an actuatable slide control that is configured to adjust a brightness or the light color of light generated by light sources of the lighting device.

10. The operating device of claim 7, wherein at least one operating element of the plurality of operating elements is an activation element configured to activate the selected preset lighting program in the lighting device.

11. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle interior;

a lighting device configured to light the vehicle interior, wherein the lighting device comprises

a plurality of light sources configured to light the vehicle interior;

a control device configured to control at least two of the light sources independently of one another;

an operating device connected to the control device and comprising operating elements configured to receiver a user input to control the at least two light sources independently of one another by a user,

wherein the operating device comprises a display unit that displays a partial image of the vehicle interior that is lit by the plurality of light sources, wherein the display unit comprises selectable segments corresponding to zones of the vehicle interior that are to be lit,

wherein the operating device is configured such that a lighting program selected by the user via one of the operating elements is shown as a simulated image or in a relevant display zone of the display unit,

wherein the display unit is a touch-sensitive display, and

wherein the partial image displayed by the display unit is a live image of the vehicle interior recorded by a camera installed in the vehicle interior of the motor vehicle.

12. A method for lighting a vehicle interior of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

controlling, according to one or more actuated segments of a plurality of actuatable segments in an image displayed on a touch-sensitive display and according to actuation of one or more operating elements, at least two light sources of a plurality of light sources of a lighting device configured to light the vehicle interior;

determining, based on the one or more actuated segments, a zone of the vehicle interior that is to be lit;

adjusting, using the one or more operating elements, a lighting parameter of at least one of the at least two light sources;

displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, at least one partial image of the vehicle interior that is lit by the plurality of light sources,

wherein a lighting program selected by a user via the one or more operating elements is first shown as a simulated image in a relevant display zone of the touch-sensitive display, and

wherein the at least one display zone includes left-hand and right-hand display zones, an image of a left-hand zone of the rear region is displayed in the left-hand display zone in the display unit, and an image of a right-hand zone of the rear region is displayed in the right-hand display zone of the display unit.