Ambient light based illumination control

• US 20070183163A1
• Filed: 02/07/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Daniel, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,438,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/489
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/349 Adjustment of brightness
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/18 for varying the light intensity

Abstract

An ambient light based illumination control system for motor vehicles. The system incorporates an ambient light sensor and provides control signals for controlling headlamp illumination and illumination of interior instrument panel lighting. The control system provides a variation of intensities for instrument panel lighting in transient ambient light conditions. The system may further be integrated into systems including navigation displays or other vehicle displays to provide adjustments for such displays in response to varying ambient light levels.

Claims

1. An illumination control system for a motor vehicle for controlling headlamps and instrument panel lighting of the motor vehicle, the control system comprising:

an ambient light sensor providing an ambient light signal responsive to a range of ambient lighting conditions including a night range associated with nighttime driving conditions, a day range associated with bright driving conditions, and a transition range between the night and day ranges, and

a control module providing a headlamp control signal for controlling lighting of the headlamps and further providing an instrument panel control signal for controlling the lighting of the instrument panel to vary the intensity of the lighting of the instrument panel from a low level when the ambient light signal is in the night range, and a high level when the ambient light signal is in the day range, and varying the lighting of the instrument panel when the ambient light signal is in the transition range over a plurality of illumination levels between the high and low levels.

2. The illumination control system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the control module providing a display control input for controlling a vehicle display based upon the range of ambient lighting conditions.

3. The illumination control system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the headlamp control signal causing an interruption of electrical power to the headlamps turning them to an “

OFF”

condition.

4. The illumination control system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the headlamp control signal causing a reduction of electrical power to the headlamps turning them to a dimmed condition.

5. The illumination control system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an instrument panel illumination switch which is operable by a vehicle operator to adjust the intensity of the instrument panel lighting low level.

6. The illumination control system in accordance with claim 5 further comprising the instrument panel illumination switch connected to a meter which applies modulated electrical power to vary the intensity of lighting of the instrument panel.

7. The illumination control system in accordance with claim 5 further comprising the instrument panel illumination switch connected to the control module which applies modulated electrical power to vary the intensity of lighting of the instrument panel.

8. The illumination control system in accordance with claim 7 further comprising the instrument panel control signal being directed to a meter which applies modulated electrical power to vary the intensity of lighting of the instrument panel.

9. An illumination control system for a motor vehicle for controlling headlamps and instrument panel lighting of the motor vehicle, the control system comprising:

an ambient light sensor providing an ambient light signal responsive to a range of ambient lighting conditions including a night range associated with nighttime driving conditions, a day range associated with bright driving conditions, and a transition range between the night and day ranges with a headlamps “

ON”

threshold established in the transition range,

a control module receiving the ambient light signal and providing a headlamp “

ON”

control signal to illuminate the headlamps when the ambient light signal is in the night range or in the transition range and indicates an ambient light level below the headlamp “

ON”

threshold, and providing a headlamps “

OFF”

control signal to reduce the intensity of lighting of the headlamps when the ambient light signal is in the day range or in the transition range and indicates an ambient light level above the headlamp “

ON”

threshold, and

the control module further providing an instrument panel control signal for controlling the intensity of instrument panel lighting to vary the intensity of lighting of the instrument panel from a low level when the ambient light signal is in the night range, and a high level when the ambient light signal is in the day range, and varying the intensity of lighting of the instrument panel when the ambient light signal is in the transition range over a plurality of illumination levels between the high and low levels.

10. The illumination control system in accordance with claim 9 further comprising the control module providing a display control input for controlling a vehicle display based upon the range of ambient lighting conditions.

11. The illumination control system in accordance with claim 9 further comprising the headlamp “

OFF”

control signal to dim the headlamps causing an interruption of electrical power to the headlamps turning them to an “

OFF”

condition.

12. The illumination control system in accordance with claim 9 further comprising the headlamp “

OFF”

control signal to dim the headlamps causing a reduction of electrical power to the headlamps turning them to a dimmed condition.

13. The illumination control system in accordance with claim 9 further comprising an instrument panel illumination switch which is operable by a vehicle operator to adjust the intensity of the instrument panel lighting low level.

14. The illumination control system in accordance with claim 13 further comprising the instrument panel illumination switch connected to a meter which applies modulated electrical power to vary the intensity of lighting of the instrument panel.

15. The illumination control system in accordance with claim 13 further comprising the instrument panel illumination switch connected with the control module which applies modulated electrical power to vary the intensity of lighting of the instrument panel.

16. The illumination control system in accordance with claim 15 further comprising the instrument panel control signal being directed to a meter which applies modulated electrical power to vary the intensity of lighting of the instrument panel.