VEHICLE ILLUMINATION ASSEMBLY

• US 20150062941A1
• Filed: 09/03/2013
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: SURA, Bhargav, WEINERT, Norbert, CAT, Quan, JOHNSON, Randall, PHAN, Nelson
• Granted Patent: US 9,227,565 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/488
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/217 Doors, e.g. door sills; Steps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens

Abstract

A vehicle interior illumination assembly includes a lighting fixture and a controller. The lighting fixture has a proximity detection layer and an illumination layer, with one of the proximity detection layer and the illumination layer overlaying the other of the proximity detection layer and the illumination layer. The controller is operably connected to the proximity detection layer and the illumination layer. The controller is configured to toggle the illumination layer on and off in response to detecting a first movement gesture at the proximity detection layer. The controller is configured to adjust a first prescribed lighting parameter of the light produced by the illumination layer in response to detecting a second movement gesture at the proximity detection layer.

Claims

1. A vehicle interior illumination assembly, comprising:

a lighting fixture having a proximity detection layer and an illumination layer, with one of the proximity detection layer and the illumination layer overlaying the other of the proximity detection layer and the illumination layer; and

a controller operably connected to the proximity detection layer and the illumination layer, the controller being configured to toggle the illumination layer on and off in response to detecting a first movement gesture at the proximity detection layer, and the controller being configured to adjust a first prescribed lighting parameter of the light produced by the illumination layer in response to detecting a second movement gesture at the proximity detection layer.

2. The vehicle interior illumination assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the prescribed lighting parameter includes adjusting a level of brightness of light produced by the illumination layer in response to detecting the second movement gesture at the proximity detection layer.

3. The vehicle interior illumination assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the prescribed lighting parameter includes changing of the color of light produced by the illumination layer in response to detecting the second movement gesture at the proximity detection layer.

4. The vehicle interior illumination assembly according to claim 3, wherein

the controller is configured to adjust a second prescribed lighting parameter that includes adjusting a level of brightness of light produced by the illumination layer in response to detecting a third movement gesture along the proximity detection layer.

5. The vehicle interior illumination assembly according to claim 3, wherein

the illumination layer is configured to selectively emit at least two different colors.

6. The vehicle interior illumination assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the lighting fixture comprises a first lighting fixture having a first illumination layer and the proximity detection layer, and a second lighting having a second illumination layer that is operated in concert with the first illumination layer.

7. The vehicle interior illumination assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the lighting fixture comprises a first lighting fixture having a first illumination layer and a first proximity detection layer, and a second lighting fixture having a second illumination layer and a second proximity detection layer that is operated independently of the first illumination layer.

8. The vehicle interior illumination assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the lighting fixture comprises a first lighting fixture having a first illumination layer and a first proximity detection layer, and a second lighting fixture having a second illumination layer and a second proximity detection layer, the controller being configured to operate the first and second illumination layers in unison in response to detecting a third movement gesture at one of the first proximity detection layer and the second proximity detection layer, and operate the first illumination layer independently from operation of the second illumination layer in response to detecting a fourth movement gesture at one of the first proximity detection layer and the second proximity detection layer.

9. The vehicle interior illumination assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the first movement gesture includes the controller detecting a single contact with a finger within a first predetermined time period.

10. The vehicle interior illumination assembly according to claim 9, wherein

the second movement gesture includes the controller detecting a plurality of contacts with the finger within the first predetermined time period.

11. The vehicle interior illumination assembly according to claim 9, wherein

the second movement gesture includes the controller detecting a single contact with the finger for at least a second predetermined time period greater than the first predetermined time period.

12. The vehicle interior illumination assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the lighting fixture is separately toggled on and off by a separately operable switch that is spaced apart from the lighting fixture.

13. The vehicle interior illumination assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the proximity detection layer comprises an array of proximity switches defining a touch-sensitive surface.

14. The vehicle interior illumination assembly according to claim 13, wherein

the first movement gesture includes the controller detecting a single contact with a finger within a first predetermined time period.

15. The vehicle interior illumination assembly according to claim 13, wherein

the second movement gesture includes the controller detecting a linear movement with a finger along the touch-sensitive surface.

16. The vehicle interior illumination assembly according to claim 13, wherein

the second movement gesture includes the controller detecting contact with and movement of two fingers along the touch-sensitive surface.

17. The vehicle interior illumination assembly according to claim 16, wherein

the second movement gesture further includes the controller detecting simultaneous linear movement of the two fingers along the touch-sensitive surface.

18. The vehicle interior illumination assembly according to claim 13, wherein

the second movement gesture includes the controller detecting movement of a finger along the touch-sensitive surface in a circular pattern.