Illumination device for vehicle compartment

• US 7,012,384 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2003
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Inagaki, Satoshi, Tatewaki, Yasumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Tuyet Thi
• Application Number:
  US10/348,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20030156422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 315/185.S, 315/200.A, 315/312, 315/324, 315/323, 315/325, 315/360, 315/322, 315/316, 362/800, 362/806, 362/612
• US Class Current: 315/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

An illumination device having a first light source, a second light source, whose luminous color differs from that of said first light source, and a controller for controlling the illuminating condition of each of the first light source and the second light source is configured. The controller turns on the first light source so that the light intensity of the first light source gradually increases at an early stage of a turning-on operation. Moreover, the controller turns on the second light source when the light intensity of the first light source gradually increases after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of the turning-on of the first light source.

Claims

1. An illumination device for a vehicle compartment, comprising:

a first light source;

a second light source, a luminous color of which is different from a luminous color of said first light source; and

a controller for controlling an illuminating condition of each of said first light source and said second light source,

wherein said controller turns on said first light source so that light intensity of said first light source gradually increases at an early stage of a turning-on operation of said first light source, and

wherein said controller switches said second light source from an off condition to an on condition while the light intensity of said first light source gradually increases after a lapse of a predetermined time from starting said turning-on operation of said first light source.

2. The illumination device for a vehicle compartment according to claim 1, wherein said controller switches said second light source such that light intensity of said second light source gradually increases at an early stage of a turning-on operation of said second light source.

3. The illumination device for a vehicle compartment according to claim 1, wherein the luminous color of said second light source comprises white.

4. The illumination device for a vehicle compartment according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first light source and said second light source comprises a light emitting diode.

5. The illumination device for a vehicle compartment according to claim 1, wherein said controller controls the light intensity of the first and second light sources directly in an electrical manner.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said controller turns on said first light source such that said first light source switches from an off condition to an on condition.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said light from said first light source mixes with light from said second light source to form a mixed light which is emitted from said illumination device, a color of said mixed light appearing to change over time.

8. An illumination device for a vehicle compartment, comprising:

a first light source;

a second light source, a luminous color of which is different from a luminous color said first light source; and

a controller for controlling an illuminating condition of each of said first light source and said second light source,

wherein said controller turns off said second light source, so that a light intensity of said second light source gradually decreases, and

wherein said controller switches said first light source from an on condition to an off condition while the light intensity of said second light source gradually decreases after a lapse of a predetermined time from starting of turning-off of said second light source.

9. The illumination device for a vehicle compartment, according to claim 8, wherein said controller switches said first light source such that light intensity of said first light source gradually decreases.

10. The illumination device for a vehicle compartment according claim 8, wherein the luminous color of said second light source comprises white.

11. The illumination device for a vehicle compartment according to claim 8, wherein at least one of said first light source and said second light source comprises a light emitting diode.

12. The illumination device for a vehicle compartment according to claim 8, wherein said controller controls the light intensity of the first and second light sources directly in an electrical manner.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein said controller turns off said second light source such that said second light source switches from an on condition to an off condition.

14. An illumination device for a vehicle compartment, comprising:

a first light source;

a second light source, a luminous color of which is different from a luminous color of said first light source; and

a controller for controlling an illuminating condition of each of said first light source and said second light source,

wherein said controller performs a turning-on control by turning on said first light source such that a light intensity of said first light source gradually increases at an early stage of a turning-on operation of said first light source, and by switching said second light source from an off condition to an on condition while the light intensity of said first light source gradually increases after a lapse of a predetermined time from starting of turning-on of said first light source, whereby a light intensity of said first light source gradually increases at an early stage of a turning-on operation of said second light source, and

wherein said controller performs a turning-off control by turning off said second light source such that a light intensity of said second light source gradually decreases, and by switching said first light source from an on condition to an off condition while the light intensity of said second light source gradually decreases after a lapse of a predetermined time from starting a turning-off of said second light source, whereby light intensity of said first light source gradually decreases.

15. The illumination device for a vehicle compartment according to claim 14, wherein the luminous color of said first light source comprises a chromatic color, and wherein the luminous color of said second light source comprises white.

16. The illumination device for a vehicle compartment according to claim 14, wherein at least one of said first light source and said second light source comprises a light emitting diode.

17. The illumination device for a vehicle compartment according to claim 14, wherein said controller controls the light intensity of the first and second light sources directly in an electrical manner.