Method for adjusting interior illumination

• US 7,221,264 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Woo, Victor, Kihana, Takeo, Yoneyama, Masaya, Stull, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/109,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20060239016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/468, 340/469, 340/471, 345/102, 345/207, 345/690, 359/602, 359/603, 359/304
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/16 Circuits; Control arrangements

Abstract

A method for altering interior illumination in a motor vehicle includes provisions for adjusting the interior lighting conditions to improve visibility of the illuminated objects under different ambient lighting conditions. In some cases, the method can also include provisions that adjust interior lighting conditions quickly if sudden changes in ambient light are detected.

Claims

1. A method for controlling at least one interior illumination device of a motor vehicle comprising an ambient light sensor providing ambient light information related to ambient light, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving the ambient light information from the ambient light sensor;

determining when the ambient light information crosses a first threshold;

starting a timer;

stopping the timer when the ambient light information crosses a second threshold, and computing an elapsed time;

comparing the elapsed time with a predetermined time;

and altering a condition of the illumination device if the elapsed time is less than the predetermined time.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the condition is related to an illumination level of the interior illumination device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first threshold is a lower threshold corresponding to a nighttime ambient light level.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the second threshold is an upper threshold corresponding to a daytime ambient light level.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the illuminated device is switched to a day mode.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first threshold is an upper threshold corresponding to a daytime ambient light level.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the second threshold is a lower threshold corresponding to a nighttime ambient light level.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the illuminated device is switched to a night mode.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the illuminated device is altered more rapidly than a normal response time.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the illuminated device is altered in about three seconds.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the normal response time is about 30 seconds.