1201results about "Lighting circuits" patented technology

A vehicle lighting system for a vehicle includes an accessory module assembly that is adapted for attachment to an interior portion of a vehicle and configured to illuminate, for example, an area inside the vehicle. The module assembly includes a single high-intensity power light emitting diode that has a luminous efficiency of at least about 1 lumen per watt when the light emitting diode is operated and is preferably operated at a forward current of at least 100 milliamps. The system also includes a voltage conversion element for converting the battery/ignition voltage of the vehicle to the forward operating voltage of the light emitting diode.

Vehicle lighting methods and apparatus, in which an LED-based light source is configured to generate at least visible radiation associated with a vehicle. The light source is controlled such that the generated visible radiation has a variable color over a range of colors including at least three different perceivable colors. Examples of vehicles in which such methods and apparatus may be used include, but are not limited to, an automobile, airplane, boat, non-motorized vehicle, etc. The LED-based light source may be disposed inside the vehicle (e.g., dashboard, instrument panel) or outside the vehicle (e.g., brake lights, undercarriage lighting), and may be controlled to generate white light as one of the perceivable colors. A user interface may be employed to facilitate an adjustment of the variable color of the generated visible radiation. Additionally, information relating to at least one condition associated with the vehicle may be employed to control the LED-based light source such that the variable color of the generated visible radiation is based at least in part on the condition associated with the vehicle.

An embodiment of this invention relates to an intelligent lighting device that can receive signals and change the illumination conditions as a result of the received signals. The lighting device can change hue, saturation, and brightness as a response to received signals. One example of using such a lighting device is to display particular colors as a response to certain events. Among others, embodiments may include vehicle lighting systems, an information cube, a back lighting system for a display panel, and an indicator of a condition of a package.

A device for controlling lighting, especially inside the passenger compartments of vehicles, including at least one light source and at least one sensor which influences the light source and which detects at least the movement of a body within the active range of the sensor. A control unit, which is used to control the light source according to a sensor signal provided by a sensor, is associated with the light source. Control means, which are controlled by the control unit, track the light from the at least one light source according to a sensor signal corresponding to the position of the body. The invention also relates to a method for controlling the device.

An embodiment of this invention relates to an intelligent lighting device that can receive signals and change the illumination conditions as a result of the received signals. The lighting device can change hue, saturation, and brightness as a response to received signals. One example of using such a lighting device is to display particular colors as a response to certain events. Among others, embodiments may include vehicle lighting systems, an information cube, a back lighting system for a display panel, and an indicator of a condition of a package.

A series of motions where a user approaches, gets in, drives or stays in, and gets off a vehicle is divided into a plurality of scenes. In each scene, a hospitality operation is executed for assisting use of the vehicle by the user or for entertaining the user. Information about disturbances on the user is obtained in each specified scene. In accordance with the scene, user biological characteristic information, and the information about disturbances, a hospitality operation device to be used and a hospitality operation by the hospitality operation device are determined.

Illumination of a portion of a vehicle interior is provided by an interior rearview mirror assembly incorporating a solid-state light source comprising a light emitting diode (LED) which emits light generally downwardly from the assembly. In one form of the invention, the mirror case of the rearview mirror assembly includes at least one of an opening, a light conduit, and a fiberoptic element through which the LED emits light. In another form, the LED preferably has a luminous intensity of at least 500 mcd when operated at a forward current of 20 mA. The LED preferably has a dominant wavelength of at least about 530 nm. The light emitted by the LED may be selected from green, orange, yellow, amber, reddish-orange, red and blue. The vehicle interior portion may include at least one of a shift lever console and a floor console.

The invention provides a light module (1) with a light source (2) for emitting a beam of light (5), an adjustable optical element (300) for adjusting the beam of light (5) from the light source (2) into an adjusted beam of light (25) with a scattering pattern that is electrically variable; and a controller (304) for controlling, in response to an adjusting control signal (371), at least one element of a group of elements comprising the adjustable optical element (300) and the light source (2) by means of at least one driving signal (375, 376). A multi-purpose light, for example for interior car lighting, is advantageously provided thereby.

An illumination module for a vehicle includes at least one illumination source for illuminating a target area at the vehicle. The illumination module may be mounted at a handle of a vehicle door and may be operable to illuminate the handle region and/or pocket region of the vehicle door and to illuminate a ground region adjacent to the vehicle and generally below the door handle assembly. The illumination module may include an icon established thereat and the at least one illumination source may back light the icon so that the icon, when the illumination module is activated, is viewable by a person viewing the vehicle. The illumination module may project or direct the illumination toward a targeted area so that the icon is discernible at the targeted area.

Some embodiments include an automotive variable attenuated transmittance device having a predetermined minimum transmittance. Such devices can include a suspended particle device, liquid crystal device, polymer dispersed liquid crystal device, or electrochromic device. Some embodiments also include a manual and/or automatic control system for varying transmittance according to any of a variety of data including, without limitation, position, orientation, transmitted power, and/or the position of an occupant's head.

A motor vehicle roof with a control for comfortable operation of at least one motor vehicle component by a passenger of the vehicle, the control having a sensor surface arrangement (12g) for detecting the presence and/or movement of the hand or part of the hand of the passenger in a detection area of the sensor surface arrangement (12g). The sensor surface arrangement (12g) provides an electrical trigger signal based on detection of the presence and/or movement of at least part of the hand for triggering the vehicle component(s).

This invention relates to mirror assemblies for vehicles and in particular to interior rearview minor assemblies having touch screen inputs corresponding to elements representing a symbol. The symbols are located behind a reflective element and not visible until activated by selection of the corresponding input or other means.

The present invention provides a light tube for illumination by a power supply circuit including a bulb portion and a pair of end caps disposed at opposite ends of the bulb portion. A plurality of light emitting diodes are disposed inside the bulb portion and in electrical communication with the pair of end caps for illuminating in response to electrical current to be received from the power supply circuit.

An on-board illumination controlling system includes a mobile communicator and an on-board unit. The mobile communicator receives one of request signals and transmits, in response to the received request signal, a response signal. The on-board unit includes: multiple transmitters, a receiver, a comparison ECU and a control ECU. The multiple transmitters are installed, respectively, to different portions of the vehicle. The multiple transmitters transmit, respectively, the request signals to different communication areas. The receiver receives the response signal from the mobile communicator. The comparison ECU specifies one of the multiple transmitters which has transmitted the one of the request signals. The control ECU turns on one of multiple lighting devices in the vehicle corresponding to the specified one of the multiple transmitters.

A vehicle illumination system includes a light source emitting light for illuminating the vehicle surroundings or the vehicle interior or both, and a modulation unit modulating the emitting of light of the light source, where the emitted light is modulated with a frequency that is high enough so that the modulation of the light is substantially not perceivable by a person.

A lighting assembly (10) is adjustable between flood and spot lighting conditions for selectively illuminating an interior passenger compartment in a motor vehicle. The assembly (10) includes a housing (16) which clamps to a supporting member, such as a headliner (12), via a sleeve (18) interacting with a rotary cam lock (22). An LED light source (26) is orbitally supported within the housing (16) for projecting light in a directionally adjustable manner. A lens (50) is disposed in the light path (28) and is moveable between an extended spot position for task lighting and a retracted flood position for general illumination within the interior compartment. A switch (74) is responsive to movement of the lens (50) into its spot position for automatically energizing the LED (30). The switch (74) opens, thus de-energizing the LED (30) when the lens (50) is returned to its flood condition. A lighting control circuit (78, 78′) is responsive to an override signal, such as from a door switch (80, 80′), for independently activating the light source (26) when the lens (50) is in its flood position. The light source (26) is supported for orbital movement within the housing (16) by a gimbal mechanism which includes an inner gimbal (38) carried in a cross (40). Pintals (42, 44) establish intersecting perpendicular axis (A,B) to accomplish the orbital movement. A latch mechanism (64) cooperates with leaf springs (62) by controlling movement of the lens (50) between its flood and spot conditions by a repeated push impulse applied by the finger of an operator. The switch (74) is incorporated into the leaf springs (62).

A lighting system and method for producing an automatically positionable light beam that is aimed in accordance with the position of a seatback portion of a seat on a mobile platform. The system includes a light assembly having independent first and second light subsystems, with each light subsystem having a plurality of LEDs or incandescent bulbs. A switch mounted on the seat detects when the seatback portion of the seat is in an upright or a reclined position, and provides a signal to the light assembly in accordance with the position of the seatback. The signal is used to turn on either the first light subsystem to illuminate a lap area of the occupant when the seat is in its upright position, or the second light subsystem to illuminate an area slightly rearwardly of the occupant's lap when the seat is in the reclined position. Thus, optimum positioning of the light beam produced by the light assembly is achieved automatically, without requiring any manual adjustment by the seat occupant.