Vehicle interior lighting system

Abstract

A vehicle interior lighting system (1) comprises: at least one lighting device (3) that is installed in a vehicle cabin (2a) and emits illumination light; and a control unit (4) that implements dimming control of the at least one lighting device (3) when the vehicle is traveling. The at least one lighting device (3) includes at least one first lighting device configured such that a light emission unit is not visible to any occupant. The control unit (4) implements dimming control of the at least one lighting device (3) on the basis of the brightness outside the vehicle.

Description

Vehicle interior lighting system

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle interior lighting system.

[0002] In recent years, regarding the interior of a moving body such as an automobile, it is required that the environment be comfortable for passengers. In particular, in the future, it is conceivable that even while the automobile is in motion due to autonomous driving technology, passengers including the driver will perform various activities unrelated to driving inside the vehicle. Therefore, the interior of the vehicle is required to be a living space that is more user-friendly and comfortable to live in.

[0003] Therefore, conventionally, a technique has been proposed in which a lighting device is installed inside a vehicle and the space inside the vehicle is produced by changing the brightness and color of the lighting light emitted from the lighting device (Patent Document 1).

[0004] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2024 - 18953

[0005] However, conventional lighting devices inside a vehicle were not designed to be lit during the day (midday) for various effects.

[0006] Also, conventionally, a ceiling lamp has been installed on the ceiling inside the vehicle as a lighting device. However, in the case of a ceiling lamp, the brightness of the lighting light is insufficient during the day, so it is not suitable as a lighting device for producing effects by being lit during the day.

[0007] On the other hand, if a lighting device is lit inside the vehicle while driving (in motion), there is a risk that the direct light from the lighting device will enter the driver's eyes and make it impossible to drive safely.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle interior lighting system that can produce the space inside the vehicle during daytime even while driving while maintaining a safe driving environment.

[0009] To achieve the above objective, one embodiment of the vehicle interior lighting system according to the present invention comprises at least one lighting device installed in the interior of a vehicle and emitting illumination light, and a control unit that controls the dimming of the at least one lighting device when the vehicle is in motion, wherein the at least one lighting device includes at least one first lighting device, each configured so that the light-emitting part is not visible to the occupants, and the control unit controls the dimming of the at least one lighting device based on the brightness outside the vehicle.

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to create a pleasant interior space inside the vehicle while driving, even during the daytime, while maintaining a safe driving environment.

[0011] Figure 1 is a top view of an automobile with an interior lighting system according to an embodiment. Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of an automobile with an interior lighting system according to an embodiment.

[0012] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are all specific examples of the present invention. Therefore, the numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions of components, and connection configurations shown in the following embodiments are examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. Accordingly, among the components in the following embodiments, those not described in the independent claims representing the highest-level concept of the present invention will be described as optional components.

[0013] Each figure is a schematic diagram and not necessarily a strictly accurate representation. Therefore, the scale and other aspects may not necessarily be consistent across all figures. In each figure, substantially identical components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted or simplified.

[0014] In this specification, "forward" refers to the direction of travel when the vehicle is moving forward, and "rearward" refers to the direction of travel when the vehicle is moving backward. The right side when the vehicle is moving forward is referred to as "right direction," the left side when the vehicle is moving forward is referred to as "left direction," the ceiling side of the vehicle is referred to as "up" or "upper side," and the floor side of the vehicle is referred to as "down" or "lower side." In this specification, the terms "up" and "down" do not refer to the absolute upward direction (vertically upward) and downward direction (vertically downward) in terms of spatial perception, but may be used as terms defined by relative positional relationships.

[0015] (Embodiment) First, the configuration of the vehicle interior lighting system 1 according to the embodiment will be described using Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a top view of the vehicle 2 in the vehicle interior lighting system 1 according to the embodiment, and Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the vehicle 2.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the vehicle interior lighting system 1 comprises a vehicle 2 and at least one lighting device 3 installed in the vehicle 2.

[0017] Automobile 2 is an example of a mobile body and comprises a vehicle having a passenger compartment 2a. The passenger compartment 2a in automobile 2 is composed of a plurality of interior lining members. The passenger compartment 2a has a ceiling 10, a floor 20, a pillar trim 30, and a door trim 40 as a plurality of interior lining members.

[0018] The vehicle of automobile 2 has doors 50. The doors 50 include a front door 51 and a rear door 52. By opening and closing the front door 51 or the rear door 52, occupants can enter the passenger compartment 2a or exit the passenger compartment 2a. Each of the front door 51 and the rear door 52 is provided with a window pane.

[0019] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the passenger compartment 2a is provided with seats 60 for the occupants. Specifically, the passenger compartment 2a is provided with multiple seats 60, namely front seats 61 and rear seats 62. The front seats 61 are the front seats located at the front of the passenger compartment 2a and consist of a driver's seat 61a where the driver sits and a passenger seat 61b located next to the driver's seat 61a. In this embodiment, since the steering wheel is located on the right side, the driver's seat 61a is located on the right side and the passenger seat 61b is located on the left side. The rear seats 62 are the rear seats located at the rear of the passenger compartment 2a. The rear seats 62 can accommodate two or three occupants.

[0020] As shown in Figure 2, the ceiling 10 is a roof trim. Specifically, the ceiling 10 is a headlining. The ceiling 10 is fixed to the roof 2b of the automobile 2. In this case, the ceiling 10 may be directly attached to the inner surface of the roof 2b, or it may be suspended from the roof 2b.

[0021] Floor 20 is the floor trim. Specifically, floor 20 is the floor carpet fixed to the frame that constitutes the body structure of automobile 2 (vehicle). Although not shown in the diagram, floor mats are laid on floor 20.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the pillar trim 30 is composed of multiple pillars. Specifically, the pillar trim 30 has an A-pillar 31, which is a front pillar located next to the windshield, and a B-pillar 32, which is a central pillar located between the front seat 61 and the rear seat 62. The pillar trim 30 may also have a C-pillar and a D-pillar located diagonally behind the rear seat 62.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the door trim 40 is an interior trim member that covers the door panels of the front door 51 and the rear door 52. The door trim 40 that constitutes the inner surface of the front door 51 and the rear door 52 has an uneven surface (uneven structure) formed on it. In other words, the uneven surface of the door trim 40 is formed on the inner surface of the door 50. One or more functional parts are provided on this uneven surface of the door trim 40.

[0024] Specifically, the recessed and recessed areas of the door trim 40 are provided with functional features, including an armrest, operating switches (operating buttons), a cup holder, a door handle, and a storage space. The operating switches are, for example, open / close switches for opening and closing the window glass. In addition, the front door 51 of the driver's seat 61a is provided with various switches other than the open / close switch as operating buttons.

[0025] As shown in Figure 1, the automobile 2 has a center console 70. The center console 70 is located between the driver's seat 61a and the passenger seat 61b. As shown in Figure 2, the center console 70 extends from the instrument panel 80 located at the front of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle. The front end of the center console 70 may be integrally connected to the left-right central portion of the instrument panel 80.

[0026] The center console 70 is equipped with a shift lever (select lever), operating switches, and a console box as molded components. The shift lever is operated by the driver to change the transmission while the vehicle 2 is moving forward or to move the vehicle 2 in reverse. The operating switches include a number of switches such as push buttons and dial knobs. Examples of the operating switches include a parking button to switch the parking brake (handbrake) on and off, a power button to switch the engine of the vehicle 2 on and off, a lighting button to switch the lighting device 3 on and off, a car audio operating switch to operate the car audio system, and a car navigation system operating switch to operate the car navigation system. The console box is a storage box with a lid and has a box body and an armrest. The center console 70 may also be equipped with other molded components such as a cup holder, a cigarette lighter socket, a power socket, and a box-shaped recess with an open top.

[0027] Lighting device 3 is an interior lighting device (interior lighting) installed inside the vehicle compartment 2a. In this embodiment, multiple lighting devices 3 are installed inside the vehicle compartment 2a. The light emitted from each lighting device 3 illuminates the space inside the vehicle compartment 2a. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the light emitted from each lighting device 3 does not illuminate the entire space inside the vehicle compartment 2a, but rather illuminates a part of the space inside the vehicle compartment 2a. Therefore, in this embodiment, the entire space inside the vehicle compartment 2a is illuminated by multiple lighting devices 3.

[0028] In Figures 1 and 2, the black squares indicate the positions of each lighting device 3. The areas indicated by dotted hatching represent the areas within the vehicle compartment 2a that are illuminated by the light from each lighting device 3. The areas illuminated by the light from each lighting device 3 do not overlap, but may partially overlap.

[0029] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the multiple lighting devices 3 include ceiling side lights 3a, pillar lights 3b, and center console lights 3c. In this embodiment, the multiple lighting devices 3 further include seat back lights 3d and sunroof lights 3e. The ceiling side lights 3a, pillar lights 3b, center console lights 3c, seat back lights 3d, and sunroof lights 3e are installed in different locations within the vehicle interior 2a.

[0030] The ceiling side light 3a is an example of a ceiling light installed in the ceiling 10 of the passenger compartment 2a. Specifically, the ceiling side light 3a is installed at the widthwise end of the ceiling 10 above the door 50. In this embodiment, multiple ceiling side lights 3a are installed in the ceiling 10. Specifically, the ceiling side lights 3a are installed in the ceiling 10 above each of the pair of front doors 51 and above each of the pair of rear doors 52. Therefore, as shown in Figure 1, the automobile 2 has four ceiling side lights 3a installed.

[0031] The ceiling side light 3a directs illumination light toward the door trim 40. Therefore, the light emitted from the ceiling side light 3a illuminates the door trim 40. In this embodiment, the ceiling side light 3a is a spotlight that illuminates illumination light to a specific narrow area. Therefore, the ceiling side light 3a directs illumination light in a spot manner toward the door trim 40. The beam angle of the illumination light emitted from the ceiling side light 3a is smaller than the beam angle of the illumination light emitted from the pillar light 3b.

[0032] The ceiling side light 3a illuminates the functional parts of the door trim 40 so that shadows are cast on the uneven surfaces of the door trim 40. In this embodiment, the ceiling side light 3a illuminates the functional parts of the door trim 40 as well as other parts. For example, the door trim 40 is provided with functional parts such as an armrest, an operating switch, a cup holder, and a door handle, and the ceiling side light 3a illuminates at least one of the armrest, operating switch, cup holder, and door handle. In this embodiment, the ceiling side light 3a illuminates multiple functional parts of the door trim 40 together. Specifically, the ceiling side light 3a illuminates each of the armrest, operating switch, cup holder, and door handle. The ceiling side light 3a may also illuminate each of the multiple functional parts of the door trim 40 in a spotlight.

[0033] In this way, the door trim 40 is illuminated by the light from the ceiling side light 3a, making the door trim 40 brightly lit. Furthermore, the light from the ceiling side light 3a illuminates the uneven surfaces of the door trim 40. This creates shadows on these uneven surfaces, resulting in a richer, more uplifting atmosphere, thus enhancing the quality of the interior space of the vehicle 2a. Additionally, the illumination of functional areas on the door trim 40 allows occupants to easily locate these areas.

[0034] The pillar light 3b is installed on the pillar trim 30 in the passenger compartment 2a. Specifically, the pillar light 3b is installed on the B pillar 32. In this case, the pillar light 3b is preferably installed around the ceiling 10 on the B pillar 32. That is, the pillar light 3b is preferably installed in the upper part of the B pillar 32. Note that the pillar light 3b is installed on each of the opposing pair of B pillars 32. Therefore, as shown in Figure 1, the automobile 2 has two pillar lights 3b installed.

[0035] In this embodiment, the pillar light 3b is an uplight that emits illumination light toward the ceiling 10 inside the passenger compartment 2a, and is installed with its light-emitting surface facing the ceiling 10. Therefore, the pillar light 3b emits illumination light that illuminates the ceiling 10 inside the passenger compartment 2a. In other words, direct light from the pillar light 3b is emitted onto the ceiling 10. For this reason, the passenger compartment 2a is not illuminated by direct light from the pillar light 3b, but by indirect light obtained by the light emitted from the pillar light 3b and reflected by the ceiling 10. As an example, the pillar light 3b is installed so that its light-emitting surface faces the curved surface at the widthwise end of the ceiling 10, and it emits illumination light toward the curved surface of the ceiling 10. Therefore, the illumination light from the pillar light 3b is reflected by the curved surface of the ceiling 10 and emitted into the passenger compartment 2a as indirect light.

[0036] In this way, by using the pillar lights 3b to reflect the lighting light off the ceiling 10 and project it into the vehicle compartment 2a, the space inside the vehicle compartment 2a can be given a high-quality feel. Furthermore, a bright and open lighting space can be obtained.

[0037] The center console light 3c is installed on the center console 70 inside the passenger compartment 2a. Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, the center console light 3c is installed in the console box 71 provided on the center console 70.

[0038] The center console light 3c projects illumination light toward the center console 70. In other words, the center console light 3c projects illumination light that illuminates the center console 70. Specifically, the center console light 3c projects light toward the side. For example, the center console light 3c projects light toward the front of the vehicle. As a result, a part of the center console 70 is illuminated by the illumination light projected from the center console light 3c. In this case, the illumination light from the center console light 3c illuminates the control switches provided on the center console 70. For example, the illumination light from the center console light 3c illuminates the side brake control unit (parking button), the car audio control switch, and the car navigation system control switch. The illumination light from the center console light 3c may illuminate not only the control switches but also other structures provided on the center console 70, such as the shift lever and cup holder. Furthermore, the illumination light from the center console light 3c may illuminate not only the center console 70 but also the lower part of the instrument panel 80.

[0039] In this way, the center console light 3c illuminates the center console 70, casting shadows on the contoured shift lever and control switches, thus emphasizing the sense of shadow on the center console 70. This makes the contours of the center console 70 stand out with the illumination, creating a rich sense of excitement through the shadows cast by the center console 70.

[0040] The seat backlight 3d is installed on the back of the front seat 61 of the automobile 2 (vehicle). Specifically, the seat backlight 3d is installed on the back of the backrest portion of the front seat 61 (the side facing the rear seat 62). In this embodiment, the seat backlight 3d is installed on both the driver's seat 61a and the passenger seat 61b. Therefore, the automobile 2 has two seat backlights 3d installed.

[0041] Each seat backlight 3d irradiates illumination light toward the back surface of the front seat 61. That is, the illumination light irradiated from the seat backlight 3d illuminates the back surface of the front seat 61. Note that the seat backlight 3d may irradiate illumination light toward the rear seat 62. In this case, when a passenger is seated on the rear seat 62, the seat backlight 3d irradiates illumination light toward the passenger seated on the rear seat 62.

[0042] Also, the seat backlight 3d is spot illumination that irradiates spot light, but it may be linear illumination that is long and narrow. When the seat backlight 3d is linear illumination, the seat backlight 3d extends in the width direction of the front seat 61.

[0043] The sunroof light 3e is an example of a ceiling light installed on the ceiling 10 of the automobile 2 (vehicle). The sunroof light 3e is installed in the vicinity of a sunroof (not shown) provided on the ceiling of the automobile 2. In the present embodiment, the sunroof lights 3e are installed on each side of the sunroof in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, two sunroof lights 3e are installed in the automobile 2.

[0044] Also, in the present embodiment, the sunroof light 3e is linear illumination that is long and narrow. Specifically, each of the two sunroof lights 3e extends in the vehicle front-rear direction on the side of the sunroof.

[0045] The sunroof light 3e irradiates illumination light in the vehicle width direction. The illumination light irradiated from the sunroof light 3e may travel toward the floor 20. The illumination light irradiated from the sunroof light 3e may illuminate the ceiling 10. In the present embodiment, since the sunroof light 3e is linear illumination that is long and narrow, the illumination light irradiated from the sunroof light 3e is long and narrow. Note that the sunroof light 3e does not have to be linear illumination.

[0046] Although not shown in the drawings, in the passenger compartment 2a, like in a general automobile, a front room light (front room lamp), a rear room light (rear room lamp), a foot light (foot lamp), and a door trim light are also installed.

[0047] The front room light and the rear room light are an example of ceiling lights installed on the ceiling 10 of the passenger compartment 2a. The front room light and the rear room light are installed at the center in the width direction of the ceiling 10. The rear room light is installed behind the front room light and above the rear seat 62. The foot light is installed below the instrument panel 80 and illuminates the feet of the passengers. The door trim light is installed on the door trim 40 and illuminates the periphery of the door trim 40.

[0048] The front room light, the rear room light, the foot light, and the door trim light mainly irradiate illumination light to brighten a part of the space in the passenger compartment 2a. Therefore, when any of the front room light, the rear room light, the foot light, and the door trim light is lit, the passengers of the automobile 2 can search for items dropped in the automobile 2 or perform tasks at hand.

[0049] On the other hand, the ceiling side light 3a, the pillar light 3b, the center console light 3c, the seat back light 3d, and the sunroof light 3e mainly irradiate illumination light to create an effect in the space in the passenger compartment 2a. That is, the ceiling side light 3a, the pillar light 3b, the center console light 3c, the seat back light 3d, and the sunroof light 3e perform illumination effects on the space around the installed locations. Regarding the ceiling side light 3a, the pillar light 3b, the center console light 3c, the seat back light 3d, and the sunroof light 3e, they may also be lit for tasks at hand such as searching for items dropped in the automobile 2 or operating a smartphone.

[0050] The light illumination ranges of the ceiling side lights 3a, pillar lights 3b, center console lights 3c, seat back lights 3d, and sunroof lights 3e can be controlled by a smartphone held by the occupant or by an operation switch located within the occupant's reach in the vehicle 2.

[0051] Each of the multiple lighting devices 3 is a lighting fixture having a light source (not shown) and emits illumination light. The light source used in each lighting device 3 is, for example, an LED light source composed of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Therefore, each lighting device 3 is an LED lighting device. The LED light source has, for example, a mounting substrate such as a PCB substrate and one or more LED elements mounted on the mounting substrate. Each lighting device 3 has a housing that houses the LED light source, and the light emitted from the LED light source passes through an opening in the housing and illuminates a predetermined illumination area.

[0052] The illumination light emitted from each lighting device 3 is white light. In other words, the illumination light emitted from the LED light source of each lighting device 3 is white light. In this embodiment, the color of the illumination light emitted from each lighting device 3 is, for example, incandescent, but is not limited to this. The illumination light emitted from each lighting device 3 may have a predetermined color temperature within the range of 2500K to 7000K. The color temperatures of the illumination light emitted from multiple lighting devices 3 may all be the same, or they may all be different. Furthermore, some of the multiple lighting devices 3 may emit illumination light of the same color temperature, while others emit illumination light of different color temperatures. For example, the color of the illumination light emitted by the ceiling side lights 3a, pillar lights 3b, center console lights 3c, and seat back lights 3d may be incandescent (for example, with a color temperature of 2500K to 3200K), and the color of the illumination light emitted by the sunroof light 3e may be daylight (for example, with a color temperature of 5700K to 7000K). Furthermore, the color of the illumination light emitted from each lighting device 3 is not limited to white, but may also be a color such as red, green, or blue.

[0053] Each lighting device 3 includes a light-emitting section having a light-emitting surface on its outer surface. The light-emitting section is a light-transmitting cover through which light emitted from the light source passes, an opening such as a slit through which light emitted from the light source exits, or the light source itself.

[0054] In this embodiment, the center console light 3c, seat back light 3d, and sunroof light 3e each have a translucent cover as an outer casing member. In this case, the translucent cover becomes the light-emitting part, and the outer surface of the translucent cover becomes the light-emitting surface. The translucent covers of the center console light 3c, seat back light 3d, and sunroof light 3e are all exposed inside the vehicle compartment 2a.

[0055] However, the center console light 3c is designed so that the light-emitting cover (light-emitting part) cannot be directly seen by an occupant seated in the seat 60 inside the passenger compartment 2a. In other words, the center console light 3c is a glare-free light configured so that the light-emitting part is not visible to the occupant.

[0056] Furthermore, with respect to the seat backlight 3d and sunroof light 3e, occupants seated in the seat 60 in the passenger compartment 2a can see the translucent cover (light emitting part), which is the outer casing member.

[0057] On the other hand, the ceiling side lights 3a and pillar lights 3b do not have a light-transmitting cover, and the structure is such that the light-emitting part is located in a recessed position within a cylindrical housing (e.g., a cone), and the light-emitting part (opening or light source) has an opening formed therein. As a result, the light-emitting part (opening or light source) of the ceiling side lights 3a and pillar lights 3b cannot be directly seen by occupants seated in the seats 60 in the passenger compartment 2a. Therefore, the ceiling side lights 3a and pillar lights 3b are glareless lights configured so that the light-emitting part is not visible to occupants. Specifically, the ceiling side light 3a is a glareless downlight, and the pillar light 3b is a glareless uplight.

[0058] Thus, with respect to the ceiling side lights 3a, pillar lights 3b, and center console light 3c, the illumination light does not directly enter the occupants' eyes, thus providing a comfortable lighting environment within the passenger compartment 2a. Furthermore, because the light does not directly enter the driver's eyes, the driver can operate the vehicle 2 safely.

[0059] Next, the control of the illumination light emitted from the lighting device 3 will be described. The lighting device 3 is controlled by the control unit 4. The control unit 4 controls the dimming of at least one lighting device 3 at a predetermined timing set in advance. This makes it possible to change the lighting atmosphere inside the vehicle compartment 2a. In this embodiment, the control unit 4 changes the lighting atmosphere inside the vehicle compartment 2a by controlling the dimming of each of the multiple lighting devices 3 at a predetermined timing set in advance.

[0060] The control unit 4 includes, for example, a dimming circuit that controls the dimming of multiple lighting devices 3. As an example, the control unit 4 controls the dimming of multiple lighting devices 3 using a PWM dimming method. Therefore, the LED light source of each lighting device 3 is controlled by a PWM dimming signal.

[0061] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the control unit 4 is provided in the automobile 2. The control unit 4 may be provided in any one of the multiple lighting devices 3, or in each of the multiple lighting devices 3.

[0062] Furthermore, the control unit 4 controls the dimming of each of the multiple lighting devices 3 according to a preset lighting control pattern. In other words, by controlling the dimming of the multiple lighting devices 3, a pre-set lighting effect is performed. In this case, the illumination light emitted from each of the multiple lighting devices 3 is controlled in conjunction. That is, the illumination light emitted from each of the multiple lighting devices 3 is controlled by the control unit 4 to be synchronized.

[0063] The following describes the mode of dimming control for the multiple lighting devices 3 installed in the passenger compartment 2a of the automobile 2. In the following, 100% brightness of the lighting light refers to the case where the brightness of the lighting light emitted from the lighting device 3 is at its maximum (dimming rate 100%), and 0% brightness of the lighting light refers to the case where the lighting device 3 is turned off. The brightness of the lighting light refers to the light output of the lighting device 3, and can be expressed, for example, as luminous flux (lumens: lm) or luminance (candela: cd).

[0064] In the vehicle interior lighting system 1, the control unit 4 controls the dimming of at least one lighting device 3 based on the brightness outside the vehicle when the automobile 2 (vehicle) is in motion (i.e., while driving). In this embodiment, the control unit 4 controls the dimming of multiple lighting devices 3 installed at different locations inside the vehicle interior 2a based on the brightness outside the vehicle when the automobile 2 is in motion.

[0065] In this embodiment, the multiple lighting devices 3 controlled by the control unit 4 include a ceiling side light 3a which is both a downlight and a spotlight, a pillar light 3b which is an uplight, and a center console light 3c.

[0066] These multiple lighting devices 3 illuminate at brightness levels corresponding to nighttime and daytime while the automobile 2 is in motion (driving). The control unit 4 can determine whether it is nighttime or daytime based on the illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor mounted on the automobile 2. For example, the control unit 4 determines that it is daytime if the brightness outside the vehicle is higher than a predetermined illuminance, and determines that it is nighttime if the brightness outside the vehicle is lower than a predetermined illuminance.

[0067] Furthermore, even during the daytime, the multiple lighting devices 3 will illuminate at a brightness level appropriate to the ambient light conditions outside the vehicle.

[0068] Specifically, the multiple lighting devices 3 are dimmed according to scenes with different ambient light levels outside the vehicle while it is in motion, as shown in Table 1 below. As shown in Table 1, there are, for example, five scenes with different ambient light levels outside the vehicle while it is in motion.

[0069]

[0070] The first scene depicts a situation where the outside brightness of the car is equivalent to nighttime. On the other hand, scenes 2 through 5 depict situations where the outside brightness of the car is equivalent to daytime.

[0071] The second scene is one where the brightness outside the car is the same as the brightness of daytime in the first scene. The second scene is, for example, a sunny day.

[0072] The third scene is one in which the brightness outside the car is dimmer than the first daytime brightness but brighter than the nighttime brightness, which is the second daytime brightness. The third scene is, for example, on an overcast day or at dusk.

[0073] The fourth scene is when sunlight enters the passenger compartment 2a through the side window of the automobile 2 (vehicle). The fourth scene is, for example, when sunlight shines in through the left or right side window.

[0074] The fifth scene is one in which there are large fluctuations in the brightness outside the car. The fifth scene is, for example, when passing through multiple tunnels intermittently or passing between buildings.

[0075] The control unit 4 then controls the dimming of the multiple lighting devices 3 so that the brightness of the lighting is dimmer during the first scene (nighttime) than the brightness of the lighting during the second scene (sunny day) and the third scene (cloudy day).

[0076] Specifically, in the first scene, the brightness of the ceiling side light 3a is controlled to 20%, the brightness of the pillar light 3b is controlled to 50%, and the brightness of the center console light 3c is controlled to 20%. Thus, in the first scene, the brightness of the pillar light 3b, which is an uplight, should be brighter than the brightness of the ceiling side light 3a and the center console light 3c.

[0077] During the first scene (nighttime), controlling the dimming of multiple lighting devices 3 in this manner allows the driver to concentrate on driving. Furthermore, even in dimly lit conditions inside the vehicle 2a, the faces of passengers are visible, providing a sense of security to the occupants.

[0078] Furthermore, the control unit 4 controls the dimming of multiple lighting devices 3 so that the brightness of the lighting light in the second scene (sunny day) is brighter than the brightness of the lighting light in the first scene (nighttime).

[0079] Specifically, in the second scene, the ceiling side light 3a is dimmed to 100% brightness, the pillar light 3b is dimmed to 100% brightness, and the center console light 3c is dimmed to 100% brightness. In other words, in the second scene, the ceiling side light 3a, pillar light 3b, and center console light 3c should all be set to their maximum brightness.

[0080] In the second scenario (sunny weather), controlling the dimming of multiple lighting devices 3 in this manner makes the interior of the vehicle compartment 2a as bright as possible, giving the occupants a sense of openness. Furthermore, by making the interior of the vehicle compartment 2a as bright as possible, the difference in brightness between the outside and the inside of the vehicle compartment 2a is reduced, giving the occupants a sense of continuity between the outside and the inside of the vehicle compartment 2a. In addition, it is possible to suppress the annoyance caused by changes in brightness while driving.

[0081] Furthermore, the control unit 4 controls the dimming of multiple lighting devices 3 so that, in the third scene (cloudy weather), the brightness of the lighting is brighter than the brightness of the lighting in the first scene (nighttime) and dimmer than the brightness of the lighting in the second scene (sunny weather).

[0082] Specifically, in the third scene, the ceiling side light 3a is dimmed to 75% of its normal brightness, the pillar light 3b is dimmed to 75% of its normal brightness, and the center console light 3c is dimmed to 75% of its normal brightness. In this way, in the third scene, the ceiling side light 3a, pillar light 3b, and center console light 3c should be set to the same brightness.

[0083] In the third scenario (overcast weather), by controlling the dimming of multiple lighting devices 3 in this manner, the interior of the vehicle compartment 2a and the exterior can be made equally bright, giving the occupants a sense of openness. Furthermore, it is possible to suppress the annoyance caused by changes in brightness while driving.

[0084] Furthermore, the control unit 4 controls the dimming of multiple lighting devices 3 so that, in the fourth scene (when sunlight shines in), the brightness of the lighting is brighter than the brightness of the lighting in the first scene (nighttime) and dimmer than the brightness of the lighting in the second scene (sunny day).

[0085] Specifically, in the fourth scene where sunlight enters from the left, the right ceiling side light 3a is dimmed to 75% brightness, and the left ceiling side light 3a is dimmed to 100% brightness. The right pillar light 3b is dimmed to 75% brightness, and the left pillar light 3b is dimmed to 100% brightness. The center console light 3c is dimmed to 75% brightness. Thus, in the fourth scene, the ceiling side lights 3a and pillar lights 3b located on the opposite side from where sunlight enters should be dimmed compared to the ceiling side lights 3a and pillar lights 3b located on the side where sunlight enters. Furthermore, the center console light 3c should be dimmed compared to the ceiling side lights 3a and pillar lights 3b located on the side where sunlight enters.

[0086] In the fourth scene (when sunlight shines in), by controlling the dimming of multiple lighting devices 3 in this manner, the entire interior of the passenger compartment 2a can be made as bright as the outside, giving the occupants a sense of openness. In addition, it is possible to suppress the annoyance caused by changes in brightness while driving.

[0087] Furthermore, when the fifth scene occurs (when the flashing of light is large), the control unit 4 controls the dimming of the multiple lighting devices 3 so that the brightness of the illumination light is brighter than the brightness of the illumination light in the first scene (nighttime) and dimmer than the brightness of the illumination light in the second scene (sunny day).

[0088] Specifically, in the fifth scene, the ceiling side light 3a is dimmed to 75% of its normal brightness, the pillar light 3b is dimmed to 75% of its normal brightness, and the center console light 3c is dimmed to 75% of its normal brightness. Thus, in the fifth scene, the ceiling side light 3a, pillar light 3b, and center console light 3c should all be set to the same brightness.

[0089] By controlling the dimming of multiple lighting devices 3 in this manner during the fifth scene (when the flashing of light is significant), the annoyance caused by changes in brightness while driving can be suppressed.

[0090] Table 1 describes the case where only the first lighting device (ceiling side lights 3a, pillar lights 3b, center console light 3c), which is a glareless light configured so that the light-emitting part is not visible to the occupants, is dimmed, but the system is not limited to this case.

[0091] Specifically, the multiple dimmable lighting devices 3 may include not only the first lighting devices (ceiling side lights 3a, pillar lights 3b, and center console lights 3c), which are glareless lights, but also second lighting devices configured so that the light emitters are visible to the occupants. In this embodiment, the second lighting devices configured so that the light emitters are visible to the occupants include seat back lights 3d and sunroof lights 3e, which are ceiling lights.

[0092] In this case, the multiple lighting devices 3 are dimmed according to the different scenes of ambient light outside the vehicle while it is in motion, as shown in Table 2 below. Specifically, the control unit 4 performs dimming control of the multiple lighting devices 3 according to the five scenes, as described above.

[0093]

[0094] Similarly, in the first scene (nighttime), the control unit 4 controls the dimming of the multiple lighting devices 3 so that the brightness of the lighting is dimmer than the brightness of the lighting in the second scene (sunny day) and the third scene (cloudy day).

[0095] Specifically, in the first scene, the brightness of the ceiling side light 3a is controlled to 20%, the brightness of the pillar light 3b is controlled to 50%, the brightness of the center console light 3c is controlled to 20%, the brightness of the seat back light 3d is controlled to 20%, and the brightness of the sunroof light 3e is controlled to 20%. Thus, in the first scene, the brightness of the pillar light 3b should be brighter than the brightness of the ceiling side light 3a, center console light 3c, seat back light 3d, and sunroof light 3e.

[0096] In the first scene (nighttime), by controlling the dimming of multiple lighting devices 3 in this manner, the driver can concentrate on driving. Furthermore, even in dimly lit cabin 2a, the faces of passengers are visible, providing a sense of security to the occupants. In addition, the seat backlight 3d and sunroof light 3e are added, making the cabin 2a even brighter. This further enhances the sense of security for the occupants.

[0097] Furthermore, in the second scene (sunny day), the control unit 4 controls the dimming of the multiple lighting devices 3 in the same manner as described above, so that the brightness of the lighting is brighter than the brightness of the lighting in the first scene (nighttime).

[0098] Specifically, in the second scene, the ceiling side light 3a is dimmed to 100% brightness, the pillar light 3b is dimmed to 100% brightness, the center console light 3c is dimmed to 100% brightness, the seat back light 3d is dimmed to 100% brightness, and the sunroof light 3e is dimmed to 100% brightness. In other words, in the second scene, the ceiling side light 3a, pillar light 3b, center console light 3c, seat back light 3d, and sunroof light 3e should all be set to their maximum brightness.

[0099] In the second scene (sunny weather), controlling the dimming of multiple lighting devices 3 in this manner makes the interior of the vehicle interior 2a as bright as possible, giving occupants a sense of openness. Also, by making the interior of the vehicle interior 2a as bright as possible, the difference in brightness between the outside and the inside of the vehicle interior 2a is reduced, giving occupants a sense of connection between the outside and the inside of the vehicle interior 2a. In particular, the addition of seat backlights 3d and sunroof lights 3e makes the interior of the vehicle interior 2a even brighter, further reducing the difference in brightness between the outside and the inside of the vehicle interior 2a. This improves the sense of connection between the outside and the inside of the vehicle interior 2a. Moreover, by installing the sunroof lights 3e near the sunroof, which serves as an intake for natural light, the sense of connection with the outside and the sense of openness can be further enhanced. Furthermore, controlling the dimming of multiple lighting devices 3 as described above in the second scene can also suppress the annoyance caused by changes in brightness while driving.

[0100] Furthermore, in the third scene (cloudy weather), the control unit 4 controls the dimming of the multiple lighting devices 3 in the same manner as described above, so that the brightness of the lighting is brighter than the brightness of the lighting in the first scene (nighttime) and dimmer than the brightness of the lighting in the second scene (sunny weather).

[0101] Specifically, in the third scene, the ceiling side light 3a is dimmed to 75% brightness, the pillar light 3b is dimmed to 75% brightness, the center console light 3c is dimmed to 75% brightness, the seat back light 3d is dimmed to 75% brightness, and the sunroof light 3e is dimmed to 75% brightness. Thus, in the third scene, the ceiling side light 3a, pillar light 3b, center console light 3c, seat back light 3d, and sunroof light 3e should be set to the same brightness.

[0102] In the third scenario (overcast weather), by controlling the dimming of multiple lighting devices 3 in this manner, the interior of the vehicle compartment 2a and the exterior can be made equally bright, giving the occupants a sense of openness. Furthermore, it is possible to suppress the annoyance caused by changes in brightness while driving.

[0103] Furthermore, in the fourth scene (when sunlight shines in), the control unit 4 controls the dimming of the multiple lighting devices 3 in the same manner as described above, so that the brightness of the lighting is brighter than the brightness of the lighting in the first scene (nighttime) and dimmer than the brightness of the lighting in the second scene (sunny day).

[0104] Specifically, in the fourth scene where sunlight shines in from the left, the right ceiling side light 3a is dimmed to 75% brightness, and the left ceiling side light 3a is dimmed to 100% brightness. The right pillar light 3b is dimmed to 75% brightness, and the left pillar light 3b is dimmed to 100% brightness. The center console light 3c and seat back light 3d are dimmed to 75% brightness. The right sunroof light 3e is dimmed to 75% brightness, and the left sunroof light 3e is dimmed to 100% brightness.

[0105] Thus, in the fourth scene, the brightness of the ceiling side lights 3a, pillar lights 3b, and sunroof lights 3e located on the side opposite to the side where sunlight enters should be dimmer than that of the ceiling side lights 3a and pillar lights 3b located on the side where sunlight enters. Furthermore, the brightness of the center console lights 3c and seat back lights 3d should be dimmer than that of the ceiling side lights 3a, pillar lights 3b, and sunroof lights 3e located on the side where sunlight enters.

[0106] In the fourth scene (when sunlight shines in), by controlling the dimming of multiple lighting devices 3 in this manner, the entire interior of the passenger compartment 2a can be made as bright as the outside, giving the occupants a sense of openness. In addition, it is possible to suppress the annoyance caused by changes in brightness while driving.

[0107] Furthermore, in the fifth scene (when the flashing of light is large), the control unit 4 controls the dimming of the multiple lighting devices 3 in the same manner as described above, so that the brightness of the illumination light is brighter than the brightness of the illumination light in the first scene (nighttime) and dimmer than the brightness of the illumination light in the second scene (sunny day).

[0108] Specifically, in the fifth scene, the ceiling side light 3a is dimmed to 75% brightness, the pillar light 3b is dimmed to 75% brightness, the center console light 3c is dimmed to 75% brightness, the seat back light 3d is dimmed to 75% brightness, and the sunroof light 3e is dimmed to 75% brightness. Thus, in the fifth scene, the ceiling side light 3a, pillar light 3b, center console light 3c, seat back light 3d, and sunroof light 3e should be set to the same brightness.

[0109] By controlling the dimming of multiple lighting devices 3 in this manner during the fifth scene (when the flashing of light is significant), the annoyance caused by changes in brightness while driving can be suppressed.

[0110] As described above, in the vehicle interior lighting system 1 according to this embodiment, when the automobile 2 (vehicle) is in motion, dimming control is performed on at least one lighting device 3 based on the brightness outside the vehicle. In this embodiment, dimming control is performed on multiple lighting devices 3 installed at different locations inside the vehicle interior 2a based on the brightness outside the vehicle when the automobile 2 is in motion. This makes it possible to create a pleasant atmosphere inside the vehicle interior 2a even during the daytime while driving.

[0111] Furthermore, the multiple dimmable lighting devices 3 include glareless lights configured so that the light emitters are not visible to the occupants. As a result, direct light from the glareless lighting devices 3 does not enter the driver's eyes, allowing the driver to safely operate the vehicle 2.

[0112] As described above, the vehicle interior lighting system 1 according to this embodiment makes it possible to create a pleasant atmosphere inside the vehicle interior 2a while driving, even during the daytime, while maintaining a safe driving environment. Moreover, by controlling the dimming of multiple lighting devices 3 based on the brightness outside the vehicle, the inconvenience caused by changes in brightness while driving can be reduced.

[0113] In this embodiment, the multiple lighting devices 3 controlled by the control unit 4 include, as a first lighting device which is a glareless light configured so that the light emitter is not visible to the occupants, a ceiling side light 3a which is both a downlight and a spotlight, a pillar light 3b which is an uplight, and a center console light 3c.

[0114] Although the interior of the passenger compartment 2a tends to be dark even during the day, by using pillar lights 3b, which are uplights, as the lighting device 3, the pillar lights 3b can illuminate the ceiling 10. This allows a wide area inside the passenger compartment 2a to be brightly lit, giving the occupants a sense of spaciousness.

[0115] (Modification) The vehicle interior lighting system 1 according to the present invention has been described above based on embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

[0116] For example, in the above embodiment, the case in which the multiple lighting devices 3 are dimmed while the automobile 2 is in motion was described, but the invention is not limited to this. In other words, the multiple lighting devices 3 may also be dimmed while the automobile 2 is stopped. Specifically, when the automobile 2 is stopped, the multiple lighting devices 3 can be dimmed as shown in Table 1 or Table 2 above.

[0117] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the seat backlight 3d and sunroof light 3e were configured so that the light-emitting part was visible to the occupant, but this is not limited to this configuration. In other words, the seat backlight 3d and sunroof light 3e may be glareless lights configured so that the light-emitting part is not visible to the occupant.

[0118] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the ceiling side lights 3a, pillar lights 3b, and center console lights 3c were glareless lights configured so that the light-emitting parts were not visible to the occupants, but this is not limited to this. In other words, the ceiling side lights 3a, pillar lights 3b, and center console lights 3c may be configured so that the light-emitting parts are visible to the occupants.

[0119] Furthermore, although dimming control was performed on multiple lighting devices 3 in the above embodiment, this is not limited to this. For example, dimming control may be performed on only one lighting device 3.

[0120] Furthermore, although only dimming control was performed for each lighting device 3 in the above embodiment, the invention is not limited to this. For example, both dimming control and color temperature control may be performed for each lighting device 3. This allows not only to change the brightness of the illumination light emitted from each lighting device 3, but also to change the color temperature of the illumination light. This improves the lighting effect inside the vehicle compartment 2a. In addition, although the illumination light emitted from the lighting device 3 in the above embodiment was white light, the invention is not limited to this.

[0121] Furthermore, although the light source of the lighting device 3 in the above embodiment was an LED light source, it is not limited to this. For example, the light source of the lighting device 3 may be an existing light source such as a fluorescent lamp, xenon lamp, or halogen lamp. However, by using an LED light source for the light source of the lighting device 3, power consumption can be reduced, and the lighting device 3 can be lit with a DC power supply.

[0122] Furthermore, although the above embodiment uses an automobile 2 as an example of a mobile body, it is not limited to this. Specifically, the mobile body may include vehicles other than automobiles, such as railway cars, as long as it has a passenger compartment.

[0123] Furthermore, the present invention also includes forms obtained by applying various modifications to the above embodiments and modifications as conceived by those skilled in the art, and forms realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of the above embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In addition, the present invention also includes arbitrary combinations of one or more components in each of the multiple claims described in the claims of this application. Furthermore, when the cited claims described in the claims of this application are made into a multi-claim or multi-multi-claim so as to cite any multiple claims (for example, when each claim is made into a multi-claim or multi-multi-claim so as to cite all of the higher-level claims), all forms obtained by combinations of all claims included in that multi-claim or multi-multi-claim are also included in the present invention.

[0124] 1. Interior lighting system 2a. Interior 3. Lighting device 3a. Ceiling side lights (spotlights, ceiling lights) 3b. Pillar lights (uplights) 3c. Center console light 3d. Seat back light 3e. Sunroof light (ceiling light) 4. Control unit 10. Ceiling 61. Front seat 70. Center console

Claims

1. An interior lighting system comprising: at least one lighting device installed inside the vehicle and emitting illumination light; and a control unit that controls the dimming of the at least one lighting device when the vehicle is in motion, wherein the at least one lighting device includes at least one first lighting device, each configured so that the light-emitting part is not visible to the occupants, and the control unit controls the dimming of the at least one lighting device based on the brightness outside the vehicle.

2. The vehicle interior lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the first scene is defined as the brightness outside the vehicle being the brightness of nighttime, the second scene is defined as the brightness outside the vehicle being the brightness of first daytime, and the third scene is defined as the brightness outside the vehicle being the brightness of second daytime, which is darker than the brightness of first daytime and brighter than the brightness of nighttime, the control unit controls the dimming of at least one lighting device so that the brightness of the illumination light is brighter than the brightness of the illumination light in the first scene when it is the second scene, and controls the dimming of at least one lighting device so that the brightness of the illumination light is brighter than the brightness of the illumination light in the first scene and darker than the brightness of the illumination light in the second scene.

3. The vehicle interior lighting system according to claim 2, wherein, if the fourth scene is defined as when sunlight enters the vehicle interior through the side windows of the vehicle, the control unit controls the dimming of at least one lighting device so that the brightness of the lighting light is brighter than the brightness of the lighting light in the first scene and dimmer than the brightness of the lighting light in the second scene.

4. The vehicle interior lighting system according to claim 2, wherein, when the change in the flickering brightness outside the vehicle is large, the control unit controls the dimming of at least one lighting device so that the brightness of the illumination light is brighter than the brightness of the illumination light in the first scene and dimmer than the brightness of the illumination light in the second scene.

5. The vehicle interior lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one lighting device is a plurality of lighting devices installed at different locations within the vehicle interior, and the control unit controls the dimming of the plurality of lighting devices based on the brightness outside the vehicle.

6. The vehicle interior lighting system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one first lighting device includes a center console light that projects illumination light toward the center console in the vehicle interior, a spotlight installed on the ceiling of the vehicle, and an uplight that projects illumination light toward the ceiling of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle interior lighting system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one lighting device includes at least one second lighting device, each configured such that its light-emitting portion is visible to the occupants.

8. The vehicle interior lighting system according to claim 7, wherein the at least one second lighting device includes a seat back light installed on the back of the front seats of the vehicle and a ceiling light installed on the ceiling of the vehicle.

9. The interior lighting system according to claim 8, wherein the ceiling light is a sunroof light installed near a sunroof provided on the ceiling of the vehicle.

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