Welcoming lamp system of vehicle and control method of welcoming lamp system

Abstract

The invention relates to a welcome lamp system of a vehicle and a control method thereof. The welcome lamp system of the vehicle comprises a welcome lamp, a control unit and a touch switch, wherein the welcome lamp is arranged on the vehicle and is provided with a driving circuit; the control unit is electrically connected to a driving circuit of the welcome lamp; the touch switch is arranged on a vehicle body and electrically connected to the control unit, and the touch switch is configured to generate an electric signal when being touched and output the generated electric signal to the control unit; the control unit is configured to control the light emitting mode of the welcome lamp according to the electric signal received from the touch switch.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle welcome light system and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a vehicle welcome light system and a control method thereof capable of controlling a lighting mode of a welcome light by a touch switch arranged on the welcome light. Background Art

[0002] The function of the vehicle's welcome lights is an additional function based on the vehicle's existing lamps. It is achieved by flashing, gradually changing light and dark, and lighting up in sequence. It is used to improve the vehicle's recognition and decorativeness, and enhance the user's sense of ceremony when entering the vehicle.

[0003] The vehicle's welcome light can be turned on automatically or manually. Specifically, when the vehicle senses that the vehicle key or a mobile device authenticated by the vehicle is approaching the vehicle, the vehicle's welcome light can be automatically triggered to turn on; or the user can manually turn the welcome light on or off using the button set on the vehicle key.

[0004] However, the automatic opening method has a low trigger rate due to technical problems, and the manual opening method has a low usage rate because users usually use keyless entry to enter the vehicle.

[0005] The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only intended to enhance understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the information constitutes the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. Summary of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle welcome light system and a control method thereof, which can solve the above-mentioned problems existing in the prior art.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, on the one hand, the present invention provides a vehicle welcome light system, which may include: a welcome light, a control unit and a touch switch, wherein the welcome light may be arranged on the vehicle and have a driving circuit; the control unit may be electrically connected to the driving circuit of the welcome light; the touch switch may be arranged on the vehicle body and electrically connected to the control unit, wherein the touch switch is configured to generate an electrical signal when touched and output the generated electrical signal to the control unit; wherein the control unit is configured to control the light emission mode of the welcome light according to the electrical signal received from the touch switch.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the control unit may include: a first control unit, a second control unit and a third control unit, the first control unit may be configured to: receive an electrical signal output by a touch switch, generate a touch signal according to the received electrical signal, and output the touch signal; the second control unit may be configured to: receive the touch signal output by the first control unit, generate a first control signal and a second control signal according to the received touch signal, and output the first control signal and the second control signal; the third control unit may be configured to: receive the first control signal output by the second control unit, generate a power supply signal for a welcome lamp according to the received first control signal, and output the power supply signal to the drive circuit of the welcome lamp; wherein the first control unit may be configured to: receive the second control signal output by the second control unit, generate a drive signal for a welcome lamp according to the received second control signal, and output the drive signal to the drive circuit of the welcome lamp.

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the second control unit can be configured to: after receiving the touch signal output by the first control unit, determine whether the touch signal is a signal for turning on the welcome light; when it is determined that the touch signal is a signal for turning on the welcome light, determine the light-emitting mode of the welcome light, and generate a first control signal and a second control signal according to the determined light-emitting mode to control the welcome light to emit light according to the determined light-emitting mode.

[0010] The welcome lamp system for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may further include: a vehicle antenna provided at the vehicle to receive and transmit an electrical signal; and a vehicle key.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the second control unit can be configured to: after receiving the touch signal output by the first control unit, communicate with the vehicle key via the vehicle antenna to verify the vehicle key; when the vehicle key passes the verification, determine whether the touch signal is a signal for turning on the welcome light; when the vehicle key fails to pass the verification, do not process the touch signal received from the first control unit.

[0012] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the second control unit may be further configured to control unlocking and locking of the vehicle door according to an electrical signal received from the touch switch.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the second control unit can be configured to: when it is determined that the touch signal is not a signal for turning on the welcome light, determine whether the touch signal is a signal for controlling the unlocking or locking of the vehicle door; when it is determined that the touch signal is a signal for controlling the unlocking or locking of the vehicle door, send a signal for controlling the unlocking or locking of the vehicle door to a mechanism for controlling the unlocking and locking of the vehicle door.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the touch switch may include: a printed circuit board, a capacitor plate and a touch panel, wherein the printed circuit board may be electrically connected to the first control unit; the capacitor plate may be arranged on the printed circuit board and electrically connected to the printed circuit board; the touch panel may be arranged above the capacitor plate and used to directly form contact with a part of the human body.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the upper and lower surfaces of the capacitor plate may be coated with a conductive coating. The capacitor plate may include: a protrusion and a base portion, wherein the protrusion may be located at the center of the capacitor plate, and the protrusion protrudes upward so that the conductive coating coated on the capacitor plate is adjacent to the lower surface of the touch panel; and the base portion may be located at the periphery of the protrusion.

[0016] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the touch switch may further include a conductor connected between the capacitor plate and the printed circuit board, and the conductor may include a flexible conductive material to make the capacitor plate and the printed circuit board in close contact.

[0017] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the welcome lamp may be a low beam lamp and a position lamp provided at the front of the vehicle, or may be a position lamp provided at the rear of the vehicle.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the touch switch may be integrated into a vehicle's welcome lamp, and the touch panel of the touch switch may be an outer cover of the welcome lamp, and the capacitor plate of the touch switch may be a decorative lining frame of the welcome lamp.

[0019] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the touch switch may further include a side liner covering a base portion of the decorative liner and having an opening through which a protrusion of the decorative liner passes so that the protrusion of the decorative liner is visible through an outer cover of the welcome lamp.

[0020] On the other hand, the present invention provides a control method for a vehicle's welcome light system, which may include: a touch switch arranged on the vehicle body generates an electrical signal when touched, and outputs the generated electrical signal to a control unit through the touch switch; and through the control unit, controls the lighting mode of the welcome light according to the electrical signal received from the touch switch.

[0021] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the control unit converts the electrical signal received from the touch switch into a touch signal; the control unit communicates with the vehicle key via the vehicle antenna to verify the vehicle key. When the vehicle key passes the verification, the control unit determines whether the touch signal is a signal for turning on the welcome light; when the vehicle key fails to pass the verification, the control unit does not process the touch signal.

[0022] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when it is determined that the touch signal is a signal for turning on the welcome light, the lighting mode of the welcome light is determined by the control unit; the control unit generates a power supply signal and a drive signal for the welcome light according to the determined lighting mode, and the generated power supply signal and drive signal are output to the drive circuit of the welcome light through the control unit, so that the welcome light emits light according to the determined lighting mode.

[0023] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when it is determined that the touch signal is not a signal for turning on the welcome light, the control unit determines whether the touch signal is a signal for controlling the unlocking or locking of the vehicle door. When it is determined that the touch signal is a signal for controlling the unlocking or locking of the vehicle door, the control unit sends a signal for controlling the unlocking or locking of the vehicle door to a mechanism for controlling the unlocking and locking of the vehicle door, so as to control the unlocking or locking of the vehicle door.

[0024] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0025] 1) The existing components of the vehicle can be fully utilized, and the welcome light of the vehicle can be controlled by adding only one touch switch.

[0026] 2) It can increase the usage scenarios of the vehicle's welcome light and improve the marketability of the vehicle. For example, when checking the vehicle before driving, the vehicle's welcome light can be conveniently activated by a touch switch set at the position of the light.

[0027] 3) It can increase the interaction between vehicle users and vehicles and improve the companion attributes of the vehicle.

[0028] 4) The touch switch located at the headlight position can be used to unlock and lock the door to enhance differentiation from competing vehicles. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a welcome light system for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing a touch switch of a welcome light system of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 3 To show Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a touch switch installed in a vehicle;

[0032] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a welcome light system of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] It should be understood that the drawings are not drawn to scale, but show various features that illustrate the basic principles of the invention in a slightly simplified manner. In the drawings of the present invention, the same reference numerals represent the same or equivalent parts of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Reference will be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings and are described below. Although the present invention will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that this specification is not intended to limit the present invention to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the present invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments included within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

[0035] Hereinafter, various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0036] Figure 1 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a welcome light system of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] like Figure 1 As shown, a welcome lamp system for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a welcome lamp 10 , a control unit 20 , and a touch switch 30 .

[0038] The welcome light 10 may be a single lamp or a combination of lamps provided in accordance with regulatory requirements. Preferably, the welcome light 10 may be a combination of a low beam lamp and a position lamp provided at the front of the vehicle, or a position lamp provided at the rear of the vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the welcome light 10 may also be a special welcome light provided at the bottom of the vehicle or at the door side for decorative purposes.

[0039] The welcome lamp 10 may include: a light source 11 and a driving circuit 12 . The light source 11 may be a light-emitting LED. The driving circuit 12 may be configured to receive an electrical signal from a control unit 20 to control a light-emitting mode of the light source 11 .

[0040] The control unit 20 may be configured to be electrically connected to the driving circuit 12 of the welcome lamp 10 to control the lighting mode of the welcome lamp. Specifically, the control unit 20 may include a lamp control unit provided in the lamp and a superior control unit provided in the vehicle for controlling various vehicle functions.

[0041] The touch switch 30 is a touch-sensitive switch provided on the vehicle body for controlling the welcome lamp 10. The touch switch 30 may be electrically connected to the control unit 20, and configured to generate an electrical signal when touched, and output the generated electrical signal to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 may be configured to control the light emission mode of the welcome lamp 10 according to the electrical signal received from the touch switch 30.

[0042] In an exemplary embodiment, the control unit 20 may include a first control unit 21 , a second control unit 22 , and a third control unit 23 .

[0043] In an exemplary embodiment, the first control unit 21 may be a micro control unit (MCU) provided in the vehicle lamp for controlling the vehicle lamp. The first control unit 21 may be electrically connected to the touch switch 30 to receive an electrical signal output by the touch switch 30. The first control unit 21 may be configured to generate a touch signal according to the received electrical signal, and output the generated touch signal to the second control unit 22.

[0044] Specifically, the first control unit 21 may amplify the received electrical signal and identify the amplified electrical signal to determine the number of times the touch switch is continuously touched and the duration of the touch. After determining the number of touches and the duration of the touch, the first control unit 21 may convert the processed electrical signal into a touch signal including information on the number of times the touch switch is continuously touched and the duration of the touch, and output the touch signal to the second control unit 22 for output.

[0045] The second control unit 22 and the third control unit 23 may be upper control units provided in the vehicle for controlling various vehicle functions. In an exemplary embodiment, the second control unit 22 may be an integrated body control unit (IBU) of the vehicle. The second control unit 22 may be configured to receive a touch signal output by the first control unit 21 and determine whether the touch signal is a signal for turning on the welcome lamp 10.

[0046] Specifically, the second control unit 22 may pre-store a signal for turning on the welcome light 10. After receiving the touch signal output by the first control unit 21, the second control unit 22 may compare the received touch signal with the pre-stored signal for turning on the welcome light 10 to determine whether the received touch signal is a signal for turning on the welcome light 10. When it is determined that the received touch signal is a signal for turning on the welcome light 10, the second control unit 22 may further determine the light emission mode of the welcome light 10 corresponding to the received touch signal.

[0047] Next, the second control unit 22 can generate a first control signal and a second control signal corresponding to the determined lighting mode of the welcome lamp 10 according to the received touch signal, and output the first control signal to the third control unit 23 and the second control signal to the first control unit 21 .

[0048] The third control unit 23 may be an integrated central control unit (ICU) for controlling the power supply of the vehicle. The third control unit 23 may be configured to receive the first control signal output by the second control unit 22, generate a power supply signal for the welcome lamp 10 according to the received first control signal, and output the power supply signal to the drive circuit 12 of the welcome lamp 10 to supply power to the welcome lamp 10.

[0049] At the same time, the first control unit 21 can be configured to receive a second control signal output by the second control unit 22, generate a driving signal for the welcome light 10 according to the received second control signal, and output the driving signal to the driving circuit 12 of the welcome light 10 to control the welcome light 10 to emit light according to the determined light-emitting mode.

[0050] The welcome light system of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may further include a vehicle antenna 40 and a vehicle key 50. The vehicle antenna 40 may be provided on the vehicle, and in an exemplary embodiment, is located at the door handle. The vehicle key 50 may be a smart key carried by a vehicle user and used to control the unlocking and locking of the vehicle door. The vehicle antenna 40 may be electrically connected to the second control unit 22, and communicate with the vehicle key 50 by sending a low frequency signal. The vehicle key 50 and the second control unit 22 may communicate by sending a radio frequency signal.

[0051] Furthermore, the second control unit 22 can be configured to communicate with the vehicle key 50 via the vehicle antenna 40 after receiving the touch signal output by the first control unit 21 to verify the vehicle key 50, thereby determining whether a vehicle user carrying a vehicle key 50 matching the vehicle is located near the vehicle.

[0052] Specifically, the second control unit 22 may output a verification request signal requesting verification of the vehicle key 50 to the vehicle antenna 40. The vehicle antenna 40 may transmit the received verification request signal requesting verification of the vehicle key 50 to the vehicle key 50 via a low frequency signal. In response to receiving the verification request signal, the vehicle key 50 may directly transmit verification information to the second control unit 22 via a radio frequency signal. The second control unit 22 may verify the vehicle key 50 based on the received verification information.

[0053] The second control unit 22 may determine whether authentication information of the vehicle key 50 is received within a predetermined time after transmitting an authentication request signal requesting authentication of the vehicle key 50 .

[0054] If the second control unit 22 receives the authentication information of the vehicle key 50 within a predetermined time after sending the authentication request signal requesting authentication of the vehicle key 50, the second control unit 22 can authenticate the vehicle key 50. The method of the control unit authenticating the vehicle key is a prior art in the art, and a detailed description is omitted here.

[0055] If the vehicle key 50 passes the verification, the second control unit 22 can determine that the vehicle key 50 matches the vehicle, and further process the touch signal received from the first control unit 21 (for example, determine whether the received touch signal is a signal for turning on the welcome light). If the vehicle key 50 fails to pass the verification, the second control unit 22 can determine that the vehicle key 50 does not match the vehicle, and do not further process the touch signal received from the first control unit 21.

[0056] On the other hand, if the authentication information of the vehicle key 50 is not received within a predetermined time after the authentication request signal requesting authentication of the vehicle key 50 is transmitted, the second control unit 22 does not further process the touch signal received from the first control unit 21 .

[0057] In other words, whenever the touch signal output by the first control unit 21 is received, the second control unit 22 first verifies the vehicle key 50 to determine whether the vehicle user carrying the vehicle key 50 matching the vehicle is near the vehicle. Only when it is determined that the vehicle user carrying the vehicle key 50 matching the vehicle is near the vehicle, the second control unit 22 further processes the touch signal received from the first control unit 21, thereby preventing the touch switch 30 disposed outside the vehicle from being arbitrarily operated and consuming too much power.

[0058] In another exemplary embodiment, the second control unit 22 may be further configured to control unlocking and locking of the vehicle door according to the electrical signal received from the touch switch 30 .

[0059] Specifically, the second control unit 22 may be configured to determine whether the touch signal is a signal for controlling the unlocking or locking of the vehicle door when it is determined that the touch signal is not a signal for turning on the welcome light 10. The second control unit 22 may pre-store a signal for controlling the unlocking or locking of the vehicle door. After determining that the touch signal is not a signal for turning on the welcome light 10, the second control unit 22 may compare the received touch signal with the pre-stored signal for controlling the unlocking or locking of the vehicle door to determine whether the received touch signal is a signal for controlling the unlocking or locking of the vehicle door. When it is determined that the received touch signal is a signal for controlling the unlocking or locking of the vehicle door, the second control unit 22 may be configured to send a signal for controlling the unlocking or locking of the vehicle door to the mechanism 60 for controlling the unlocking and locking of the vehicle door.

[0060] Figure 1 The arrows in the figure show the transmission of signals between the various components in the vehicle's welcome light system. Figure 1 As shown, when a human body part (e.g., a hand of a vehicle user) contacts the touch switch 30, the touch switch 30 first generates an electrical signal A, and outputs the electrical signal A to the first control unit 21. The first control unit 21 processes the received electrical signal to generate a touch signal B, and outputs the generated touch signal B to the second control unit 22.

[0061] Next, the second control unit 22 may determine whether a vehicle user carrying a vehicle key 50 matching the vehicle is located near the vehicle. Specifically, the second control unit 22 sends a verification request signal C to the vehicle key 50 via the vehicle antenna 40. In response to receiving the verification request signal C sent by the second control unit 22, the vehicle key 50 sends verification information D to the second control unit 22. The second control unit 22 completes the verification of the verification information D.

[0062] After the vehicle key 50 is verified, the second control unit 22 generates a first control signal E and a second control signal F according to the touch signal B received from the first control unit 21, and then outputs the generated first control signal E and second control signal F to the third control unit 23 and the first control unit 21, respectively.

[0063] Next, the third control unit 23 generates a power supply signal G according to the received first control signal E, and outputs the power supply signal G to the driving circuit 12 of the welcome lamp 10 to supply power to the welcome lamp 10. At the same time, the first control unit 21 generates a driving signal H according to the received second control signal F, and outputs the driving signal H to the driving circuit 12 of the welcome lamp 10 to control the welcome lamp 10 to emit light according to the determined light emission mode.

[0064] According to the power supply signal G received from the third control unit 23 and the drive signal H received from the first control unit 21 , the drive circuit 12 of the welcome lamp 10 controls the light source 11 of the welcome lamp 10 accordingly.

[0065] In addition, the second control unit 22 may transmit a signal I for controlling unlocking or locking of the vehicle doors to the mechanism 60 for controlling unlocking and locking of the vehicle doors to control unlocking or locking of the vehicle doors through the mechanism 60 for controlling unlocking and locking of the vehicle doors.

[0066] Figure 2 Schematic diagram showing a touch switch of a welcome light system of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0067] like Figure 2 As shown, the touch switch 30 may include: a printed circuit board 31 , a capacitor plate 32 and a touch panel 33 .

[0068] In an exemplary embodiment, the printed circuit board 31 may be configured to be electrically connected to the first control unit 21 of the control unit 20 to output the electrical signal generated by the touch switch 30 to the first control unit 21 .

[0069] The capacitor plate 32 may be disposed on the printed circuit board 31 and electrically connected to the printed circuit board 31. The capacitor plate 32 may be made of a thermoplastic polyester (e.g., polybutylece terephthalate (PBT)) material, and both upper and lower surfaces of the capacitor plate 32 may be coated with a conductive coating (e.g., aluminum plating) to form a capacitor between the capacitor plate 32 and the ground.

[0070] Furthermore, the capacitor plate 32 may include: a protruding portion 32 a and a base portion 32 b . The protruding portion 32 a may be located at the center of the capacitor plate 32 , and the base portion 32 b may be located at the periphery of the protruding portion 32 a .

[0071] The protrusion 32a can be formed to protrude upward so that the conductive coating coated on the upper surface of the capacitor plate 32 is adjacent to the lower surface of the touch panel 33. In this way, when a conductive human body part contacts the touch panel 33, the protrusion 32a of the capacitor plate 32 can sense the additional capacitance formed between the conductive human body part and the ground. When the conductive human body part contacts the touch panel 33, the electrical signal generated by the touch switch 30 changes compared to when no conductive human body part contacts the touch panel 33. The first control unit 21 electrically connected to the touch switch 30 can determine the change in the electrical signal output by the touch switch 30. The electrical signal generated by the touch switch 30 when contacting the touch panel 33 in different touch modes is different, and the second control unit 22 can determine the operation corresponding to the current touch contact mode according to the electrical signal generated by the touch switch 30.

[0072] The touch panel 33 can be disposed above the capacitor plate 32 and used to directly contact the human body. In order to allow the protrusion 32a of the capacitor plate 32 to sense the change in capacitance when the conductive human body part contacts the touch panel 33, the thickness of the touch panel 33 is preferably no more than 8 mm.

[0073] In addition, the touch switch 30 may further include a conductor 34, which may be connected between the capacitor plate 32 and the printed circuit board 31 to electrically connect the capacitor plate 32 and the printed circuit board 31. The conductor 34 may include a flexible conductive material (e.g., conductive rubber) so that the capacitor plate 32 and the printed circuit board 31 can be in close contact.

[0074] Figure 3 To show Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a touch switch 30 installed in a vehicle.

[0075] like Figure 3 As shown, the touch switch 30 can be installed in the vehicle lamp assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, the welcome lamp 10 is a combination of a low beam lamp and a position lamp arranged at the front of the vehicle, and the touch switch 30 can be arranged adjacent to the welcome lamp 10, as an example / in an example, integrated into the welcome lamp 10.

[0076] In this case, the touch panel 33 of the touch switch 30 may be an outer cover of the welcome lamp 10 , and the capacitor plate 32 of the touch switch 30 may be a decorative lining frame of the welcome lamp 10 .

[0077] Furthermore, if Figure 2 As shown, the touch switch 30 may further include a side lining frame 35. The side lining frame 35 may be a lining frame of a conventional vehicle lamp, and is used to protect the components inside the vehicle lamp and enhance the aesthetics of the vehicle lamp. The side lining frame 35 may cover the base portion 32b of the capacitor plate 32 as a decorative lining frame, and the side lining frame 35 has an opening so that the protrusion 32a of the decorative lining frame passes through the opening and is adjacent to the lower surface of the touch panel 33. The conductive coating applied on the decorative lining frame may make the surface of the decorative lining frame have a different reflective property from the side lining frame 35, so that the protrusion 32a of the decorative lining frame may be visible from the outside through the transparent outer cover of the welcome lamp 10. The user may directly see the position of the protrusion 32a of the decorative lining frame of the touch switch 30 through the outer cover of the welcome lamp, so that the user may operate the touch switch 30.

[0078] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a welcome light system of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0079] The welcome light of the vehicle may have a plurality of lighting modes, and in different lighting modes, the lighting duration, lighting pattern, etc. of the welcome light may be different. The lighting modes of the welcome light may be pre-stored in the control unit of the vehicle, so that the lighting mode corresponding to the way the touch switch is touched (e.g., the number of consecutive touches and the duration of touch) is determined in the pre-stored lighting modes of the welcome light.

[0080] In an exemplary embodiment, the welcome lamp of the vehicle may have three lighting modes. As an example, when the touch switch 30 is touched once, the welcome lamp 10 may emit light in the first lighting mode; when the touch switch 30 is touched twice in succession, the welcome lamp 10 may emit light in the second lighting mode; when the touch switch 30 is touched three times in succession, the welcome lamp 10 may emit light in the third lighting mode.

[0081] In addition, when the touch switch 30 is touched for a predetermined time (eg, 4 seconds) or longer, the vehicle door may be unlocked or locked.

[0082] The following will refer to Figure 4 A control method of a vehicle welcome light system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described in detail. Figure 1 The control unit 20 shown executes Figure 4 A control method for a welcome light system of a vehicle is shown.

[0083] like Figure 4 As shown, in step S101, when the hand of the vehicle user contacts the touch switch, an electrical signal may be generated by the touch switch disposed on the vehicle body, and the touch switch outputs the generated electrical signal to the first control unit of the control unit.

[0084] In step S102, the electrical signal received from the touch switch can be processed by the first control unit to determine the number of times the touch switch is continuously touched and the duration of the touch. Specifically, the received electrical signal can be converted by the first control unit into a touch signal including information on the number of times the touch switch is continuously touched and the duration of the touch, and the touch signal can be output to the second control unit of the control unit.

[0085] In response to receiving the touch signal from the first control unit, the second control unit may communicate with the vehicle key via the vehicle antenna to verify the vehicle key. Specifically, in step S103, the second control unit may send a verification request signal to the vehicle key via the vehicle antenna to request verification of the vehicle key.

[0086] In step S104 , it may be determined by the second control unit whether authentication information of the vehicle key is received within a predetermined time after the authentication request signal requesting authentication of the vehicle key is transmitted.

[0087] When the verification information of the vehicle key is received within a predetermined time after sending the verification request signal requesting verification of the vehicle key (step S104 is yes), in step S105, the received verification information can be verified by the second control unit to determine whether the vehicle key matches the vehicle.

[0088] On the other hand, when the authentication information of the vehicle key is not received within a predetermined time after the authentication request signal requesting authentication of the vehicle key is sent (No in step S104), the second control unit does not further process the touch signal received from the first control unit.

[0089] Next, when it is determined that the vehicle key matches the vehicle (step S105 is yes), in step S106, the second control unit may determine whether the touch signal received from the first control unit is a signal for turning on the welcome light. For example, when it is determined that the touch signal received from the first control unit indicates that the touch switch is touched once, twice, or three times, the second control unit may determine that the touch signal received from the first control unit is a signal for turning on the welcome light. Otherwise, the second control unit may determine that the touch signal received from the first control unit is not a signal for turning on the welcome light.

[0090] On the other hand, when it is determined that the vehicle key does not match the vehicle (No in step S105 ), the second control unit does not further process the touch signal received from the first control unit.

[0091] When it is determined that the touch signal received from the first control unit is a signal for turning on the welcome light (step S106 is yes), in step S107, the second control unit can determine the lighting mode of the welcome light corresponding to the received touch signal, and generate a first control signal and a second control signal based on the determined lighting mode of the welcome light, and output the first control signal and the second control signal to the third control unit and the first control unit of the control unit, respectively.

[0092] Next, in step S108, the third control unit may generate a power supply signal for the welcome lamp according to the received first control signal, and output the power supply signal to the driving circuit of the welcome lamp.

[0093] Meanwhile, in step S109 , the first control unit may generate a driving signal for the welcome lamp according to the received second control signal, and output the driving signal to the driving circuit of the welcome lamp.

[0094] Next, in step S110, the driving circuit of the welcome lamp may control the light source of the welcome lamp according to the received power supply signal and driving signal, so that the welcome lamp emits light according to the determined light emission mode.

[0095] On the other hand, when it is determined that the touch signal received from the first control unit is not a signal for turning on the welcome light (step S106 is no), in step S111, the second control unit can determine whether the touch signal received from the first control unit is a signal for controlling the unlocking or locking of the vehicle door.

[0096] When it is determined that the touch signal received from the first control unit is a signal for controlling the unlocking or locking of the vehicle door (step S111 is yes), in step S112, a signal for controlling the unlocking or locking of the vehicle door can be sent to the mechanism for controlling the unlocking and locking of the vehicle door through the second control unit to control the unlocking or locking of the vehicle door.

[0097] On the other hand, when it is determined that the touch signal received from the first control unit is not a signal for controlling unlocking or locking of the vehicle door (No in step S111 ), the second control unit does not further process the touch signal received from the first control unit.

[0098] The vehicle welcome light system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention can make full use of existing components of the vehicle and realize the control of the vehicle welcome light by adding only one touch switch.

[0099] The vehicle welcome light system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention can increase the use scenarios of the vehicle welcome light and improve the marketability of the vehicle. For example, when checking the vehicle before driving, the vehicle welcome light can be conveniently activated by a touch switch set at the position of the light.

[0100] The welcome light system of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can increase the interaction between a vehicle user and the vehicle and improve the companion attribute of the vehicle.

[0101] The welcome light system of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can realize the unlocking and locking functions of the vehicle door by using a touch switch provided at the position of the vehicle light, so as to improve the differentiation from competitive vehicles.

[0102] The above descriptions of the specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention are presented for the purpose of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise form disclosed, and it is obvious that many modifications and changes can be made according to the above teachings. The selection and description of the exemplary embodiments are to explain certain principles of the present invention and their practical applications, so that those skilled in the art can make and use various exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their different alternative forms and modified forms. The scope of the present invention is intended to be limited by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A vehicle welcome light system, comprising: A welcome lamp, which is arranged on the vehicle and has a driving circuit; a control unit electrically connected to a driving circuit of the welcome lamp; as well as a touch switch disposed on the vehicle body and electrically connected to the control unit, the touch switch being configured to generate an electrical signal when touched and output the generated electrical signal to the control unit; Wherein, the control unit is configured to control the lighting mode of the welcome lamp according to the electrical signal received from the touch switch.

2. The vehicle welcome light system according to claim 1, wherein: The control unit comprises: A first control unit configured to: receive an electrical signal output by the touch switch, generate a touch signal according to the received electrical signal, and output the touch signal; a second control unit configured to: receive the touch signal output by the first control unit, generate a first control signal and a second control signal according to the received touch signal, and output the first control signal and the second control signal; and a third control unit configured to: receive the first control signal output by the second control unit, generate a power supply signal for the welcome lamp according to the received first control signal, and output the power supply signal to the driving circuit of the welcome lamp; The first control unit is configured to receive a second control signal output by the second control unit, generate a driving signal for the welcome light according to the received second control signal, and output the driving signal to the driving circuit of the welcome light.

3. The vehicle welcome light system according to claim 2, wherein: The second control unit is configured as: After receiving the touch signal output by the first control unit, determining whether the touch signal is a signal for turning on a welcome light; When it is determined that the touch signal is a signal for turning on the welcome light, the lighting mode of the welcome light is determined, and a first control signal and a second control signal are generated according to the determined lighting mode to control the welcome light to emit light according to the determined lighting mode.

4. The vehicle welcome light system according to claim 3, further comprising: A vehicle antenna, which is arranged on the vehicle and is used to receive and send electrical signals; and Vehicle keys.

5. The vehicle welcome light system according to claim 4, wherein: The second control unit is configured as: After receiving the touch signal output by the first control unit, communicating with the vehicle key via the vehicle antenna to verify the vehicle key; When the vehicle key is authenticated, determining whether the touch signal is a signal for turning on a welcome light; When the vehicle key fails to be authenticated, the touch signal received from the first control unit is not processed.

6. The vehicle welcome light system according to claim 5, wherein: The second control unit is further configured to control unlocking and locking of the vehicle door according to the electrical signal received from the touch switch.

7. The vehicle welcome light system according to claim 6, wherein: The second control unit is configured as: When it is determined that the touch signal is not a signal for turning on the welcome light, determining whether the touch signal is a signal for controlling unlocking or locking of the vehicle door; When it is determined that the touch signal is a signal for controlling unlocking or locking of the vehicle door, a signal for controlling unlocking or locking of the vehicle door is transmitted to a mechanism for controlling unlocking and locking of the vehicle door.

8. The vehicle welcome light system according to claim 1, wherein: The touch switch comprises: a printed circuit board electrically connected to the control unit; a capacitor plate disposed on the printed circuit board and electrically connected to the printed circuit board; and The touch panel is arranged above the capacitor plate and is used to directly come into contact with a part of the human body.

9. The vehicle welcome light system according to claim 8, wherein: The upper and lower surfaces of the capacitor plate are coated with a conductive coating, and the capacitor plate comprises: a protrusion located at the center of the capacitor plate, the protrusion protruding upward to make the conductive coating coated on the capacitor plate adjacent to the lower surface of the touch panel; and The base portion is located on the outer periphery of the protruding portion.

10. The vehicle welcome light system according to claim 9, wherein: The touch switch further comprises a conductor connected between the capacitor plate and the printed circuit board, wherein the conductor comprises a flexible conductive material so as to make the capacitor plate and the printed circuit board in close contact.

11. The vehicle welcome light system according to claim 10, wherein: The welcome light is a low beam light and a position light arranged at the front of the vehicle, or is a position light arranged at the rear of the vehicle.

12. The vehicle welcome light system according to claim 11, wherein: The touch switch is integrated into the welcome lamp of the vehicle, and the touch panel of the touch switch is the outer cover of the welcome lamp, and the capacitor plate of the touch switch is the decorative lining frame of the welcome lamp.

13. The vehicle welcome light system according to claim 12, wherein: The touch switch further includes a side bezel covering a base portion of the decorative bezel and having an opening through which the protrusion of the decorative bezel passes so that the protrusion of the decorative bezel is visible through an outer cover of the welcome lamp.

14. A control method for a vehicle welcome light system, the control method comprising: The touch switch disposed on the vehicle body generates an electrical signal when touched, and the generated electrical signal is output to the control unit through the touch switch; as well as The lighting mode of the welcome lamp is controlled by the control unit according to the electrical signal received from the touch switch.

15. The control method according to claim 14, wherein: Also includes: The control unit converts the electrical signal received from the touch switch into a touch signal; communicating with the vehicle key via the vehicle antenna by the control unit to authenticate the vehicle key; When the vehicle key passes the verification, determining, by the control unit, whether the touch signal is a signal for turning on the welcome light; as well as When the vehicle key fails to pass the verification, the control unit does not process the touch signal.

16. The control method according to claim 15, wherein: Also includes: When it is determined that the touch signal is a signal for turning on the welcome light, determining a lighting mode of the welcome light by a control unit; Generate a power supply signal for the welcome light and a drive signal for the welcome light according to the determined light emission mode through a control unit; as well as The generated power supply signal and driving signal are output to the driving circuit of the welcome lamp through the control unit, so that the welcome lamp emits light according to the determined light emission mode.

17. The control method according to claim 15, wherein: Also includes: When it is determined that the touch signal is not a signal for turning on the welcome light, determining, by the control unit, whether the touch signal is a signal for controlling unlocking or locking of the vehicle door; as well as When it is determined that the touch signal is a signal for controlling unlocking or locking of the vehicle door, the control unit sends a signal for controlling unlocking or locking of the vehicle door to a mechanism for controlling unlocking and locking of the vehicle door to control unlocking or locking of the vehicle door.

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