In-cabin lighting system

Abstract

This in-cabin lighting system (1) comprises at least one lighting device (3) that is installed in a cabin (2a) of a vehicle with a door (50) and emits illumination light. The lighting device (3) has a control unit (4) that performs dimming control of the illumination light of the lighting device (3) in a prescribed lighting control pattern when a key lock of the door (50) is released or the door (50) is open. The prescribed lighting control pattern includes a first period (T1) in which the brightness of the illumination light is gradually increased, a second period (T2) in which the brightness of the illumination light is gradually decreased after the first period (T1), and a third period (T3) in which the brightness of the illumination light is gradually increased after the second period (T2).

Description

Vehicle interior lighting system

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

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, lighting devices installed in the interior of a vehicle such as an automobile are known as interior lighting devices (see Patent Document 1). Known examples of this type of interior lighting include room lamps installed on the ceiling of the vehicle.

[0003] JP 2012-35768 A

[0004] However, conventional vehicle interior lighting only changes brightness by fading in or out, and does not provide a sense of dramatic effect to the occupants.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and has an object to provide a vehicle interior lighting system that can give occupants a sense of dramatic effect.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the vehicle interior lighting system of the present invention comprises at least one lighting device that is installed in the vehicle interior of a vehicle having doors and that emits illumination light, and a control unit that performs dimming control of the lighting device using a predetermined lighting control pattern when the key lock of the door is released or the door is opened, wherein the predetermined lighting control pattern includes a first period in which the brightness of the illumination light is gradually increased, a second period in which the brightness of the illumination light is gradually decreased after the first period, and a third period in which the brightness of the illumination light is gradually increased after the second period.

[0007] According to the present invention, the intensity of the illumination light can be dynamically changed, thereby giving the occupants a sense of dramatic effect.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a top view of a vehicle in a vehicle interior lighting system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a vehicle in a vehicle interior lighting system according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a lighting control pattern of a lighting device. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a first modified example of the lighting control pattern of a lighting device. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second modified example of the lighting control pattern of a lighting device. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a third modified example of the lighting control pattern of a lighting device. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a fourth modified example of the lighting control pattern of a lighting device. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a fifth modified example of the lighting control pattern of a lighting device. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a sixth modified example of the lighting control pattern of a lighting device. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the state of the interior of a vehicle when dimming control of a lighting device is performed using the lighting control pattern shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle interior lighting system according to a modified example.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that each of the embodiments described below represents a specific example of the present invention. Therefore, the numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions and connection forms of the components, etc. shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. Therefore, among the components in the following embodiments, components that are not described in the independent claims that represent the highest concept of the present invention will be described as optional components.

[0010] The drawings are schematic diagrams and are not necessarily drawn to scale. Therefore, the scales of the drawings are not necessarily the same. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to denote substantially the same components, and redundant explanations will be omitted or simplified.

[0011] In this specification, "forward" refers to the direction of travel when the vehicle is moving forward, "rearward" refers to the direction of travel when the vehicle is moving backward, the direction to the right (right side) when the vehicle is moving forward is the "right direction," the direction to the left (left direction) when the vehicle is moving forward is the "left direction," the ceiling side of the vehicle is the "above" or "upper side," and the floor side of the vehicle is the "below" or "lower side." Note that in this specification, the terms "above" and "below" do not refer to the upward direction (vertically upward) and downward direction (vertically downward) in absolute spatial recognition, but are sometimes used as terms defined by relative positional relationships.

[0012] (Embodiment) First, the configuration of a vehicle interior lighting system 1 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a top view of a vehicle 2 in the vehicle interior lighting system 1 according to the embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the vehicle 2.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the vehicle interior lighting system 1 includes a vehicle 2 and at least one lighting device 3 installed in the vehicle 2 .

[0014] The automobile 2 is an example of a moving body and includes a vehicle having a passenger compartment 2a. The passenger compartment 2a of the automobile 2 is configured with a plurality of interior lining members. The passenger compartment 2a has a ceiling 10, a floor 20, pillar trims 30, and door trims 40 as the plurality of interior lining members.

[0015] The 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, passengers can enter or exit the vehicle interior 2a. Each of the front door 51 and the rear door 52 is provided with a window glass.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the vehicle interior 2a is provided with seats 60 for occupants. Specifically, the vehicle interior 2a is provided with a plurality of seats 60, including a front seat 61 and a rear seat 62. The front seat 61 is a front seat provided in the front of the vehicle interior 2a, and includes 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 provided 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 seat 62 is a rear seat provided at the rear of the vehicle interior 2a. The rear seat 62 can accommodate two or three passengers.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 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 may be suspended from the roof 2b.

[0018] The floor 20 is a floor trim. Specifically, the floor 20 is a floor carpet fixed to a frame that constitutes the body framework of the automobile 2 (vehicle). Although not shown, a floor mat is laid on the floor 20.

[0019] 1 and 2, the pillar trim 30 is made up of multiple pillars. Specifically, the pillar trim 30 has an A-pillar 31, which is a front pillar provided next to the windshield, and a B-pillar 32, which is a central pillar provided between the front seat 61 and the rear seat 62. The pillar trim 30 may further have a C-pillar and a D-pillar provided diagonally behind the rear seat 62.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 2, the door trim 40 is a lining member that covers the door panels of the front door 51 and the rear door 52. The door trim 40, which forms the inner surface of the front door 51 and the rear door 52, is fabricated with a concave-convex portion (convex-convex structure). In other words, the concave-convex portion of the door trim 40 is formed on the inner surface of the door. One or more functional parts are provided in the concave-convex portion of the door trim 40.

[0021] Specifically, the concave and convex portions of the door trim 40 are provided with functional parts such as an armrest, operation parts such as operation switches (operation buttons), a cup holder, a door handle, and a storage space. The operation switches are, for example, an open / close switch for opening and closing the window glass. Note that the front door 51 of the driver's seat 61a is provided with various switches other than the open / close switch as operation buttons.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 1, the automobile 2 has a center console 70. The center console 70 is disposed between the driver's seat 61a and the passenger seat 61b. As shown in Fig. 2, the center console 70 extends from an instrument panel 80 provided 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 center of the instrument panel 80 in the left-right direction.

[0023] The center console 70 is provided with the following structural features: a shift lever (selector lever), operation switches, and a console box. The shift lever is a lever operated by the driver to change gears in the transmission while the vehicle 2 is moving forward or to reverse the vehicle 2. The operation switches include a plurality of switches, such as buttons and dial knobs, that are pressed. Examples of the operation switches include a parking button for turning the parking brake (side brake) on and off, a power button for starting and stopping the engine of the vehicle 2, a lighting button for turning the lighting device 3 on and off, a car audio operation switch for operating the car audio, and a car navigation system operation switch for operating the car navigation system. The console box is a storage box with a lid, and includes a box body and an armrest. The center console 70 may also be provided with other structural features, such as a cup holder, a cigarette lighter socket, a power socket, and a box-shaped recess with an open top.

[0024] The lighting device 3 is an interior lighting device (interior lighting) installed in the vehicle interior 2a. In this embodiment, a plurality of lighting devices 3 are installed in the vehicle interior 2a. The illumination light emitted from each lighting device 3 illuminates the space within the vehicle interior 2a. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the illumination light emitted from each lighting device 3 does not illuminate the entire space within the vehicle interior 2a, but illuminates a portion of the space within the vehicle interior 2a. In FIGS. 1 and 2, black squares indicate the positions of the lighting devices 3, and the areas indicated by dotted hatching indicate areas within the vehicle interior 2a that are illuminated by the illumination light from each lighting device 3. Note that the areas illuminated by the illumination light from each lighting device 3 do not overlap, but may partially overlap.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the multiple lighting devices 3 include a front room light 3a (front room lamp) and a rear room light 3b (rear room lamp), as in a typical automobile. In this embodiment, the multiple lighting devices 3 further include a door trim light 3c, a pillar light 3d, and a center console light 3e. That is, the door trim light 3c, the pillar light 3d, and the center console light 3e are installed separately from the front room light 3a and the rear room light 3b. In other words, the front room light 3a and the rear room light 3b are installed separately from the door trim light 3c, the pillar light 3d, and the center console light 3e. The front room light 3a, the rear room light 3b, the door trim light 3c, the pillar light 3d, and the center console light 3e are installed in different locations within the vehicle interior 2a.

[0026] The front room light 3a and the rear room light 3b are installed on the ceiling 10 of the passenger compartment 2a. Specifically, the front room light 3a is installed in the center of the ceiling 10 in the width direction at the front of the passenger compartment 2a, and the rear room light 3b is installed behind the front room light 3a in the center of the ceiling 10 in the width direction. In this embodiment, the front room light 3a is installed above the front end of the driver's seat 61a and the front end of the passenger seat 61b. That is, two front room lights 3a are installed. One rear room light 3b is installed above the center of the rear seat 62 in the width direction. Note that the number of rear room lights is not limited to one, and the installation location is not limited to the center of the ceiling 10 in the width direction. For example, the rear room light 3b may be installed near the rear seat assist grips (right rear seat assist grip and left rear seat assist grip) provided at both ends of the ceiling 10 in the width direction above the rear door 52.

[0027] The front room light 3a and the rear room light 3b emit room light as illumination light toward the interior of the vehicle compartment 2a. Specifically, one of the two front room lights 3a emits illumination light toward a portion of the front end of the driver's seat 61a on the side of the center console 70, and the other of the two front room lights 3a emits illumination light toward a portion of the front end of the passenger seat 61b on the side of the center console 70. The rear room light 3b emits illumination light toward a central portion of the front end of the rear seat 62.

[0028] The front room light 3 a and the rear room light 3 b mainly emit illumination light to brighten the space inside the vehicle compartment 2 a. Therefore, when one or both of the front room light 3 a and the rear room light 3 b are turned on, the occupants of the vehicle 2 can perform tasks at hand, such as operating a smartphone, or look for items dropped inside the vehicle 2.

[0029] On the other hand, the door trim lights 3c, pillar lights 3d, and center console lights 3e mainly emit illumination light to create a spatial atmosphere within the vehicle interior 2a. In other words, the door trim lights 3c, pillar lights 3d, and center console lights 3e illuminate the spaces around where they are installed. The light irradiation ranges of the door trim lights 3c, pillar lights 3d, and center console lights 3e can be controlled by a smartphone carried by the occupant or an operation switch installed at the occupant's hand in the vehicle 2.

[0030] The door trim light 3c is installed on the ceiling 10 in the passenger compartment 2a. Specifically, the door trim light 3c is installed at an end of the ceiling 10 in the width direction above the door 50. In this embodiment, a plurality of the door trim lights 3c are installed on the ceiling 10. Specifically, the lighting devices 3 are installed on the ceiling 10 above each of the pair of front doors 51 and each of the pair of rear doors 52. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1 , four door trim lights 3c are installed in the automobile 2.

[0031] The door trim light 3c emits illumination light toward the door trim 40. In the present embodiment, the door trim light 3c is a spotlight, and emits illumination light in a spot pattern toward the door trim 40. In the present embodiment, the light distribution angle of the illumination light emitted from the door trim light 3c is smaller than the light distribution angles of the illumination light emitted from the rear room light 3b and the pillar light 3d.

[0032] The door trim light 3c irradiates light onto functional parts provided on the door trim 40 so as to create shadows on the uneven portions of the door trim 40. In this embodiment, the door trim light 3c irradiates light onto the functional parts provided on the door trim 40 as well as onto parts other than the functional parts. For example, the door trim 40 is provided with functional parts such as an armrest, an operation switch, a cup holder, and a door knob, and the door trim light 3c irradiates illumination light onto at least one of the armrest, the operation switch, the cup holder, and the door knob. In this embodiment, the door trim light 3c irradiates illumination light onto multiple functional parts of the door trim 40 collectively. Specifically, the door trim light 3c irradiates illumination light onto each of the armrest, the operation switch, the cup holder, and the door knob. Note that the door trim light 3c may irradiate light that spotlights each of the multiple functional parts of the door trim 40.

[0033] In this way, the door trim light 3c irradiates the uneven portions formed on the door trim 40 with illumination light, thereby creating shadows on the uneven portions. This creates a luxurious and uplifting feeling, and creates a high-quality atmosphere in the vehicle interior 2a. In addition, the light irradiated on the functional portions provided on the door trim 40 allows the occupants to easily identify the positions of the functional portions.

[0034] The pillar light 3d is installed on the pillar trim 30 in the passenger compartment 2a. Specifically, the pillar light 3d is installed on the B-pillar 32. In this case, the pillar light 3d is preferably installed around the ceiling 10 on the B-pillar 32. In other words, the pillar light 3d is preferably installed in the upper portion of the B-pillar 32. The pillar light 3d is installed on each of a pair of opposing B-pillars 32. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1 , two pillar lights 3d are installed in the automobile 2.

[0035] In this embodiment, the pillar light 3d is an upper light that emits illumination light toward the ceiling 10 in the vehicle interior 2a and is installed with its light emission surface facing the ceiling 10. Therefore, the pillar light 3d emits illumination light that illuminates the ceiling 10 in the vehicle interior 2a. In other words, direct light from the pillar light 3d is emitted toward the ceiling 10. Therefore, the vehicle interior 2a is not illuminated with direct light from the pillar light 3d, but rather with indirect light that is emitted from the pillar light 3d and reflected by the ceiling 10. As an example, the pillar light 3d is installed so that its light emission surface faces the curved surface of the ceiling 10 at the end in the width direction, and emits illumination light toward the curved surface of the ceiling 10. Therefore, the illumination light from the pillar light 3d is reflected by the curved surface of the ceiling 10 and is emitted into the vehicle interior 2a as indirect light.

[0036] In this way, the pillar light 3d can project the illumination light reflected by the ceiling 10 into the vehicle interior 2a, thereby creating a high-quality interior space in the vehicle interior 2a. In addition, an illuminated space with a sense of brightness and openness can be achieved.

[0037] The center console light 3e is installed in a center console 70 inside the vehicle interior 2a. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the center console light 3e is installed in a console box 71 provided in the center console 70.

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

[0039] In this way, by illuminating the center console 70 with the center console light 3e, shadows are cast on the uneven structures such as the shift lever and operation switches, thereby emphasizing the sense of shadow on the structures on the center console 70. This allows the structures on the center console 70 to stand out with the illumination light, and the shadows on the center console 70 create a rich and uplifting feeling.

[0040] 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 configured with 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 light emitted from the LED light source passes through an opening in the housing and is irradiated onto a predetermined illumination area.

[0041] The illumination light emitted from each lighting device 3 is white light. That is, the illumination light emitted from the LED light source of each lighting device 3 is white light. In the present embodiment, the light color of the illumination light emitted from each lighting device 3 is, for example, warm white, but is not limited to this. The illumination light emitted from each lighting device 3 may have a predetermined color temperature within a range of 2500 K to 7000 K. The color temperatures of the illumination light emitted from the multiple lighting devices 3 may all be the same or all different. Furthermore, some of the multiple lighting devices 3 may emit illumination light of the same color temperature, and the other lighting devices 3 may emit illumination light of different color temperatures.

[0042] Each lighting device 3 has a light exit surface from which light exits, which is the outer surface of the lighting device 3. In this embodiment, the front room light 3a and the rear room light 3b have a translucent cover as an outer casing member. In this case, the light exit surface of the lighting device 3 is the surface of the translucent cover. The translucent covers of the front room light 3a and the rear room light 3b are exposed inside the passenger compartment 2a, and the passengers of the automobile 2 can see the translucent covers from inside the passenger compartment 2a.

[0043] On the other hand, the door trim lights 3c, pillar lights 3d, and center console lights 3e are glareless lights, and the light exit surfaces of the door trim lights 3c, pillar lights 3d, and center console lights 3e are designed to be invisible to occupants seated in seats 60 in the vehicle interior 2a. In other words, the light exit surfaces of the door trim lights 3c, pillar lights 3d, and center console lights 3e are invisible to occupants seated in seats 60. As a result, illumination light from the door trim lights 3c, pillar lights 3d, and center console light 3e does not directly enter the eyes of occupants, thereby providing a comfortable lighting space in the vehicle interior 2a. Furthermore, since light does not directly enter the driver's eyes, the vehicle 2 can be driven safely.

[0044] Next, the control of the illumination light emitted from the lighting devices 3 will be described. The multiple lighting devices 3 are controlled by a control unit 4. Specifically, the control unit 4 performs dimming control on each of the multiple lighting devices 3 using a predetermined lighting control pattern. In other words, the brightness of the illumination light emitted from each lighting device 3 is controlled by the control unit 4. The control unit 4 includes, for example, a dimming circuit that performs dimming control on the multiple lighting devices 3. As an example, the control unit 4 performs dimming control on the 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.

[0045] 1 and 2 , the control unit 4 is provided in the automobile 2. Note that the control unit 4 may be provided in any one of the plurality of lighting devices 3, or in each of the plurality of lighting devices 3.

[0046] The illumination light emitted from each of the plurality of illumination devices 3 is controlled in a coordinated manner. Specifically, the brightness of the illumination light of each of the plurality of illumination devices 3 is controlled using the same illumination control pattern and at the same timing. In other words, the illumination light emitted from each of the plurality of illumination devices 3 is controlled by the control unit 4 so as to be synchronized.

[0047] Furthermore, the plurality of lighting devices 3 are dimmed while all or some of them are turned on. In this embodiment, the plurality of lighting devices 3 are dimmed using a first lighting pattern or a second lighting pattern shown in the following Table 1. Specifically, the plurality of lighting devices 3, including the front room light 3a, the rear room light 3b, the door trim light 3c, the pillar light 3d, and the center console light 3e, are dimmed using the first lighting pattern or the second lighting pattern.

[0048]

[0049] As shown in Table 1, the first lighting pattern is a state in which the door trim light 3c, pillar light 3d, and center console light 3e are turned on and the front room light 3a and rear room light 3b are turned off. In this case, the control unit 4 performs dimming control on all of the door trim light 3c, pillar light 3d, and center console light 3e using the same lighting control pattern and at the same timing, with the front room light 3a and rear room light 3b turned off.

[0050] The second lighting pattern is a state in which the front room lights 3a, rear room lights 3b, door trim lights 3c, pillar lights 3d, and center console light 3e are all turned on. In this case, the control unit 4 performs dimming control on all of the front room lights 3a, rear room lights 3b, door trim lights 3c, pillar lights 3d, and center console light 3e using the same illumination control pattern and at the same timing. In other words, the control unit 4 performs dimming control on the front room lights 3a and rear room lights 3b in conjunction with the door trim lights 3c, pillar lights 3d, and center console light 3e.

[0051] Specifically, in the second lighting pattern, the control unit 4 synchronizes the front room lights 3a and the rear room lights 3b with the door trim lights 3c, the pillar lights 3d, and the center console light 3e, and performs dimming control on the front room lights 3a, the rear room lights 3b, the door trim lights 3c, the pillar lights 3d, and the center console light 3e. In other words, the control unit 4 performs dimming control on all of the front room lights 3a, the rear room lights 3b, the door trim lights 3c, the pillar lights 3d, and the center console light 3e using the same lighting control pattern and at the same timing.

[0052] The plurality of lighting devices 3 are dimmed at predetermined timings. In the present embodiment, the plurality of lighting devices 3 are dimmed when an occupant gets into the vehicle 2. That is, the control unit 4 performs dimming control of the plurality of lighting devices 3 in a predetermined lighting control pattern when an occupant gets into the vehicle 2. Specifically, the control unit 4 performs dimming control of the plurality of lighting devices 3 in a predetermined lighting control pattern when the key lock of the door 50 is released or the door 50 is opened.

[0053] The key lock on the door 50 can be released (unlocked) by keyless entry using a smart key carried by the occupant, or by inserting a physical key into the keyhole of the door 50. The smart key is an electronic key or a smartphone that functions as a smart key. In this case, the key lock on the door 50 can be released by the occupant approaching the door 50 with the smart key or by touching the door handle.

[0054] As described above, the plurality of lighting devices 3 are dimmed according to a predetermined lighting control pattern. The predetermined lighting control pattern is a pattern in which the brightness of the illumination light emitted from the lighting devices 3 is dynamically changed over time.

[0055] For example, the dimming of a plurality of lighting devices 3 is controlled by the lighting control pattern shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the lighting control pattern of the lighting devices 3. In Fig. 3, the vertical axis represents the brightness of the illumination light emitted from the lighting devices 3, and the horizontal axis represents time. Note that a brightness of 100% of the illumination light means that the brightness of the illumination light emitted from the lighting devices 3 is maximum (dimming rate 100%), and a brightness of 0% of the illumination light means that the lighting devices 3 are turned off. The brightness of the illumination light refers to the light output of the lighting devices 3, and can be expressed, for example, by the luminous flux (lumens: lm) or luminance (candela: cd) of the illumination light.

[0056] The predetermined illumination control pattern of the plurality of illumination devices 3 when performing dimming control includes a plurality of periods in which the brightness intensity (magnitude) of the illumination light emitted from the illumination devices 3 changes. Specifically, the illumination control pattern shown in Fig. 3 includes three periods: a first period T1, a second period T2, and a third period T3. That is, the brightness intensity of the illumination light changes in the first period T1, the second period T2, and the third period T3. Note that the second period T2 is the period after the first period T1, and the third period T3 is the period after the second period T2.

[0057] The total time of the illumination control pattern that changes the brightness intensity of the illumination light is a short time, for example, 10 seconds or less, such as 6 seconds, 5 seconds, 4 seconds, 3 seconds, etc. The total time of the illumination control pattern shown in Fig. 3 is 3 seconds. In other words, when the key lock of the door 50 is released or the door 50 is opened, the brightness of the illumination device 3 changes in a short time of 3 seconds. Specifically, the first period T1 is from 0 to 0.3 seconds, the second period T2 is from 0.3 to 2.0 seconds, and the third period T3 is from 2.0 to 3.0 seconds.

[0058] During the first period T1, the brightness of the illumination light emitted from each lighting device 3 is gradually increased. Specifically, during the first period T1, the brightness of the illumination light is increased exponentially until the brightness reaches 50%. In this embodiment, the illumination light changes so that the brightness becomes sharply brighter as the end of the first period T1 approaches.

[0059] In the second period T2, the brightness of the illumination light emitted from each lighting device 3 is gradually reduced after the first period T1. Specifically, in the second period T2, the brightness of the illumination light is reduced exponentially from 50% to 0%. In this embodiment, since the second period T2 is longer than the first period T1, the brightness of the illumination light changes in the second period T2 according to a gentler curve than in the first period T1.

[0060] Furthermore, during the second period T2, the brightness of the illumination light emitted from each lighting device 3 changes in a stepped manner. Specifically, during the first period from 0.3 seconds to approaching 1.0 seconds, the brightness of the illumination light gradually decreases exponentially until it reaches approximately 20%. At around 1.0 seconds, the brightness of the illumination light remains constant at 20%. Thereafter, during the intermediate period from 1.0 seconds to approaching 1.6 seconds, the brightness of the illumination light gradually decreases exponentially until it reaches 0%. In the final period from 1.6 seconds to 2.0 seconds, the brightness remains constant at 0%. In other words, during the second period T2, each lighting device 3 is temporarily turned off.

[0061] In the third period T3, after the second period T2, the brightness of the illumination light emitted from each lighting device 3 is gradually increased. Specifically, in the third period T3, the brightness of the illumination light is increased exponentially from 0% to 50%. In this embodiment, the illumination light changes so that the brightness becomes sharply brighter as the end of the third period T3 approaches.

[0062] In this way, the brightness of the illumination light emitted from each lighting device 3 is changed. Specifically, the brightness of the illumination light emitted from each lighting device 3 is changed from strong to weak to strong. In other words, the illumination light from each lighting device 3 is changed in intensity twice. This allows for lighting effects inside the vehicle interior 2a. In this case, depending on the lighting states of the multiple lighting devices 3 in the first lighting pattern and the second lighting pattern, occupants about to get into the vehicle 2 can obtain the lighting effects shown in Table 1.

[0063] Specifically, by controlling the dimming of the plurality of lighting devices 3 using the first lighting pattern and the lighting control pattern shown in Fig. 3, the plurality of lighting devices 3 can be made to stand out unobtrusively within the vehicle interior 2a, allowing passengers about to get into the vehicle 2 to feel the light quietly and unobtrusively.

[0064] 3, the front room light 3a and the rear room light 3b are turned on, and therefore the brightness inside the vehicle compartment 2a can be brighter than with the first lighting pattern. This allows passengers about to get into the vehicle 2 to feel a more dynamic atmosphere.

[0065] In each lighting device 3, after dimming control based on the lighting control pattern is completed, the illumination light is maintained at the final brightness for a certain period of time. In Fig. 3, after the third period T3 (after the lighting effect), the illumination light is maintained at the final brightness of the third period T3 (50% brightness in this embodiment). In this case, depending on the first lighting pattern and the second lighting pattern, a passenger about to get into the vehicle 2 can obtain the lighting effects shown in Table 2.

[0066]

[0067] Specifically, when a lighting effect is produced by dimming the plurality of lighting devices 3 using the first lighting pattern and the lighting control pattern shown in Figure 3, after the lighting effect has been produced, passengers about to get into the automobile 2 can feel the afterglow of the effect.

[0068] Furthermore, when a lighting effect is produced by dimming the plurality of lighting devices 3 using the second lighting pattern and the lighting control pattern shown in Figure 3, after the lighting effect is produced, a passenger about to get into the automobile 2 can take the following action.

[0069] The illumination control pattern of the illumination light from the plurality of illumination devices 3 is not limited to the illumination control pattern shown in FIG.

[0070] For example, in the illumination control pattern shown in Fig. 3, the brightness of the illumination light at the end of the first period T1 and the end of the third period T3 is set to 50%, but this is not limited to this. Specifically, as in the illumination control pattern shown in Fig. 4, the brightness of the illumination light at the end of the first period T1 and the end of the third period T3 may be set to 100%. In other words, the maximum brightness of the illumination light in the first period T1 and the third period T3 is the brightness when each lighting device 3 is emitting illumination light at a dimming rate of 100%. By controlling the dimming of the lighting devices 3 using the illumination control pattern shown in Fig. 4, the difference in brightness can be made greater compared to the illumination control pattern shown in Fig. 3, thereby making darkness more prominent.

[0071] In the illumination control pattern shown in FIG. 3 , the brightness of the illumination light is set to 0% (off) during the final period of the second period T2, but this is not limiting. Specifically, the brightness of the illumination light does not have to be set to 0% during the final period of the second period T2, as in the illumination control pattern shown in FIG. 5 . That is, each illumination device 3 is not turned off during the second period T2. As an example, the brightness of the illumination light is set to 20% during the final period of the second period T2, but this is not limiting. In addition, in FIG. 5 , each illumination device 3 is not turned off during the entire first period T1, second period T2, and third period T3. By controlling the dimming of the illumination device 3 using the illumination control pattern shown in FIG. 5 , it is possible to maintain the minimum brightness while making the light stand out in the dark.

[0072] In the lighting control pattern shown in FIG. 3 , the dimming control of each lighting device 3 is performed using only one light-dark cycle, in which the brightness of the illumination light is increased → decreased → increased. However, this is not limited to this. Specifically, as in the lighting control pattern shown in FIG. 6 , the dimming control of each lighting device 3 may be performed using two light-dark cycles, in which the brightness of the illumination light is increased → decreased → increased. As an example, the lighting control pattern shown in FIG. 6 includes, in addition to a first period T1, a second period T2, and a third period T3, a fourth period T4 in which the brightness of the illumination light is gradually decreased after the third period T3, and a fifth period T5 in which the brightness of the illumination light is gradually increased after the fourth period T4. By performing dimming control of the lighting device 3 using the lighting control pattern shown in FIG. 6 , the lighting effects can be more easily noticed by occupants about to enter the vehicle 2.

[0073] In this case, it is preferable that the rise in brightness during the third period T3 is more gradual than the rise in brightness during the first period T1, as in the lighting control pattern shown in Figure 7. This makes it possible to make the occupants more aware of the lighting effects.

[0074] In the above embodiment, all of the lighting devices 3 that are turned on are dimmed at the same timing, but this is not limiting. Specifically, one or more of the lighting devices 3 that are turned on may be dimmed at different timings.

[0075] For example, in the two illumination control patterns shown in Fig. 8, the first illumination device that emits the first illumination light to the front side and the second illumination device that emits the second illumination light to the rear side perform dimming control at different times. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 8, the first period T1 of the illumination control pattern for the first illumination device (solid line in Fig. 8) starts before the first period T1 of the illumination control pattern for the second illumination device (dashed line in Fig. 8).

[0076] As an example, the first lighting devices that irradiate the first illumination light toward the front side include the front room light 3a, two of the four door trim lights 3c that are located on the front seat 61 side, and the center console light 3e. On the other hand, the second lighting devices that irradiate the second illumination light toward the rear side include the rear room light 3b, two of the four door trim lights 3c that are located on the rear seat 62 side, and the pillar light 3d.

[0077] The pillar light 3d may be the first lighting device on the front side, instead of the second lighting device on the rear side. By controlling the dimming of the plurality of lighting devices 3 according to the lighting control pattern shown in Fig. 8, it is possible to create a movement of light in the space inside the vehicle interior 2a.

[0078] In particular, as shown in Figure 8, by first controlling the dimming of the first lighting device on the front side and then controlling the dimming of the second lighting device on the rear side, it is possible to create a lighting effect in which the light moves from the front to the rear of the automobile 2. This creates a dynamic feeling as if the automobile 2 is moving forward.

[0079] In the lighting control pattern shown in FIG. 8 , the brightness of the illumination light from each of the front-side first lighting device and the rear-side second lighting device is set to 50% at the end of the first period T1 and the end of the third period T3. However, this is not limited to this. Specifically, as in the lighting control pattern shown in FIG. 9 , the brightness of the illumination light from each of the front-side first lighting device and the rear-side second lighting device may be set to 100% at the end of the first period T1 and the end of the third period T3. That is, the maximum brightness of the first illumination light from the front-side first lighting device in the first period T1 is the brightness when the first illumination device is emitting the first illumination light at a dimming rate of 100%. Similarly, the maximum brightness of the second illumination light from the rear-side second lighting device in the first period T1 is the brightness when the second illumination device is emitting the second illumination light at a dimming rate of 100%. By dimming the multiple lighting devices 3 using the lighting control pattern shown in FIG. 9 , the difference in brightness can be made greater compared to the lighting control pattern shown in FIG. 8 , thereby enabling dynamic and delicate lighting effects.

[0080] In this way, by controlling the dimming of the lighting devices 3 using the various lighting control patterns shown in Figures 3 to 9, the lighting atmosphere in the passenger compartment 2a of the automobile 2 can be dynamically changed in a short period of time, as shown in Figure 10. This allows various lighting effects to be obtained. Note that Figure 10 shows a case where dimming control is performed on all lighting devices 3 in the passenger compartment 2a using the lighting control pattern shown in Figure 6.

[0081] As described above, the vehicle interior lighting system 1 according to this embodiment is installed in the vehicle interior 2a of a vehicle having a door 50 and includes at least one lighting device 3 that emits illumination light, and a control unit 4 that performs dimming control of the one or more lighting devices 3 according to a predetermined lighting control pattern when the key lock of the door 50 is released or the door 50 is opened. The predetermined lighting control pattern includes a first period T1 in which the brightness of the illumination light is gradually increased, a second period T2 in which the brightness of the illumination light is gradually decreased after the first period T1, and a third period T3 in which the brightness of the illumination light is gradually increased after the second period T2.

[0082] By controlling the dimming of the lighting device 3 using such lighting control patterns, it is possible to dynamically change the intensity of the illumination light emitted from the lighting device 3. This provides a sense of dramatic effect to passengers about to get into the automobile 2.

[0083] For example, the lighting can enhance the sense of exhilaration during night drives, and the light can respond to the occupants (especially the driver) by creating a sense of unity between the vehicle 2 and the occupants, making them feel like they are in their own place. It can also alert people around by letting them know that the vehicle 2 is about to move. Furthermore, the dynamic lighting inside the passenger compartment 2a can keep suspicious people out of the vicinity of the vehicle 2, reliably and stylishly notify people that the door 50 has been unlocked, help people know where their vehicle 2 is in a parking lot, and provide light to spot criminals such as car break-ins from outside the vehicle (to capture them on camera). It can also alert people around that the door 50 will open when someone gets into the vehicle 2 and that people are moving around the vehicle 2.

[0084] In the lighting control patterns shown in Figures 3 to 9, the maximum brightness (dimming rate 100%, 50%) is achieved for only a moment, but this is not limited to this. Specifically, the maximum brightness (dimming rate 100%, 50%) may be maintained constant for a few tenths of a second. For example, in Figure 4, the maximum brightness (dimming rate 100%) may be maintained for a short time at 0.3 seconds. This allows the user to recognize the light even when the brightness is dynamically changing, making it easier for the user to notice the dramatic effects of the lighting.

[0085] (Modification) Although the vehicle interior lighting system 1 according to the present invention has been described above based on the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

[0086] For example, in the above embodiment, the case where only the lighting device 3 is dimmed has been described, but this is not limiting. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11 , the control unit 4 may dim the illumination light emitted from the lighting device 3 in conjunction with information displayed on a screen 5a of a display unit 5 provided in the vehicle. The display unit 5 is an in-vehicle display installed in the vehicle interior 2a, and in FIG. 11 , is installed on the top surface of the dashboard. The display unit 5 has display and operation functions for various systems, such as a car navigation system or an audio system. The screen 5a of the display unit 5 displays output images of the various systems, and various information is displayed on the screen 5a. The screen 5a also functions as a GUI (Graphical User Interface) input means for operating the various systems by touch operation by the occupant. The display unit 5 may be a CID (Center Information Display) embedded in the center of the dashboard, or may be a meter panel, etc.

[0087] When dimming control of the illumination light of the lighting device 3 is performed in conjunction with information displayed on the screen 5a of the display unit 5, as one example, the dimming control of the illumination device 3 as described above may be performed in conjunction with an opening image displayed on the screen 5a immediately after the driver starts the automobile 2. The opening image may be a logo of the automobile manufacturer, a three-dimensional image of the automobile, or an image of light running as shown in Fig. 11 .

[0088] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the lighting device 3 is turned on when the key lock of the door 50 is released or when the door 50 is opened, but this is not limited to this. For example, the lighting device 3 may be turned on when the driver is driving the automobile 2 (while driving), or may be turned on at times other than when driving. For example, the lighting device 3 may be turned on while the automobile 2 is running, or may be turned on when an occupant gets out of the automobile 2. Furthermore, the lighting device 3 may be turned on not only at night but also during the day. By turning on the lighting device 3 during the day, an open-looking illuminated space can be created.

[0089] In the above embodiment, the dimming control is performed on a plurality of lighting devices 3, but this is not limiting. For example, the dimming control may be performed on only one lighting device 3.

[0090] In the above embodiment, only dimming control is performed for each lighting device 3, but this is not limited thereto. For example, both dimming control and color adjustment control may be performed for each lighting device 3. This not only changes the brightness of the illumination light emitted from each lighting device 3 but also changes the color temperature of the illumination light. This improves the lighting effect inside the vehicle interior 2a. In the above embodiment, the illumination light emitted from the lighting device 3 is white light, but this is not limited thereto.

[0091] In the above embodiment, the light source of the lighting device 3 is an LED light source, but this 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, a xenon lamp, or a halogen lamp. However, by using an LED light source as the light source of the lighting device 3, power consumption can be reduced and the lighting device 3 can be turned on with a DC power supply.

[0092] In addition, in the above embodiment, the automobile 2 is used as an example of the moving body, but the present invention is not limited to this. Specifically, the moving body may be a vehicle other than an automobile, such as a railway vehicle, as long as it has a passenger compartment.

[0093] In addition, the present invention also includes forms obtained by applying various modifications that a person skilled in the art would conceive of to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and forms realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of the above-described embodiments and modifications within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention also includes any combination of one or more components in each of the multiple claims set forth in the claims at the time of filing. Furthermore, when the dependent claims set forth in the claims at the time of filing are made into a multiple claim or multiple multiple claim that cites any multiple claims (for example, when a multiple claim or multiple multiple claim is made so that each claim cites all of its parent claims), all forms obtained by combining all claims included in the multiple claim or multiple multiple claim are also included in the present invention.

[0094] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Vehicle interior lighting system 2a Vehicle interior 3 Lighting device 3a Front room light 3b Rear room light 3c Door trim light 3d Pillar light 3e Center console light 4 Control unit 5 Display unit 5a Screen 10 Ceiling 50 Door 70 Center console

Claims

1. A vehicle interior lighting system comprising: at least one lighting device that is installed in the passenger compartment of a vehicle having doors and that emits illumination light; and a control unit that, when the key lock of the door is released or the door is opened, performs dimming control of the lighting device using a predetermined lighting control pattern, wherein the predetermined lighting control pattern includes a first period in which the brightness of the illumination light is gradually increased, a second period in which the brightness of the illumination light is gradually decreased after the first period, and a third period in which the brightness of the illumination light is gradually increased after the second period.

2. The vehicle interior lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the second period is longer than the first period.

3. The vehicle interior lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the brightness of the illumination light during the second period changes stepwise.

4. The vehicle interior lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the maximum brightness of the illumination light during the first period is the brightness when the illumination device emits the illumination light at a dimming rate of 100%.

5. The vehicle interior lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device is temporarily turned off during the second period.

6. The vehicle interior lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device is not turned off during the second period.

7. The vehicle interior lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined lighting control pattern includes a fourth period in which the brightness of the illumination light is gradually decreased after the third period, and a fifth period in which the brightness of the illumination light is gradually increased after the fourth period.

8. The vehicle interior lighting system according to claim 7, wherein the rise in brightness during the third period is slower than the rise in brightness during the first period.

9. The vehicle interior lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device includes a first lighting device that irradiates a first lighting light as the lighting light toward the front side, and a second lighting device that irradiates a second lighting light as the lighting light toward the rear side, and the first period of the predetermined lighting control pattern in the first lighting device starts before the first period of the predetermined lighting control pattern in the second lighting device.

10. The vehicle interior lighting system described in claim 9, wherein the maximum brightness of the first illumination light during the first period is the brightness when the first illumination device is emitting the first illumination light at a dimming rate of 100%, and the maximum brightness of the second illumination light during the first period is the brightness when the second illumination device is emitting the second illumination light at a dimming rate of 100%.

11. The vehicle interior lighting system according to claim 1, further comprising a room light installed in the vehicle interior separately from the lighting device and irradiating room light toward the vehicle interior, wherein the control unit synchronizes the room light with the lighting device and controls the dimming of the room light and the lighting device using the same lighting control pattern.

12. The vehicle interior lighting system according to claim 1, further comprising a room light installed in the vehicle interior separately from the lighting device and irradiating room light toward the vehicle interior, wherein when the room light is turned off, the control unit performs dimming control of the lighting device using the predetermined lighting control pattern.

13. The vehicle interior lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is equipped with a display unit having a screen on which information is displayed, and the control unit controls the dimming of the lighting device in conjunction with the information displayed on the screen.

14. The vehicle interior lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the lighting device is a center console light that irradiates the illumination light toward a center console inside the vehicle interior.

15. The vehicle interior lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the lighting device is a spotlight installed on the ceiling of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle interior lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the lighting device is an upper light that irradiates the illumination light toward a ceiling of the vehicle.

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