Vehicle Cabin Lighting System for Gaze Direction Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cabin lighting systems increase cost and weight by requiring mechanically activated mechanisms to redirect occupant gaze, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle cabin lighting system that uses a lighting device with a control section to determine occupant interest in interacting with others, adjusting light positions to direct gaze either towards the vehicle width direction outer or inner side without the need for mechanical seat rotation mechanisms, utilizing ceiling lamps, illumination units, and light-emitting devices on pillar and door garnishes to guide the occupant's attention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mechanical seat rotation mechanism is provided to redirect occupant gaze, then the gaze direction can be changed, but the cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical seat rotation mechanism with a lighting device that moves light positions to guide occupant gaze. Instead of physically rotating the seat, the system uses illuminated markers positioned at different locations to naturally attract and direct the occupant's line of sight, thereby eliminating the need for heavy mechanical components while achieving the same functional outcome of gaze redirection
2Ease of operation
If a mechanical seat rotation mechanism is provided to redirect occupant gaze, then the gaze direction can be changed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the complex mechanical seat rotation system with a simpler lighting-based guidance system. The lighting device can be controlled to illuminate specific markers in sequence or simultaneously, guiding the occupant's gaze without requiring any mechanical movement or complex actuation mechanisms. This reduces device complexity while maintaining the ability to control gaze direction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces illuminated markers as an intermediary element between the control system and the occupant's gaze. Instead of directly manipulating the seat or occupant, the system uses light-emitting markers as mediators that naturally attract visual attention. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall system by decoupling the control mechanism from the physical seat structure
3Ease of operation
If a mechanical seat rotation mechanism is provided to redirect occupant gaze, then the gaze direction can be changed, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive mechanical seat rotation mechanisms with a more cost-effective lighting device. The lighting system consists of relatively simple components (light sources, markers, control circuitry) that can be manufactured and installed at lower cost compared to precision mechanical mechanisms. This substitution maintains the functional benefit of gaze direction control while significantly reducing manufacturing expenses
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle cabin lighting system (10) includes: a lighting device (38, 39) that is provided inside a vehicle cabin and that is configured to move a position of light; and a control section (30) that is configured to determine whether or not an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat (14, 16, 18, 20) has an interest in interacting with another occupant inside the vehicle cabin based on operation of an operation section (S3, S4) by the occupant or based on a state of the occupant sitting on the vehicle seat (14, 16, 18, 20), and to control the lighting device (38, 39) so as to move the position of the light in order to direct a gaze direction of the occupant toward a vehicle width direction outer side in a case in which no interest in interacting has been determined.