Motor Vehicle Door Courtesy Lighting System Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current motor vehicle courtesy lighting systems lack integration and efficiency in providing ambient, footwell, puddle, and open door warning lighting modes, often requiring multiple components and increased assembly and parts costs.
Innovation Solution
A courtesy lighting system for a motor vehicle door that combines an audio speaker, multiple lighting elements, and a control module via a single network interface, allowing the controller to operate in various modes (ambient, footwell, puddle, and open door warning) with adjustable intensity and color, and includes a method for connecting these elements to a control module for coordinated lighting operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate lighting systems are used for ambient, footwell, and puddle lighting, then each lighting mode can be independently controlled, but the device complexity and parts cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple lighting elements (ambient, footwell, and puddle lighting) into a single integrated courtesy lighting system controlled by one control module. This merging approach reduces the number of separate components and control units while maintaining the ability to provide distinct lighting modes, thereby reducing device complexity and parts cost without sacrificing adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control module is designed to universally control multiple types of lighting elements through a single network interface. This multi-functional controller can switch between ambient, footwell, and puddle lighting modes, eliminating the need for separate dedicated controllers for each lighting type and simplifying the overall system architecture.
2Illumination intensity
If the first lighting element operates at high intensity for open door warning, then the warning visibility improves, but the heatsink capacity is exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The controller operates the first lighting element in a periodic flashing manner during open door warning mode rather than maintaining continuous high intensity. This periodic action allows the lighting element to cycle between high intensity (for visibility) and lower intensity (for heat dissipation), enabling the system to achieve effective warning visibility while staying within the heatsink capacity limits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operating intensity of the first lighting element based on operational requirements. During normal ambient lighting, it operates at low intensity; during open door warning, it switches to high intensity in a controlled periodic pattern. This dynamic operation allows the system to optimize between visibility needs and thermal management constraints.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple lighting elements are integrated on a single printed circuit board, then assembly cost is reduced, but the heatsink capacity management becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The control module implements local quality management by selectively controlling the intensity and operation of individual lighting elements based on their specific thermal characteristics and operational requirements. When one lighting element requires high intensity (and thus generates more heat), the controller can reduce the intensity of other elements to balance the overall thermal load on the shared heatsink, enabling effective heat management in the integrated design.
4Device complexity
If a single network interface is used to connect all lighting elements and the speaker, then the system complexity is reduced, but the control precision for each component may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
While using a single network interface for connectivity, the control module internally segments control signals for different lighting elements and the speaker. This allows the system to maintain a simple external interface architecture while implementing precise individual control of each component through dedicated control pathways within the control module, thereby preserving control precision without increasing external system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides efficient and integrated lighting solutions for different modes while conserving heatsink capacity and reducing parts and assembly costs, enhancing safety and customer satisfaction with adaptive lighting based on ambient conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The light source emits a first light beam in the footwell illumination mode and a second light beam in the puddle illumination mode
Data Source
AI summary
A courtesy lighting system is provided for a door of a motor vehicle. That courtesy lighting system includes an audio speaker, a light source, a network interface connected to the audio speaker and the light source and a control module. The control module is connected to the network interface. The control module includes a controller configured to operate in (a) an ambient illumination mode, (b) a footwell illumination mode when the door is closed and (c) a puddle illumination mode when the door is opened. A method of lighting a door of a motor vehicle is also provided.