Vehicle Illumination System with Automatic Interior Lighting Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles capable of autonomous driving, occupants face challenges in maintaining adequate cabin illumination when it becomes dark outside, as existing systems require manual operation to switch on interior lights, disrupting activities like reading or gaming.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle illumination system that automatically adjusts interior lighting levels by detecting ambient light and controlling headlight and dome light operations, ensuring higher cabin illumination during autonomous driving mode, while preventing light leakage through door glasses using raisable blocking members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the dome light is switched on to ensure cabin illumination when it becomes dark outside during autonomous driving mode, then the illumination level in the cabin is improved, but the operation complexity increases as occupants must manually switch on the dome light
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination control system automatically detects ambient light levels and autonomously adjusts interior lighting without requiring occupant intervention. The system monitors external light conditions and self-regulates the dome light and other interior lighting elements to maintain appropriate cabin illumination during autonomous driving mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates light sensors that continuously monitor ambient light levels outside the vehicle and provide feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit automatically adjusts the intensity and timing of interior lighting to ensure adequate cabin illumination when external light conditions deteriorate during autonomous driving.
2Illumination intensity
If the interior lighting illumination level is increased to ensure comfortable cabin lighting during autonomous driving at night, then the illumination intensity is improved, but light leakage through door glasses occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively raises blocking members in door panels before or when interior lighting is activated during autonomous driving mode. This preliminary action prevents light leakage through door glasses before the lighting event occurs, eliminating the need for reactive measures and maintaining both high illumination levels and light containment.
Solution Approach 2:
Blocking members are introduced as intermediary elements between the interior lighting sources and the external environment through door glasses. These members physically obstruct light paths when raised, effectively mediating between the need for high interior illumination and the requirement to prevent light leakage during autonomous driving operations.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If blocking members are raised to prevent light leakage through door glasses during autonomous driving mode, then light leakage is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking member mechanism is integrated with existing door panel structures and lighting control systems. The control unit that manages interior lighting also controls the blocking members, merging multiple functions into a single control architecture. This reduces overall system complexity despite adding light leakage prevention capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking members serve multiple functions: preventing light leakage during autonomous driving mode, providing structural support for door panels, and potentially serving as mounting surfaces for other components. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single structural element.
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
Ensures continuous comfortable cabin illumination during autonomous driving at night, allowing occupants to read or engage in activities without manual intervention, while preventing external light leakage.
Implementation Method 1
a detection device, provided in the vehicle, that detects an ambient light level outside the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
a blocking member is provided, so as to be raisable and lowerable, at least at a cabin side of a door glass and is configured to block the door glass when raised
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a vehicle illumination system (10), including: interior lighting (50) provided in a vehicle (12) that is operable in a manual driving mode and in an autonomous driving mode; a detection device (52), provided in the vehicle, that detects an ambient light level outside the vehicle; a first control unit (62), provided in the vehicle, that controls switching on and switching off of headlights on the basis of a detection result from the detection device; and a second control (64) unit that controls an illumination level of the interior lighting, such that the illumination level of the interior light when the headlights have been switched on while the vehicle is in the autonomous driving mode is higher than the illumination level of the interior lighting when the headlights have been switched on while the vehicle is in the manual driving mode.