1. Field of the Invention
In at least one aspect, the present invention relates to color adjustable vehicle interior lighting.
2. Background Art
Competitive pressure places a persistent demand on automobile manufacturers and suppliers to improve aesthetics and functionality of vehicle components. Numerous vehicle interior components include illumination sources to enhance visibility or to provide a pleasing environment. Instrument panels, the vehicle cabin, glove compartment, and other storage component typically include lighting to improve visibility. Door panels sometimes include lightening to provide an aesthetically pleasing mood. This latter variation is usually referred to as mood lighting.
Prior art light schemes in automobile interiors utilize incandescent lighting, electroluminescent lighting, and the like. Although these lighting elements work reasonably well, each requires relatively frequent replacement which is at best inconvenient. Moreover, the relatively short life of these prior art lighting elements limits the complexity of lightening applications that are useful in automotive interiors.
Accordingly, there exists a need for improved lighting systems to be included in automobile interiors.
The present invention solves one or more problems of the prior art by providing in at least one embodiment, an illuminated automobile interior component. The illuminated automobile interior component is able to provide mood lighting, light for either illumination, or both, depending on the desire of the automobile manufacturer. An automobile interior component design to provide both mood light and light for illumination may optionally be set by a user. The automobile interior component of the present embodiment includes an LED assembly attached to a plurality of light-emitting diodes. Each light-emitting diode of the plurality of light-emitting diodes emits light with a characteristic visible light spectrum. The light emitted from each light-emitting diode of the plurality of light-emitting diodes is combined together to produce a combined light characterized by a first predetermined color. In order to set the intensity of light emitted from each diode, a controller assembly that adjusts the light emitted from each light-emitting diode is in communication with the plurality of light-emitting diodes. Inclusion of an optional activation switch allows either activation or deactivation of the plurality of light emitting diodes or transition from the first predetermined color to a second predetermined color.
Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred compositions, embodiments and methods of the present invention, which constitute the best modes of practicing the invention presently known to the inventors. The Figures are not necessarily to scale. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for any aspect of the invention and/or as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
Except in the examples, or where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word “about” in describing the broadest scope of the invention.
It is also to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific embodiments and methods described below, as specific components and/or conditions may, of course, vary. Furthermore, the terminology used herein is used only for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to be limiting in any way.
It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular form “a”, “an”, and “the” comprise plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. For example, reference to a component in the singular is intended to comprise a plurality of components.
Throughout this application, where publications are referenced, the disclosures of these publications in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this application to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains.
With reference to
In a variation of the present embodiment, LED lighting system 12 includes control switch 26 which is in communication with controller assembly 24. Control switch 26 allows a vehicle occupant to input information regarding a desired color to be outputted from the plurality of light-emitting diodes 18.
In a variation of the present embodiment, plurality of light-emitting diode 18 comprises 3 light-emitting diodes. Typically, a diodes emitting each of the primary colors or an approximation thereto will be utilized. For example, in this variation, plurality of light-emitting diode 18 may include blue light-emitting diode 28, red light-emitting diode 30, and a green light-emitting diode 32.
In another variation of the present invention, LED lighting system 12 includes activation switch 34. Activation switch 34 is operable to either activate or deactivate the plurality of light emitting diodes (i.e., operate as an on/off switch) or to transition the emitted light from the first predetermined color to a second predetermined color. In a particularly useful variation of the present embodiment, activation switch 34 comprises a proximity sensor. Examples of proximity sensors include, but are not limited to, infrared proximity sensors and capacitive proximity sensors. In a refinement of this latter variation, light emitted from the plurality of light-emitting diodes switches from the first predetermined color to the second predetermined color when an object is with a predetermined distance of the proximity sensor. In one refinement the first predetermined color is for mood effect. In another refinement, the second predetermined color is provided for better visibility (e.g., white light) than the first predetermined color. When the second predefined color is white, the second predetermined color is formed by a combination of light from several light-emitting diodes or from a white light emitting diode.
LED lighting system 12 may be integrated into any automobile interior component in which lighting is desired. In one particularly useful, plurality of light-emitting diodes 16 are integrated into a vehicle interior door panel in order to provided mood lighting and/or lightening to enhance visibility. In a further refinement to such an application, plurality of light-emitting diodes 16 are positioned proximate to a map pocket to allow enhanced visibility when an occupant seek access to such a map pocket.
With reference to
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.