GB2597973A

GB2597973A - Illumination system for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2597973A
Application number: GB2012604.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Papp Ethan; Plewe Sarah; Gee Kevin
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2020-08-13
Filing date: 2020-08-13
Publication date: 2022-02-16
Also published as: GB202012604D0

Abstract

The invention relates to an illumination system (26) for a vehicle (12), the illumination system (26) comprising light sources (30) arranged in the interior (10) of the vehicle (12), wherein the illumination system (26) may be configured to perform a greeting procedure comprising detecting an opening process in which at least one initially closed door (18) of the vehicle (12) is opened, and upon detecting the opening process: activating the initially deactivated light sources (30) in a fade-in manner in which a brightness of light emitted by the light sources (30) is gradually increased.

Description

ILLUMINATION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to an illumination system for a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] US 6 081 191 A shows a light bar for mounting on an emergency vehicle to provide warning signals. The light bar comprises a body portion adapted to be mounted on the emergency vehicle. The light bar further comprises a first transient light source on the body portion having a first mode in which the light source rotates or oscillates and having a second mode in which the first light source is selectively positioned at different fixed positions. In US 6 081 191 A the light bar is arranged outside an interior of the emergency vehicle such that the light bar cannot be used for positively influencing the driving experience of persons in the interior. Therefore there is a need in the art for a more efficient method and/or system for a vehicle's interior lighting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide an illumination system for a vehicle such that a particularly good driving experience may be provided for at least one person in the vehicle.

[0004] This object is solved by an illumination system for a vehicle having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims.

[0005] The invention relates to an illumination system for a vehicle, in particular for a passenger vehicle. The illumination system comprises light sources which are arranged in the interior of the vehicle. For example, the light sources are part of an illumination structure of the illumination system, wherein the illumination structure is arranged in the interior of the vehicle. Preferably, the illumination system may comprise a plurality of illumination structures each arranged in the interior of the vehicle, wherein each illumination structure may comprise a plurality of light sources.

[0006] The illumination system is configured to perform a greeting procedure comprising a first step in which an opening process is detected in which at least one initially closed door of the vehicle is opened. For example, at least one sensor of the vehicle detects that the initially closed door, which may be configured as a side door, is opened, and thereby detects the opening process, in particular a start of the opening process. The sensor may provide a signal, in particular an electric signal, the signal being indicative of the opening process. For example, the illumination structure may receive said signal and thereby detect the opening process (i.e. that the door is opened). The greeting procedure comprises a second step which may be performed after performing the first step. The second step is performed upon detecting the opening process. In the second step, the initially deactivated light sources are activated in a fade-in manner. When the light sources are deactivated, the light sources do not emit any light. By activating the light sources, light is emitted by the light sources, wherein said light emitted by the light sources is radiated into the interior. In said fade-in manner a brightness of the light emitted by the activated light sources is gradually increased. Thus, the fade-in manner, in particular the greeting procedure, is a light animation or light movement.

[0007] Alternatively, or additionally, the illumination system is configured to perform an engine start procedure which comprises a first step in which a starting process is detected. In the starting process an initially switched off engine of the vehicle is turned on. This means that the engine for instance, a combustion engine, configured to activate the vehicle. For example, the initially switched off engine may be activated in such a way that a person such as the driver of the vehicle being in the interior operates an operating element arranged in the interior. Said operating element detects its operation performed or effected by said person. Upon detecting its operation, the operating element may provide a start signal, in particular an electric start signal, wherein the start signal is indicative of the detected operation of the operating element. The illumination system may receive the start signal thereby detecting the starting process for starting the engine.

[0008] The engine start procedure comprises a second step which may be performed after the first step of the engine start procedure. The second step of the engine start procedure is performed upon detecting the starting process. In the second step of the engine start procedure at least one sequence is performed by the illumination system. In said sequence the initially deactivated light sources are activated in a fade-in manner in which a brightness of light emitted by the light sources is gradually increased, whereupon, in said sequence the brightness of the light emitted by the light source is gradually decreased and whereupon the light sources are deactivated again. Preferably, said sequence is repeated multiple times, in particular at least or exactly three times, in a row.

[0009] Alternatively or additionally, the illumination system is configured to perform a drive context procedure. The drive context procedure comprises a first step in which, in response to a change of revolutions of the activated engine configured to drive the vehicle, a color of light emitted from the activated light sources is changed. Alternatively or additionally, the drive context procedure comprises a second step in which, in response to a lateral and/or longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, a first subset of the light sources is activated and a second subset of the light sources is deactivated such that, at least during a time span, the first subset is or stays activated whilst the second subset is or stays deactivated. Preferably, the respective second subset comprises more than one of the light sources of the illumination structure.

[0010] The invention may increase an emotional experience of a person being in the interior and using, in particular driving, the vehicle since the illumination system according to the present invention responds to certain functions and/or to changes in certain functions of the vehicle, in particular by activating and/or deactivating the light sources and/or changing at least one characteristic of the light emitted by the light sources, wherein said characteristic may comprise the color and/or the brightness of the light emitted by the light sources. For example, said functions may comprise at least one of opening the door, starting the engine, changing the revolutions of the engine, accelerating and/or decelerating the vehicle thereby changing the acceleration of the vehicle, and changing the speed of the vehicle. Thus, for example, the driver of the vehicle may be notified by the illumination system when a certain speed or speed limit is exceeded by the vehicle. For example, the driver is notified by activating and/or deactivating the light sources and/or by changing the color and/or the brightness of a light emitted by the light sources.

[0011] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the accompanying drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone may be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The novel features and characteristics of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and/or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0013] Fig. 1 part of a schematic view of an interior of a vehicle comprising an illumination system according to the present invention; and [0014] Fig. 2 a diagram illustrating an operation of the illumination system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0015] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs.

[0016] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0017] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0018] The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by "comprises" or "comprise" does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0019] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0020] Fig. 1 shows, in a schematic view, part of an interior 10 of a vehicle 12 which may be a passenger vehicle. Preferably, the vehicle 12 is a motor vehicle comprising an engine configured to drive the vehicle. Moreover, the vehicle 12 comprises side doors 18 Furthermore, the vehicle 12 comprises an instrument panel 20 arranged in the interior 10. The vehicle 12 further comprises an illumination system 26 comprising several illumination structures 28a-c. The illumination structures 28a-c are arranged in the interior 10, and each illumination structure 28a-c comprises a plurality of light sources. In Fig. 1, the light sources of the illumination structure 28a are shown exemplarily, wherein the exemplarily shown light sources of the illumination structure 28a are designated by 30. The previous and subsequent declarations and explanations regarding the illumination structure 28a may also be transferred to the illumination structures 28b and 28c and vice versa. The light sources 30 may be controlled, in particular electrically controlled, by an electronic computing device which is also referred to as an electronic control unit 14. For example, by controlling the activation and/or deactivation of the light sources 30. Moreover, by controlling the light sources 30, for example a color and/or a brightness and/or another characteristic of light emitted by the light sources 30 may be adjusted (i.e. changed or varied). The illumination system 26 is a light system for the interior 10 of the vehicle 12. Preferably, the respective illumination structure 28a-c is or may comprise at least one light strip, which, for example, may comprise the light sources 30. For example, the light sources 30 are arranged along a line thereby forming said light strip. Preferably, the respective light source 30 may be a light-emitting diode which is also referred to as LED. Thus, the light sources are also referred to as LEDs. Thus, for example, said light system may comprise said light strips, which may be configured as LED light strips. Said light strips are mounted at desired locations based on the applicability of this invention. Moreover, preferably, the light system may comprise a software algorithm which may be performed or executed by the electronic control unit 14, wherein said software algorithm may control the light sources and thus the light strips. For example, the software algorithm and thus the electronic control unit 14 may be configured to control the light strips based on vehicle and driver contacts, in particular for providing a comfortable and/or emotional driving experience to at least one person such as the driver being in the interior 10 of the vehicle 12. As shown in Fig. 1, the illumination structure 28a, which may be configured as one of said light strips, may be arranged on a first one of the doors 18. The illumination structure 28c which may be configured as a second one of said light strips may be mounted on another door 18. Furthermore, the illumination structure 28b which may be configured as a third one of said light strips may be arranged on the instrument panel 20, in particular in the vicinity of a windshield of the vehicle 12. Thus, the illumination structure 28b is also referred to as a windshield light bar. Since the illumination structure 28a is arranged on a driver's side, the illumination structure 28a is also referred to as a driver's door light bar. Moreover, since the illumination structure 28c is arranged on the co-driver's side, the illumination structure 28c is also referred to as a co-driver's door light bar or as a passenger door light bar. The LED light strips may provide visual feedback via colors and/or animation and/or movements which are driven by said software algorithm. As will be explained in greater detail below, the software algorithm may be composed of behaviors to match different contexts. A first one of the contexts may comprise a person's entry, for instance a driver's entry, into the interior 10 of the vehicle 12 and thus into the vehicle 12. A second one of the contexts may comprise a start of said engine, wherein the start of the engine is also referred to as vehicle engine start. A third one of said contexts is a real-time drive context which may comprise revolutions of the engine, at least one acceleration of the vehicle 12, and a drive mode of the vehicle 12, wherein the drive mode is also referred to as a vehicle drive mode.

[0021] In the following, the driver's entry into the vehicle will be explained in more details. The LEDs mounted in the interior 10 as shown in Fig. 1 may be activated upon the driver's entry into the vehicle 12. This is to create a greeting effect from the interior 10 of the vehicle 12. The software algorithm is configured to wait for the driver door open CAN signal, which may be indicative of an opening process in which the initially closed door 18 on the driver's side is opened. Upon receiving said signal, the software algorithm illuminates or activates all LEDs in a color of the user's choice. This means, for example, the illumination system 26 may be configured to receive at least one input by a person such as the driver, the input being indicative of a color. In this regard, preferably, the illumination system 26 may be configured to adjust, in response to the received input, a color of the light emitted by the light sources in such a way that the color of the light emitted by the activated light sources corresponds to the light the input is indicative of. The illumination or activation of the light sources is composed of a fade-in animation starting from 0% brightness to 100% brightness of the light emitted by the light sources, and after a configurable amount of time, which may be 10 s, back to 0% brightness again. In other words, the initially deactivated light sources are activated in a fade-in manner in which the brightness of the light emitted by the light sources is gradually increased, whereupon the brightness of the light emitted by the light sources is gradually decreased and whereupon the light sources are deactivated again. Another option may be composed of a fade-in and fade-out animation, starting from 0% brightness of the light emitted by the light sources to 100% brightness, and back to 0% brightness again, in a configurable number of repetitions.

[0022] in one embodiment, the plurality of LEDs mounted in the interior 10 are activated upon starting the initially switched off engine. This adds to an emotional engine start up experience. When the engine is started, the software algorithm is configured to pulse the LED light strips in a, for example, red color and to a rhythm mimicking that of a human heartbeat. This heartbeat animation is composed of fading from 0% brightness to 100% brightness in a specific pattern over 1 s, wherein said pattern is shown in Fig. 2 and designated by 32. Thereupon, a fading from 100% brightness to 0% brightness in the specific pattern is performed over 1 s. Fig. 2 shows a diagram, wherein time is plotted on the abscissa 34, and the brightness is plotted on the ordinate 36 in the unit %. Fig. 2

S

shows that the LEDs are controlled on the basis of the pattern 32 effecting a sequence in which the brightness of the light emitted by the light sources is faded from 0% to 100% brightness over 1 s, whereupon the brightness is faded from 100% brightness to 0% brightness over 1 s again. The pattern 32, i.e. said sequence, may be repeated three times in row, for example, for simulating a heartbeat rate of 30 beats per minute.

[0023] In the following, the third context (real-time drive context) will be explained: while driving the vehicle 12, the LEDs mounted in the interior 10 may react to real-time vehicle context which may be extracted from a vehicle data bus, such as a vehicle CAN bus. For example, the LEDs may respond to revolutions of the engine, wherein, for example, said revolutions are revolutions per minute (RPM). In this regard, the LEDs may respond to the RPM, in particular to a vehicle RPM signal being indicative of revolutions of the engine. Moreover, preferably, the LEDs may respond to the vehicle RPM signal by changing the color of the light emitted by the light source. The range of colors emitted by the light sources may be adjusted or may be dynamically calculated by dividing the addressable red (R), green (G), blue (B) values of the LED light strips by the current RPM of the engine. The goal of the color change is to visually assist the driver with the correct time to shift gears. In summary, in real time, said vehicle RPM signal may be used to create more visual context and interaction between the vehicle 12 and its driver. For example, when the engine is idling at, for example, 950 RPM, the color of the light emitted by the light sources is green. Moreover, for example, if the RPM have a value of 4000 or more, the color is yellow. Moreover, for example, when hitting the rev-limiter and/or when the value of the RPM is 8200 or higher, the color is red.

[0024] Alternatively or additionally, the LEDs may respond to the vehicle's lateral and/or longitudinal acceleration to assist the driver via a visual 0-force meter. In this regard, for example, the software algorithm may monitor the lateral and longitudinal forces reported by the data bus every 100 ms while driving the vehicle 12. Upon surpassing a numerical threshold in the lateral direction (e.g. going around a turn), the software algorithm may activate a first subset of LEDs corresponding to the amount of lateral acceleration experience. Thus, at least a region of the respective LED light strip is activated. The activated region of LEDs is colored white for distinguishability from the other LEDs (e.g. as a result of the RPM signal described above). Part of the lateral acceleration will cause the subset of LEDs to visually animate to the right of the LED strip halfway point. The distance the subset of LEDs animate to the right is determined by the amount of positive lateral acceleration experience. Negative lateral acceleration will cause the subset of LEDs to visually animate to the left of the LED strip halfway point. The distance is determined by the amount of negative lateral acceleration experience. Once the lateral acceleration has fallen beneath the threshold for a set amount of time, the subset of LEDs (white in color) will be deactivated, restarting whatever color there was previously (e.g. as a result of the RPM as described above). Positive vehicle acceleration in the longitudinal direction may cause more LEDs to become illuminated, starting from a pre-determined subset of LEDs which is also referred to as a steady state, surrounding the halfway point of the light strip and expanding outwards until all LEDs are illuminated. The outward LED expansion is controlled by the software algorithm and is directly related in real time to the amount of longitudinal force experienced, as reported from a longitudinal-force data bus signal. Negative vehicle acceleration in the longitudinal direction may cause less LEDs to be illuminated until only the original pre-determined subset of LEDs (steady state) is active.

[0025] With respect to the vehicle drive mode, all LED color and visualization on/offstates may be controlled by the vehicle driver. In normal driving mode, LEDs and visualizations are disabled. A sport mode, a sport+ mode and a race mode may activate the LED color and visualization behavior as described above.

[0026] In the following, a lateral acceleration 0-meter will be described. Lateral acceleration is defined by the vehicle 12 and for use in this disclosure as follows: a value -650 m/s2 and +650 m/s2, where positive values indicate that the vehicle 12 is experiencing positive acceleration with respect to the center of the vehicle (turning the steering wheel to the left), and negative values indicate that the vehicle 12 is experiencing negative acceleration (turning the steering wheel to the right) with respect to the center of the vehicle 12. In order to calculate how far to move the 0-meter visualization (white LED area), the following equation is evaluated every 100 ms (LED indices begin at the first LED in the LED light strip, in this case, the LED furthest to the left on the instrument panel 20 which is also referred to as a dashboard): If (lateral Acceleration is positive) Center LED of G meter visualization = centerLEDIndex + ( lateralAcceleration * (1 / (number0fLEDs / 2)) ) If (lateral Acceleration is negative) Center LED of G meter visualization = centerLEDIndex -( I lateralAcceleration " (1 / (number0fLEDs / 2)) ) [0027] The white LED 0-meter is providing visual lateral acceleration feedback to the driver in the form of a scaled value (scaled by the number of LEDs in the light strip divided by two) of the lateral acceleration acting upon the vehicle 12. The white LED visualization illuminates from 0% brightness to 100% brightness only when the lateral acceleration exceeds a configurable threshold. The white LED visualization fades to 0% brightness once the lateral acceleration falls below a configurable threshold.

Reference Signs interior 12 vehicle 14 electronic control unit 18 side door instrument panel 26 illumination system 28a-c illumination structure light sources 32 pattern 34 abscissa 36 ordinate

Claims

CLAIMS1. An illumination system (26) for a vehicle (12), the illumination system (26) comprising light sources (30) arranged in the interior (10) of the vehicle (12), wherein the illumination system (26) is configured to perform: -a greeting procedure comprising: o detecting an opening process in which at least one initially closed door (18) of the vehicle (12) is opened; and o upon detecting the opening process: activating the initially deactivated light sources (30) in a fade-in manner in which a brightness of light emitted by the light sources (30) is gradually increased; and/or an engine start procedure comprising: o detecting a starting process in which an initially switched off engine of the vehicle (12) is started; and o upon detecting the starting process: performing at least one sequence in which the initially deactivated light sources (30) are activated in a fade-in manner in which a brightness of light emitted by the light sources (30) is gradually increased, whereupon the brightness of the light emitted by the light sources (30) is gradually decreased and the light sources (30) are deactivated again; and/or -a drive context procedure comprising: o changing, in response to a change of revolutions of an activated engine configured to drive the vehicle (12), a color of light emitted by the activated light sources (30); and/or o in response to a lateral and/or longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle (12): activating a first subset of the light sources (30) and deactivating a second subset of the light sources (30) such that, at least during a time span, the first subset is activated whilst the second subset is deactivated.
2. The illumination system (26) according to claim wherein the illumination system (26) is configured to: -receive at least one input by a person, the input being indicative of a color; and adjust, in response to the received input, a color of light emitted by the light sources (30) in such a way that the color of the light emitted by the activated light sources (30) corresponds to the light the input is indicative of.
3. The illumination system (26) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sequence is repeated multiple times in a row.
4. The illumination system (26) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein light-emitting diodes are used as the light sources (30).
5. The illumination system (26) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light sources (30) are arranged along a line thereby forming a light strip.