Moon roof with integrated ambient lighting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10358084-B2
Application number	US-201715806726-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2017
Priority date	Nov 8, 2017
Publication date	Jul 23, 2019
Grant date	Jul 23, 2019

Abstract

A lighting system for a vehicle cabin is discloses and includes a light directing conduit disposed about at least a portion of an opening through a vehicle roof. A pin spot uses light from the light directing conduit for localized lighting within the vehicle interior.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lighting system for a vehicle cabin comprising:
a light directing conduit disposed about at least a portion of an opening through a vehicle roof;
at least one light source disposed at an end of the light directing conduit; and
a pin spot in communication with the light directing conduit, the pin spot directing light from the light directing conduit away from the opening.

2. The lighting system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the light directing conduit includes an optical structure for directing light toward the pin spot.

3. The lighting system as recited in claim 1 , including a channel including a slot facing the opening and the light directing conduit supported within the channel and directing light through the slot toward the opening.

4. The lighting system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the channel includes a pin spot opening extending transverse to the slot within which a portion of a pin spot tube is disposed.

5. The lighting system as recited in claim 4 , including a headliner portion defining an interior surface of roof of the vehicle about the opening through the vehicle roof, the headliner portion including a headliner opening receiving the pin spot tube and a pin spot bezel.

6. The lighting system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pin spot includes a plurality of pin spots disposed about the opening through the vehicle roof with each of the plurality of pin spots in communication with the light directing conduit for directing light away from the opening.

7. The lighting system as recited in claim 6 , including a controller governing operation of the at least one light source responsive to a position of at least one of a closure panel and shade movable over the opening in the vehicle roof.

8. The lighting system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the controller decreases an intensity of light directed into the light directing conduit responsive to the shade being in an open position and the closure panel being in a closed position.

9. The lighting system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the controller increases an intensity of light directed into the light directing conduit responsive to the shade and the closure panel being in an open position.

10. A lighting system for a vehicle cabin comprising:
a light directing conduit disposed about at least a portion of an opening through a vehicle roof;
at least one light source disposed at an end of the light directing conduit; and
a controller governing operation of the at least one light source responsive to a position of at least one of a closure panel and shade movable over the opening in the vehicle roof.

11. The lighting system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the controller decreases an intensity of light directed into the light directing conduit responsive to the shade being in an open position and the closure panel being in a closed position.

12. The lighting system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the controller increases an intensity of light directed into the light directing conduit responsive to the shade and the closure panel being in an open position.

13. The lighting system as recited in claim 10 , including a controller adjusting at least one light characteristic responsive to a position at least one of a shade, a closure panel and a color of a headliner surrounding the opening through the vehicle roof.

14. The lighting system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the controller adjusts a color emitted by the at least one light source responsive to a determination that at least one of the closure panel and shade is moving.

15. A method of operating a lighting system for a vehicle cabin comprising:
directing light from a light source through at least one light directing conduit disposed about at least a portion of an opening through a vehicle roof; and
varying a characteristic of the light being directed through the light directing conduit with a controller responsive to a sensed position of at least one of a closure panel and shade movable over the opening in the vehicle roof.

16. The method of operating a lighting system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the controller decreases an intensity of light directed into the light directing conduit responsive to the shade being in an open position and the closure panel being in a closed position.

17. The method of operating a lighting system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the controller increases an intensity of light directed into the light directing conduit responsive to the shade and the closure panel being in an open position.

18. The method of operating a lighting system as recited in claim 15 , including varying the light characteristic responsive to a color of a headliner surrounding the opening through the vehicle roof.

19. The method of operating a lighting system as recited in claim 15 , including varying a color of light emitted into the light directing conduit responsive movement of one of the shade and the closure panel.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Nania Adrian
• Vemulapati Satyanarayana Raju
• Dellock Paul Kenneth

Classifications

• B60J7/0007

  moveable head-liners, screens, curtains or blinds for ceilings · CPC title

• B60Q3/20

  for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments (lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title

• B60Q3/54

  Lighting devices embedded in interior trim, e.g. in roof liners · CPC title

• B60Q3/74

  for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps (general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43) · CPC title

• B60Q3/80

  Circuits; Control arrangements (for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47) · CPC title