Lighting system and control method using fluid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12043172-B2
Application number	US-202117337955-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 3, 2021
Priority date	Nov 10, 2020
Publication date	Jul 23, 2024
Grant date	Jul 23, 2024

Abstract

A lighting system using fluid for a vehicle includes: a first flow path configured in an interior part of the vehicle, and receiving fluid stored in the vehicle and guiding a flow of fluid; a lighting part disposed inside the vehicle to radiate light toward the first flow path; and a controller for receiving state information of the vehicle, and providing the state information of the vehicle to a passenger by controlling the flow of fluid flowing through the first flow path or the lighting part according to the state information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lighting system using fluid for a vehicle, the lighting system comprising:
a first flow path configured in an interior part of the vehicle, the first flow path configured to receive fluid stored in the vehicle and guide a flow of fluid;
a lighting part disposed inside the vehicle, having a configuration to radiate light toward the first flow path; and
a controller for receiving state information of the vehicle, and providing the state information of the vehicle to a passenger by controlling the flow of fluid flowing through the first flow path or the lighting part according to the state information.

2. The lighting system according to claim 1 , wherein the first flow path has a scattering device configured to flow in an inner space of the first flow path, and
wherein the scattering device is configured to scatter light radiated from the lighting part according to a flow motion of the scattering device.

3. The lighting system according to claim 2 , wherein the scattering device has a panel shape and rotatably disposed inside the first flow path about a rotary axis, and
wherein the panel is configured to rotate with respect to the rotary axis by fluid flowing inside the first flow path and to scatter light radiated from the lighting part.

4. The lighting system according to claim 1 , wherein the lighting part is arranged in parallel with the first flow path and includes:
a light source for radiating light; and
a diffusion part for diffusing light radiated from the light source toward the first flow path.

5. The lighting system according to claim 1 , wherein fluid stored in the vehicle is water generated by a fuel cell.

6. The lighting system according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a main tank for storing the water generated by the fuel cell;
a second flow path configured to guide a flow of the water generated by the fuel cell and then discharged from the main tank; and
a humidification part for receiving the water from the second flow path and configured to humidify an inlet air of the fuel cell.

7. The lighting system according to claim 6 , wherein the first flow path receives the water generated by the fuel cell from the main tank.

8. The lighting system according to claim 6 , further comprising a valve configured to be selectively open and close for distributing the water discharged from the main tank to the first flow path or the second flow path.

9. The lighting system according to claim 8 , wherein, when the humidification of the inlet air of the fuel cell is required and the valve is a three-way valve, the valve is controlled to be selectively open and close to supply the water discharged from the main tank to the first flow path and then to supply the water to the second flow path.

10. The lighting system according to claim 8 ,
wherein, when the water of a predetermined amount or more is stored in the main tank or the humidification of the inlet air of the fuel cell is not required and the valve is controlled to be selectively open and closed to supply the water discharged from the main tank to the second flow path, and then to supply the water to the first flow path.

11. A control method of a lighting system using fluid for a vehicle, the method comprising:
transferring fluid stored in the vehicle to a first flow path configured in an interior part of the vehicle;
radiating light toward the first flow path using a lighting part disposed inside the vehicle;
receiving, by a controller, state information of the vehicle; and
providing the state information of the vehicle to a passenger by controlling a flow of fluid flowing through the first flow path or the lighting part according to the state information.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the providing the state information of the vehicle includes visually providing the state information to the passenger by adjusting a flow rate of fluid discharged or changing a brightness or color of light radiated by the lighting part, by the controller.

13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein fluid stored in the vehicle to the first flow path is water generated by a fuel cell.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the transferring fluid to the first flow path includes, in a case in which the water of a predetermined level or more is stored in the main tank, storing the water generated by the fuel cell in a main tank of the lighting system and discharging the water to the first flow path.

15. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising humidifying inlet air of the fuel cell by a humidification part which receives the water discharged from a main tank through a second flow path.

16. The method according to claim 15 , the storing the water generated by the fuel cell includes, in a case in which the water of a predetermined level or more is stored in the main tank or humidification of the inlet air of the fuel cell is required, discharging the water to the first flow path and then transferring the water to the humidification part through the second flow path.

17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the storing the water generated by the fuel cell includes, in a case in which the water of a predetermined level in the main tank or the humidification of the inlet air of the fuel cell is not required, discharging the water to the humidification part and then discharging to the first flow path.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Lee Sang Shin
• Lee Yun Jee
• Cho Han Na
• Song Ji Hyun
• Lee Kyung Chan

Classifications

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• B60H1/00278

  for the battery · CPC title

• F21S10/002

  using liquids, e.g. water · CPC title

• B60R16/08

  fluid · CPC title

• B60Q2500/20

  associated with air conditioning arrangements · CPC title