IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLE DOOR LIGHTING
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to the interior door trim of a vehicle door and in particular, to an illuminated interior door trim and control method thereof.
Background of the invention
Interior door trims for motor vehicles typically comprise features such as armrests, door handles, door pulls and door pockets. These are all particularly sensitive to positioning and styling as they must be highly functional ergonomically as well as attractive.
It is known to illuminate a door handle to make it visible to the user in the dark.
Several methods for providing illumination to the handle are known, among them, embedding fibre-optic cables and integrating light sources such as LEDs directly into the handle or finger plate.
It is also known to provide the door with a light adjacent to the opening abutment surface to warn other road users at night when the door is ajar. This light is known as a door-open warning light or puddle light.
Obviously, the more features or component parts in a door the more expensive and complex the door assembly will be in production. The present invention seeks to combine some known elements of a door to provide the door with additional functionality whilst maintaining the functionality and improving the aesthetic properties of the door.
It is against this background that the present invention seeks to improve upon the known illuminated interior door handle or door-open warning light by providing an interior door trim assembly comprising means for illuminating the interior surface in response to the door being open.
Summary of the invention.
According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a door trim for a vehicle door comprising: a main panel; a door handle panel; an armrest panel; illumination means; and illumination control means, wherein the interior surface of the vehicle door is substantially covered by the main panel to which the door handle panel and armrest panel are mounted thereon and, wherein a gap, provided between each panel, is arranged to permit light from the illumination means to escape therebetween and, wherein an illumination setting comprising: illumination intensity; and illumination colour, is controlled by the illumination control means.
Advantageously, the panels of the door trim are assembled together separated by gaps which are illuminated, this avoids the need for additional light housings or light-covers as the means of illumination itself may be concealed within the door trim. Additionally, by effectively stacking or layering the panels of the door trim a single light source may be used to illuminate multiple regions around the door.
According to an embodiment, a first illumination setting is configured by the user via the illumination control means.
Advantageously, the present invention allows for the illumination intensity; and illumination colour to be independently configured by the user to provide an ambient light within the vehicle that may be personalised and adjusted as needed.
According to an embodiment, a second illumination setting is configured as a default setting within the illumination control means.
According to an embodiment, the illumination control means switches from the first illumination setting to the second illumination setting in dependence of the vehicle door being opened.
Advantageously, provision of a default setting allows for each door trim within a vehicle to be checked for correct function without the user or assembly operator having to re-adjust the settings for each vehicle.
According to an embodiment, the illumination control means switches from the second illumination setting to the first illumination setting in dependence of the vehicle door being closed.
Advantageously, reverting to the illumination settings configured by the user once the door has been closed provides a clear visual indication that the door has been closed correctly and avoids the need to re-configure the settings, According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of controlling an illumination system of a vehicle interior part, the method comprising: setting the colour and intensity of the illumination in dependence of a first setting configured by the user; monitoring the status of a openable door; and setting the colour and intensity of the illumination to a second setting configured as a system default in dependence of a door being opened.
Advantageously, the method of varying the door illumination in dependence of opening or closing the door provides an interior trim part for a vehicle which combines the valuable features of door illumination with the desirable option of vehicle personalisation.
It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the illuminated door and control means trim of the present invention may be suitable for use in applications unrelated to vehicles.
It will also be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the preferred and/or optional features relating to the present invention may be used either alone or in appropriate combination.
Brief Description of the Drawings
In order that the invention may be more readily understood reference is made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is side view of a door trim of the present invention as viewed from the interior of the vehicle; Figures 2 shows a section cut through the interior handle of the door trim of the present invention with a representation of a hand of a user, grasping the handle in use; Figure 3 shows a perspective rear view of the door trim of the present invention with the section of Figure 2 super-imposed upon it; and Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the door trim illumination controller.
Referring to Figure 1, the door trim 10 of the present invention may be seen fitted to the interior of a vehicle door 1. The door trim 10 comprises three overlaying trim elements. The first element or main panel 20 substantially covers the entire surface of the inner door. The second element or door-pull panel 30 overlays a portion of the first element 20 and is formed from a contrasting material. The third element or armrest panel 40 overlays a portion of the second element 30 and in the example shown, is formed from a material with substantially the same appearance as that of the first element 20.
The main panel 20 is provided with a substantially vertical face on which is mounted the door-pull panel 30. The door-pull panel 30 and armrest panels 40 are provided with a corresponding stepped surface. The stepped surface of the door-pull panel 30 is arranged to provide a suitable surface on which to mount an array of door switches 28, whereas the stepped surface of the armrest panel 40 is arranged to provide a suitable surface to provide an armrest feature 42.
The door-pull panel 30 is arranged so as to stand away from the main panel 20 so as to provide a first gap 21 between the two panels arranged to form a convenient door pull feature 22. The armrest panel 40 is arranged so as to stand away from the door-pull panel 30 so as to provide a second gap 31 between the two panels.
The door trim 10 of the present invention has a concealed light source (not shown) arranged to emit light between the trim panels via the first 21 and second 31 gaps. The resulting areas of illumination are shown as door pull illumination 25 and armrest illumination 35.
Also shown in Figure 1 is an air vent feature 27 arranged to demist the door glass and a door pocket feature 50 arranged to accommodate a variety of oddments or personal effects for the user. Although not shown in the Figure, the pocket feature 50 may also be provided with means for illumination. This door pocket illumination may take the form of a dedicated light source or a shared or distributed illumination means such as an integrated light guide.
It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the means of illuminating the door trims 10 may be integrated within the doors 1 located elsewhere in the vehicle and distributed between the doors via light guides such as fibre-optics.
Figure 2 shows a section cut through the door trim 10 of the present invention.
This clearly shows the relationship between the panels. Figure 2 also shows a representation of the user's hand grasping the door-pull feature 22. The gap 21, between the main panel 20 and door handle panel 30, is clearly shown. Also shown is light path for a door pocket illumination means 45 as described above.
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the section of Figure 2 overlaid onto the door trim 10 of Figure 2. The air vent feature 27 and door switch array 27 are shown clearly.
Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the door trim illumination controller 100. The door trim illumination controller 100 may be unique to a particular door 1 and integrated therein or may monitor and control all the doors of a vehicle and be positioned in any convenient location within the vehicle. The door trim illumination controller 100 constantly monitors the door open status 110 of each door 1. The door trim illumination controller 100 is primarily controlled via a user configurable interior lighting control panel 120. From this control panel 120, the colour and intensity of the door illumination means 130 may selectively be controlled by the user. However, when the vehicle door 1 is opened, the colour and intensity of the door illumination means 130 automatically reverts to a default safety setting', configured to warn other road users of the potential hazard of the open door 1. Once the door trim illumination controller 100 determines that the door 1 has been closed, the door illumination reverts to the user configured settings.
The door trim of the present invention provides the advantage that the door pull 22 and armrest 42 features are integrated into the door trim 10 without the necessity to assemble additional parts.
The door trim 10 of the present invention provides the additional advantage that the control of illumination temporarily resets interior illumination settings to a default safety setting', optimised to draw attention to the open door 1. This serves to improve visibility to other road users, warn the user that the door 1 is ajar and negate the need for specific warning lights around the abutment surfaces of the door 1.
The door trim 10 of the present invention is particularly useful when applied to doors 1 that may be opened substantially perpendicular to the vehicle, where the typical door-open warning lights in the door abutment surfaces are no-longer pointing in the direction of on-coming traffic.
Figures 5a to 5c shows additional views of the present invention in-situ within the vehicle 200. The door arrangement of the vehicle 200 has a conventional front door, hinged at the front edge and a rear door hinged from the rear edge. In this way, access to the interior of the vehicle is not obstructed by a conventional B' pillar.
In another embodiment of the present invention (not shown), an exterior door handle would also be provided with means of illumination. The illumination of the exterior handle would also be controlled, in response to the door 1 being opened, by the door lighting controller 100. In this way, at least a portion of the interior and exterior of the vehicle are illuminated in response to the door being opened.
Illuminated exterior door handles are typically only illuminated when the vehicle is being locked or un-locked or when the user pulls the handle. In each case, the exterior handle is only illuminated when there is no ignition key present in the ignition key barrel.
Other advantages will be apparent to one skilled in the art and the present examples and embodiments are to be considered illustrative and not restrictive.
The invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalence of the appended claims.