A steering assembly for a vehicle includes a tilt steering wheel which is capable of being positioned in at least one steering position and at least one non-steering position, wherein the tilt steering wheel can be locked in the at least one non-steering position by a first locking mechanism. The steering assembly includes a second locking mechanism for additionally locking the tilt steering wheel in the at least one non-steering position, wherein the second locking mechanism comprises a locking device which is movable from a locking position into a release position and vice versa using an actuating mechanism.

A method of producing a functional vehicle component includes fixing a leather sheet over a surface of a vehicle component, applying a flexible electronic circuit to an A-surface of the leather sheet, and arranging a pigmented coating over the circuit. The pigmented coating inhibits or prevents the circuit from being visible through the pigmented coating. The method may include attaching an electronic element, such as a light source, a sensor, a wireless transmitter, or a switch, to the circuit. When the circuit includes a light source, the pigmented coating inhibits or prevents the light source from being visible through the pigmented coating, but light emitted by the light source is visible through the pigmented coating.

A method of producing a functional vehicle component includes fixing a leather sheet over a surface of a vehicle component, applying a flexible electronic circuit to an A-surface of the leather sheet, and arranging a pigmented coating over the circuit. The pigmented coating inhibits or prevents the circuit from being visible through the pigmented coating. The method may include attaching an electronic element, such as a light source, a sensor, a wireless transmitter, or a switch, to the circuit. When the circuit includes a light source, the pigmented coating inhibits or prevents the light source from being visible through the pigmented coating, but light emitted by the light source is visible through the pigmented coating.

An illumination unit for an interior chamber of a vehicle includes at least one light source integrated into a surface side of a sun shield facing towards an occupant in a non-usage position of the sun shield. The at least one light source emits light in the activated state which is directed towards the occupant. A covering element is provided for covering a light outlet surface of the light source.

A method for controlling a lighting system of a motor vehicle including a generator for generating a pulse-width modulated signal having a first peak intensity or a second peak intensity higher than the first peak intensity, and a light source. The method includes reception of an instruction to emit a light beam according to a given target luminous flux, selection of a peak intensity from the first and second peak intensities depending on the given target luminous flux. Also included is determination of a target duty cycle of a pulse-width modulated signal having the selected peak intensity depending on the given target luminous flux and the efficiency of the light source, and generation of a target signal having the selected peak intensity and the determined target duty cycle and provision of the target signal to the light source.

A method and apparatus include attaching a lighted cup holder to a seating arrangement. The lighted cup holder includes a cup holder body and a light-producing light source, with the cup holder body being attached to the seating arrangement and having a cup receptacle therein, the light-producing source being disposed within the cup receptacle for illuminating the receptacle. A light-sensitive element operatively connected to the light source selectively controls production of light by the light source in such a manner that illumination of the cup holder is provided only under conditions where visibility is reduced to the point that it becomes difficult to locate the cup holder. The light-sensitive element is mounted on a master lighted cup holder and controls illumination of the master lighted cup holder and one or more slave lighted cup holders operatively connected to the master lighted cup holder.

A method and apparatus include attaching a lighted cup holder to a seating arrangement. The lighted cup holder includes a cup holder body and a light-producing light source, with the cup holder body being attached to the seating arrangement and having a cup receptacle therein, the light-producing source being disposed within the cup receptacle for illuminating the receptacle. A light-sensitive element operatively connected to the light source selectively controls production of light by the light source in such a manner that illumination of the cup holder is provided only under conditions where visibility is reduced to the point that it becomes difficult to locate the cup holder. The light-sensitive element is mounted on a master lighted cup holder and controls illumination of the master lighted cup holder and one or more slave lighted cup holders operatively connected to the master lighted cup holder.

A device for controlling emotional lighting of a vehicle allows a driver and a passenger of the vehicle to emotionally view an external landscape through a door glass. Such a device includes: a camera for recording a video of a surrounding region of the vehicle; an emotional lighting device for irradiating light toward the door glass of the vehicle; and a controller for controlling the emotional lighting device to detect a representative color within the video of the surrounding region and irradiate light of a color corresponding to the representative color.

The disclosed subject matter generally relates to a lighting device including at least two optical output modules for jointly providing transformable output light. The transformable output light is transformable a diffuse light output and a light output that has higher contrast than the diffuse light. Accordingly, the inventors realized that an enhanced user experience for vehicle occupants is provided by a lighting device that can seamlessly transform its output light between diffuse light to more high contrast light. For example, a vehicle interior component may be illuminated with a diffuse light when it is in one state, e.g. when it is not used. In a second state, when the component is used or intended to be used, it may be illuminated with a high contrast light to provide the user with more helpful assist light.

A method for visualizing an inclination of a motor vehicle in the motor vehicle, in which the inclination of the motor vehicle is measured and made visible in the interior of the motor vehicle. The inclination is made visible by interior lighting of the motor vehicle. At least one virtual plane is formed, which intersects the motor vehicle horizontally when the latter is in a horizontal position and serves as a reference plane for displaying the inclination. Changes in the inclination of the motor vehicle are modeled dynamically by the interior lighting by the sequential and/or parallel activation of illuminants of the interior lighting.