A vehicle interior illumination system includes: a master control unit; slave control units configured to perform multiplex communication with the master control unit and control a light source mounted on a vehicle in accordance with an instruction of the master control unit; a multiplex communication line configured to connect the master control unit to the slave control units; and a wireless control unit that is connected to the multiplex communication line and configured to perform wireless communication with an external device. The wireless control unit is configured to receive setting information on vehicle interior illumination from the external device and transmit the setting information to the master control unit via the multiplex communication line. The master control unit is configured to transmit a control instruction to the slave control unit to control the light source in accordance with the setting information.

A holographic projection system and method are implemented by a projection device provided on the vehicle; a water mist generating device for generating water mist provided on the vehicle; and a controller in communication with the projection device and the water mist generating device. The controller is configured to detect a signal of user proximity to the vehicle, and activate the water mist generating device and the projection device respectively based on the detected signal, so that the projection device projects an image onto the water mist.

A vehicle indication alert system for improving vehicle visibility for pedestrians and other motorists. The vehicle indication alert system increases the number of turn indicators on a vehicle, so the direction of the turn is more accurately known. The indicators are built directly into a vehicle windshield at the time of manufacture, and alternatively, are added as an after-market feature to an existing vehicle windshield.

A method and apparatus for an adaptable vehicle light fixture is provided to activate directional illumination aspects of the light fixture based upon sensed characteristics of the vehicle. The vehicle may automatically sense its position, speed, acceleration, heading and angular velocity and may command the light fixture to emit symmetric and/or asymmetric beam patterns based upon the sensed vehicle characteristics. Directional light incident upon the light fixture may also be detected to allow intensity control thereby reducing glare to oncoming traffic. A vehicle light fixture may be pre-configured with lenses and wirelessly programmed for manual and/or automatic operation that is responsive to the pre-configuration. A plurality of vehicles with light fixtures mounted thereon comprise a network of light fixtures that are manually or adaptively controlled as a group.

A motor vehicle includes headlamps having a plurality of LED light sources, one or more processors, and a memory storing instructions. One or more processors executing the instructions are enabled to receive first data, including at least map data, indicating a road curvature upcoming along a road on which the motor vehicle is traveling. The processors are also enabled to determine a light change, the change adapting a light pattern of the headlamps in at least one of color, intensity or spatial distribution to increase light in a direction of the road curvature ahead of the motor vehicle and shaping light based at least in part on the road curvature. The processors are further enabled to control at least a first plurality of the LED light sources to provide light based at least in part on the determined light change and prior to the motor vehicle reaching the road curvature.

A system for adaptive lights for use in a vehicle includes a headlight configured to generate light to be at least partially directed away from the vehicle to illuminate a portion of an environment of the vehicle. The system further includes a sensor configured to detect data corresponding to an environmental condition in the environment of the vehicle. The system further includes an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the headlight and the sensor and configured to determine the environmental condition based on the detected data and to adjust an intensity and an orientation of the light generated by the headlight based on the environmental condition.

A method and a device for adjusting a light distribution of a vehicle headlight having a control unit for adjusting the light distribution. The headlight includes a number of light sources. The control unit includes an interface configured for receiving user-specified parameters for adjusting and/or modifying an illuminance distribution within the light distribution.

A lighting system for a vehicle and a corresponding motor vehicle is implemented with personalized or individualizable lighting functions. A part of a lighting device is reserved for implementing main lighting functions in accordance with legal requirements and another part of the lighting device is reserved for generating individualizable lighting functions. The part for individualizable lighting functions can be freely programmed and actuated via a user interface, such as a smartphone, within the scope of the technical power limitations of the individual lighting devices while taking into consideration legal requirements.

Interior panels for an interior of a vehicle, vehicles, and methods for making interior panels for an interior of a vehicle are provided. In one example, the interior panel includes a first trim section having a first exposed surface configured to face towards the interior. A second trim section that has a second exposed surface configured to face towards the interior is disposed adjacent to and spaced apart from the first trim section to define a gap. A first lighting array that includes light sources is configured to be disposed proximate the gap hidden from the interior by the second trim section. A controller is configured to be in communication with the first lighting array to independently direct each of the light sources to generate light that passes through the gap into the interior and illuminates the first exposed surface to define an illumination pattern.

An in-cabin lighting device has: a lighting section that emits light within a vehicle cabin, and that is configured to arbitrarily change a color of emitted light; a color detecting portion that detects a color of an detection target in a detection region that is set within the vehicle cabin; and a control section that changes the color of light emitted by the lighting section to the color detected by the color detecting portion.