Disclosed is a vehicle lighting device intended to improve convenience and safety. A vehicle lighting device includes a light disposed in a vehicle interior, a controller controlling the light, and a detecting unit detecting position or motion of a detecting object by detecting a detection object at a plurality of positions, and the controller controls the light when the position or motion of the detection object is detected by the detecting unit.

Compact, multi-function rotational controllers or switches that allow an operator of a vehicle to simultaneously view the status of a plurality of related functions, and to easily change or toggle the status of each of the functions. A multi-function controller of the present disclosure may include a rotatable central control dial that is at least partially surrounded by a visual indicator panel that indicates a current status for the functions that are controlled by the multi-function controller. The multi-function controller may include a selected function indicator that indicates which of the plurality of related functions is currently selected, control input hardware that receives operator input, and control circuitry that toggles the state of the selected function responsive to such operator input. The multi-function controller may include an “all functions off” function that allows the operator to simultaneously turn all of the related functions off via a single input action.

Lighting may be provided using light sources such as lighting systems with arrays of light-emitting diodes. A lighting system may be integrated into a seat, a door panel, a dashboard, or other interior portions of a system such as a vehicle. The interior portions of the vehicle may be illuminated using lighting systems to provide ambient light, to provide custom surface textures and other decorative patterns, to provide icons, text, and other information, and to provide custom gauges and other illuminated regions. Illuminated regions may overlap sensors such as capacitive touch sensors, force sensors, and other sensors. The light-emitting diodes in a lighting system may supply light that passes through openings in a cover layer. The layer may be formed from fabric, leather, or other materials. Lens structures may guide light through the openings.

A device for controlling ambient lighting of a vehicle includes a light element in a vehicle interior, a touch-sensitive display unit, and a control unit. The light element emits light in one of a plurality of colors that can be generated by the light element. The display unit displays a plurality of colors of a predefined color spectrum simultaneously in a color scale, and detects a location of a user input made by touching the display unit. Via the detected location, the user input is assigned to an associated color displayed in the color scale and information about the color assigned to the user input is transmitted to the control unit, which controls the light element for emitting light in the color assigned to the user input. The light element and display unit have the same color space, such that the color associated with the user input, displayed on the display unit are the same.

A controller for a warning light is disclosed. The controller is composed of a housing, a light emitting element and a control unit. The control unit is in operable communication with the light emitting element of the controller and a light emitting element of a warning light. The controller instructs the light emitting element of the warning light and the light emitting element of the controller to display light in the same lighting mode, which allows vehicle operators to immediately know the lighting mode of the warning light by viewing the lighting mode of the controller.

A controller for a warning light is disclosed. The controller is composed of a housing, a light emitting element and a control unit. The control unit is in operable communication with the light emitting element of the controller and a light emitting element of a warning light. The controller instructs the light emitting element of the warning light and the light emitting element of the controller to display light in the same lighting mode, which allows vehicle operators to immediately know the lighting mode of the warning light by viewing the lighting mode of the controller.

A system/component for a vehicle interior configured to administer a dose of radiation to an object is disclosed. The system/component may comprise a base providing a compartment, a cover, a module comprising a radiation source and a control panel providing a user interface. The radiation source may administer radiation to the object; the user interface may be configured for operation of the module; the user interface may provide a signal; the signal may comprise an audible signal and/or a light signal. The radiation source may comprise an ultraviolet light source. The system may be operated according to a control program. The compartment may contain the object and the light source may comprise an LED arrangement to direct light onto the object in the compartment. The dose of radiation may be intended to sanitize biomatter. A method of operating the system/component is also disclosed.

A system/component for a vehicle interior configured to administer a dose of radiation to an object is disclosed. The system/component may comprise a base providing a compartment, a cover, a module comprising a radiation source and a control panel providing a user interface. The radiation source may administer radiation to the object; the user interface may be configured for operation of the module; the user interface may provide a signal; the signal may comprise an audible signal and/or a light signal. The radiation source may comprise an ultraviolet light source. The system may be operated according to a control program. The compartment may contain the object and the light source may comprise an LED arrangement to direct light onto the object in the compartment. The dose of radiation may be intended to sanitize biomatter. A method of operating the system/component is also disclosed.

A vehicle lighting system is provided that includes an invisible light source generating invisible light in a region proximate to a seated passenger in the vehicle, an invisible light sensor configured to receive the invisible light reflected from one or more objects in the region, a reading lamp configured to illuminate visible light to the region proximate to the passenger seated in the vehicle, and a controller detecting a presence of reading material in the region based on the reflected invisible light, and controlling the reading lamp to activate the light source when reading material is detected in the region.

A vehicle lighting system is provided that includes an invisible light source generating invisible light in a region proximate to a seated passenger in the vehicle, an invisible light sensor configured to receive the invisible light reflected from one or more objects in the region, a reading lamp configured to illuminate visible light to the region proximate to the passenger seated in the vehicle, and a controller detecting a presence of reading material in the region based on the reflected invisible light, and controlling the reading lamp to activate the light source when reading material is detected in the region.