SYSTEM FOR ILLUMINATING THE FACE OF AN OCCUPANT IN A CAR

Abstract

A system is provided for illuminating the face of an occupant for a video call in a car. At least one light source has a main light emission direction (A) which is directed toward the face of the occupant. The system also includes a camera provided to record the face of the occupant. The system controls the light source in such a way to obtain a flickering free recording of the face of the occupant.

Claims

1. A system for illuminating a face of an occupant for a video call in a car, the system comprising: at least one light source having a main light emission direction (A) which is directed toward the face of the occupant; a camera provided to record the face of the occupant, wherein the light source is controlled to obtain a flickering free recording of the face of the occupant.

2. The system according to claim 1, further including a control unit connected to the at least one light source and provides pulsed operating to control the light source.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the control unit is connected to the camera, and a horizontal frequency (HF) of the camera is received and/or controlled by the control unit.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the control unit controls the light source depending on the horizontal frequency (HF) of the camera.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one light sensor is provided, which at least one light sensor is connected to the control unit, and the at least one light sensor is arranged to detect light of a surrounding area.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least two light sources are provided, wherein at least one light source of said at least two light sources is positioned such that the main light emission direction (A) comprises an angle (a) to a viewing axis (V) off the occupant.

7. The system according to claim 2, further including at least one face sensor connected to the control unit, wherein the face sensor detects light in and/or the skin color of the face of the occupant.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a semiconductor emitter, and the light source features a Color Rendering Index of at least 80.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the light source has a color temperature range of 2700K to 5000K and/or intensity range amounts of 10 Im to 900 Im.

10. The system according to claim 2, further including a display positioned in front of the occupant, wherein the display is connected to the control unit.

11. The system according to claim 1, further including a glare shield arranged in conjunction with the light source.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the glare shield is arranged in front of the light source in such a way that the main light emission direction (A) runs through the glare shield.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the glare shield is arranged in such a way that light emitted by the light source is prevented from shining against the inner surface of windows or a sunroof of the car.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the glare shield includes openings through which light of the light source travels.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the openings are at least one of honeycomb in structure and a grid of holes.

16. A method to operate a system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one light source is operated depending on at least one further information at least comprising light of the surrounding area received by the light sensor.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the at least one light source is operated depending on a skin color of the face of the occupant, received by a face sensor connected to the control unit, wherein the face sensor detects light in and/or the skin color of the face of the occupant.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the at least one light source is operated depending on a content of a video call of the occupant which is received by the camera and displayed by a display connected to the control unit.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one reference skin color of the face of the occupant is implemented into the control unit, and the at least one light source is operated such that the reference skin color of the face of the occupant depends on a content of a video call of the occupant.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the reference skin color depends on the content of the video call, and the control unit selects the reference skin color based on the content of the video call.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the views.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematical side view of a car and an occupant with a system applied in the car according to the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the system with the components to be used in a car.

[0035] FIG. 3 illustrates a first embodiment of the positioning the light sources.

[0036] FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of positioning the light sources.

[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates a third embodiment of positioning the light sources of the system.

[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates a display of the system containing the at least one light source.

[0039] FIG. 7 illustrates an example glare shield arranged in front of a light source.

[0040] FIG. 8 illustrates an example glare shield having a honeycomb structure with openings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a car 2 comprising a system 100 according to the present invention. The system 100 is performed for illuminating the face of an occupant 1 sitting on the back seat of the car 2. The system 100 comprises several light sources 3, which emit light with a main light emission direction A onto the face 4 of the occupant 1.

[0042] The system 100 comprises a camera 5, and the camera 5 is provided to record the face 4 of the occupant 1, whereas the embodiment shows the camera 5 on top of the head rest 13 of the front seat. Additionally, to the head rest 13 the display 9 is attached, so that the occupant 1 can view onto the display 9 in a convenient manner and the face 4 can be recorded by the camera 5 from a convenient position.

[0043] A first light source 3 is arranged directly under the roof of the car 2, and another light source 3 is arranged in the lower area of the front seat of the car 2. Both light sources 3 are adjusted so that the main light emission direction A is directed to the face 4 of the occupant 1.

[0044] The system also comprises a face sensor 8 for measuring the skin color of the occupant's face 4, and the system 100 comprises a light sensor 7 for detecting the circumference or ambient light conditions.

[0045] As a core the system 100 a control unit 6 is provided, which is depicted in the dash board 10 of the car 2 together with the steering wheel 11.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows the system 100 with the several elements in a schematic view but without the car 2 according to FIG. 1.

[0047] The head of the occupant 1 is shown with his face 4, and the main viewing axis V is shown in a horizontally manner. The first light source 3 is placed above the face 4 and the second light source 3 is placed in a lower position. The camera 5 is arranged on top of the display 9 and the display 9 is arranged in front of the face 4 of the occupant 1 and the viewing axis V forms a surface normal to the surface of the display 9. The face sensor 8 is provided to measure the color of and/or the brightness in the face 4, and the light sensor 7 is performed to measure the ambient light.

[0048] The upper light source 3 is arranged under an angle α to the viewing axis V of the occupant 1, which leads to a cove light, which is resulting in the best illumination of the face 4. As an example, a glare shield 15 is provided in the front of the light source 3, and the light passes the glare shield 15 and is thus aligned to the main light emission direction A.

[0049] The components as named above are controlled by the control unit 6, which also can be part of the display 9. As another embodiment, the display 9 combined with the control unit 6, camera 5 and/or the face sensor 8 can be a smart phone or a tablet PC, which is attached in an appropriate position inside the car.

[0050] The at least one light source 3 or several light sources 3 are arranged in the car at different positions, whereas according to another embodiment the light source 3 can be performed by the display 9. The display 9 also can illuminate the face 4 of the occupant 1, and in or behind the display 9 another light source 3 can be arranged.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment of arranging light sources 3 as cove lights, forming an angle α to viewing axis V related to the main light emission direction A. The light sources 3 illuminate the face 4 of the occupant 1, sitting on the driver's seat and holding the steering wheel 11 in front of the dashboard 10. The embodiment shows the accommodation of the camera 5 and display 9 in or in conjunction with the dashboard 10.

[0052] FIG. 4 shows a light source 3 directly in front of the face 4 of the occupant 1, and the light source 3 is arranged in the dashboard 10. In front of the light source 3 the camera 5 and/or the display 9 is arranged.

[0053] FIG. 5 shows a dashboard 10 with a head-up display 12, and the light source 3 can be part of the head-up display 12 to illuminate the face 4 of the occupant 1, when the light is reflected in the front screen 14 of the car.

[0054] FIG. 6 shows a display 9 containing two light sources 3, which are formed by the display 9 itself or which are arranged in front of the display 9, in the side area or behind the display 9. When the occupant 1 views the display 9 the face of the occupant is illuminated by the light sources 3. The light source 3 can be integrated in the display 9 and can be formed by means of the surface emitter as a part of the LCD display, the light source 3 is then preferred an OLED surface emitter.

[0055] FIG. 7 shows the arrangement of a glare shield 15 in front of a light source 3. The glare shield 15 features a honeycomb-structure with openings 16, through which light passes when the light source 3 is activated. As an example the glare shield 15 is attached to the front of the light source 3 by means of magnet clips 17, and a user can attach and remove the glare shield 15 in an easy way to and from the front side of the light source 3 or any other holding element.

[0056] FIG. 8 shows a glare shield 15 having a honeycomb structure with openings 16, through which light passes when the light source 3 is activated. As can be seen by the scattered light 18 emitted by the light source 3, the glare shield 15 reduces the scattered light 18 and the light can illuminate the face of the occupant by a main light emission direction A without or with strongly reduced scattered light 18 in order to reduce dazzle effects in the windows or sunroof of a car in which the system is applied.

[0057] The present invention is not limited by the embodiments described above, which are represented as examples only and can be modified in various ways within the scope of protection defined by the appending patent claims.

LIST OF NUMERALS

[0058] 1 occupant [0059] 2 car [0060] 3 light source [0061] 4 face [0062] 5 camera [0063] 6 control unit [0064] 7 light sensor [0065] 8 face sensor [0066] 9 display [0067] 10 dashboard [0068] 11 steering wheel [0069] 12 head up display [0070] 13 head rest [0071] 14 front screen [0072] 15 glare shield [0073] 16 opening [0074] 17 magnet clip [0075] 18 scattered light [0076] 100 system [0077] a angle [0078] A main light emission direction [0079] V viewing axis