METHOD FOR PROJECTING LIGHT IN THE INTERIOR OF A VEHICLE, AUTOMOTIVE LIGHT PROJECTOR AND AUTOMOTIVE LIGHT ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The invention provides device, system, and method for projecting light in the interior of an automotive vehicle. The method includes sending data to the light projector regarding the lighting conditions in the interior of the automotive vehicle, using the data to modify some projection parameter of a light pattern, and projecting the light pattern.

Claims

1. A method for projecting light in the interior of an automotive vehicle, the method comprising: providing a light projector in the interior of an automotive vehicle; sending data to the light projector regarding the lighting conditions in the interior of the automotive vehicle; using the data to modify some projection parameter of a light pattern; and projecting the light pattern.

2. The method according with claim 1, wherein the projection parameter is at least one of maximum luminous intensity, average luminous intensity, minimum luminous intensity or shape of the light pattern.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data is sent to the light projector by a vehicle control unit via a CAN bus.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sensing an ambient light, with the data including information related to the ambient light.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising obtaining light data regarding the operation of an auxiliary lighting element included in the vehicle, with the data including information related to the operation of the auxiliary lighting element.

6. Method according to claim 1, further comprising checking the availability of new data by a projector control unit.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the light pattern includes light pixels, and modifying the projection parameter affects the luminous intensity of at least one of the pixels.

8. An automotive light projector comprising a plurality of light sources and a projector control unit configured to: receive data regarding lighting conditions in the interior of an automotive vehicle; use the data to modify some projection parameter of a light pattern; and project the light pattern.

9. The automotive light projector according to claim 8, wherein the light sources are solid-state light sources arranged in a matrix arrangement.

10. An automotive projection assembly comprising: an automotive light projector including a plurality of light sources and a projector control unit configured to: receive data regarding lighting conditions in the interior of an automotive vehicle; use the data to modify some projection parameter of a light pattern; and project the light pattern; a vehicle control unit; and a communication element configured to transfer data between the vehicle control unit and the light projector.

11. The automotive projection assembly according to claim 10, wherein the communication element is a CAN bus.

12. Auto The automotive motive projection assembly according to claim 10, further comprising a camera configured to sense ambient luminous intensity and send ambient data to the light projector.

13. The automotive projection assembly according to claim 10, further comprising a communication port, configured to send and/or receive information via a communication protocol, such as WPAN, WLAN, WMAN or WWAN.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] To complete the description and in order to provide for a better understanding of the invention, a set of drawings is provided. Said drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate an embodiment of the invention, which should not be interpreted as restricting the scope of the invention, but just as an example of how the invention can be carried out. The drawings comprise the following figures:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows an automotive vehicle which comprises an automotive projection assembly according to the invention.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows some steps of a method according to the invention.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows some further steps of a method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] Elements of the example embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate:

[0045] 1 Light projector

[0046] 2 Auxiliary internal lights

[0047] 3 Custom light pattern

[0048] 31 Zone of the custom light pattern

[0049] 4 Vehicle control unit

[0050] 5 CAN bus

[0051] 6 Projector control unit

[0052] 7 LEDs

[0053] 8 Camera

[0054] 10 Automotive vehicle

[0055] 11 Dashboard

[0056] 12 Zone of the dashboard

[0057] The example embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

[0058] Accordingly, while embodiment can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Elements of the example embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate.

[0059] FIG. 1 shows an automotive vehicle 10 which comprises an automotive projection assembly according to the invention.

[0060] This automotive projection assembly comprises an automotive light projector 1, a vehicle control unit 4 and a CAN bus 5 configured to transfer data between the vehicle control unit 4 and the light projector 1. This assembly further comprises a camera 8 configured to sense ambient luminous intensity and send ambient data to the light projector 1.

[0061] The light projector 1 comprises a plurality of LEDs 7 and a projector control unit 6. The projector control unit 6 receives the data via the CAN bus 5.

[0062] The automotive vehicle 10 further comprises auxiliary internal lights 2 which are configured to emit light towards a zone of the dashboard 11. These internal lights 2 may be turned on or turned off depending on the users' needs. The state of these internal lights 2 is recorded by the vehicle control unit 4.

[0063] FIG. 2 shows a scenario where a method according to the invention takes place.

[0064] An internal light 2 is turned on, and some of the light of this internal light is projected over the dashboard 11 of the automotive vehicle, creating a zone 12 where the luminous intensity is different from the rest of the dashboard.

[0065] The state of this internal light is recorded by the vehicle control unit, so that, when the light projector is requested to provide a light pattern, the vehicle control unit sends the information about the operation of the internal light, so that the projector control unit uses this information to create a custom light pattern.

[0066] FIG. 3 shows this custom light pattern 3, where a particular zone 31 of this light pattern 3 has a higher luminous intensity, to compensate the effect of the internal light, which is illuminating the zone of the dashboard where the zone 31 of the light pattern 3 is going to be projected.

[0067] As a consequence, the resulting projected light pattern will be visible by the users with the same intensity, despite the luminous interference of the internal light of the vehicle.

[0068] FIG. 1 also showed a camera 8 which was present in the automotive projection assembly. This camera 8 is used for sensing the ambient light in the dashboard. After gathering these data, they are sent to the projector control unit, so that these ambient data are taken into account when defining the luminous intensity of the pixels of the light pattern to be projected.

[0069] In any case, the system is connected by a communication port with the manufacturer server via a communication protocol, such as GPRS, to send and receive updating about new features to be included in the method.