Patent ID: 7362217
Filing Date: 2008-04-22
Classification: B60Q

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling at least one interior illumination device of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: retrieving information related to an ambient light level; determining a rate of change of the ambient light level; altering an illumination characteristic of at least one illuminated component based on the rate of change of the ambient light level; determining an initial ambient light level and comparing the initial ambient light level to at least one predetermined light limit, wherein the illumination characteristic is changed if the rate of change is less than a predetermined rate of change and if the initial ambient light level is greater than the predetermined light limit; retrieving vehicle speed information related to a speed of the motor vehicle; providing a signal to the interior illumination device based on the vehicle speed information; and wherein the vehicle speed information is used to alter the condition of the interior illumination device.