Patent ID: 7438451
Filing Date: 2008-10-21
Classification: B60K,B60Q

Abstract:
1. An illumination control system for a motor vehicle for controlling headlamps and instrument panel lighting of the motor vehicle, the control system comprising: an ambient light sensor providing an ambient light signal responsive to a range of ambient lighting conditions including a night range associated with nighttime driving conditions, a day range associated with bright driving conditions, and a transition range between the night and day ranges, and a control module providing a headlamp control signal for controlling lighting of the headlamps and further providing an instrument panel control signal for controlling the lighting of the instrument panel to vary the intensity of the lighting of the instrument panel from a low level when the ambient light signal is in the night range, and a high level when the ambient light signal is in the day range, and varying the lighting of the instrument panel when the ambient light signal is in the transition range over a plurality of illumination levels between the high and low levels.