Patent ID: 7800483
Filing Date: 2010-09-21
Classification: B60Q

Abstract:
1. A method for deliberately controlling the intensity of light within an interior passenger compartment in a motor vehicle to create perceived sensations of safety, comfort and personal accommodation in conjunction with specified occurrences, said method comprising the steps of: approaching a parked motor vehicle of the type having an interior passenger compartment, at least one door for accessing the passenger compartment, and a transmission shift selector disposed within the passenger compartment; producing a safety approach signal; illuminating the interior passenger compartment with a plurality of light sources inside the passenger compartment to achieve a maximum first intensity level of light in response to said step of producing a safety approach signal; opening the door following said step of illuminating the interior passenger compartment; automatically decreasing the interior illumination intensity to a lower second intensity level in response to said step of opening the door; automatically decreasing the interior light intensity to a third intensity level, lower than the second intensity level, in response to moving the transmission shift selector away from a Park condition; said step of producing a safety approach signal including generating a wireless electromagnetic wave; said step of illuminating the interior passenger compartment with a plurality of light sources to the first intensity level including energizing at least one spot light sub-assembly; said step of illuminating the interior passenger compartment with a plurality of light sources including passing at least a portion of the emitted light through a diffuser lens; said step of automatically decreasing the interior light intensity to a third intensity level including projecting a non-white colored light into the passenger compartment; selectively energizing and de-energizing the spot light sub-assembly during the third intensity level; and automatically returning the interior illumination intensity to the second intensity level in response to moving the transmission shift selector into the Park condition from any other condition.