Abstract:
A vehicle light controller that facilitates recognition of a vehicle. The controller includes a portable device having a communication function. A lighting device is arranged in the vehicle and has a vehicle entering mode and a vehicle exiting mode with changeable lighting patterns. A first controller and a second controller are connected to the lighting device and communicate with the portable device. The first controller illuminates the lighting device in the vehicle entering mode when communication with the portable device is established and changes the lighting pattern of the lighting device in the vehicle entering mode when a first condition is satisfied. The second controller illuminates the lighting device in the vehicle exiting mode when communication with the portable device is established and a second condition is satisfied.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a light controller for use in a vehicle. 
   In recent years, in addition to improvement in the basic performance and security of a vehicle, there is a demand for improving the operability of a vehicle. Accordingly, referring to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle light controller that lights a door handle  53  has been proposed (e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-35359). The door handle  53  is illuminated, for example, if an owner (driver)  52  carrying a portable device, which is provided with a communication function, approaches a vehicle  51  when the vehicle is parked in a dark location, such as an indoor parking lot. This enables the owner  52  to easily open the door  55  since the position of the door handle  53  can be seen. 
   However, a plurality of vehicles  51  equipped with substantially the same prior art vehicle light controller may be parked in the same parking lot. In such a case, when the respective owners  52  and  52 A, who are each carrying the portable device, approaches the vehicles  51 , the door handle  53  of each vehicle  51  would be illuminated at substantially the same time. Since the lights of the vehicles  51  are illuminated in the same manner, it may be difficult for the owners  52  and  52 A to quickly recognize his or her vehicle  51 . 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One aspect of the present invention is a light controller for use in a vehicle. The light controller includes a portable device having a communication function. A lighting device is arranged in the vehicle and has a vehicle entering mode with changeable lighting patterns and a vehicle exiting mode. A first controller is connected to the lighting device for communicating with the portable device. The first controller illuminates the lighting device in the vehicle entering mode when communication with the portable device is established and changes the lighting pattern of the lighting device in the vehicle entering mode when a first condition is satisfied. A second controller is connected to the lighting device for communicating with the portable device. The second controller illuminates the lighting device in the vehicle exiting mode when communication with the portable device is established and a second condition is satisfied. 
   A further aspect of the present invention is a method for controlling the lighting of a lighting device arranged in a vehicle. The method includes establishing communication between a portable device, which has a communication function and which is carried by a driver, and a transceiver, which is arranged in the vehicle. The method further includes calculating the distance between the vehicle and the portable device, flashing the lighting device when the calculated distance enters a first range as the driver approaches the vehicle, and changing a lighting pattern of the lighting device when the calculated distance enters a second range that is smaller than the first range. 
   Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention, together with objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the presently preferred embodiments together with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic plan view showing vehicles equipped with a transceiver of the prior art; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic plan view showing a vehicle light controller according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  are perspective views each showing a door handle arranged in the vehicle of  FIG. 2 ; 
     FIG.  5 ( a ) is a cross-sectional view taken along line A—A in  FIG. 3 ; 
     FIG.  5 ( b ) is an enlarged front view showing a door light and a footlight arranged in the door handle of FIG.  5 ( a ); 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic block diagram of the vehicle light controller; and 
       FIGS. 7  to  9  are flowcharts illustrating the operation of the vehicle light controller of FIG.  6 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In the drawings, like numerals are used for like elements throughout. 
     FIG. 2  is a schematic plan view showing a vehicle light controller  27  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 2 , headlights  2  are arranged on the front portion of a vehicle  1 , taillights  3  are arranged on the rear portion of the vehicle  1 , and a passenger compartment light  4  is arranged in a passenger compartment of the vehicle  1 . The lights  2 ,  3 , and  4  each function as a lighting device. 
   The vehicle  1  has a plurality of doors  5  (four in the preferred embodiment). Each door  5  has a door handle (manipulated device)  7  that is used by a driver  6  or a passenger of the vehicle  1  to open the door  5 . 
   FIG.  5 ( a ) is a cross-sectional view of the door handle  7 . Hereafter, the description will be centered on the door  5  located on the driver&#39;s side (in this case, the front right door  5 ). As shown in FIG.  5 ( a ), the door handle  7  includes an ornamental portion  8 , a fastening portion  9 , and a handle portion  10 . The ornamental portion  8  is fixed to a door panel  12 , which forms the door  5 , by a screw  11 . The fastening portion  9  includes a fastening piece  9   a , and the handle portion  10  includes a connecting piece  10   a . The fastening portion  9  and the handle portion  10  are fixed to the door panel  12  in a state in which the door panel  12  is held between the fastening piece  9   a  and the connecting piece  10   a . The fastening portion  9  is arranged on the interior side of the door panel  12 , and the ornamental portion  8  is arranged on the exterior side of the door panel  12 . The door panel  12  is curved inward toward the passenger compartment to widen the space between the handle portion  10  and the door panel  12 . The fastening portion  9  is formed to extend along the door panel  12 . 
   The handle portion  10  includes a base  13 , a frame  14 , and a case  15 . The base  13  is pivotally attached to the connecting piece  10   a  about a pivot shaft  16 , which is inserted through the connecting piece  10   a  of the handle portion  10 . A spring (not shown) urges the base  13  towards the door panel  12 . Part of the base  13  is curved outward with respect to the passenger compartment to widen the space between the base  13  and the door panel  12 . This enables the driver  6  to insert his or her hand  6   a  into the space between the base  13  and the door panel  12 . 
   The frame  14  is connected to the outer side of the base  13 . A transmission antenna  17  and a receiving antenna  18  are accommodated in a space defined between the frame  14  and the base  13 . The transmission antenna  17  and the receiving antenna  18  are respectively connected to signal wires  19  and  20 , which extend into the door  5 . The frame  14  is covered by the case  15 . The outer side of the case  15  is curved outward relative to the passenger compartment. 
   As shown in FIGS.  3  and  5 ( a ), the base  13  has a light receptacle  21  facing towards a concave surface  12   a  formed in the door panel  12 . The light receptacle  21  receives a door light  22 , which functions as a lighting device and a door illuminating device. The door light  22  illuminates the concave surface  12   a  of the door panel  12 . A lens  23  focused on the concave surface  12   a  is provided on the distal portion of the door light  22 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , a light receptacle  24  is formed in the lower surface of the ornamental portion  8 . The light receptacle  24  receives a footlight  25 , which functions as a lighting device and a foot illuminating device. The footlight  25  illuminates the ground near the door  5 , or the area around the driver&#39;s feet. The footlight  25  includes a lens  26  focused on the ground near the door  5 . 
   As shown in FIG.  5 ( b ), the lens  23  is formed integrally with the distal portion of the door light  22 , and a lens  26  is formed integrally with the distal portion of the footlight  25 . The lights  22  and  25  each include a blue light-emitting diode (LED)  44  and a red LED  45 . The color of the light emitted from each of the lights  22  and  25  may be changed by illuminating the LEDs  44  and  45  separately. Accordingly, each of the lights  22  and  25  is a multicolor light-emitting body that emits a blue light or a red light. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , a transceiver  29  is installed in the vehicle  1 . The driver  6  carries a portable device  28 . The vehicle light controller  27  includes the transceiver  29  and the portable device  28 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , the portable device  28  includes a receiving circuit  30 , a vehicle microcomputer  31 , and a transmission circuit  32 . 
   The receiving circuit  30  receives a request signal from the transceiver  29  though an antenna  33 , demodulates the request signal to a pulse signal, and provides the demodulated request signal to the vehicle microcomputer  31 . When the request signal is received from the receiving circuit  30 , the vehicle microcomputer  31  generates an ID signal, which includes a predetermined ID code. The transmission circuit  32  modulates the ID signal to a radio wave having a predetermined frequency and externally transmits the modulated ID signal through a transmission antenna  34 . 
   The transceiver  29  includes a transmission circuit  35 , a receiving circuit  36 , and a vehicle microcomputer  37 . The transmission circuit  35  transmits a request signal received from the vehicle microcomputer  37  through the signal wire  19  and the transmission antenna  17 . 
   The receiving circuit  36  includes a demodulator  38  and a signal intensity calculator  39 . The receiving circuit  36  receives the ID signal from the portable device  28  through the receiving antenna  18  and the signal wire  20 . The demodulator  38  demodulates the ID signal to a pulse signal to generate a received signal and provides the vehicle microcomputer  37  with the received signal. 
   The signal intensity calculator  39  calculates the distance between the vehicle  1  and the portable device  28  based on the signal receiving intensity of the ID signal to generate a calculation signal and provides the vehicle microcomputer  37  with the calculation signal. More specifically, the signal intensity calculator  39  receives radio waves including the ID signal and detects the maximum voltage value of the detected radio waves. As the distance between the vehicle  1  and the portable device  28  decreases, the voltage value detected by the signal intensity calculator  39  increases. The signal intensity calculator  39  may also be used to detect the average voltage value or the minimum voltage value of the radio waves. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , in the preferred embodiment, the signal intensity calculator  39  generates a first calculation signal when the portable device  28  is located in communication range A 1  and generates a second calculation signal when the portable device  28  is in communication range A 2 . Communication ranges A 1  and A 2  define different transmission ranges of the request signal. The area of transmission range A 1  is greater than that of transmission range A 2 . The first and second calculation signals may be stored beforehand in a memory of the signal intensity calculator  39  in association with detected voltage values. In such a case, the signal intensity calculator  39  would not have to perform calculations to generate the first and second calculation signals each time the voltage value is detected. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , the headlights  2 , the taillights  3 , the passenger compartment light  4 , the door light  22 , and the footlight  25  are connected to the vehicle microcomputer  37 . Further, a touch sensor  40 , a door lock driver  41 , a door courtesy switch  42 , and an alarm (warning device)  43  are connected to the vehicle microcomputer  37 . 
   The touch sensor  40  detects touching of the door handle  7  with the hand  6   a  and provides the vehicle microcomputer  37  with a detection signal. The door lock driver  41  includes an actuator used to lock and unlock the door  5 . The actuator is driven by an electric signal. The door courtesy switch  42  provides the vehicle microcomputer  37  with a door open signal when the door  5  is opened. The alarm  43  intermittently gives off a warning in accordance with a warning signal provided from the vehicle microcomputer  37 . 
   The vehicle microcomputer  37 , which includes a central processing unit, a read only memory, and a random access memory (none shown), intermittently generates a request signal. The vehicle microcomputer  37  stores a predetermined ID code. When provided with the received signal, the vehicle microcomputer  37  compares the stored ID code with an ID code included in the received signal. 
   When the driver  6  approaches the vehicle  1  while carrying the portable device  28 , the vehicle microcomputer  37  first receives the first calculation signal from the signal intensity calculator  39  if the two ID codes match. In this state, communication is established between the transceiver  29  of the vehicle  1  and the portable device  28 . Thus, the vehicle microcomputer  37  flashes the headlights  2 , the taillights  3 , the passenger compartment light  4 , the door light  22 , and the footlight  25  at the same timing. The door light  22  and the footlight  25  flash in a blue color. 
   Further, if the vehicle microcomputer  37  then receives the second calculation signal from the signal intensity calculator  39  when the ID codes match, the vehicle microcomputer  37  provides the door lock driver  41  with an unlock signal. The door lock driver  41  unlocks each door  5  in accordance with the unlock signal. The vehicle microcomputer  37  also changes the lighting pattern of the headlights  2 , the taillights  3 , the passenger compartment light  4 , the door light  22 , and the footlight  25 . In the preferred embodiment, the vehicle microcomputer  37  functions as a first controller that changes the lighting pattern to shorten the flashing interval of the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25 . When the vehicle microcomputer  37  receives a door open signal from the door courtesy switch  42 , the vehicle microcomputer  37  stops flashing the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25 . 
   When the driver  6  gets out of the vehicle  1  and moves away, the vehicle microcomputer  37  stops receiving the second calculation signal and starts receiving the first calculation signal from the signal intensity calculator  39 . In this state, the vehicle microcomputer  37  lengthens the flashing interval of the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  while providing the door lock driver  41  with the door lock signal. The door lock driver  41  locks each door  5  in accordance with the door lock signal. Accordingly, the vehicle lock controller functions as a smart entry device. The vehicle microcomputer  37  functions as a second controller that stops flashing the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  when it stops receiving the received signal from the demodulator  38  and the first calculation signal from the signal intensity calculator  39 . 
   When the vehicle microcomputer  37  is not provided with the received signal, the first calculation signal, or the second calculation signal, that is, when communication is not established between the vehicle  1  and the portable device  28 , the vehicle microcomputer  37  operates the door light  22  and the footlight  25  in a warning mode when a detection signal is received from the touch sensor  40 . 
   The vehicle microcomputer  37  functions as a third controller that flashes the door light  22  and the footlight  25  in red during the warning mode. Further, the vehicle microcomputer  37  functions as a fourth controller that provides the alarm  43  with a warning signal. The alarm  43  intermittently gives off a warning toward the outside of the vehicle  1  in accordance with the warning signal. Accordingly, the red flashing of the door light  22  and the footlight  25  and the warning of the alarm  43  warns off a thief who touches the door handle  7 . 
   The series of processes performed by the portable device vehicle microcomputer  31  of the vehicle light controller  27  and the vehicle microcomputer  37  when a person tries to get into the vehicle  1  (vehicle entering mode) will now be discussed with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
   The transmission antenna  17  of the transceiver  29  transmits a request signal in predetermined time intervals in the communication ranges A 1  and A 2  defined near the door  5  as shown in  FIG. 2  (step S 1 ). When the driver  6  enters the communication regions A 1  and A 2  while carrying the portable device  28 , the portable device  28  receives the request signal from the transceiver  29 . In response to the request signal, the portable device  28  transmits an ID signal to the transceiver  29 . The portable device  28  is normally in a standby mode in which it is capable of receiving the request signal and transmits the ID signal in response to the request signal. 
   When the transceiver  29  receives the ID signal (YES in step S 2 ), the ID codes of the ID code signal and the vehicle microcomputer  37  matches (YES in step S 3 ) and the vehicle microcomputer  37  is provided with the first calculation signal from the signal intensity calculator  39  (YES in step S 4 ). The vehicle microcomputer  37  flashes the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  when the vehicle microcomputer  37  determines that the portable device  28  is located in the communication range A 1 , which is shown in  FIG. 2  (step S 5 ). In this state, the door light  22  and the footlight  25  flash in blue. Then, when the vehicle microcomputer  37  receives the second calculation signal from the signal intensity calculator  39  (YES in step S 6 ), the vehicle microcomputer  37  determines that the portable device  28  is located in the communication range A 2 . If the door  5  is locked (YES in step S 7 ), the vehicle microcomputer  37  unlocks the door  5  (step S 8 ) and shortens the flashing interval of the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  (step S 9 ). 
   When the driver  6  opens the door  5  to get into the vehicle  1 , the door courtesy switch  42  detects the opening of the door  5  (YES in step S 10 ). Then, the vehicle microcomputer  37  stops flashing the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  (step S 11 ). In this manner, the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  keep flashing until the door  5  is opened. Alternatively, the flashing of the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  may be stopped when the driver  6  gets into the vehicle  1  and operates the ignition switch. 
   When the ID codes of the ID signal and the vehicle microcomputer  37  do not match (NO in step S 3 ) or when the vehicle microcomputer  37  does not receive the first calculation signal (NO in step S 4 ) and the door  5  is unlocked (YES in step S 12 ), the door  5  is locked (step S 13 ). When the vehicle microcomputer  37  does not receive the second calculation signal from the signal intensity calculator  39  (NO in step S 6 ) and the ID codes do not match (NO in step S 14 ), the vehicle microcomputer  37  stops flashing the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  (step S 15 ) and proceeds to steps S 12  and S 13 . 
   When the transceiver  29  does not receive the ID signal (NO in step S 2 ) and the door handle  7  is touched by a person&#39;s hand  6   a  (YES in step S 16 ), the door light  22  and the footlight  25  are flashed in red and the alarm  43  gives off a warning (step S 17 ). When the ID signal is not received (NO in step S 2 ), the processes of steps S 2  and S 16  are repeated until the transceiver  29  receives the ID signal. 
   The processes that are performed when the driver  6  gets out of the vehicle  1  (vehicle exiting mode) will now be discussed. 
   Referring to  FIG. 9 , when the driver  6  opens the door  5  to get out of the vehicle  1 , the door courtesy switch  42  detects the opening of the door  5  (YES in step S 18 ). Then, the transceiver  29  transmits the request signal to the communication ranges A 1  and A 2  through the transmission antenna  17  (step S 19 ). Further, the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  are flashed (step S 20 ). 
   When the vehicle microcomputer  37  receives the first calculation signal from the signal intensity calculator  39  (YES in step S 21 ), the vehicle microcomputer  37  determines that the portable device  28  has entered the communication range A 1  from the communication range A 2 . If the door  5  is unlocked (YES in step S 22 ), the vehicle microcomputer  37  locks the door  5  (step S 23 ). Then, the flashing interval of the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  is gradually lengthened (step S 24 ). When the vehicle microcomputer  37  stops receiving the first calculation signal and the received signal, the flashing of the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  is stopped (step S 25 ). The processes of steps S 22  and S 23  may be performed simultaneously with the process of step S 25 . 
   When the vehicle microcomputer  37  does not receive the first calculation signal from the signal intensity calculator  39  (NO in step S 21 ), if the vehicle microcomputer  37  receives the second calculation signal from the signal intensity calculator  39  (YES in step S 26 ) or if the ID codes of the ID signal and the vehicle microcomputer  37  match (YES in step S 27 ), the processes of steps S 22  to S 25  are not performed. 
   The advantages of the vehicle light controller  27  in the preferred embodiment will now be discussed. 
   (1) In accordance with the first calculation signal and the second calculation signal from the signal intensity calculator  39 , the vehicle microcomputer  37  changes the flashing interval of the headlights  2 , the taillights  3 , the passenger compartment light  4 , the door light  22 , and the footlight  25 . If the vehicle  1  is parked near another vehicle that is equipped with substantially the same vehicle light controller as the vehicle light controller  27  and each vehicle light controller  27  flashes the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25 , the driver  6  easily recognizes his or her vehicle  1  since the flashing interval of the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  of the vehicle  1  becomes shorter than that of the other vehicle when approaching the vehicle  1 . 
   (2) When a thief performs an unauthorized action against the vehicle  1 , such as trying to open the door  5 , the vehicle microcomputer  37  flashes the door light  22  and the footlight  25  in red and activates the alarm  43  to give off a warning. The red flashing of the door light  22  and the footlight  25  and the warning sound of the alarm  43  warns off a thief and improves the security of the vehicle  1 . 
   (3) When communication is not established between the transceiver  29  of the vehicle  1  and the portable device  28 , the flashing of the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  is stopped. Since the flashing of the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  is stopped when unnecessary, battery power consumption of the vehicle  1  and the portable device  28  is reduced. Further, since the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  are flashed, the power consumption in the battery of the vehicle  1  is reduced in comparison to when the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  are continuously illuminated. 
   (4) As the driver  6  who is holding the portable device  28  approaches the vehicle  1  to get into the vehicle, the flashing interval of the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  becomes shorter. As the driver  6  who is holding the portable device  28  gets out of the vehicle  1  and moves away, the flashing interval of the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  become longer. As the driver  6  moves further away and communication between the vehicle  1  and the portable device  28  is no longer established, the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  stop flashing. The flashing interval of the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  changes only when the driver  6  moves. This reassures the driver  6  of whether the door  5  is locked or unlocked. 
   (5) The lens  23  focused on the concave surface  12   a  of the door panel  12  is formed integrally with the door light  22 , and the lens  26  focused on the ground is formed integrally with the footlight  25 . Thus, there is no need for preparing a plurality of molds, for example, one for the lights  22  and  25  and another for the lenses  23  and  26 . This reduces the manufacturing cost of the door handle  7 . 
   It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Particularly, it should be understood that the present invention may be embodied in the following forms. 
   The elapsed time from when the headlights  2 , the taillights  3 , the passenger compartment light  4 , the door light  22 , and the footlight  25  start flashing may be measured by a timer to change the flashing interval of the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  in accordance with the elapsed time. 
   When receiving the second calculation signal from the signal intensity calculator  39 , the vehicle microcomputer  37  may lengthen the flashing interval of the headlights  2 , the taillights  3 , the passenger compartment light  4 , the door light  22 , and the footlight  25 . 
   When the vehicle microcomputer  37  receives the second calculation signal from the signal intensity calculator  39 , the color of the light emitted from the door light  22  and the footlight  25  may be changed to another color, such as red, green, or white. Further, the color of the light emitted from the flashing door light  22  and the footlight  25  may differ when getting into and out of the vehicle  1 . 
   When the vehicle microcomputer  37  receives the second calculation signal from the signal intensity calculator  39 , the brightness of the headlights  2 , the taillights  3 , the passenger compartment light  4 , the door light  22 , and the footlight  25  may be increased or decreased from when the signal intensity calculator  39  receives the first calculation signal. The lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  do not necessarily have to be flashing when the brightness is changed. 
   When receiving the first calculation signal from the signal intensity calculator  39 , the vehicle microcomputer  37  may continuously illuminate the headlights  2 , the taillights  3 , the passenger compartment light  4 , the door light  22 , and the footlight  25 . In this case, the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  may start flashing when the vehicle microcomputer  37  receives the second calculation signal from the signal intensity calculator  39 . 
   Alternatively, the vehicle microcomputer  37  may flash the headlights  2 , the taillights  3 , the passenger compartment light  4 , the door light  22 , and the footlight  25  when receiving the first calculation signal from the signal intensity calculator  39 . Further, the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  may be illuminated continuously from when the vehicle microcomputer  37  receives the second calculation signal from the signal intensity calculator  39 . 
   The flashing interval of the lights may gradually be shortened or lengthened as the driver  6  carrying the portable device  28  approaches the vehicle  1 . 
   The area of communication range A 2  of  FIG. 2  may be greater than that of the communication range A 1  or the same as communication range A 1 . 
   The flashing may be limited to the door light  22  and the footlight  25  of the driver side door  5 . In this case, the headlights  2 , the taillights  3 , the passenger compartment light  4 , and the lights  22  and  25  of the other doors  5  are not flashed. This reduces battery power consumption. 
   When the door courtesy switch  42  detects the opening of the door  5 , the vehicle microcomputer  37  may activate the lights  22  and  25  and the alarm  43 . 
   The touch sensor  40  may be arranged on a door mirror  46  (FIG.  2 ). In this case, the lights  22  and  25  and the alarm  43  may be activated when the touch sensor  40  detects the touching of the door mirror  46 . 
   Further, a vibration detection sensor may be installed in the vehicle  1 . In this case, the vehicle microcomputer  37  activates the lights  22  and  25  and the alarm  43  when the vibration detection sensor detects vibrations caused by discharging air from a tire or by breaking a window. 
   The hazard light or footlights located in the lower portions of left and right door mirrors may be used as the lighting device. Further, bumper lights arranged in the front and rear bumper and fender lights arranged in the fender may be used as the lighting device. 
   Either the door light  22  or the footlight  25  may be eliminated. Alternatively, the door light  22  and the footlight  25  may be formed from the same light source. In this case, the concave surface  12   a  of the door panel  12  and the ground near the door  5  are both illuminated. This decreases the number of components for the door handle  7  and reduces the manufacturing cost of the handle  7 . 
   The lenses  23  and  26  may be eliminated. 
   At least one of the door light  22  and the footlight  25  may be formed to emit light in only one color. 
   The vehicle light controller  27  may be applied to a keyless entry device that locks and unlocks doors when operating switches are arranged on the portable device  28 . In such a case, for example, the operation of a switch flashes the headlights  2 , the taillights  3 , the passenger compartment light  4 , the door light  22 , and the footlight  25 . Further, as the driver  6  enters the communication range A 2  from the communication range A 1 , the flashing interval of the lights  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  22 , and  25  is shortened. 
   The present examples and embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalence of the appended claims.