Abstract:
A system for varying the output of an exterior light of a vehicle having a source of power further includes an exterior vehicle light operatively connected to the source power and a controller for controlling the exterior vehicle light. The controller is coupled between the exterior vehicle light and the source of power and generates a plurality of power output signals to the exterior vehicle light, wherein each of the plurality of power output signals defines a light effect.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Various embodiments of an exterior lighting system are described herein. In particular, the embodiments described herein relate to an improved—exterior lighting system for a vehicle. 
         [0002]    Known vehicle lighting systems are constructed to enable selective switching between the headlights, park lights (running lights), and turn signal lights. These lights maybe lamps, LEDs (light emitting diodes), or some other light source. The exterior lights maybe used in an Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) system. The user may press a lock or unlock button and the vehicle may give feedback in the form of blinking headlights, park lights, or turn signal lights. Some such RKE fobs may include a panic feature that might blink the exterior lights in some pattern. The exterior lights might also be used to indicate automatic opening and closing of doors. For example the driver of a van might press a button to open the left rear sliding door and the exterior lights on the left side of the vehicle might blink to indicate to others that the door is opening. Additionally, some lights, such as lights at the rear of the vehicle, may blink to indicate to others that the tailgate is opening or closing. 
         [0003]    In other systems the “entry/exit delay” may be actuated by a remote keyless entry device. In such headlight systems, the headlights are moved between one of either an on position or an off position. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present application describes various embodiments of an exterior light system for varying the output of an exterior light of a vehicle having a source of power. One embodiment of the exterior light system includes an exterior vehicle light operatively connected to the source power and a controller for controlling the exterior vehicle light. The controller is coupled between the exterior vehicle light and the source of power and generates a plurality of power output signals to the exterior vehicle light, wherein each of the plurality of power output signals defines a light effect. 
         [0005]    Other advantages of the vehicle exterior light system will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, when read in light of the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system of a first embodiment of a vehicle exterior light system. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating a control signal (Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal) from the transistor and illustrating the exterior lights fading from an off position to an on position. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating a control signal (PWM signal) from the transistor and illustrating the exterior lights fading from an on position to an off position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating a control signal (PWM signal) from the transistor and illustrating the exterior lights being illuminated intermittently. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a system of a second embodiment of a vehicle exterior light system. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a system of a third embodiment of a vehicle exterior light system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown generally at  10  a first embodiment of a vehicle exterior lighting system for controlling one or more exterior lights  12  of a vehicle (not shown). In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the exterior vehicle light  12  is a headlight. It will be understood however, that the exterior vehicle lights  12  may be any desired light, such as for example, a low-beam headlight, a high-beam headlight, a turn signal, a park light, and any other exterior vehicle light. 
         [0013]    The illustrated system  10  includes headlights  12 , only one of which is shown, a user operated switch  14 , such as a headlight switch or a turn signal switch, a control module  16 , and one or more transistors  18 . The transistors  18  are used to deliver electric current from a power source (not shown) to the exterior vehicle lights, such as the headlight  12 . The exterior light  12  and user operated switch  14  are communicatively coupled to the control module  16 . Each transistor  18  generates at least one Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal for varying the duty cycle of the exterior light, for example the headlight  12 , such as to cause the headlight  12  to fade-on, fade-off, and/or flicker, as described in detail herein below. 
         [0014]    The control module  16  may be any type of control module, such as a body control module for controlling electronic devices such as door locks, interior and exterior lights, and other, non-engine electronic devices. Alternatively, the control module may be a controller for controlling only one or more vehicle lights. 
         [0015]    The transistor  18  may be any desired transistor in which the output current is controlled by a variable electric field. One example of a transistor that may be used in the illustrated embodiment is a Metal Oxide Semi-conductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET). Other field effect transistors, such as for example, a Smart High Side Driver may also be used. 
         [0016]    If desired, the control module  16  may include a user input function  20 . The user input function  20  allows a user to select one of the plurality of PWM signals, or to select a time duration for the PWM signal, for example when a longer or shorter period of fade-on, fade-off, or flicker are desired. It will be understood however, that such a user input function  20  is not required. For example, the PWM signals may be pre-set to a fixed light effect. As used herein, light effect may be defined as any light pattern and/or duration, such as fade-on  24 , fade-off  26 , and flicker  28 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 , respectively. 
         [0017]    A remote keyless entry (RKE) device  22  may also be provided and communicatively coupled to the light control module  16  via a known radio frequency (RF) signal. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , in accordance with a first instruction from the light control module  16 , the transistor  18  may provide a first PWM output signal  24  modulated such that the pulse width gradually increases from zero (the off position) to a desired increase value greater than zero, thereby fading the headlight on from the off position (i.e., fade-on). 
         [0019]    Similarly, as shown in  FIG. 3 , in accordance with a second instruction from the light control module  16 , the transistor  18  may provide a PWM output signal  26  modulated such that the pulse width gradually decreases from the desired increased value greater than zero to zero (the off position), thereby fading the headlight from the on potion to the off position or dimming the headlight (i.e., fade-off). 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , in accordance with a third instruction from the light control module  16 , the transistor  18  may provide a PWM output signal  28  modulated such that the pulse width varies in any desired pattern such that the light from the headlight is caused to illuminate intermittently or flicker. 
         [0021]    The light control module  16  may receive signals from the switch  14 , via the user input function  20 , or from the RKE  22 , and uses the received signals to selectively provide commands to the exterior lights  12 , thereby selectively illuminating the exterior lights x (e.g., placing the exterior lights in one of a fade-on, fade-off, or flicker position). 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown generally at  30  a second embodiment of a vehicle exterior light system for controlling one or more exterior lights  12  of a vehicle (not shown). It will be understood however, that the exterior vehicle lights  12  may be any desired light, such as for example, a low-beam headlight, a high-beam headlight, a turn signal, a park light, and any other exterior vehicle light. 
         [0023]    The illustrated system  30  includes a light control module  32  communicatively coupled between the exterior lights  12  and a vehicle headlight switch or controller  34 . The system  30  may be communicatively coupled between the exterior lights  12  and the vehicle exterior light controller  34  of any existing vehicle for which the operator desires lighting characteristics such as fade-on, fade-off, and/or flicker, as described herein above. The module  32  is substantially similar to the module  16  and includes the transistor  18  for delivering electric current from a power source (not shown) to the exterior vehicle lights  12 . 
         [0024]    If desired, the light control module  32  may include the user input  20 . The user input  20  allows a user to select one of the plurality of PWM signals, or to select a time duration for the PWM signal, for example when a longer or shorter period of fade-on, fade-off, or flicker are desired. It will be understood however, that such a user input function  20  is not required. For example, the PWM signals may be pre-set to a fixed pattern and duration, such as fade-on  24 , fade-off  26 , and flicker  28 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 , respectively. Alternatively, the transistor  18  of the system  30  may provide a PWM output signal modulated such that the desired vehicle lights  12  fade-on, fade-off, and or flicker in any desired sequence and or combination. 
         [0025]    The light control module  32  may receive signals from the exterior light controller  34 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 , via the user input  20  and uses the received signals to selectively provide commands to the exterior lights  12 , thereby selectively illuminating the exterior lights  12  (e.g., placing the exterior lights in one of a fade-on, fade-off, or flicker position). 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown generally at  40  a third embodiment of a system for controlling one or more exterior lights of a vehicle (not shown). In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the exterior vehicle lights include headlights  42 , park lights  44 , and turn-signal lights  46 . It will be understood however, that the exterior vehicle lights  42 ,  44 , and  46  may be any other desired exterior vehicle light. 
         [0027]    The illustrated system  40  includes the headlights  42 , park lights  44 , and turn-signal lights  46 , one or more user operated switch  48 , such as a headlight switch or a turn signal switch, a light control module  50 , and a transistor  52 . The transistor  52  is used to deliver electric current from a power source (not shown) to the exterior vehicle lights  42 ,  44 , and  46 . The lights  42 ,  44 , and  46  and user operated switch  48  are communicatively coupled to the light control module  50 . The system  40  may be communicatively coupled between one or more of the exterior vehicle lights  42 ,  44 , and  46  and the light control module  50  of any existing vehicle for which the operator desires lighting characteristics such as fade-on, fade-off, and/or flicker, as described herein above. 
         [0028]    As described herein above, the light control module  50  may be any type of control module, such as a body control module for controlling electronic devices such as door locks, interior and exterior lights, and other, non-engine electronic devices. Alternatively, the control module may be a controller for controlling only one or more vehicle lights. 
         [0029]    If desired, the light control module  50  may include the user input  20 . The user input  20  allows a user to select one of the plurality of PWM signals, or to select a time duration for the PWM signal, for example when a longer or shorter period of fade-on, fade-off, or flicker are desired. It will be understood however, that such a user input  20  is not required. For example, the PWM signals may be pre-set to a fixed pattern and duration, such as fade-on  24 , fade-off  26 , and flicker  28 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 , respectively. 
         [0030]    If desired, the system  40  may include an RKE device  54  communicatively coupled to the light control module  32  via a known radio frequency (RF) signal. 
         [0031]    The transistor  52  of the system  40  may provide a PWM output signal modulated such that the desired vehicle lights  42 ,  44 , and  46  fade-on, fade-off, and or flicker in any desired combination or sequence. For example, each of the headlights  42 , park lights  44 , and turn-signal lights  46  may fade-on, fade-off, and or flicker together with identical patterns. Alternatively, the headlights  42 , park lights  44 , and turn-signal lights  46  may fade-on, fade-off, and or flicker in any desired combination with identical patterns or with different patterns. 
         [0032]    The RKE  54  may be programmed to provide the operator with any of the various combinations of fade-on, fade-off, and or flicker described above. For example, The RKE  54  may have different buttons or button sequences to allow the operator to select the desired fade-on, fade-off, and or flicker pattern. 
         [0033]    The principle and mode of operation of the vehicle exterior lighting fading effect system have been described in its various embodiments. However, it should be noted that the vehicle exterior lighting fading effect system described herein may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its scope.