SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING MOOD LIGHTING IN A VEHICLE USING A SMART PHONE DEVICE
BACKGROUND
Technical Field
The present embodiment generally relates to mood lighting control in a vehicle and, more particularly, relates to a system and method for controlling mood lighting in a vehicle using a smart phone device.
Description of the Related Art
[001] Ambient or mood lighting inside a car has been very popular with the car manufacturers as additional feature for their cars. Especially with the premium car manufactures, who attract the buyers with these special lighting features in cabin space. Lately mood lighting is available even on mid range or non-luxury car segment, making mood lighting very popular. These cars have mood light or ambient lights controlled by dashboard mounted switches. The user can control the colour and intensity of these lights using these dashboard mounted switches.

[002] Existing Technology available in these cars can only control colour and intensity through manual switches mounted on dashboard of the car, thus distracting the driver while driving. Also the dashboard has to carry additional switches, wirings, etc. thus adding to the total weight of the car. Furthermore the manual switches clutter the dashboard which can alternatively be used for safety or other functionality switches. To address this issue mood lighting control in LCD was introduced. But the problem of manually setting the lighting intensity and colour remains the same. Also achieving higher level customized lighting is also not possible for e.g. setting different lighting colours at different areas of the car. The major disadvantage also lies in controlling the intensity of the mood lighting which has to be manually controlled. This can distract the driver to a great extent.
[003] Mood lighting for facilitating passenger safety is yet to be explored. The colour of cabin lighting and the light intensity changes according to the driver’s mood. For example, if the driver’s heart rate has increased, the cabin lighting automatically changes to red in colour. The mood lighting can also be used to determine the nature of the approaching vehicle (for e.g. if its accident prone, etc.). The mood lighting can also alert the driver regarding distance between the vehicles ahead of him.

[004] With the advent of smart phone usage for HMI (Human Machine Interaction), the mood lighting control through a smart phone can be taken to next level. Accordingly, there remains a need for a system which facilitates automatic mood lighting control inside a car or any vehicle cabin using a hand held smart portable device. The system should also be capable of providing lighting condition with user customization. Mood lighting integrated with alerting system inside a car is highly desired to enhance the safety feature of the passenger vehicles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[001] FIG. 1 illustrates a mood lighting control system located inside a car according to an embodiment herein;
[002] FIG. 2 illustrates a user interacting with a mood lighting system using a hand held smart portable device according to an embodiment herein;
[003] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the lighting control unit according to an embodiment herein; and
[004] FIG. 4 is a method for mood lighting control inside a car according to an embodiment herein;
SUMMARY
[001] In view of the foregoing, an embodiment herein provides a system and method for controlling mood lighting in a vehicle using a smart phone device. The mood lighting system includes a mood lighting control unit, a plurality of sensors, and a plurality of LED lights. The mood lighting control unit is placed inside the car. The mood lighting control unit is placed near the dashboard of the car.

[002] The system further includes a user, a hand held smart portable device, a mood lighting control unit, a battery, a plurality of sensors, and plurality of LED lights. The user initializes the hand held smart portable device. The hand held smart portable device facilitates the user to configure various modes in which the mood lighting may be customized for specific location inside the car cabin. The modes available for mood lighting control through the hand held smart portable device may be a manual mode, an automatic mode, and/ or a customized mode, etc.

[003] The mood lighting control system receives inputs from the plurality of sensors. Depending on the data received from the plurality of sensors the mood lighting control unit drives the plurality of LED lights. The mood lighting control unit may receive inputs from the hand held smart portable device through low energy Bluetooth® connectivity.

According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a system for controlling mood lighting in a vehicle, said system comprising: a mood lighting control unit , mounted inside the vehicle; a plurality of sensors, to sense different vehicle parameters; and plurality of light sources, located inside the cabin space of the vehicle ; wherein the mood lighting control unit is controlled and configured by a portable device to drive the light sources inside the vehicle.
[004] In another aspect, a method for mood lighting control inside the car is provided. The method includes initializing a smart phone by the user, setting the auto or manual mode in the smart phone by the user, transmitting the mode setting information onto the mood lighting control unit, initializing the sensors to detect various parameters desired for monitoring, recording data received from the sensor, processing the data received from the sensor in a control unit to obtain a lighting control signal, and driving the RGB led lighting inside the car cabin based on the control signal.

In another aspect, a method for controlling mood lighting in a vehicle (102), said method comprising: configuring a portable device (204) for auto, manual or customised mode; transmitting mode setting information to a mood lighting control unit (104) through a wireless link; initializing at least one sensor (106) in the vehicle (102), whose parameter is desired to be monitored; recording data received form the sensor (106) on to a memory unit (302B); processing the data received to obtain control signal; and driving plurality of the light sources located inside the vehicle (102). The method further comprises driving the light source based on mode setting information configured in the portable device.

[005] In yet another aspect, the hand held smart portable device may be compatible with operating systems like Android®, iOS®, Windows®, etc. but not limited to examples mentioned herein. The user customization option for the hand held smart portable device may enable the user to set the colour and light intensity of the RGB LED lights conveniently.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[006] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

[007] As mentioned, there remains a need for a system which facilitates automatic mood lighting control inside a car or any vehicle cabin using a hand held smart portable device. The system and method for controlling mood lighting in a vehicle using smart phone device is provided in the embodiments herein. A vehicle may be a car, SUV, MUV, etc. used for passenger transportation. A user may be a passenger driving the car or an individual using the mood lighting system. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 through FIG. 4, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently through out the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments.

[008] FIG. 1 illustrates a mood lighting control system (100) located inside a car (102) according to an embodiment herein. The system (100) includes a mood lighting control unit (104), a plurality of sensors (106), and a plurality of light sources (LED lights, 108). The mood lighting control unit (104) is placed inside the car (102). The mood lighting control unit (104) may be placed near the dashboard of the car (102).

[009] The plurality of sensors (106) are placed inside the car (102) to measure various parameters necessary for controlling mood lighting colour and light intensity. In one example embodiment, sensors like parking sensor may be placed in front and back of the car (102) to measure the distance between the obstacles and alert the driver with red light inside the car (102) cabin. The light intensity increases when the distance between the car (102) and the obstacle is closer than the preset level. Thus, the user is not required to look constantly in the mirror, but can sense the parking distance by observing the colour change.

[0010] The plurality of LED lights (108) are placed inside the car (102) cabin. For example, below the dashboard, below the car roof, in the rear seat, luggage trunk, etc. Each of the LED lights may be configured to emit specific desired light colour and intensity. The LED lights may be placed strategically to enhance the cabin lighting according to the mood of the passenger driving the car (102). This system allows the user to achieve higher level of user individualisation by setting differenct colours at same areas simultaneously and mapping vehicle behaviour to mood light to warn the driver.

[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates a user (202) interacting with a mood lighting system using a hand held smart portable device according to an embodiment herein. The system includes a user (202), a hand held smart portable device (204) (e.g. a smart phone, PDA, tablet, etc.), a mood lighting control unit (104), a battery (206), a plurality of sensors (106), and plurality of LED lights (108).

[0012] The user (202) initializes the hand held smart portable device (204). The hand held smart portable device (204) facilitates the user (202) to configure various modes in which the mood lighting may be customized for specific location inside the car cabin (102). The modes available for mood lighting control through the hand held smart portable device (204) may be a manual mode, an automatic mode, and/ or a customized mode, etc.

[0013] In manual mode, the user (202) may change and set the colour of each individual areas with separate colour or all areas in one colour. The intensity of the RGB LED may also be changed manually in all areas. In automatic mode, the user (202) is allowed to change the mood Light colour cyclically at the each time in a preset finite duration (for e.g. at an interval of 5 seconds).

[0014] The plurality of sensors (106) is placed in various locations inside and/ or outside of the car (102) depending upon its purpose of measuring or sensing the desired parameters. The plurality of LED lights (108) may be placed inside the car (102) cabin strategically to enhance the mood lighting effect inside the car (102). The mood lighting control unit (104) is connected with the plurality of sensors (106), the plurality of LED lights (108) and the battery (206).

[0015] The mood lighting control unit (104) receives inputs from the plurality of sensors (106). Depending on the data received from the plurality of sensors (106) the mood lighting control unit (104) drives the plurality of LED lights (108). The mood lighting control unit (104) may receive inputs from the hand held smart portable device (204) through low energy Bluetooth® connectivity.

[0016] The battery (206) serves as a power source to the mood lighting control unit (104). Alternate power source may also be used to power the mood lighting control unit (104). The plurality of sensors (106) may include parking sensor, temperature sensor, tire pressure sensor, ambient light sensor, fuel tank sensor, heartbeat sensors, speed sensors etc. but not limited to embodiments mentioned herein. The sensors may be connected to the mood light control unit (104).
[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the mood lighting control unit (104) according to an embodiment herein. The mood lighting control unit (104) includes a control unit (302), a sensor decoding unit (304), and RGB LED driving unit (306). The control unit (302) further includes a processor (302A), a memory unit (302B), and a low energy Bluetooth® unit (302C). The plurality of sensors (106) are connected to the sensor decoding unit (304). The sensor decoding unit (304) may receive signals from the plurality of sensors (106).

[0018] The signals from respective sensors may contain information regarding distance from obstacles, temperature variations, heart beat details of the passenger, fuel remaining in the tank, etc. The sensor decoding unit (304) may decode signals from respective sensors to obtain information on parameters. The parameters may be set for detecting desired signals from the interior and exterior of the vehicle.

[0019] The control unit (302) may receive the decoded information from the sensor decoding unit (304). The control unit (302) may process the received information in the processor (302A). The processor (302A) may execute instructions which may be stored in the memory unit (302B), to process the decoded information received from the sensor decoding unit (304).

[0020] The control unit (302) processes the decoded information to obtain control signals. The control signals may be used to drive the plurality of sensors (106) which are located inside the car (102) cabin and luggage trunk. The low energy Bluetooth® unit (302C) receives information settings from the hand held smart portable device (204). The information settings may contain details on manual, automatic, customized mode, etc. selected by the user (202). The information settings may be stored in the memory unit (302B).
[0021] The memory (302B) of the hand held smart portable device (204) may store executable instructions corresponding to the information settings selected by the user (202). The instructions may be used to process the decoded information from the sensor decoding unit (304) accordingly. The memory (302B) may also store device information of the hand held smart portable device (204).

[0022] The RGB LED driving unit (306) may receive the control signals from the control unit (302). The control signals may contain information on which LED light to activate, colour of the LED light, intensity of the LED light, etc. but not limited to embodiments mentioned herein. The control signals may be used to drive the plurality of LED lights (108) located inside the car (102) cabin and/or the trunk, etc.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a method for mood lighting control inside the car (102) according to an embodiment herein. In step (402), the hand held smart portable device (204) may be initialized by the user (202) (e.g. through the hand held smart portable device (204). In step (404), the user (202) may configure mode settings for auto mode, manual mode, customized mode, etc. (e.g. through the hand held smart portable device (204)).

[0024] In step (406), the mode setting information may be transmitted to the mood lighting control unit (104) through a wireless link (e.g. through the hand held smart portable device (204)). The wireless link may be Bluetooth®, IR, NFC, etc. but not limited to embodiments mentioned herein. In step (408), the sensors may be initialized to detect and record various parameters desired for monitoring (e.g. through the plurality of sensors (106)).

[0025] The sensors may be located inside the car (102) cabin and/or on the body of the car (102). In step (410), the data may be recorded from the plurality of sensors (104) in the mood lighting control unit (104) (e.g. through the memory unit (302B). In step (412), the received data is processed to obtain a control signal (e.g. through the control unit (302)). The control signal may be used to provide driving signals to respective RGB LED lights.

[0026] In step (414), the RGB LED lighting may be driven inside the car (102) cabin based on the control signal obtained from the control unit (302) (e.g. through the RGB LED driving unit (306)). The colour of the RGB LED lighting may depend on the mode setting information configured in the hand held smart device (204). The light intensity of the RGB LED lighting may depend on the mode setting information configured in the hand held smart portable device (204).

[0027] The system and method provide mood lighting control in the car (102) using the hand held smart portable device (204). The hand held smart portable device (204) may be compatible with operating systems like Android®, iOS®, Windows®, etc. but not limited to examples mentioned herein. The user (202) customization option for the hand held smart portable device (204) may enable the user (202) to set the colour and light intensity of the RGB LED lights conveniently.

[0028] In one embodiment, the RGB LED lighting may turn the user preferred colours ON when the car (102) temperature exceeds a specific limit. In another example embodiment, the RGB LED lighting may be based on the day, night, twilight, etc. conditions. The mood lighting control system (100) may automatically control the light intensity inside the cabin based on outer light conditions, so that the user (202) or the driver may not get distracted with cabin lights.

[0029] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments.

CLAIMS:
WE CLAIM
1. A system for controlling mood lighting in a vehicle (102), said system comprising:
a mood lighting control unit (104), mounted inside the vehicle (102);
a plurality of sensors (106), to sense different vehicle parameters; and
plurality of light sources (108), located inside the cabin space of the vehicle (102);
wherein the mood lighting control unit (104) is controlled and configured by a portable device (204) to drive the light sources inside the vehicle (102).
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light sources (108) are Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portable device (204) is a smart phone.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mood lighting control unit (104) comprises a sensor decoding unit (304), a control unit (302) and an RGB LED driving unit (306), wherein the control unit (302) comprises a processor (302A), a memory unit (302B), and a low energy Bluetooth unit (302C).
5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mood lighting control unit (104) is located near the dashboard of the vehicle (102) and controls the mood colour lighting and colour.
6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mood lighting control unit (104) controls the colour and light intensity of the plurality of LED light (108) inside the vehicle (102).
7. A method for controlling mood lighting in a vehicle (102), said method comprising:
i. configuring a portable device (204) for auto, manual or customised mode;
ii. transmitting mode setting information to a mood lighting control unit (104) through a wireless link;
iii. initializing at least one sensor (106) in the vehicle (102), whose parameter is desired to be monitored;
iv. recording data received form the sensor (106) on to a memory unit (302B);
v. processing the data received to obtain control signal; and
vi. driving plurality of the light sources located inside the vehicle (102).
8. A method as claimed in claim 7 further comprising driving the light source based on mode setting information configured in the portable device.
9. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein, portable device is a smart phone; and
light source is a Light Emitting Diode (LED) light.