Interior light for a motor vehicle.

The invention relates to an electric lamp, in particular as a light to illuminate the interior of motor vehicles.

In general lighting to illuminate the interior of motor vehicles are turned on by so-called door contact switch, and as a rule by opening the car door. Switching on the light over the lighting of the interior is finished when, for example, after leaving a person of the interior of the vehicle or after entering into the interior of the door is closed again. The old method of switching the lighting of the interior and the door contact switch to normally used are disadvantageous because on the one hand, for example when a person is seated inside the vehicle, after closing the door, the lighting is usually switched off due again closed the door switch and the other, door switch to today are mechanically and functionally problematic component for use in motor vehicles. The reason for this is that the door contact switch must be installed in an area of ​​the door opening of a motor vehicle, which brings production-related increased tolerance inaccuracies, so that the door contact switch must either during installation be precisely adjusted or it have door switches are provided which are extremely a have long stroke to overcome the large dimensional tolerances.

Allen electric lamps of this kind is liable, as already mentioned, also the disadvantage that even when after opening the door in the dark, the person is seated in the interior of the vehicle and the door was closed, the lights by the door switch forcibly again has been turned off and no light is at your disposal to put, for example, the ignition key in the ignition lock quickly. But has hitherto always separately from the door switch via a second parallel switch of the interior are illuminated by the electric light and then this parallel switch must be turned off again. In US-A-4,071,805 an interior lighting system is described, in which the illumination after closing a door for a predetermined time interval remains switched on.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric lamp in which no separate door contact switch needs to be provided for switching on the light, which can be installed with simple means and manufactured at low cost and enables a person after they took place in the interior has, is light available at least for the necessary actions to start operating the motor vehicle.

The object is achieved according to the invention by an electrically standing with the lamp at least in connection sensor, the at least at least detected no switch opening a door to the interior and then provides a signal to a switching device, which switches the electric lamp a predetermined preselectable time interval long.

The advantage of the lamp according to the invention essentially consists in that the usual complicated structure Türkontakschalter can be omitted, which also represents a further advantage by itself, namely, that a separate mounting and installation work is eliminated. The activated lighting after closing the door a predetermined time interval long has the advantage that, for example, the automobile person using has sufficient time to insert the ignition key when lit interior in the ignition and start the vehicle or even time enough available has to create, for example, the seat belt in the illuminated state, or even to create any objects in the glove compartment or to remove this.

A separate off the electric lamp according to the invention also no longer necessary because the lighting goes out automatically after the predetermined time interval.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the switching device comprises at least an electric impulse relay, whose holding time is adjustable according to the desired time interval. The version of a timing circuit for the temporal illumination of the interior after activation by the sensor by means of a latching relay is a very affordable option for establishing a time delay circuit. also electronic solutions are in place of the latching relay but possible, which are formed for example by designed as a counter circuits integrated circuits, or can be in the form of an integrated circuit or by individual electronic components by a one-shot (mono-flop).

The sensor for detecting the opening of the door of the motor vehicle may be either placed immediately in the electric light, ie be posted as part of the electrical lighting system per se, or somewhere in the interior of the vehicle at a suitable location and connected via electrical lines to the electric lamp to be ,

According to a further another embodiment of the invention, the sensor, a change in the ambient pressure detected thereby relative to its mounting location in the interior of the motor vehicle. It is known that, when opening the vehicle door, even when the window is not completely closed to the interior of the vehicle, a negative pressure is formed, while when the door of the motor vehicle in the interior of a overprint produced under otherwise identical conditions. The sensor may be configured such that it either be responsive to a negative pressure generated or resulting in an overpressure in the interior of the motor vehicle, or set so that it responds generally to a pressure change.

Preferably, the sensor body comprising a pressure cell is formed which is provided with a suitable membrane, the membrane having a co-operating switch is connected so that closed in response of the diaphragm of the switch and the electric light is turned on a predetermined time interval long.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sensor is formed by a means like a microphone, whereby this embodiment is suitable in particular, when a highly sensitive sensor for detecting the opening or the closing of the door is required.

There are also circumstances conceivable that neither a pressure change in the interior of the vehicle responsive sensor still can be provided on a sound sensor which responds when strong pressure changes are to be expected in the interior, for example, during operation of the motor vehicle or the noise level in the interior of the vehicle so great is that a microphone device for triggering the electric lamp is unusable. For the purpose of the solution at such problems occur, it may be vorteilhat that a from a transmitter generated alternating field is present in the interior, which upset by opening the door and / or entering or alighting a person in the interior or from the interior of is motor vehicle out detected by the sensor. The sensor is usually part of a generate the alternating field electrical or electronic circuit in this case.

The alternating field can preferably be an RF field or an ultrasonic field or a microwave field.

Preferably, in a further embodiment of the luminaire in the interior a sensor for generating ultraviolet radiation is present, wherein a disturbance of the UV radiation is detected by the sensor at least upon opening of the door. The disturbance provides, in circuit electronically processed suitable, a signal to the switching device, the electric lamp turns on manner described a predetermined time interval long.

The invention will now be described with reference to the single figure, which shows a passenger car in a perspective partly broken representation in detail using an exemplary embodiment.

In the interior 13 of an automobile 11, which may be a car, a truck, or other any other motor vehicle, at least one electric lamp 10 is attached, which is electrically connected with a sensor. The sensor can be placed immediately in the electric lighting means so that separate sensor components not intended to'll need, which in turn has the advantage that the manufacturing cost of such a lamp 10 to manufacturing costs of a separate lamp and a separate sensor and that of the installation electrical lines between the two costs are eliminated.

When opening the door 12, said door can be any door that allows access of persons to the interior of the vehicle, the sensor detects not shown, depending on the configuration of the sensor is either a sub / overpressure or when opening the door 12 is formed. during firing of the door 12 or it detects a sound, in which case then the sensor is designed as a microphone device. After detection of the door opening is consequently a signal from the sensor to a switching device which may be an electrical, electromechanical or electronic switching means, supplied with the switching means the electric lamp for lighting of the interior of the motor vehicle turns on a predetermined time interval long. Basically, the time interval can be chosen long so short that it appears the person who has taken a seat in the passenger compartment 13 of the vehicle, as if with the closing of the door 12 the interior light goes out again, which means that predetermined time interval can also be set as short be a time normally between the opening of a door 12 and the square take a person on the seat in the passenger compartment 13 of the vehicle 11 to the subsequent shooting of the door 12 passes.

The time interval can also be set so that the light remains for example, ten seconds after the turn made closing the door 12 after the vehicle person entering, the door 12 is closed again, turned on.

A manual activation of the electric lamp 10 in addition to the switching according to the invention by an additional manual switch or the like., Which is connected in parallel with the switching device according to the invention essentially can also be provided.

In addition, is also a use of the electric lamp 10, for example, not only for the space that is available to people in a vehicle available, feasible, but also a use as a lamp to illuminate the trunk in motor vehicles or to illuminate the engine compartment or the like. such as turning on the light when opening the boot lid and the bonnet.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

<dl id="dl0001"><dt>10</dt><dd>Electrical light</dd><dt>11</dt><dd>motor vehicle</dd><dt>12</dt><dd>door</dd><dt>13</dt><dd>inner space</dd><dt>14</dt><dd>trunk</dd><dt>15</dt><dd>engine compartment</dd></dl>