Lighting system for vehicles

Abstract

A lighting system for use in the interior cabin of a vehicle comprises a vehicle accessory comprising a non-incandescent solid-state light source. The non-incandescent solid-state light source provides illumination of less than about 10 lux at a target location within the interior cabin of the vehicle when the non-incandescent solid-state light source passes a current of less than about 100 mA whenever the battery/ignition electrical power system of the vehicle is switched on. Preferably, the non-incandescent solid-state light source comprises a light emitting diode. An electrical resistor may be connected in series with the light emitting diode. The target location illuminated by the light source may include at least one of a shift lever console, a floor console, or other locations within the vehicle interior cabin.

1 - 83 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         84 . A lighting system suitable for use in the interior cabin of a vehicle comprising: 
 a vehicle accessory at a location in the interior cabin of a vehicle, said vehicle accessory comprising a non-incandescent solid-state light source, said non-incandescent solid-state light source providing illumination of less than about 10 lux at a target location within the interior cabin of the vehicle when said non-incandescent solid-state light source passes a current of less than about 100 mA, said non-incandescent solid-state light source providing said illumination of less than about 10 lux and passing said current of less than about 100 mA whenever the battery/ignition electrical power system of the vehicle is switched on.    
     
     
         85 . The lighting system of  claim 84  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source comprises a light emitting diode.  
     
     
         86 . The lighting system of  claim 85  wherein said light emitting diode provides illumination of less than about 4 lux when measured at a distance of between about 22 and 26 inches from said light emitting diode.  
     
     
         87 . The lighting system of  claim 85  including an electrical resistor connected in series with said light emitting diode.  
     
     
         88 . The lighting system of  claim 87  wherein the vehicle battery/ignition voltage output by the battery/ignition electrical power system of the vehicle is applied across said series connection of said resistor and said light emitting diode.  
     
     
         89 . The lighting system of  claim 88  wherein said vehicle battery/ignition voltage has a nominal voltage level of 12 volts.  
     
     
         90 . The lighting system of  claim 89  wherein said target location encompasses at least one of a shift lever, a parking brake lever, an ashtray, a control, a cup holder and a knob.  
     
     
         91 . The lighting system of  claim 87  wherein said resistor has a resistance between about 1000 and about 200 ohms.  
     
     
         92 . The lighting system of  claim 91  wherein said vehicle accessory comprises a dome lamp.  
     
     
         93 . The lighting system of  claim 85  wherein said light emitting diode provides said illumination when passing a current less than or equal to about 50 mA.  
     
     
         94 . The lighting system of  claim 85  wherein said light emitting diode provides said illumination when passing a current within the range of about 20 mA to about 50 mA.  
     
     
         95 . The lighting system of  claim 85  wherein said light emitting diode provides said illumination when passing a current of less than or equal to about 20 mA.  
     
     
         96 . The lighting system of  claim 85  wherein said vehicle accessory includes a mount receiving said light emitting diode.  
     
     
         97 . The lighting system of  claim 85  including a lens through which light from said light emitting diode is directed.  
     
     
         98 . The lighting system of  claim 85  wherein said light emitting diode emits light having a color selected from the group consisting essentially of green, yellow, red, blue, orange, amber and reddish-orange.  
     
     
         99 . The lighting system of  claim 84  wherein said vehicle accessory further comprises an incandescent lamp.  
     
     
         100 . The lighting system of  claim 99  including an electrical switch connected in series with said incandescent lamp for controlling operation of said lamp.  
     
     
         101 . The lighting system of  claim 100  wherein said lamp comprises a dome lamp.  
     
     
         102 . The lighting system of  claim 99  including at least one electrical switch for controlling said lamp.  
     
     
         103 . The lighting system of  claim 84  wherein said vehicle accessory is located at one of a headliner of the vehicle and over a passenger window of the vehicle.  
     
     
         104 . The lighting system of  claim 84  wherein said target location comprises at least one of an instrument panel area of the vehicle and a console area of the vehicle.  
     
     
         105 . The lighting system of  claim 104  wherein said console area comprises at least one of a floor console area, a side door console area, a shift lever console area, and a roof console area.  
     
     
         106 . The lighting system of  claim 84  wherein said target location comprises a shift lever console.  
     
     
         107 . The lighting system of  claim 84  wherein said vehicle accessory includes a bottom portion and wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source is configured so as to emit light downwardly from said bottom portion.  
     
     
         108 . The lighting system of  claim 84  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source provides illumination of less than about 10 lux at a target location within the interior cabin of the vehicle when operated at one of a direct current voltage and a pulsed direct current voltage.  
     
     
         109 . The lighting system of  claim 84  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source provides illumination of less than about 10 lux at a target location within the interior cabin of the vehicle when operated at a direct current voltage of less than about 5 volts.  
     
     
         110 . The lighting system of  claim 84  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source provides illumination of less than about 10 lux at a target location within the interior cabin of the vehicle when operated at a pulsed direct current voltage of less than about 5 volts.  
     
     
         111 . The lighting system of  claim 84  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source provides illumination in the range of about 0.2 lux and about 4 lux when measured at a distance of between about 22 and 26 inches from said non-incandescent solid-state light source.  
     
     
         112 . The lighting system of  claim 111  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source comprises a light emitting diode.  
     
     
         113 . The lighting system of  claim 84  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source provides said illumination of less than about 10 lux when passing a current of less than about 50 mA.  
     
     
         114 . The lighting system of  claim 84  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source provides said illumination of less than about 10 lux when passing a current in the range of about 20 mA to about 50 mA.  
     
     
         115 . A lighting system suitable for use in the interior cabin of a vehicle comprising: 
 a vehicle accessory at a location in the interior cabin of a vehicle, said vehicle accessory comprising a non-incandescent solid-state light source, said non-incandescent solid-state light source providing illumination of less than about 10 lux at a target location within the interior cabin of the vehicle when said non-incandescent solid-state light source passes a current of less than about 100 mA; and    wherein said vehicle accessory includes a bottom portion and wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source is configured so as to emit light downwardly from said bottom portion.    
     
     
         116 . The lighting system of  claim 115  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source comprises a light emitting diode.  
     
     
         117 . The lighting system of  claim 116  wherein said light emitting diode provides illumination of less than about 4 lux when measured at a distance of between about 22 and 26 inches from said light emitting diode.  
     
     
         118 . The lighting system of  claim 116  including an electrical resistor connected in series with said light emitting diode.  
     
     
         119 . The lighting system of  claim 118  wherein the vehicle battery/ignition voltage output by the battery/ignition electrical power system of the vehicle is applied across said series connection of said resistor and said light emitting diode.  
     
     
         120 . The lighting system of  claim 119  wherein said vehicle battery/ignition voltage has a nominal voltage level of 12 volts.  
     
     
         121 . The lighting system of  claim 120  wherein said target location encompasses at least one of a shift lever, a parking brake lever, an ashtray, a control, a cup holder and a knob.  
     
     
         122 . The lighting system of  claim 118  wherein said resistor has a resistance between about 1000 and about 200 ohms.  
     
     
         123 . The lighting system of  claim 122  wherein said vehicle accessory comprises a dome lamp.  
     
     
         124 . The lighting system of  claim 116  wherein said light emitting diode provides said illumination when passing a current less than or equal to about 50 mA.  
     
     
         125 . The lighting system of  claim 116  wherein said light emitting diode provides said illumination when passing a current within the range of about 20 mA to about 50 mA.  
     
     
         126 . The lighting system of  claim 116  wherein said light emitting diode provides said illumination when passing a current of less than or equal to about 20 mA.  
     
     
         127 . The lighting system of  claim 116  wherein said vehicle accessory includes a mount receiving said light emitting diode.  
     
     
         128 . The lighting system of  claim 116  including a lens through which light from said light emitting diode is directed.  
     
     
         129 . The lighting system of  claim 116  wherein said light emitting diode emits light having a color selected from the group consisting essentially of green, yellow, red, blue, orange, amber and reddish-orange.  
     
     
         130 . The lighting system of  claim 115  wherein said vehicle accessory further comprises an incandescent lamp.  
     
     
         131 . The lighting system of  claim 130  including an electrical switch connected in series with said incandescent lamp for controlling operation of said lamp.  
     
     
         132 . The lighting system of  claim 131  wherein said lamp comprises a dome lamp.  
     
     
         133 . The lighting system of  claim 131  including at least one electrical switch for controlling said lamp.  
     
     
         134 . The lighting system of  claim 115  wherein said vehicle accessory is located at one of a headliner of the vehicle and over a passenger window of the vehicle.  
     
     
         135 . The lighting system of  claim 115  wherein said target location comprises at least one of an instrument panel area of the vehicle and a console area of the vehicle.  
     
     
         136 . The lighting system of  claim 135  wherein said console area comprises at least one of a floor console area, a side door console area, a shift lever console area, and a roof console area.  
     
     
         137 . The lighting system of  claim 115  wherein said target location comprises a shift lever console.  
     
     
         138 . The lighting system of  claim 115  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source comprises a lighter emitting diode and wherein said light emitting diode provides illumination of less than about 10 lux and passes current of less than about 100 mA whenever the battery/ignition electrical power system of the vehicle is switched on.  
     
     
         139 . The lighting system of  claim 115  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source provides illumination of less than about 10 lux at a target location within the interior cabin of the vehicle when operated at one of a direct current voltage and a pulsed direct current voltage.  
     
     
         140 . The lighting system of  claim 115  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source provides illumination of less than about 10 lux at a target location within the interior cabin of the vehicle when operated at a direct current voltage of less than about 5 volts.  
     
     
         141 . The lighting system of  claim 115  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source provides illumination of less than about 10 lux at a target location within the interior cabin of the vehicle when operated at a pulsed direct current voltage of less than about 5 volts.  
     
     
         142 . The lighting system of  claim 115  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source provides illumination in the range of about 0.2 lux and about 4 lux when measured at a distance of between about 22 and 26 inches from said non-incandescent solid-state light source.  
     
     
         143 . The lighting system of  claim 142  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source comprises a light emitting diode.  
     
     
         144 . The lighting system of  claim 115  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source provides said illumination of less than about 10 lux when passing a current of less than about 50 mA.  
     
     
         145 . The lighting system of  claim 115  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source provides said illumination of less than about 10 lux when passing a current in the range of about 20 mA to about 50 mA.  
     
     
         146 . A lighting system suitable for use in the interior cabin of a vehicle comprising: 
 a vehicle accessory at a location in the interior cabin of a vehicle, said vehicle accessory comprising a non-incandescent solid-state light source, said non-incandescent solid-state light source providing illumination of less than about 10 lux at a target location within the interior cabin of the vehicle when said non-incandescent solid-state light source passes a current of less than about 100 mA; and    wherein said target location comprises at least one of an instrument panel area of the vehicle and a console area of the vehicle.    
     
     
         147 . The lighting system of  claim 146  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source comprises a light emitting diode.  
     
     
         148 . The lighting system of  claim 147  wherein said light emitting diode provides illumination of less than about 4 lux when measured at a distance of between about 22 and 26 inches from said light emitting diode.  
     
     
         149 . The lighting system of  claim 147  including an electrical resistor connected in series with said light emitting diode.  
     
     
         150 . The lighting system of  claim 149  wherein the vehicle battery/ignition voltage output by the battery/ignition electrical power system of the vehicle is applied across said series connection of said resistor and said light emitting diode.  
     
     
         151 . The lighting system of  claim 150  wherein said vehicle battery/ignition voltage has a nominal voltage level of 12 volts.  
     
     
         152 . The lighting system of  claim 151  wherein said target location encompasses at least one of a shift lever, a parking brake lever, an ashtray, a control, a cup holder and a knob.  
     
     
         153 . The lighting system of  claim 149  wherein said resistor has a resistance between about 1000 and about 200 ohms.  
     
     
         154 . The lighting system of  claim 153  wherein said vehicle accessory comprises a dome lamp.  
     
     
         155 . The lighting system of  claim 147  wherein said light emitting diode provides said illumination when passing a current less than or equal to about 50 mA.  
     
     
         156 . The lighting system of  claim 147  wherein said light emitting diode provides said illumination when passing a current within the range of about 20 mA to about 50 mA.  
     
     
         157 . The lighting system of  claim 147  wherein said light emitting diode provides said illumination when passing a current of less than or equal to about 20 mA.  
     
     
         158 . The lighting system of  claim 147  wherein said vehicle accessory includes a mount receiving said light emitting diode.  
     
     
         159 . The lighting system of  claim 147  including a lens through which light from said light emitting diode is directed.  
     
     
         160 . The lighting system of  claim 147  wherein said light emitting diode emits light having a color selected from the group consisting essentially of green, yellow, red, blue, orange, amber and reddish-orange.  
     
     
         161 . The lighting system of  claim 146  wherein said vehicle accessory further comprises an incandescent lamp.  
     
     
         162 . The lighting system of  claim 161  including an electrical switch connected in series with said incandescent lamp for controlling operation of said lamp.  
     
     
         163 . The lighting system of  claim 162  wherein said lamp comprises a dome lamp.  
     
     
         164 . The lighting system of  claim 161  including at least one electrical switch for controlling said lamp.  
     
     
         165 . The lighting system of  claim 146  wherein said vehicle accessory is located at one of a headliner of the vehicle and over a passenger window of the vehicle.  
     
     
         166 . The lighting system of  claim 146  wherein said vehicle accessory includes a bottom portion and wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source is configured so as to emit light downwardly from said bottom portion.  
     
     
         167 . The lighting system of  claim 166  wherein said console area comprises at least one of a floor console area, a side door console area, a shift lever console area, and a roof console area.  
     
     
         168 . The lighting system of  claim 146  wherein said target location comprises a shift lever console.  
     
     
         169 . The lighting system of  claim 146  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source comprises a lighter emitting diode and wherein said light emitting diode provides illumination of less than about 10 lux and passes current of less than about 100 mA whenever the battery/ignition electrical power system of the vehicle is switched on.  
     
     
         170 . The lighting system of  claim 146  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source provides illumination of less than about 10 lux at a target location within the interior cabin of the vehicle when operated at one of a direct current voltage and a pulsed direct current voltage.  
     
     
         171 . The lighting system of  claim 146  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source provides illumination of less than about 10 lux at a target location within the interior cabin of the vehicle when operated at a direct current voltage of less than about 5 volts.  
     
     
         172 . The lighting system of  claim 146  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source provides illumination of less than about 10 lux at a target location within the interior cabin of the vehicle when operated at a pulsed direct current voltage of less than about 5 volts.  
     
     
         173 . The lighting system of  claim 146  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source provides illumination in the range of about 0.2 lux and about 4 lux when measured at a distance of between about 22 and 26 inches from said non-incandescent solid-state light source.  
     
     
         174 . The lighting system of  claim 173  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source comprises a light emitting diode.  
     
     
         175 . The lighting system of  claim 146  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source provides said illumination of less than about 10 lux when passing a current of less than about 50 mA.  
     
     
         176 . The lighting system of  claim 146  wherein said non-incandescent solid-state light source provides said illumination of less than about 10 lux when passing a current in the range of about 20 mA to about 50 mA.