System for illuminating the face of an occupant in a car

Abstract

A system is provided for illuminating the face of an occupant for a video call in a car. At least one light source has a main light emission direction (A) which is directed toward the face of the occupant. The system also includes a camera provided to record the face of the occupant. The system controls the light source in such a way to obtain a flickering free recording of the face of the occupant.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for illuminating a face of an occupant for a video call in a car, the system comprising:
 at least one light source having a main light emission direction (A) which is directed toward the face ( 4 ) of the occupant ( 1 );   a camera provided to record the face of the occupant,   wherein the light source is controlled to obtain a flickering free recording of the face of the occupant.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , further including a control unit connected to the at least one light source and provides pulsed operating to control the light source. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the control unit is connected to the camera, and a horizontal frequency (HF) of the camera is received and/or controlled by the control unit. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the control unit controls the light source depending on the horizontal frequency (HF) of the camera. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one light sensor is provided, which at least one light sensor is connected to the control unit, and the at least one light sensor is arranged to detect light of a surrounding area. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two light sources are provided, wherein at least one light source of said at least two light sources is positioned such that the main light emission direction (A) comprises an angle (α) to a viewing axis (V) off the occupant. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 2 , further including at least one face sensor connected to the control unit, wherein the face sensor detects light in and/or the skin color of the face of the occupant. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a semiconductor emitter, and the light source features a Color Rendering Index of at least 80. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the light source has a color temperature range of 2700K to 5000K and/or intensity range amounts of 10 lm to 900 lm. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 2 , further including a display positioned in front of the occupant, wherein the display is connected to the control unit. 
     
     
         11 . A method to operate a system according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one light source is operated depending on at least one further information at least comprising light of the surrounding area received by the light sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one light source is operated depending on a skin color of the face of the occupant, received by a face sensor connected to the control unit, wherein the face sensor detects light in and/or the skin color of the face of the occupant. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one light source is operated depending on a content of a video call of the occupant which is received by the camera and displayed by a display connected to the control unit. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one reference skin color of the face of the occupant is implemented into the control unit, and the at least one light source is operated such that the reference skin color of the face of the occupant depends on a content of a video call of the occupant. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the reference skin color depends on the content of the video call, and the control unit selects the reference skin color based on the content of the video call.