Adjustable task-lighting systems using liquid crystals
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsJonglee Park, Bradley Allen Newcomb
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer-implemented method includes receiving, using a user interface element associated with an adjustable task-lighting module, a user input representing a selected illumination beam pattern for light emitted by the adjustable task-lighting module. The method also includes determining, based on the user input, a control voltage. Thereafter, the method includes controlling an adjustable voltage source associated with the adjustable task-lighting module to provide the determined control voltage to a configurable liquid-crystal element of the adjustable task-lighting module to configure the adjustable task-lighting module to emit light having the selected illumination beam pattern.
Claims20
A vehicle comprising an adjustable task-lighting system, the adjustable task-lighting system comprising:
- an adjustable task-lighting module comprising:
- a light source;
- a configurable liquid-crystal element including a plurality of configurable liquid-crystal segments, wherein each configurable liquid-crystal segment is individually configurable to pass light in a corresponding particular direction;
- and
- an adjustable voltage source coupled to the configurable liquid-crystal element and configured to provide a control voltage to the configurable liquid-crystal element for configuring an illumination beam pattern of the adjustable task-lighting module;
- a user interface element associated with the adjustable task-lighting module;
- data processing hardware;
- and
- memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware and storing instructions that, when executed by the data processing hardware, cause the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising:
- receiving, using the user interface element, a user input representing a selected illumination beam pattern for light emitted by the adjustable task-lighting module;
- determining, based on the user input, the control voltage;
- and
- controlling the adjustable voltage source to provide the control voltage to the configurable liquid-crystal element for configuring the adjustable task-lighting module to emit light having the selected illumination beam pattern.
A computer-implemented method executed by data processing hardware that causes the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising:
- receiving, using a user interface element associated with an adjustable task-lighting module, a user input representing a selected illumination beam pattern for light emitted by the adjustable task-lighting module;
- determining, based on the user input, a control voltage;
- and
- controlling an adjustable voltage source associated with the adjustable task-lighting module to provide the control voltage to a configurable liquid-crystal element of the adjustable task-lighting module for configuring the adjustable task-lighting module to emit light having the selected illumination beam pattern, wherein the configurable liquid-crystal element includes a plurality of configurable liquid-crystal segments, each configurable liquid-crystal segment individually configurable to pass light in a corresponding particular direction.
A system comprising:
- data processing hardware;
- and
- memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware and storing instructions that, when executed by the data processing hardware, cause the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising:
- receiving, using a user interface element associated with an adjustable task-lighting module, a user input representing a selected illumination beam pattern for light emitted by the adjustable task-lighting module;
- determining, based on the user input, a control voltage;
- and
- controlling an adjustable voltage source associated with the adjustable task-lighting module to provide the control voltage to a configurable liquid-crystal element of the adjustable task-lighting module for configuring the adjustable task-lighting module to emit light having the selected illumination beam pattern, wherein the configurable liquid-crystal element includes a plurality of configurable liquid-crystal segments, each configurable liquid-crystal segment individually configurable to pass light in a corresponding particular direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.