Vehicle interior lighting system with welcome and farewell stages

A method of controlling interior lighting in a vehicle comprising:

• providing a first light in a first zone of a vehicle interior and a second light in a second zone of the vehicle interior, the lights being capable of projecting a plurality of colors and intensities of light;
• generating a plurality of signals using a plurality of vehicle systems and sensors;
• and
• operating a controller to receive the plurality of signals and, in response at least partially to the signals, controlling illumination of the first light and the second light in a sequence comprising:
• a first welcome stage wherein the first light is illuminated at a low intensity and the second light is off, the first welcome stage beginning at activation of a vehicle entry system and ending after opening of any door of the vehicle;
• a second welcome stage wherein the first light and the second light are illuminated at a high intensity, the second welcome stage beginning at the end of the first welcome stage and ending after all vehicle doors are closed and the vehicle enters an operating mode;
• an ambient stage wherein the first light and the second light are illuminated at a desired intensity, the ambient stage beginning at the end of the second welcome stage and ending after the vehicle returns to a non-operating mode and any vehicle door is opened;
• and
• a farewell stage wherein the first light and the second light are illuminated at the high intensity, the farewell stage beginning at the end of the ambient stage and ending after all vehicle doors are closed.

An interior lighting system for an automotive vehicle comprising:

• a first light in a first interior zone of the vehicle;
• a second light in a second interior zone of the vehicle;
• and
• a controller operable to illuminate the first light and the second light in a sequence comprising:
• a first welcome stage wherein the first light is illuminated at a low intensity and the second light remains off, the first welcome stage beginning at an earlier of a vehicle entry system being activated or any vehicle door being opened, and ending at an earlier of expiration of a first delay and any door of the vehicle being opened;
• a second welcome stage wherein the first light and the second light are illuminated at a high intensity, the second welcome stage beginning at the end of the first welcome stage and ending at an earlier of expiration of a second delay after all vehicle doors are closed and the vehicle entering an operating phase;
• an ambient stage wherein the first light and the second light are illuminated at a desired intensity, the ambient stage beginning at the end of the second welcome stage and ending after the vehicle returns to a non-operating condition and the earlier of expiration of a third delay after a vehicle door is opened and expiration of a fourth delay after the vehicle has returned to the non-operating condition;
• and
• a farewell stage wherein the first light and the second light are illuminated at a/the high intensity, the farewell stage beginning at the end of the ambient stage and ending at an earlier of expiration of a fifth delay after the entry system is in a secured condition and expiration of a sixth delay after the farewell stage begins.