The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 12, 2023
Filed:
Apr. 26, 2021
Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);
Brendan F. Diamond, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Keith Weston, Canton, MI (US);
Michael A. McNees, Flat Rock, MI (US);
Anthony J. Maraldo, Southgate, MI (US);
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A plurality of light sources are mounted in a vehicular passenger cabin. Each light source illuminates a respective illumination zone with a midpoint. Each light source is configured to illuminate at a plurality of brightness levels up to a full brightness. A gaze tracker monitors an occupant cabin to detect a gaze point. A controller responds to an illumination request from the occupant to actuate at least two light sources to illuminate the passenger cabin at the gaze point. The controller uses the gaze point to select a respective brightness level for each light source based on a proximity of the gaze point to respective midpoints of the illumination zones. At least a first one of the actuated light sources with a midpoint closer to the gaze point provides a higher brightness level than a second one of the actuated light sources with a midpoint farther from the gaze point.