Lighting system for a vehicle having a light testing mode and method of inspecting lights
A vehicle ( 2 ) comprises a plurality of vehicle lights ( 14 a - k ) to be matched by additional lights ( 8 a - j ) in use; respective connecting interfaces ( 20 a - 20 h ) associated with each of the vehicle lights ( 14 a - k ); and an electronic controller ( 24 ) for controlling supply of light-activating power to the vehicle lights ( 14 a - k ) and to the associated connecting interfaces ( 20 a - 20 h ). The controller ( 24 ) is configured, in a light testing mode, to supply said power to each of the vehicle lights ( 14 a - k ) and to each of the associated connecting interfaces ( 20 a - 20 h ) in a sequence for inspecting whether additional lights ( 8 a - j ) connected in use to the connecting interfaces ( 20 a - 20 h ) match the vehicle lights ( 14 a - k ). Related systems, methods and controllers are also described.
1. A lighting system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
a plurality of vehicle lights, including a group of at least three adjacent or overlapping lights;
a plurality of connecting interfaces, each one of the plurality of connecting interfaces associated with a respective one of the plurality of vehicle lights; and
an electronic controller that controls supply of light-activating power to the plurality of vehicle lights and to the associated plurality of connecting interfaces, wherein the controller is further configured, in a light testing mode, to supply the light-activating power to each one of the plurality of vehicle lights and to an associated connecting interface during a respective period of a sequence for inspecting whether additional lights connected in use to the plurality of connecting interfaces match the plurality of vehicle lights, and wherein the sequence comprises a first period, for inspecting a first light of the group of adjacent or overlapping lights, wherein said power is supplied to the first light but not to any other adjacent or overlapping light of the group, and a second period, for inspecting a second light of the group of adjacent or overlapping lights, wherein said power is supplied to the second light but not to any other adjacent or overlapping light of the group.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sequence comprises an interval between the supply of the light-activating power to the first light and the supply of the light-activating power to the second light, optionally wherein the sequence comprises supplying the light-activating power to a third, non-adjacent light during the interval.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sequence comprises an interval in which no light-activating power is supplied to the plurality of vehicle lights or the plurality of connecting interfaces, and/or wherein the sequence comprises concurrently supplying the light-activating power to all of the plurality of vehicle lights and all of the plurality of connecting interfaces, such that all of the plurality of vehicle lights and all of the plurality of connecting interfaces are supplied with the light-activating power during at least one period in the sequence.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to deactivate the light testing mode in dependence on one or more deactivating conditions selected from: vehicle movement, parking brake off, ignition on, vehicle exterior lights on, hazard lights on, and time limit expired, and/or wherein the sequence comprises supplying the light-activating power to a respective one of the plurality of vehicle lights, concurrently with supplying the light-activating power to a respective one of the plurality of connecting interfaces.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sequence comprises supplying the light-activating power to each of the plurality of vehicle lights, concurrently with supplying the light-activating power to the associated plurality of connecting interfaces.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sequence comprises sequential supply of the light-activating power to the plurality of vehicle lights, such that a subset or one only of the plurality of vehicle lights and its associated connecting interface is supplied with the light-activating power during at least one period in the sequence.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sequence comprises sequentially supplying the light-activating power to a plurality of subsets of the plurality of vehicle lights and associated connecting interfaces, so that one subset and its associated connecting interface only is supplied with the light-activating power during at least one period in the sequence.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the sequence comprises sequential supply of the light-activating power to the plurality of vehicle lights and associated connecting interfaces so that one vehicle light and its associated connecting interface only is supplied with the light-activating power during at least one period in the sequence.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vehicle lights comprise left and right groups in use and the sequence comprises sequential activation of the left and right groups of the plurality of vehicle lights, and/or wherein the system comprises a plurality of additional lights each connected to an associated one of the connecting interfaces of the system such that supply of light-activating power to the interface lights up the associated additional light.
10. A controller that controls supply of light-activating power to a plurality of vehicle lights, including a group of at least three adjacent or overlapping lights, to be matched by additional lights in use and to respective connecting interfaces associated with each of the vehicle lights, the controller being configured, in a light testing mode, to initiate supply of the light-activating power to each one of the plurality of vehicle lights and to an associated connecting interface during a respective period of a sequence for inspecting whether additional lights connected in use to the connecting interfaces match the plurality of vehicle lights, wherein the sequence comprises a first period, for inspecting a first light of the group of adjacent or overlapping lights, wherein said power is supplied to the first light but not to any other adjacent or overlapping light of the group, and a second period, for inspecting a second light of the group of adjacent or overlapping lights, wherein said power is supplied to the second light but not to any other adjacent or overlapping light of the group, optionally wherein the controller is configured to control supply of the light-activating power to the plurality of vehicle lights and the associated connecting interfaces in a system according to claim 1 .
11. A vehicle comprising the lighting system of claim 1 , optionally the vehicle having a trailer attached thereto to form a vehicle-trailer combination, and wherein the trailer comprises a plurality of additional lights each connected to an associated one of the connecting interfaces of the system such that supply of light-activating power to the interface lights up the associated additional lights.
12. A method of providing a light inspection function in a lighting system for use or when used in a vehicle, the lighting system comprising a plurality of vehicle lights, including a group of at least three adjacent or overlapping lights, to be matched by additional lights in use and respective connecting interfaces associated with each of the plurality of vehicle lights, the method comprising:
supplying light-activating power to each one of the plurality of vehicle lights and to an associated connecting interface during a respective period of a sequence for inspecting whether additional lights connected in use to the connecting interfaces match the plurality of vehicle lights, wherein said power is supplied to the first light but not to any other adjacent or overlapping light of the group, and a second period, for inspecting a second light of the group of adjacent or overlapping lights, wherein said power is supplied to the second light but not to any other adjacent or overlapping light of the group,
optionally wherein the plurality of vehicle lights comprises first and second adjacent or overlapping lights and the sequence comprises an interval between supply of the light-activating power to the first and second lights.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the sequence comprises supplying light-activating power to a third, non-adjacent light during the interval.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the sequence comprises an interval in which no light-activating power is supplied to the plurality of vehicle lights or connecting interfaces, and/or wherein the sequence comprises concurrent supplying of the light-activating power to all of the plurality of vehicle lights and associated connecting interfaces, such that all of the plurality of vehicle lights and their associated connecting interfaces are supplied with the light-activating power during at least one period in the sequence.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method is ended in dependence on one or more deactivating conditions selected from: vehicle movement, parking brake off, ignition on, vehicle exterior lights on, hazard lights on, and time limit expired, and/or wherein the sequence comprises supplying the light-activating power to a vehicle light, concurrently with supplying the light-activating power to its associated connecting interface.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the sequence comprises supplying the light-activating power to each of the plurality of vehicle lights, concurrently with supplying the light-activating power to the associated connecting interfaces.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the sequence comprises sequentially supplying the light-activating power to the plurality of vehicle lights, such that a subset or one only of the plurality of vehicle lights and its associated connecting interface is supplied with the light-activating power during at least one period in the sequence.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the sequence comprises sequentially supplying the light-activating power to a plurality of subsets of the plurality of vehicle lights and associated connecting interfaces, so that each subset and its associated connecting interface only is supplied with the light-activating power during at least one period in the sequence.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the sequence comprises sequentially supplying the light-activating power to the plurality of vehicle lights and associated connecting interfaces so that each vehicle light and its associated connecting interface only is supplied with the light-activating power during at least one period in the sequence.
20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of vehicle lights constitute left and right groups in use and the sequence comprises sequential activation of the left and right groups of the plurality of vehicle lights.