Lighting device and method of transitioning color outputs
A vehicle lighting device and method of transitioning color output by a vehicle lighting device are provided. The method includes activating the lighting device to output a first color light, and deactivating the first color light. The method also includes the steps of generating an intermediate color light with the lighting device for a short time period. The method further includes the step of generating a second color light with the lighting device. Accordingly, the intermediate color light prevents the apparent generation of an undesirable intermediate color light.
1. A lighting device comprising:
one or more light sources capable of producing a plurality of different light colors; and
a controller for controlling color output by the one or more light sources, said controller causing the one or more light sources to generate an intermediate color light for a short time period when transitioning between other different color lights.
2. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more light sources comprises one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
3. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate color light is a white light.
4. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate color light is activated for a short time period that is less than 5 seconds.
5. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate color light is activated for a short time period that is less than 2 seconds.
6. The lighting device of claim 5 , wherein the intermediate color light is activated following deactivation of a first color light within a time period of 10 to 500 milliseconds.
7. The lighting device of claim 6 , wherein the intermediate color light is turned off and a second color light is activated within a time period of 10 to 500 milliseconds following turning off the intermediate color light.
8. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate color light is pulsed on and off a plurality of times.
9. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the lighting device is assembled on a vehicle.
10. The lighting device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more light sources provide ambient lighting to a vehicle.
11. A method of transitioning color outputs by a lighting device comprising:
activating the lighting device to output a first color light;
receiving a request for a change to a second color light:
deactivating via a controller the first color light;
generating via the controller an intermediate color light with the lighting device for a short time period; and
generating the second color light with the lighting device.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of activating the lighting device comprises activating one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of generating an intermediate color light comprises generating an intermediate white light.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of generating the intermediate color light comprises generating the intermediate color light for a short time period is less than 5 seconds.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of generating the intermediate color light comprises generating the intermediate color light for a short time period less than 2 seconds.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of generating an intermediate color light comprises pulsing the intermediate color light.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of generating an intermediate color comprises generating the intermediate color for a time period in the range of 20 to 500 milliseconds.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of generating an intermediate color comprises generating the intermediate color within a time period of 20 to 500 milliseconds following deactivation of the first color.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of generating a second color light comprises generating the second color light within a time period of 20 to 500 milliseconds following deactivation of the intermediate color light.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the lighting device is assembled on a vehicle.
21. A vehicle lighting device comprising:
a light source capable of producing a plurality of different light colors on a vehicle; and
a controller controlling color output by the light source and causing the light source to generate a first color light and subsequently a second color light in response to a light color change request and an intermediate color light for a short time period when transitioning between the first and second color lights.