A lighting
assembly (10) is adjustable between flood and spot lighting conditions for selectively illuminating an interior passenger compartment in a motor vehicle. The
assembly (10) includes a housing (16) which clamps to a supporting member, such as a headliner (12), via a sleeve (18) interacting with a rotary
cam lock (22). An LED
light source (26) is orbitally supported within the housing (16) for projecting light in a directionally adjustable manner. A lens (50) is disposed in the light path (28) and is moveable between an extended spot position for
task lighting and a retracted flood position for general illumination within the interior compartment. A switch (74) is responsive to movement of the lens (50) into its spot position for automatically energizing the LED (30). The switch (74) opens, thus de-energizing the LED (30) when the lens (50) is returned to its flood condition. A lighting
control circuit (78, 78′) is responsive to an override
signal, such as from a door switch (80, 80′), for independently activating the
light source (26) when the lens (50) is in its flood position. The
light source (26) is supported for orbital movement within the housing (16) by a
gimbal mechanism which includes an inner
gimbal (38) carried in a cross (40). Pintals (42, 44) establish intersecting perpendicular axis (A,B) to accomplish the orbital movement. A latch mechanism (64) cooperates with leaf springs (62) by controlling movement of the lens (50) between its flood and spot conditions by a repeated push impulse applied by the finger of an operator. The switch (74) is incorporated into the leaf springs (62).