Vehicle badge sensor assembly

• US 10,023,110 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2017
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Huebner, Annette Lynn, Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Buttolo, Pietro
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Dedei K
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAI, RAYMOND REI-YANG
• Application Number:
  US15/493,695
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/05 retractable
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2669 on door or boot handles lighting devices for vehicle interior on door handles B60Q3/267
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2692 retractable lights retractable headlights B60Q1/05
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/56 for illuminating registrations or the like , e.g. for licence plates
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/10 Electro- or photo- luminescent surfaces, e.g. signalling by way of electroluminescent strips or panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/005 Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/026 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/563 for registration, licensing or like devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/603 the operation of at least a part of the cleaning means being controlled by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/13 Ultraviolet light; Infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/60 Heating of lighting devices, e.g. for demisting
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings

Abstract

A badge is provided herein. The badge includes a proximity sensor located on said badge providing an activation field. The badge further includes control circuitry configured to monitor a signal responsive to the activation field and determine a switch activation based on the signal. The control circuitry is further configured to determine a moisture value based upon the signal.

Claims

1. A badge, comprising:

a proximity sensor located on a housing providing an activation field; and

a control circuitry configured to monitor a signal responsive to the activation field to determine a switch activation based on the signal and to determine a moisture value based upon the signal, wherein the proximity sensor is disposed on a structural layer, the structural layer having an integrally formed electrical connector.

2. The badge of claim 1, further comprising:

a heating device configured to remove condensation from a surface of the badge.

3. The badge of claim 1, wherein the badge includes a substrate coupled to the housing, the housing defining a viewable portion.

4. The badge of claim 1, wherein the badge is configured to move between a retracted and a deployed position.

5. The badge of claim 1, wherein the switch activation occurs as the badge moves from a deployed position to a retracted position and a proximate, conductive vehicle component enters the activation field of the proximity sensor.

6. The badge of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a capacitive switch comprising one or more capacitive sensors.

7. The badge of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensors comprise a plurality of proximity sensors and the control circuitry determines the moisture value based on signals generated by two or more proximity sensors.

8. The badge of claim 7, wherein the control circuitry determines the moisture value for each of the two or more proximity sensors and further determines an average moisture based on the moisture values for the two or more proximity sensors.

9. The badge of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry determines the switch activation based on a rate of change of the signal and an amplitude of the signal.

10. The badge of claim 1, wherein the moisture value is determined based on amplitude of the signal.

11. The badge of claim 10, wherein the moisture value is determined by comparing the amplitude of the signal to known humidity values in a look-up table.

12. The badge of claim 1, further comprising:

a light source disposed between a housing and a substrate; and

a luminescent structure disposed on a decorative layer of the housing disposed between the proximity sensor and a viewable portion and configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light from the light source.

13. A vehicle badge comprising:

a substrate coupled to a housing, the substrate and housing movable between a retracted and a deployed position, wherein the housing defines a background region and indicia;

a proximity sensor located within the background region and providing an activation field; and

a control circuitry configured to monitor a signal responsive to the activation field to determine a position of the substrate and to determine a moisture value based upon the signal.

14. The vehicle badge of claim 13, wherein a switch activation occurs from the proximity sensor as the badge moves between the deployed and the retracted positions and a proximate vehicle component enters or exits the activation field of the proximity sensor.

15. The vehicle badge of claim 13, further comprising:

a heating device configured to remove condensation from a surface of the badge.

18. The vehicle badge of claim 15, wherein the housing is configured as a multilayer component that includes a film, a decorative layer disposed on the film, the proximity sensor, the heating device, and a structural layer.

19. The vehicle badge of claim 18, wherein the structural layer includes an integrated connector for powering the heating device.

16. A vehicle badge comprising:

a substrate coupled to a housing, the substrate and housing movable between a retracted and a deployed position;

a proximity sensor located on the substrate or the housing and providing an activation field;

a heating device configured as an ink and located on the substrate or the housing; and

a control circuitry configured to determine a moisture value based upon a signal and activate the heating device when condensation is detected on the substrate or the housing.

17. The vehicle badge of claim 16, further comprising:

a light source disposed between the housing and the substrate; and

a luminescent structure disposed on the housing and configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light from the first light source.