Vehicle light assembly

• US 10,144,337 B1
• Filed: 06/02/2017
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2017
• 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., Buttolo, Pietro, Huebner, Annette Lynn, Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Surman, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): A, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US15/612,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20180345845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0005 Devices preventing the lights from becoming dirty or damaged, e.g. protection grids or cleaning by air flow windshield wipers for cleaning optical devices of vehicles B60S1/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/04 the devices being headlights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/25 Projection lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/28 Cover glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/20 characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/60 Heating of lighting devices, e.g. for demisting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0485 the sensor sensing the physical interaction between a user and certain areas located on the lighting device, e.g. a touch sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/12 the coatings comprising photoluminescent substances

Abstract

A vehicle light assembly includes a light source. A lens is positioned proximate the light source. A conductive circuitry is disposed on the lens and forms a capacitive sensor. A temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of the light source.

Claims

1. A vehicle light assembly, comprising:

a light source;

a lens positioned proximate the light source;

a conductive circuitry disposed on the lens and forming a capacitive sensor;

a controller configured to increase an illumination provided by the light source in response to activation of the capacitive sensor; and

a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the light source.

2. The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive circuitry forming the capacitive sensor also forms a heater.

3. The vehicle light assembly of claim 2, further comprising:

switching circuitry for selectively switching operation of the conductive circuitry between the capacitive sensor and the heater.

4. The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, wherein the light assembly forms a vehicle rear taillight.

5. The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive circuitry comprises an optically transparent conductive material.

6. The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive circuitry comprises a first electrode comprising a first plurality of electrode fingers and a second electrode comprising a second plurality of electrode fingers, and wherein the first plurality of conductive fingers are interdigitated with the second plurality of conductive fingers.

7. The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller configured to reduce an electrical power to the light source in response to a detected temperature of the light source.

8. The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive circuitry comprises at least one electrode that generates a capacitive signal for the capacitive sensor and generates heat for the heater.

9. The vehicle light assembly of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to increase an illumination provided by the light source in response to activation of the capacitive sensor.

10. The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, wherein the heater operates as a resistive heater that generates heat based on electric current.

11. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle light assembly comprising;

a light source;

a lens positioned proximate the light source; and

a conductive circuitry disposed on the lens and forming a capacitive sensor;

a controller configured to increase an illumination provided by the light source in response to activation of the capacitive sensor; and

one or more wireless communication transceivers configured to detect an electronic device proximate the light assembly.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the light source.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to decrease an illumination provided by the light source in response to a signal from the temperature sensor.

14. A method of illuminating a vehicle light assembly, comprising:

illuminating a light source at a first illumination;

detecting a capacitive signal proximate the light source; and

illuminating the light source at a second illumination in response to the detection of the capacitive signal.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step:

detecting an electronic device proximate the light assembly.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein detection of the electronic device is performed using a Bluetooth low energy detector disposed within the light assembly.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps:

detecting a temperature of the light source; and

illuminating the light source at a third illumination in response to the detection of the light source temperature.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step:

exciting a photoluminescent structure using the light source.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step:

heating the light assembly by passing an electric current through an electric circuitry positioned proximate the light source.