Illuminated running board

• US 10,144,345 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2016
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Stinson, Scott, Beilman, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Gannon, Levi
• Application Number:
  US15/360,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20180141486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 307 108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/14 to electric lighting circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2692 retractable lights retractable headlights B60Q1/05
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/325 on or for running boards or steps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/002 Running boards for vehicle tops B60R3/005; at the sides of the vehicle for carrying loads B60R9/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/02 Retractable steps or ladders, e.g. movable under shock B60R3/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/19 Attachment of light sources or lamp holders achieving variable light distribution by movable light sources F21S41/657
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/15 Strips of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A vehicle includes a running board operable between deployed and undeployed positions. The running board includes a light source. An energy storage device is electrically coupled to the light source. An inductive receiving coil is electrically coupled to the energy storage device. A transmitting coil is positioned proximate an exterior surface of the vehicle. The transmitting coil is configured to transmit a magnetic field to the receiver coil.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a running board operable between deployed and undeployed positions, the running board comprising;

a light source;

an energy storage device electrically coupled to the light source; and

an inductive receiving coil electrically coupled to the energy storage device; and

a transmitting coil positioned proximate an exterior surface of the vehicle, wherein the transmitting coil is configured to transmit a magnetic field to the receiver coil, wherein the transmitting coil is configured to transmit the magnetic field to the receiver coil when the running board is in the undeployed position and not transmit the magnetic field to the receiver coil when the running board is in the deployed position.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein reception of the magnetic field by the receiving coil generates electrical energy.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises a capacitor.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a rectifier electrically coupled between the inductive receiving coil and the energy storage device.

6. A vehicle comprising:

a running board operable between deployed and undeployed positions, comprising;

a light source; and

an energy storage device electrically coupled to the light source; and

a wireless charging system comprising a transmitter coil, and a receiver coil electrically coupled to the energy storage device, wherein moving the running board from the deployed position to the undeployed position enables the transmitter coil to transmit a magnetic field to the receiver coil.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the transmitter coil is positioned proximate an exterior surface of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the receiver coil is positioned on the running board.

9. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery.

10. The vehicle of claim 6, further comprising:

a rectifier electrically coupled between the receiver coil and the energy storage device.

11. A vehicle comprising:

a light source positioned on a running board; and

a wireless charging system configured to power the light source, the wireless charging system having a transmitter coil configured to not transmit a magnetic field to a receiver coil electrically coupled with the light while the running board is in a deployed position.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising:

an energy storage device electrically coupled with the receiver coil.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the energy storage device is a battery.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising:

a rectifier electrically coupled between the receiver coil and the energy storage device.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the wireless charging system is an induction charging system.

16. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the transmitter coil is configured to transmit the magnetic field to the receiver coil when the running board is in an undeployed position.