Side marker illumination

• US 10,166,913 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2017
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2017
• 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., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Gardner, Cornel Lewis, Hoelscher, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Garlen, Alexander K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cattanach, Colin J
• Application Number:
  US15/459,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20180264999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/323 on or for doors illuminated exterior door handles B60Q1/2669; illuminated door locks E05B17/10
• 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 3/217 Doors, e.g. door sills; Steps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/233 Seats; Arm rests; Head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/68 using ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/745 using lighting panels or mats, e.g. electro-luminescent panels, LED mats
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/78 for generating luminous strips, e.g. for marking trim component edges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators

Abstract

A vehicle includes a side mirror positioned on an A-pillar. A light assembly is coupled with a bottom surface of the side mirror. The light assembly is configured to illuminate a plurality of photoluminescent structures located within an interior and on an exterior of the vehicle when the vehicle is in a door off configuration.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of photoluminescent structures located within an interior and on an exterior of the vehicle;

a side mirror positioned on the exterior of the vehicle on an A-pillar; and

a light assembly coupled with a bottom surface of the side mirror, wherein the light assembly is configured to illuminate the plurality of photoluminescent structures when the vehicle is in a doors off configuration.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the photoluminescent structures comprises an interior side marker positioned on a seat assembly.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the interior side marker is positioned on a seat base of the seat assembly.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the interior side marker is positioned on an outboard surface of the seat base.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the photoluminescent structures comprises a badge positioned on an exterior of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the photoluminescent structures comprises an auxiliary side marker positioned on a door sill.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the photoluminescent structures comprises a phosphorescent material.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light assembly is further configured to emit a puddle lamp on a ground beneath the vehicle.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light assembly is further configured to illuminate an open door indicator positioned on an interior surface of a door.

10. A vehicle, comprising:

an exterior side mirror positioned on an A-pillar;

a light assembly coupled to the exterior side mirror;

an interior side marker positioned on a seat assembly; and

an exterior side marker positioned on an external surface of a door, wherein the light assembly is configured to illuminate the interior and exterior side markers.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the interior side marker is positioned on an outboard surface of the seat assembly.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the interior side marker is positioned on the outboard surface of a seat base of the seat assembly.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein at least one of the interior and exterior side markers comprises a photoluminescent structure.

14. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising:

an auxiliary side marker positioned on a door sill.

15. A vehicle, comprising:

an exterior side mirror positioned on an A-pillar;

a light assembly coupled to the exterior side mirror; and

a door positioned proximate the exterior side mirror operable between closed and open positions, wherein the light assembly is configured to illuminate photoluminescent structures positioned on a seat assembly and an inner surface of the door.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the light assembly is further configured to illuminate a badge located on an exterior of the vehicle while the door is in the open position.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the light assembly is further configured to emit a puddle lamp on a ground beneath the vehicle while the door is in the open position.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, further comprising:

an auxiliary side marker positioned on a door sill.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the auxiliary side marker comprises a photoluminescent structure.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the photoluminescent structures are configured to emit light toward an exterior of the vehicle.