Vehicle Locator System

• US 20160082880A1
• Filed: 09/18/2014
• Published: 03/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Co, Juanito Yu, Craig, Ryan, Co, Helen Chan
• Granted Patent: US 10,005,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/482 for locating vehicle in parking lot
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3291 mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body

Abstract

A vehicle locator system may include a sensor in communication with a lighting system, a wireless transceiver, an illumination assembly received within a housing, and a controller. The controller may be configured to command the illumination assembly to emit light according to a first pattern, responsive to a communication from a remote device received through the wireless transceiver. The communication may include a request to operate the illumination assembly in a vehicle locator mode, while a vehicle ignition is off.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle locator system including a light source positioned on or above a vehicle roof exterior;

a wireless receiver configured to communicate wirelessly with a remote device; and

a controller in communication with the wireless receiver and the vehicle locator system, configured to

activate the vehicle locator system to provide a visible signal from the light source, responsive to receiving a vehicle location request from the remote device through the wireless receiver.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to activate the vehicle locator system to provide a signal indicative of distress, responsive to receiving a distress request from the remote device, received through the wireless receiver.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle locator system includes a locking mechanism configured to releasably mount the vehicle locator system to the vehicle.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle locator system includes a housing defining a cavity configured to receive a portion of an externally attached vehicle component and the light source.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the locking mechanism is a combination of a protrusion extending from a portion of the housing of the vehicle locator system configured to engage a port defined in a vehicle roof.

6. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the externally attached vehicle component is an antenna.

7. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the externally attached vehicle component is a vehicle roof rack.

8. A vehicle locator system comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

an illumination assembly received within a housing; and

a controller configured to;

command the illumination assembly to emit light according to a first pattern, responsive to a request to operate the illumination assembly in a vehicle locator mode, from a remote device received through the wireless transceiver, and to emit light according to a second pattern in response to an ambient light signal or a distress mode.

9. The vehicle locator system of claim 8 further comprising a light sensor configured to provide the ambient light signal.

10. The vehicle locator system of claim 8 wherein the controller is further configured to command the illumination assembly to emit light according to a second pattern responsive to a communication from the remote device received through the wireless transceiver, the communication including a request to operate the illumination assembly in a distress mode.

11. The vehicle locator system of claim 8 wherein the illumination assembly includes a light source disposed within the housing, the housing made of a translucent material.

12. The vehicle locator system of claim 8 wherein the illumination assembly is disposed within a cavity defined by a vehicle roof rack.

13. The vehicle locator system of claim 8 wherein the illumination assembly is disposed about an end of a vehicle antenna.

14. The vehicle locator system of claim 8 further comprising a power source associated with the illumination assembly configured to provide power to the illumination assembly, wherein the power source is disposed within the housing.

15. A vehicle locator system comprising:

an illumination assembly having a locking mechanism configured to mount to a vehicle component; and

a controller in communication with the illumination assembly, a light sensor, and a wireless transceiver in communication with a nomadic device, configured to;

activate the illumination assembly in response to an ambient light signal from the light sensor crossing a threshold and a request to activate the illumination assembly from the nomadic device.

16. The vehicle locator system of claim 15 wherein the controller is further configured to command the illumination assembly to provide an indicator indicative of distress in response to a request to activate the illumination assembly from the nomadic device.

17. The vehicle locator system of claim 15 wherein the controller is further configured to command the illumination assembly to provide an indicator indicative of a vehicle location in response to a signal indicative of ambient light less than the threshold from the light sensor and a request to activate the illumination assembly from the nomadic device.

18. The vehicle locator system of claim 15 wherein the vehicle component is a vehicle roof rack configured to receive the illumination assembly within a receptacle defined by the roof rack.

19. The vehicle locator system of claim 15 wherein the vehicle component is an externally mounted vehicle accessory configured to engage the locking mechanism of the illumination assembly.

20. The vehicle locator system of claim 15 wherein the nomadic device is provided with a user interface configured to communicate with the controller through the wireless transceiver.