RUNNING BOARD ILLUMINATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20160347240A1
• Filed: 12/31/2015
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Motsebo, Mylene Loudjom, Salter, Stuart C., Wilson, Terrence, Johnson, Aaron Bradley
• Granted Patent: US 9,783,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: 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: F21V 7/06 with parabolic curvature
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A running board illumination system is provided for a motor vehicle. That system includes a first illumination element having a first color, a second illumination element having a second, different color and a controller. The controller is configured to receive information respecting at least one motor vehicle status and also adapted to illuminate a running board with the first illumination element or the second illumination element based upon that information.

Claims

1. A running board illumination system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a first illumination element having a first color;

a second illumination element having a second, different color; and

a controller configured to receive information respecting at least one motor vehicle status and adapted to illuminate a running board with said first illumination element or said second illumination element based upon said information.

2. The running board illumination system of claim 1, wherein said information relates to vehicle transmission status.

3. The running board illumination system of claim 2, wherein information also relates to vehicle speed.

4. The running board illumination system of claim 1, wherein said information relates to running board position where said running board may be displaced between a raised, stowed position and a lowered, deployed position.

5. The running board illumination system of claim 1, further including a lamp assembly housing wherein said first illumination element is oriented on a first longitudinal axis within said lamp assembly housing and said second illumination element is oriented on a second longitudinal axis within said lamp assembly housing wherein said second axis is offset from said first axis.

6. The running board illumination system of claim 5, wherein said second axis is tilted with respect to said first axis.

7. The running board illumination system of claim 5, further including a parabolic reflector adjacent said first illumination element and an optically prescribed fluted lens carried by said lamp assembly housing.

8. The running board illumination system of claim 7, wherein said first illumination element emits white light that is directed by said parabolic reflector through said optic lens onto a step face of said running board when said running board is in a lowered, deployed position.

9. The running board illumination system of claim 8, wherein said second illumination element emits amber light that passes through said optically prescribed fluted lens and a gap between said running board and a side sill of said motor vehicle when said running board is in a raised, stowed position.

10. The running board illumination system of claim 1, wherein said first illumination element is a first plurality of light emitting diodes having said first color, said second illumination element is a second plurality of light emitting diodes having said second color and said running board illumination system includes a single LED driver responsive to said controller for independently driving said first plurality of light emitting diodes and said second plurality of light emitting diodes.

11. A method of illuminating a running board on a motor vehicle, comprising:

equipping said motor vehicle with a running board illumination system including a first illumination element having a first color, a second illumination element having a second color and a controller;

selectively illuminating said running board with light emitted by said first illumination element when said running board is in a lowered, deployed position; and

selectively illuminating said running board with light emitted by said second illumination element when said running board is in a raised, stowed position.

12. The method of claim 11, further including receiving, by said controller, information respecting transmission state and vehicle speed and selectively illuminating said running board with said first illumination element or said second illumination element based upon said information.

13. The method of claim 11, further including operating, by said controller, said second illumination element as a redundant turn signal.

14. The method of claim 13, further including alternating, by said controller, said redundant turn signal with a main turn signal of the motor vehicle.

15. The method of claim 11, further including operating, by said controller, said second illumination element as a sequential turn signal.

16. The method of claim 11, further including operating, by said controller, said second illumination element as a redundant emergency flasher.

17. The method of claim 16, further including alternating, by said controller, said redundant emergency flasher with a main emergency flasher of the motor vehicle.

18. The method of claim 11, further including flashing, by said controller, both of said first illumination element and said second illumination element when said running board is being displaced from said raised, stowed position to said lowered, deployed position.

19. The method of claim 11, further including varying, by said controller, light intensity of said first illumination element and said second illumination element based upon ambient light conditions.

20. The method of claim 11, further including varying, by said controller, light intensity of said first illumination element and said second illumination element based upon an alarm/search button state on a motor vehicle key fob.