Vehicle exterior door handle lighting
First Claim
1. A vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle body defining an opening;
a door configured to selectively open and close the opening;
a lock that operatively connects the door to the body and includes a selectable status of one of unlatched and latched to thereby maintain closure of the opening;
a control device positioned on the door and configured to unlatch the lock;
a vehicle electric system; and
a lighting system including;
a light-emitting element configured as a light string having a fiber optic component, wherein the light emitting element is arranged on the control device and in electric communication with the electric system;
a portable transmitter configured to transmit a signal and thereby commence an unlatching sequence for the lock; and
a controller operatively connected to the electric system and configured to receive the signal and activate the light-emitting element in response to the received signal to display, using the light string, a visual lighting sequence that signifies the status of the lock, wherein the visual lighting sequence includes an appearance of a dot of light traversing the fiber optic component.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle includes a body that defines an opening and a door configured to selectively open and close the opening. The vehicle also includes a lock that operatively connects the door to the body and can be either unlatched or latched for maintaining closure of the opening. The vehicle also includes a control device positioned on the door for unlatching the lock, and also a vehicle electric system and a lighting system. The lighting system includes a light-emitting element arranged on the control device and in electric communication with the electric system. The lighting system also includes a portable transmitter configured to transmit a signal and thereby commence an unlatching sequence for the lock. The lighting system additionally includes a controller configured to receive the signal and activate the light-emitting element in response to the received signal to display a visual lighting sequence signifying the status of the lock.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A vehicle comprising:
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a vehicle body defining an opening; a door configured to selectively open and close the opening; a lock that operatively connects the door to the body and includes a selectable status of one of unlatched and latched to thereby maintain closure of the opening; a control device positioned on the door and configured to unlatch the lock; a vehicle electric system; and a lighting system including; a light-emitting element configured as a light string having a fiber optic component, wherein the light emitting element is arranged on the control device and in electric communication with the electric system; a portable transmitter configured to transmit a signal and thereby commence an unlatching sequence for the lock; and a controller operatively connected to the electric system and configured to receive the signal and activate the light-emitting element in response to the received signal to display, using the light string, a visual lighting sequence that signifies the status of the lock, wherein the visual lighting sequence includes an appearance of a dot of light traversing the fiber optic component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of controlling lighting for a door arranged to selectively open and close an opening in a body of a vehicle, the method comprising:
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transmitting a signal via a portable transmitter to thereby commence an unlatching sequence for a lock, wherein the lock operatively connects the door to the body and includes a selectable status of one of unlatched and latched to thereby maintain closure of the opening; receiving the signal via a controller operatively connected to an electric system of the vehicle; activating, via the controller, a light-emitting element configured as a light string having a fiber optic component in response to the received signal, wherein the light-emitting element is arranged on a control device positioned on the door and configured to unlatch the lock; and displaying, via the controller using the light string, a visual lighting sequence that signifies the status of the lock on the light-emitting element, wherein the visual lighting sequence includes an appearance of a dot of light traversing the fiber optic component. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification