System and method to locate vehicle equipment

• US 9,487,136 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2015
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Surman, James J., Cooprider, Anthony Dwayne, Buttolo, Pietro
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US14/948,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20160075277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 362/488, 362/496, 362509-510
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments

Abstract

A vehicle system configured to identify a location of emergency equipment is disclosed. The vehicle system comprises a storage compartment forming an interior cavity disposed in a cargo area and a cover configured to facilitate access to the storage compartment. An illumination apparatus is disposed in the storage compartment and configured to illuminate a first portion of the storage compartment in response to a first vehicle condition. The illumination apparatus is further configured to illuminate a second portion of the storage compartment in response to a second vehicle condition.

Claims

1. A vehicle system configured to identify a location of emergency equipment comprising:

a storage compartment forming an interior cavity disposed in a cargo area;

a cover configured to facilitate access to the storage compartment; and

an illumination apparatus configured to;

illuminate a first portion of the storage compartment in response to a first vehicle condition; and

illuminate a second portion of the storage compartment in response to a second vehicle condition.

2. The vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein the illumination apparatus is further configured to illuminate a portion of the cover in response to the first vehicle condition and the second vehicle condition.

3. The vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein the illumination apparatus comprises a plurality of light sources.

4. The vehicle system according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of light sources comprise a first light source configured to selectively illuminate the first portion and a second light source configured to selectively illuminate the second portion independently.

5. The vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein the first portion corresponds to a first device corresponds to a utility device configured to remedy the first vehicle condition.

6. The vehicle system according to claim 5, wherein the second portion corresponds to a second device corresponds to a utility device configured to remedy the second vehicle condition.

7. The vehicle system according to claim 6, wherein the illumination apparatus receives a notification signal identifying the first vehicle condition and the second vehicle condition from a vehicle control module in communication therewith.

8. The vehicle system according to claim 1, further comprising a photoluminescent portion disposed on at least one of the first portion and the second portion.

9. The vehicle system according to claim 8, wherein the photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate in response to receiving an activation emission from the illumination apparatus.

10. A method for locating emergency equipment in a vehicle comprising:

detecting a vehicle condition;

illuminating a first portion of the vehicle to identify an access panel in response to the vehicle condition;

illuminating a second portion selectively concealed by the access panel in response to opening the access panel, wherein the second portion identifies a location of the emergency equipment, wherein the access panel corresponds to an interior access panel configured to conceal a storage compartment disposed in a cargo area.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

displaying a message providing a location of the access panel.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the illuminating the first portion is in response to opening an exterior door configured to provide access to the location.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the access panel corresponds to a cover comprising a handle configured to facilitate access to the storage compartment.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the emergency equipment corresponds to at least one of a spare tire, a funnel, a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, a tire repair device, and a fuse panel.

15. A vehicle notification apparatus comprising:

a first light source configured to output a first emission in a first direction;

a second light source configured to output a second emission in the first direction;

a controller configured to detect a plurality of vehicle failure conditions and selectively activate the first light source in response to a first failure condition and the second light source in response to a second failure condition; and

a first optic device configured to illuminate an access panel disposed in a cargo area by redirecting the first emission in a second direction.

16. The vehicle notification apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first light source and the second light source are disposed in a storage compartment comprising a cover.

17. The vehicle notification apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a second optic device in connection with the cover and configured to reflect the first emission and the second emission to illuminate a handle of the cover in response to the cover arranged in a closed configuration.

18. The vehicle notification apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first emission illuminates a first portion of the storage compartment in response to a first failure condition received from a vehicle control module.

19. The vehicle notification apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the second emission illuminates a second portion of the storage compartment in response to a second failure condition received from the vehicle control module.