Vehicle wheel assembly illumination lamp

• US 9,642,223 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2016
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• 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., Surman, James J., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Buttolo, Pietro, Gardner, Cornel Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, TUYET THI
• Application Number:
  US15/019,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20160159274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 315 76- 83, 34053922, 34053923, 34053926, 340541, 340551, 340552
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/02 Signalling devices actuated by tyre pressure hand-held tyre pressure gauges G01L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0406 Alarms noticeable from outside the vehicle, e.g. indication in side mirror, front light or audible alarms B60C23/0403, B60C23/0405 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/326 on or for wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• 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 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/027 using light, e.g. infrared, ultraviolet or holographic techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A vehicle wheel illumination assembly is provided. The assembly includes a light source located on the body of a vehicle near the wheel well and oriented to direct light onto a wheel assembly having a tire. A tire pressure indicator detects tire pressure of the tire. The light source illuminates the wheel assembly with a desired color to indicate a tire pressure status based on the detected tire pressure. A sensor senses a person near the wheel assembly and a controller activates the light source to illuminate the wheel assembly based on the sensed person to enable servicing of the tire.

Claims

1. A vehicle wheel illumination assembly comprising:

a light source located on a vehicle body and arranged to illuminate a wheel assembly having a tire;

a sensor for sensing a person near the wheel assembly; and

a controller for controlling the light source to illuminate the wheel assembly with a first light indicating tire pressure and a different second light when a person is detected near the wheel assembly to perform servicing of the tire.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the light source to change from the first light having a first color to the second light having a second color when the person is detected near the wheel assembly.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one or more wireless communication transceivers for detecting an electronic device in possession of the person and determining a location of the person based on signals transmitted between the one or more transceivers and the electronic device.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one or more proximity sensors.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one or more imaging cameras.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source is located on the vehicle body near a wheel well.

7. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a tire pressure detector for detecting a tire air pressure, wherein the light source illuminates the wheel assembly with the first light to indicate the tire pressure status indicative of the detected tire air pressure.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the controller controls the light source to illuminate the wheel assembly with the first light of a first color to indicate low tire air pressure when the tire air pressure is below a pressure limit and to illuminate the wheel assembly with the different second light of a second color when the person is detected near the wheel assembly.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the controller further controls the light source to illuminate the wheel assembly with a different third color light to indicate sufficient tire air pressure when the tire air pressure is above the pressure limit.

10. A vehicle wheel illumination assembly comprising:

a light source located on a body of a vehicle;

a tire pressure detector for detecting air inflation pressure of a tire on a wheel assembly of the vehicle;

one or more sensors for sensing a person near the wheel assembly; and

a controller controlling the light source to illuminate the wheel assembly with a first light indicative of a tire air pressure status and further illuminating the wheel assembly with a second light when the person is detected near the wheel assembly to perform servicing of the tire, wherein the first light indicates the tire air pressure is below a pressure limit, and wherein the light source illuminates the wheel assembly with a third light to indicate sufficient tire air pressure when the tire air pressure is above the pressure limit.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the first light is a first color light, the second light is a second color light, and the third light is a third color light.

12. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises one or more wireless communication transceivers for detecting an electronic device in the possession of the person and determining a location of the electronic device based on signals communicated between the electronic device and the one or more wireless communication transceivers.

13. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises one or more proximity sensors.

14. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises one or more imaging cameras.

15. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the light source illuminates an outer wall of the tire of the wheel assembly to indicate the tire air pressure status.

16. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the light source is located on the vehicle body at or near a wheel well of the vehicle.

17. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, each generating a different color light illumination.

18. A method of illuminating a vehicle wheel assembly comprising:

arranging a light source on a vehicle body to illuminate a wheel assembly comprising a tire;

detecting a low tire pressure of the tire;

activating a light source to illuminate light on the wheel assembly to indicate the low tire pressure with a first color light;

detecting a person near the wheel assembly;

activating the light source to illuminate light at a different second color when the person is detected near the wheel assembly to aid in servicing the tire; and

activating the light source to illuminate light at a different third color to indicate the tire pressure is above a low pressure limit.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the light source is located on the vehicle body at or near a wheel well.