Vehicle having interior and exterior lighting on tailgate

• US 9,688,192 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2015
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Huebner, Annette Lynn, Gardner, Cornel Lewis, Salter, Stuart C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US14/855,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20160001700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 362496-499
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/304 Adaptations of signalling devices having a part on the vehicle body and another on the boot door
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/56 for illuminating registrations or the like , e.g. for licence plates
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/68 using ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/16 Laser light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/176 Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/145 Surface emitters, e.g. organic light emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/26 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A vehicle is provided that includes a cabin defining a cargo space, and a tailgate operable between a substantially open position and a substantially closed position. The tailgate defines a license plate area on an exterior surface thereof. An illumination system is positioned within the tailgate, such that the illumination system illuminates at least one of the cargo space and the license plate area when the tailgate is in the closed position and illuminates a ground area behind the vehicle when the tailgate is in the open position.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a cabin defining a cargo space;

a tailgate operable between a substantially open position and a substantially closed position, the tailgate defining a license plate area on an exterior surface thereof; and

an illumination system in electrical communication with a proximity sensor positioned within the tailgate such that the illumination system independently illuminates one of the cargo space and the license plate area when the tailgate is in the closed position and illuminates a ground area behind the vehicle when the tailgate is in the open position.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the illumination system comprises at least one light source on each of an interior side of a printed circuit board and an exterior side of the printed circuit board.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the light sources share a common heat sink.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the illumination system is configured to change between illumination modes based at least in part on an electrical signal from the proximity sensor.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the illumination system is configured to operate in at least two different modes while the tailgate is in the closed position and is configured to operate in at least two different modes while the tailgate is in the open position.

6. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle cabin defining a cargo space;

a tailgate pivotally coupled to the vehicle, the tailgate defining an exterior surface and an interior surface; and

an illumination system in electrical communication with a proximity sensor comprising a light source on an interior and an exterior side of a printed circuit board, the illumination system disposed through the tailgate and configured to emit light from at least one of the exterior surface and the interior surface of the tailgate.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the light sources share a common heat sink.

8. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the illumination system is configured to illuminate an area further than about 3 meters behind the vehicle.

9. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the illumination system is configured to independently illuminate the cargo space and a license plate area.

10. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the illumination system comprises at least one photoluminescent portion.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the light source also comprises a printed light emitting diode assembly.

12. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle cabin defining a cargo space;

a tailgate pivotally coupled to the vehicle, the tailgate defining an exterior surface and an interior surface;

and

an illumination system positioned within the tailgate comprising a pair of light sources on respective inboard and outboard surfaces of a printed circuit board, the illumination system configured to switch between different illumination modes based at least in part on a signal from a proximity sensor.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the different illumination modes of the illumination system are configured to illuminate different distances behind the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein at least one of the illumination modes of the illumination system is configured to illuminate an area further than about 2 meters behind the vehicle.

15. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the light sources share a common heat sink.