Illuminated vehicle foot pedal assembly

• US 9,975,476 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2016
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2016
• 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., Buttolo, Pietro, Danowski, Christopher Anthony, Dellock, Paul Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US15/291,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20180099607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 340438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/20 for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/02 for personal initiation
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/06 Disposition of pedal
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/14 for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures G01B7/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/44 pivoting

Abstract

An illuminated vehicle foot pedal assembly is provided that includes a foot pedal and at least one light source located on the foot pedal. The assembly further includes at least one proximate sensor disposed on the pedal for sensing an operator'"'"'s foot proximate to the pedal. The at least one light source may illuminate the pedal and the foot well and may indicate a vehicle condition such as a driving mode or a warning. The sensed proximity of the foot may be used to control the lighting or a pedal adjustment.

Claims

1. An illuminated vehicle foot pedal assembly comprising:

a foot pedal;

at least one light source located on the foot pedal for illuminating light rearward of the pedal in at least a portion of a foot well area;

at least one proximity sensor disposed on the pedal for sensing an operator'"'"'s foot proximate to the pedal; and

a controller for controlling illumination of the at least one light source based on the sensed proximity of the foot.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the foot pedal further comprises a housing comprising a light transparent medium, wherein the at least one light source is located within the housing.

3. The assembly of claim 2 further comprising a circuit board located within the housing and containing a plurality of light sources.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one light source comprises a plurality of light sources.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the plurality of light sources comprises a first plurality of light sources for illuminating a front surface of the pedal and a second plurality of light sources for illuminating the light rearward of the pedal in at least the portion of the foot well area.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller detects a vehicle condition and illuminates the at least one light source responsive to the detected vehicle condition.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the at least one vehicle condition is an autonomous driving mode.

8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the at least one light source provides a warning light indicative of the vehicle condition.

9. An illuminated vehicle foot pedal assembly comprising:

a foot pedal located in a vehicle foot well;

a plurality of light sources located on the pedal and comprising a first light source emitting light from a first side of the pedal forward of the pedal and a second light source emitting light from a second side of the pedal rearward of the pedal in at least a portion of a foot well area;

a housing comprising a light transparent medium, wherein the at least one light source is located within the housing; and

a circuit board located within the housing, and containing the first tight source on the first side and the second light source on the second side.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the first light source illuminates a front surface of the pedal and the second light source illuminates the foot well area.

11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the first light source comprises a first plurality of light emitting diodes and the second light source comprises a second plurality of light emitting diodes.

12. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising at least one proximity sensor disposed on the pedal for sensing an operator'"'"'s foot proximate to the pedal.

13. The assembly of claim 12 further comprising a controller for controlling illumination of the at least one light source based on the sensed proximity of the foot.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the controller detects a vehicle condition and illuminates the at least one light source responsive to the detected vehicle condition.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the at least one vehicle condition includes at least one of an autonomous driving mode and a warning light indicative of the vehicle condition.

16. An illuminated vehicle foot pedal assembly comprising:

a foot pedal;

at least one proximity sensor disposed on the pedal for sensing an operator'"'"'s foot proximate to the pedal; and

at least one light source located on the foot pedal for illuminating light output in response to sensing the operator'"'"'s foot proximate to the pedal.