Vehicle light assembly

• US 10,493,904 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2017
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2017
• 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., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Buttolo, Pietro, Huebner, Annette Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Monica C
• Application Number:
  US15/651,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20190016254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/085 due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• 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 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/43 following vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/45 Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers
• 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: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/663 by switching light sources by switching incandescent light sources F21S41/162
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/16 Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/007 Array of lenses or refractors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. for arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane combination of two or more refractors F21V5/008
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0083 Array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane combination of two or more reflectors F21V7/0025
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/06 with parabolic curvature
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/30 Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2102/40 the light being emitted to facilitate access to the vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle includes a mirror light assembly. A plurality of light sources is disposed in a housing and a plurality of reflectors surrounds each light source having a focal axis that is offset from each of the remaining reflectors. A sensor is configured to detect an object proximate the vehicle. A controller is configured to selectively illuminate the light sources to illuminate the object.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a mirror light assembly, comprising a plurality of light sources;

a wireless communication sensor configured to detect a transceiver positioned external to the vehicle; and

a controller configured to selectively illuminate the light sources to illuminate the transceiver in response to a detected change in orientation between the vehicle and the transceiver.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources are angularly offset from one another.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a Bluetooth transceiver.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is housed in at least one of a driveway marker and a sign.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the transceiver comprise a Bluetooth transceiver.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the mirror light assembly further comprises a lens, further wherein outboard portions of the lens include a first luminescent material and inboard portions of the lens include a second luminescent material, the first and second luminescent materials configured to emit varied wavelengths of converted light.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the luminescent material comprises a photoluminescent material.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication sensor includes a transmitter and a receiver to transmit and receive wireless signals from the transceiver.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

process communications from the wireless communication sensor to complete a location sensing routine, wherein the location sensing routine comprises triangulating a location of the transceiver relative to the wireless communication sensor.