Illuminated badge system for a motor vehicle

• US 10,542,606 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2019
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2015
• 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, Musleh, Michael A., Niksimaee, Mehran
• Primary Examiner(s): Luque, Renan
• Application Number:
  US16/382,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20190239317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0088 Details of electrical connections B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2603 Attenuation of the light according to ambient luminiosity, e.g. for braking or direction indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2619 built in the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/54 for indicating speed outside of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/543 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/005 Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/005 Illumination controller or illuminated signs including an illumination control system
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/044 Signs, boards or panels mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2007/1882 Emblems, e.g. fixed by pins or screws
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• 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: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An illuminated badge system is provided for a motor vehicle. The illuminated badge system includes an illuminated badge and a controller. The controller is configured to adjust a parameter of the light emitted from the illuminated badge in response to a designated operating parameter such as the headlight status of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. An illuminated badge system for a vehicle, comprising:

an illuminated badge, wherein a first portion is configured as an indicium and a second portion is configured as a border;

a rain sensor operably coupled to said illuminated badge; and

a controller configured to include an unattended mode for illuminating said illuminated badge at a first intensity when said vehicle is unattended and at a second intensity when the vehicle is attended wherein the first intensity is less than the second intensity, and wherein a parameter of light emitted from said illuminated badge is adjusted by said controller in response to an input received from said rain sensor,

wherein said controller is configured to adjust said first portion to be illuminated in a first color at a third intensity and said second portion to be illuminated in a second color at a fourth intensity in response to a transmission state, wherein said third intensity is higher than said fourth intensity when said vehicle is in at least one of forward and reverse gears, and wherein said fourth intensity is higher than said second intensity when said vehicle is in park.

2. The illuminated badge system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to adjust a parameter of light emitted from said illuminated badge in response to transmission state of said vehicle.

3. The illuminated badge system of claim 2, wherein said adjusted parameter is light intensity.

4. The illuminated badge system of claim 2, wherein said adjusted parameter is light color.

5. The illuminated badge system of claim 1, wherein said illuminated badge has a first portion illuminated in a first color and a second portion illuminated in a second color.

6. The illuminated badge system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to adjust a parameter of light emitted from said illuminated badge in response to vehicle speed.

7. The illuminated badge system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to adjust a parameter of light emitted from said illuminated badge in response to ambient light conditions, or ambient light and rain conditions.

8. The illuminated badge system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to monitor a battery charge state of said vehicle and extinguish said illuminated badge when said battery charge state has fallen to a predetermined level.

9. An illuminated badge system for a vehicle, comprising:

an illuminated badge having a first portion illuminated in a first color and a second portion illuminated in a second color, wherein said first portion is configured as an indicium and said second portion is configured as a border; and

a controller configured to adjust a parameter of light emitted from said illuminated badge in response to a transmission state of said vehicle, wherein said controller is configured to adjust said first portion to be illuminated in a first color at a first intensity and said second portion to be illuminated in a second color at a second intensity in response to said transmission state, wherein said first intensity is higher than said second intensity when said vehicle is in at least one of forward and reverse gears, and wherein said second intensity is higher than said first intensity when said vehicle is in park.

10. The illuminated badge system of claim 9, wherein said adjusted parameter is light intensity.

11. The illuminated badge system of claim 9, wherein said adjusted parameter is light color.

12. The illuminated badge system of claim 9, wherein said controller is further configured to adjust a parameter of light emitted from said illuminated badge in response to vehicle speed.

13. The illuminated badge system of claim 9, wherein said controller is further configured to adjust a parameter of light emitted from said illuminated badge in response to ambient light conditions, rain conditions or ambient light and rain conditions.

14. The illuminated badge system of claim 9, wherein said controller is further configured to monitor a battery charge state of said vehicle and extinguish said illuminated badge when said battery charge state has fallen to a predetermined level.

15. An illuminated badge system for a vehicle, comprising:

an illuminated badge having a first portion illuminated in a first color and a second portion illuminated in a second color, wherein said first portion is configured as an indicium and said second portion is configured as a border;

a rain sensor disposed on said illuminated badge; and

a controller configured to adjust a parameter of light emitted from said illuminated badge in response to a headlight status of said vehicle, wherein light intensity of said light is adjusted in response to data received from said rain sensor, wherein said controller is configured to adjust said first portion to be illuminated in a first color at a first intensity and said second portion to be illuminated in a second color at a second intensity in response to a transmission state, wherein said first intensity is higher than said second intensity when said vehicle is in at least one of forward and reverse gears, and wherein said second intensity is higher than said first intensity when said vehicle is in park.

16. The illuminated badge system of claim 15, wherein said controller is further configured to adjust a parameter of light emitted from said illuminated badge in response to transmission state of the vehicle.

17. The illuminated badge system of claim 15, wherein said adjusted parameter is light intensity.

18. The illuminated badge system of claim 15, wherein said adjusted parameter is light color.

19. The illuminated badge system of claim 15, wherein said controller is further configured to adjust a parameter of light emitted from said illuminated badge in response to vehicle speed.

20. The illuminated badge system of claim 15, wherein said controller is further configured to adjust a parameter of light emitted from said illuminated badge in response to ambient light conditions, or ambient light and rain conditions.