Communication grille assembly

• US 10,793,094 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2019
• Issued: 10/06/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2019
• 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., Glickman, David Brian, Brown, LaRon Michelle
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan B
• Application Number:
  US16/422,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20200262377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 362496, 362502
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/5037 the display content changing automatically, e.g. depending on traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/507 specific to autonomous vehicles
• 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: B60Q 2900/50 Arrangements to reconfigure features of lighting or signalling devices, or to choose from a list of pre-defined settings
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/52 Radiator or grille guards ; Radiator grilles cooling aspects B60K11/08
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/10 for land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/16 Human faces, e.g. facial parts, sketches or expressions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/161 Detection; Localisation; Normalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 Classification, e.g. identification

Abstract

A vehicle communication system includes a vehicle body panel and a camera having a field of view. The camera is disposed on the vehicle body panel. A grille assembly is coupled to the vehicle body panel. The grille assembly includes a plurality of light sources, an optic layer defining channels disposed adjacent to the light sources, and a metalized sheet disposed on the optic layer.

Claims

1. A vehicle communication system, comprising:

a vehicle body panel;

a camera having a field of view, wherein the camera is disposed on the vehicle body panel; and

a grille assembly coupled to the vehicle body panel, wherein the grille assembly includes;

a plurality of light sources;

an optic layer defining channels disposed adjacent to the light sources;

a metalized sheet disposed on the optic layer; and

an electrical connector coupled to the metalized sheet.

2. The vehicle communication system of claim 1, wherein the grille assembly includes a capacitive portion having a sensor field extending outward from the vehicle body panel.

3. The vehicle communication system of claim 2, further comprising:

a controller, wherein the capacitive portion sends a signal to the controller in response to sensing an object within the sensor field, and wherein the controller sends a corresponding signal to the camera to activate the camera.

4. The vehicle communication system of claim 1, wherein the field of view of the camera extends outward of the vehicle body panel.

5. The vehicle communication system of claim 1, wherein an exterior surface the grille assembly forms a substantially continuous surface with the vehicle body panel.

6. The vehicle communication system of claim 1, wherein the camera includes facial recognition software.

7. A vehicle communication system, comprising:

a vehicle panel;

a grille assembly coupled to the vehicle panel, wherein the grille assembly includes;

a substrate;

at least one light source coupled to the substrate;

a film positioned over the at least one light source; and

a metal layer coupled to an inner surface of the film; and

a controller operably coupled to the light sources, wherein the controller activates the light sources, wherein the controller adjusts an intensity of emitted light of the at least one light source based on a vehicle velocity.

8. The vehicle communication system of claim 7, wherein the controller selectively activates the at least one light source to display a message on the grille assembly.

9. The vehicle communication system of claim 8, wherein the message includes a circular symbol with a moving gradient.

10. The vehicle communication system of claim 7, further comprising:

a camera coupled to the vehicle panel, wherein the camera includes a field of view extending outward from the vehicle panel.

11. The vehicle communication system of claim 10, wherein the grille assembly includes a capacitive portion that operates in conjunction with the camera as a parking sensor.

12. The vehicle communication system of claim 11, wherein the camera includes rules for recognizing an object, and wherein the controller assigns a dielectric constant and calibration factor to the object.

13. A grille assembly communication system, comprising:

a substrate;

a printed circuit board disposed on the substrate;

a plurality of light sources coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the plurality of light sources is disposed in a matrix;

an optic layer disposed adjacent to the plurality of light sources and defining channels over each light source of the plurality of light sources;

a film positioned over the optic layer;

a metal layer disposed on an inner surface of the film; and

an electrical connector coupled to the metal layer to form a capacitive portion having a sensor field.

14. The grille assembly communication system of claim 13, wherein the optic layer defines ribs extending between adjacent light sources of the plurality of light sources.

15. The grille assembly communication system of claim 13, further comprising:

a controller, wherein the controller selectively activates each light source of the plurality of light sources to display a message.

16. The grille assembly communication system of claim 15, further comprising:

a camera operably coupled to the controller and having a field of view.

17. The grille assembly communication system of claim 13, wherein the optic layer deforms in response to a predetermined force acting on the optic layer.