VEHICLE LIGHT FIXTURE FOR CONNECTING A CAMERA

• US 20180334081A1
• Filed: 05/10/2018
• Published: 11/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Furrion Property Holding Limited (LCI Industries)
• Original Assignee: Furrion Property Holding Limited (LCI Industries)
• Inventors: Bell, Steven Neill
• Granted Patent: US 10,787,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/30 for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/10 Retrofit arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A light fixture for a vehicle includes a light housing for installation on the vehicle that has one part of a two-part mechanical coupling. A power input connects a lamp and electrical coupling in the light housing to a power source. A dummy fitting, with the other part of the two-part mechanical coupling, is mechanically connected by the other part to the light housing so as to be removeable from the light housing to expose the electrical coupling for the retrofitting of a camera that also has the other part of the two-part mechanical coupling and a complementary connector for engaging the electrical coupling. Also disclosed is a camera for retrofitting to the light fixture after removal of the dummy fitting.

Claims

1. A light fixture for a vehicle, the light fixture including:

a light housing for installation on the vehicle;

a lamp in the light housing for providing illumination from the vehicle;

a lens for covering the lamp;

an electrical coupling in the light housing;

a power input for connecting the lamp and the electrical coupling to a power source;

one part of a two-part mechanical coupling on the light housing; and

a dummy fitting with the other part of the two-part mechanical coupling, wherein the dummy fitting is mechanically connected by the other part to the light housing so as to be removeable from the light housing to expose the electrical coupling for the retrofitting of a camera that also has the other part of the two-part mechanical coupling and a complementary connector for engaging the electrical coupling.

2. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein the parts of the two-part mechanical coupling comprise a projection and a recess of complementary form for receiving the projection, the projection and recess being adapted for mutual connection and disconnection by relative movement along an axis, and wherein the electrical coupling is also adapted for simultaneous connection and disconnection by movement along the axis.

3. The light fixture of claim 2 wherein the light housing has a rear for abutting the vehicle and an opposing front, at least part of the front being covered by the lens, and sides connecting the front and rear, and wherein the axis intersects one of the sides.

4. The light fixture of claim 2 wherein the light housing has an approximately rectangular prismatic form and the axis is aligned generally parallel to an elongate direction thereof.

5. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein the dummy fitting is elongated parallel to the axis and has substantially the same width as the light housing, such that, adjacent the interface between the dummy fitting and the light housing, parallel faces of both the dummy fitting and the light housing, on opposing sides, are substantially coplanar.

6. The light fixture claim 1 wherein a first rib extends around part of the perimeter of the front of the light housing, and the lens is fastened to the first rib.

7. The light fixture of claim 6 wherein the first rib is U-shaped in its elongate direction, extending alongside one short side of the front of the light housing and alongside two long sides of the front of the light housing to terminate adjacent the interface, and wherein the lens encompasses the first rib.

8. The light fixture of claim 6 wherein the first rib projects from a substantially planar front face of the front of the light housing, and the dummy fitting comprises a face substantially coplanar with the front face, but without a rib.

9. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein a hidden fastener fixes the dummy fitting to the light housing.

10. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein the electrical coupling is one of a male and a female electrical coupling, and the dummy fitting includes an integral part having the form of the other of the male and a female electrical coupling, and is engaged therewith.

11. A light/camera fixture for a vehicle, the light/camera fixture including:

a light housing for installation on the vehicle;

a lamp in the light housing for providing illumination from the vehicle;

a lens for covering the lamp;

an electrical coupling in the light housing;

a power input for connecting the lamp and the electrical coupling to a power source;

one part of a two-part mechanical coupling on the light housing; and

a camera with the other part of the two-part mechanical coupling and which is mechanically connected by the other part to the light housing, the camera further comprising a complementary connector for engaging the electrical coupling.

12. A camera for retrofitting to a light fixture after removal of a dummy fitting from the light fixture, the light fixture comprising a light housing, an electrical coupling in the light housing, and one part of a two-part mechanical coupling on the light housing, the camera comprising:

the other part of the two-part mechanical coupling, the other part of the two-part mechanical coupling being configured to couple with the one part of the two-part mechanical coupling; and

a complementary connector configured to engage the electrical coupling and supply power for operating the camera.

13. The camera of claim 12 further comprising a camera front face substantially coplanar with the front face of the light housing, a second rib projecting from the camera front face, and cooperating with a first rib of the light fixture to extend adjacent a perimeter of a lens of the light fixture.

14. The camera of claim 12 further comprising a camera body holding a camera lens wherein the other part of the two-part mechanical coupling is:

formed integrally with the camera body, or

connected by a moveable joint to the camera body for adjusting the field of view of the camera.

15. The camera of claim 14 wherein the moveable joint comprises a hinge aligned parallel to a long axis of the camera.

16. The camera of claim 12 wherein the camera is adapted for the wireless transmission of image data.

17. The camera of claim 12 further comprising a light source for illuminating the field of view.