Underbody and adjacent lighting for automotive vehicle

• US 6,392,559 B1
• Filed: 12/18/1996
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sharpe, Emanuel M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US08/769,037
• Time in Patent Office: 1,980 Days
• Field of Search: 362/80, 362/81, 362/82, 362/83, 362/83.3, 362/276, 362/802, 362/494, 362/542, 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/426, 340/425.5, 340/825.32, 340/475
• US Class Current: 340/12.22
• 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 1/323 on or for doors illuminated exterior door handles B60Q1/2669; illuminated door locks E05B17/10
• 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: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A lighting system for illuminating the exterior of an automotive vehicle has a remotely controlled lamp or set of lamps mounted to the underside of the vehicle for providing illumination both below the vehicle and under the vehicle when the vehicle is stationary the lamps illuminate upon receipt of a predetermined signal from a transmitter. The lamps may also illuminate upon opening a vehicle door to illuminate the path of an exiting passenger.

Claims

1. An exterior lighting system for an automotive vehicle having an underside, a right side, a left side, a front and a rear and a plurality of doors, comprising:

a wireless, remote control transmitter positionable at locations exterior of the vehicle for generating a predetermined transmission;

a receiver mounted in the vehicle for receiving said predetermined transmission from said locations exterior of the vehicle;

a lamp mounted an said underside of the vehicle, said lamp positioned so as to direct light in a substantially downward direction when activated so as to provide direct illumination of substantially the entire area underneath the vehicle; and

a controller connected to said receiver and said lamp, said controller activating said lamp in response to said receiver receiving the said predetermined transmission from said wireless remote control transmitter.

2. An exterior lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller deactivates said lamps if said vehicle is running.

3. An exterior lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein said underside comprising a frame member, said light supported by a bracket mounted to said frame member.

4. An exterior lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein said underside having at least one opening for mounting at least one of said lamps within said opening.

5. An exterior lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller activating said lamps upon opening of one of said doors.

16. An exterior lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein said wireless, remote control transmitter comprises a transmission antenna and wherein said receiver comprises a receiving antenna, with said receiving antenna cooperating with said transmitting antenna for receiving said predetermined transmission.

17. An exterior lighting system as recited in claim 16 wherein said predetermined transmission is an RF signal.

18. An exterior lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined transmission is an infrared light signal.

6. An exterior lighting system for an automotive vehicle having a front, back, right, and left sides, an underside, and a plurality of doors, comprising:

a wireless, remote control transmitter positionable at locations exterior of the vehicle and having an antenna for generating a predetermined transmission and transmitting said predetermined transmission through said antenna;

a receiver mounted in said vehicle and having an antenna cooperating with said of the vehicle;

a plurality of lamps mounted on said underside of the vehicle, said lamps position so as to direct light in a substantially downward direction when activated so as provide direct illumination of substantially the entire area underneath the vehicle; and

a controller connected to said receiver and said lamp, said controller activating said lamps in response to receiving said predetermined transmission from said wireless, remote control transmitter.

7. An exterior lighting system as recited in claim 6 wherein said controller deactivates said lamps if said vehicle is running.

8. An exterior lighting system as recited in claim 6 wherein said underside comprising a frame member, said light mounted to a bracket mounted to said frame member.

9. An exterior lighting system as recited in claim 6 wherein said underside having at least one opening for mounting at least one of said lamps within said opening.

10. An exterior highting system as recited in claim 6 wherein said controller activating said lamps upon opening of one of said doors.

19. An exterior lighting system as recited in claim 6 wherein said predetermined transmission is an RF signal.

20. An exterior lighting system as recited in claim 6 wherein the plurality of lamps comprises a first lamp mounted under the front of the vehicle, a second lamp mounted under the back of the vehicle, a third lamp mounted under the left side of the vehicle and a fourth lamp mounted under the right side of the vehicle.

11. An exterior lighting system for an automotive vehicle having a front, back, right, and left side, an underside and a plurality of doors, comprising:

a wireless, remote control transmitter positionable at locations exterior of the vehicle and having a manually actuatable switch, with the said wireless, remote control transmitter transmitting a predetermined transmission when said switch is manually actuated;

a receiving mounted in the vehicle for receiving said predetermined transmission from said locations exterior of the vehicle;

a lamp mounted on said underside of the vehicle, said lamp positioned so as to direct light in a substantially downward direction when activated so as to provide direct illumination of substantially the entire area underneath the vehicle; and

a controller connected to said receiver and said lamp, said controller activating said lamp in response to said receiver receiving said predetermined transmission from said wireless remote control transmitter such that said area under the vehicle is illuminated when said switch on said wireless remote control transmitter is manually actuated.

12. An exterior lighting system as recited in claim 11 wherein said underside comprising a frame member, said light mounted on a bracket mounted to said frame member.

13. An exterior lighting system as recited in claim 11 wherein said controller deactivates said lamps if said vehicle is running.

14. An exterior lighting system as recited in claim 11 wherein said underside having at least one opening within said underside for mounting said lamp within said opening.

15. An exterior lighting system as recited in claim 11 wherein said lamp illuminates said right and left sides of said vehicle.