Vehicle puddle lamp assembly generating moving image and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10040392-B2
Application number	US-201615343498-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2016
Priority date	Apr 26, 2013
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle puddle lamp assembly is provided that includes a plurality of light projectors located on a vehicle and configured to illuminate different lighted image patterns on a ground surface adjacent to the vehicle. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly includes a controller for sequentially activating the plurality of light projectors to generate an animated lighted image on the ground surface. The animated image moves in a location based on a door position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle puddle lamp assembly comprising:
a plurality of light projectors located on a vehicle and configured to illuminate different lighted image patterns on a surface adjacent to the vehicle;
an acceleration sensor sensing a passenger door moving to a fully open position; and
a controller sequentially activating the plurality of light projectors one at a time to generate a moving animated lighted image on the ground surface only when the door is determined in the fully open position.

2. The lamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the controller turns the plurality of light projectors on and off one projector at a time.

3. The lamp assembly of claim 2 , wherein the controller turns one of the light projectors on for a time period in the range of 50 to 500 milliseconds.

4. The lamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light projectors comprises first, second and third projectors, each comprising a light source and a filter operatively coupled to the light source for generating the image pattern.

5. The lamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light projectors are located on the passenger door for generating lighted image patterns on a ground surface adjacent to a vehicle door.

6. The lamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of light projectors comprises a light source and a filter comprising an image pattern located in front of the light source.

7. The lamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the animated lighted image moves away from the vehicle when the door is determined in the fully open position.

8. The lamp assembly of claim 7 , wherein the animated lighted image moves toward the vehicle when the door is sensed moving to a closed position.

9. The lamp assembly of claim 8 , wherein the acceleration sensor further senses the door moving to the closed position.

10. A vehicle puddle lamp assembly comprising:
a plurality of light projectors located on a door of a vehicle and configured to illuminate different lighted image patterns one at a time on a surface adjacent to the vehicle;
a sensor sensing a passenger door position; and
a controller sequentially activating the plurality of light projectors to project a moving lighted image towards the vehicle and on the ground surface only when the door is fully open.

11. The lamp assembly of claim 10 , wherein the controller generates an animated moving image, and wherein the assembly further comprises a puddle lamp for illuminating the surface adjacent to the vehicle.

12. The lamp assembly of claim 10 , wherein the controller generates a first movement of the lighted image when the vehicle door is determined in the fully open position.

13. The lamp assembly of claim 12 , wherein the lighted image moves away from the vehicle when the door is determined in the fully open position.

14. The lamp assembly of claim 12 , wherein the controller generates a second movement of the lighted image when the vehicle door is sensed moving to a closed position.

15. A method of generating a lighted image with a vehicle puddle lamp assembly, comprising:
receiving a signal to activate a vehicle puddle lamp;
determining a vehicle door moving to an open position; and
sequentially activating a plurality of light projectors one at a time located on the vehicle door and configured to illuminate different light patterns towards the vehicle and onto a surface adjacent to the vehicle to generate a lighted image that appears to move outward on the ground surface from underneath the vehicle to a location distanced from the vehicle only when the vehicle door is determined in a fully open position.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the lighted image is an animated lighted image.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of sequentially activating the plurality of light projectors comprises turning the plurality of light projectors on and off one projector at a time.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of sequentially activating the plurality of light projectors comprises turning one of the light projectors on for a time period in the range of 50 to 500 milliseconds.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of light projectors each comprises a light source and a filter operatively coupled to the light source for generating an image pattern.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of light projectors are located on the vehicle door for generating lighted image patterns on a ground surface adjacent to the vehicle door.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Gardner Cornel Lewis
• Huebner Annette Lynn

Classifications

• H05B47/16

  by timing means · CPC title

• B60Q2400/50

  Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body · CPC title

• B60R1/12

  Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks · CPC title

• G03B21/206

  Control of light source other than position or intensity · CPC title

• B60Q1/32

  for indicating vehicle sides {, e.g. clearance lights} · CPC title