Vehicle lamp assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10137825-B1
Application number	US-201715722059-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 2, 2017
Priority date	Oct 2, 2017
Publication date	Nov 27, 2018
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle mirror assembly is provided herein. The mirror assembly includes a first light source disposed within a housing and is operably coupled with a first light output window disposed on an outboard portion of the housing. A door ajar sensor is disposed within a vehicle. Emitted light is emanated from the first light output window through a window of the vehicle when the door ajar sensor detects a vehicle door is in an open position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lamp assembly, comprising:
a first light source disposed within a housing and operably coupled with a first light output window disposed on an outboard portion of the housing, the first light source configured to direct light through the first light output window and through a side window of a vehicle;
a second light source disposed within the housing and positioned substantially perpendicular to the first light source and configured to direct light through a bottom portion of the housing; and
a door ajar sensor operably coupled with the first light source, wherein emitted light is emanated from the first light output window through a window of the vehicle when the door ajar sensor detects a door is open.

2. The lamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first light source is illuminated when the door is rotated beyond a predefined magnitude of rotation.

3. The lamp assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a light guide optically coupling the first light source with the light output window.

4. The lamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second light source is configured to emit light towards a ground surface proximate the vehicle.

5. The lamp assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third light source configured to emit light towards a body component of the vehicle.

6. The lamp assembly of claim 5 , wherein the body component includes a luminescent structure therein, the luminescent structure configured to luminesce upon receiving emitted light from the third light source.

7. The lamp assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first, second, and third light sources are all disposed on a common printed circuit board.

8. The lamp assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second light output window disposed on an outboard portion of the housing, wherein emitted light is emanated from the second light output window through a rear window of the vehicle when the door ajar sensor detects a rear door is open.

9. The lamp assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a light guide optically coupling the first light source with the light output window.

10. The lamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the window includes a light-diffusing element in a portion thereof.

11. The lamp assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a heatsink disposed within the housing and configured to capture at least a portion of heat generated by the first light source.

12. The lamp assembly of claim 11 , wherein the heat transferred from the heatsink is configured to warm a reflective element within the housing.

13. A lamp assembly, comprising:
a light source disposed on an opposing side of a reflective element from a pivot assembly and operably coupled with a light output window positioned vertically above the at least a portion of the pivot assembly; and
a door ajar sensor operably coupled with the light source, wherein light is emanated through a front window of an open front door and through a rear window of an open rear door.

14. The lamp assembly of claim 13 , further comprising:
a heatsink disposed within the housing and configured to capture at least a portion of heat generated by the light source.

15. The lamp assembly of claim 13 , further comprising:
a light guide optically coupling the light source with the light output window.

16. A vehicle, comprising:
a first light output window disposed on a housing; and
a second light output window disposed below the first light output window and vertically above at least a portion of a mirror bracket, wherein light is emanated from the first light output window through a first window when a first door is open and from the second light output window through a second window when a second door is open.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the first and second light output windows are operably coupled with a light source.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , further comprising:
a door ajar sensor is configured to detect a magnitude of rotation of the first and second doors.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the light source is illuminated when the first or second door is opened beyond a predefined magnitude of rotation.

20. The vehicle of claim 16 , further comprising:
a heatsink disposed within the housing and configured to capture at least a portion of heat generated by the first light source.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Stuhec Ulrich
• Hoelscher Keith
• Helwig Stephen Kenneth

Classifications

• F21S43/235

  Light guides · CPC title

• F21S45/47

  Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings · CPC title

• B60R2001/1223

  with sensors or transducers · CPC title

• F21S43/16

  Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element · CPC title

• F21S43/237

  rod-shaped · CPC title