Illuminated running board

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10144345-B2
Application number	US-201615360229-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2016
Priority date	Nov 23, 2016
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle includes a running board operable between deployed and undeployed positions. The running board includes a light source. An energy storage device is electrically coupled to the light source. An inductive receiving coil is electrically coupled to the energy storage device. A transmitting coil is positioned proximate an exterior surface of the vehicle. The transmitting coil is configured to transmit a magnetic field to the receiver coil.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a running board operable between deployed and undeployed positions, the running board comprising:
a light source;
an energy storage device electrically coupled to the light source; and
an inductive receiving coil electrically coupled to the energy storage device; and

a transmitting coil positioned proximate an exterior surface of the vehicle, wherein the transmitting coil is configured to transmit a magnetic field to the receiver coil, wherein the transmitting coil is configured to transmit the magnetic field to the receiver coil when the running board is in the undeployed position and not transmit the magnetic field to the receiver coil when the running board is in the deployed position.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein reception of the magnetic field by the receiving coil generates electrical energy.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device comprises a capacitor.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a rectifier electrically coupled between the inductive receiving coil and the energy storage device.

6. A vehicle comprising:
a running board operable between deployed and undeployed positions, comprising:
a light source; and
an energy storage device electrically coupled to the light source; and

a wireless charging system comprising a transmitter coil, and a receiver coil electrically coupled to the energy storage device, wherein moving the running board from the deployed position to the undeployed position enables the transmitter coil to transmit a magnetic field to the receiver coil.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the transmitter coil is positioned proximate an exterior surface of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the receiver coil is positioned on the running board.

9. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery.

10. The vehicle of claim 6 , further comprising:
a rectifier electrically coupled between the receiver coil and the energy storage device.

11. A vehicle comprising:
a light source positioned on a running board; and
a wireless charging system configured to power the light source, the wireless charging system having a transmitter coil configured to not transmit a magnetic field to a receiver coil electrically coupled with the light while the running board is in a deployed position.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising:
an energy storage device electrically coupled with the receiver coil.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the energy storage device is a battery.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising:
a rectifier electrically coupled between the receiver coil and the energy storage device.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the wireless charging system is an induction charging system.

16. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the transmitter coil is configured to transmit the magnetic field to the receiver coil when the running board is in an undeployed position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Stinson Scott
• Beilman Mark

Classifications

• H02J7/82

  Control of state of charge [SOC] · CPC title

• B60Q2900/30

  Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions · CPC title

• B60R3/02 Primary

  Retractable steps {or ladders, e.g. movable under shock (B60R3/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F21S43/14

  Light emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• B60Q1/323 Primary

  on or for doors (illuminated exterior door handles B60Q1/2669; illuminated door locks E05B17/10) · CPC title