Vehicle lamp assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10723258-B2
Application number	US-201815862174-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2018
Priority date	Jan 4, 2018
Publication date	Jul 28, 2020
Grant date	Jul 28, 2020

Abstract

A lamp assembly is provided herein. The lamp assembly includes first and second light sources operably coupled to an exterior portion of a vehicle. The first light source illuminates a front door and the second light source illuminates a rear door. A controller is configured to activate the first and second light sources to selectively illuminate the front or rear doors to indicate a predefined door of entry into the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle configured to operate on a ground surface, comprising:
a front door;
a rear door positioned vehicle-rearward of the front door;
an exterior portion disposed generally proximate to at least one of the front door and the rear door;
a lamp assembly, comprising:
first and second light sources operably coupled to the exterior portion, wherein the first light source is operable to project a first excitation light onto the front door and the second light source is operable to project a second excitation light onto the rear door of the vehicle; and

circuitry electrically coupled to the first and second light sources and having a controller that is operable to activate the first and second light sources, the controller selectively activating one of the first light source and the second light source to illuminate a predefined door of entry, wherein the controller activates the first light source when the predefined door of entry is the front door and activates the second light source when the predefined door of entry is the rear door.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein when the first light source is activated, the first light source further projects the first excitation light onto the ground surface to illuminate a portion of the ground surface proximate to the front door, and when the second light source is activated, the second light source further projects the second excitation light onto the ground surface to illuminate a portion of the ground surface proximate to the rear door.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the illuminated portion of the ground surface proximate the front door extends vehicle outward a first distance, and the front door extends vehicle outward a second distance while disposed in an ajar position.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

5. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the first distance is generally equal to the second distance.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the front door is fully open while in the ajar position.

7. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the illuminated portion of the ground surface proximate the rear door extends vehicle outward a first distance, and the rear door extends vehicle outward a second distance while disposed in an ajar position.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

9. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the first distance is generally equal to the second distance.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the rear door is fully open while in the ajar position.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third light source electrically coupled to the controller and configured to direct a third excitation light towards the ground surface to form a puddle lamp.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first and second light sources are disposed within an exterior member that extends in a vehicle-outward direction.

13. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a light sensor electrically coupled to the controller and configured to detect light conditions surrounding the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to control the first and second light sources to vary an intensity of the light emitted from the first and second light sources in response to the light sensor detecting low-light conditions surrounding the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a front seat disposed generally proximate to the front door; and
a rear seat disposed vehicle rearward of the front seat, wherein the controller is configured to activate the first light source when the predefined entry door is the front door based on the front seat being vacant, and the controller is configured to activate the second light source when the predefined entry door is rear door based on the rear seat being vacant.

15. A vehicle configured to operate on a ground surface, comprising:
a front door;
a rear door positioned vehicle-rearward of the front door;
a front seat disposed generally proximate to the front door;
a rear seat disposed vehicle rearward of the front seat;
an exterior portion disposed generally proximate to at least one of the front door and the rear door;
a lamp assembly, comprising:
first and second light sources operably coupled to the exterior portion, wherein the first light source is operable to project a first excitation light onto the front door and the second light source is operable to project a second excitation light onto the rear door of the vehicle; and
circuitry electrically coupled to the first and second light sources and having a controller activating at least one of the first and second light sources, wherein the controller activates the first light source based on the front seat being vacant, and the controller activates the second light source based on the rear seat being vacant.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein when the first light source is activated, the first light source further projects the first excitation light onto the ground surface to illuminate a portion of the ground surface proximate to the front door, and when the second light source is activated, the second light source further projects the second excitation light onto the ground surface to illuminate a portion of the ground surface proximate to the rear door.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the illuminated portion of the ground surface proximate the front door extends vehicle outward a first distance, and the front door extends vehicle outward a second distance while disposed in an ajar position.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

19. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the first distance is generally equal to the second distance when the front door is fully open.

20. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the first and second light sources are disposed within an exterior member that extends in a vehicle-outward direction.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Huebner Annette Lynn
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Surman James J
• Glickman David Brian

Classifications

• B60Q1/247 Primary

  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 title

• B60Q1/507

  specific to autonomous vehicles · CPC title

• B60Q1/543

  for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle (indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045) · CPC title

• B60Q1/324

  for signalling that a door is open or intended to be opened · CPC title

• F21S43/19

  Attachment of light sources or lamp holders · CPC title