Vehicular illumination system with reconfigurable display element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11007978-B2
Application number	US-202015929325-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2020
Priority date	Nov 14, 2011
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

Abstract

A vehicular illumination system includes an illumination module disposed at an exterior portion of a vehicle. The illumination module includes a reconfigurable display element and a light source operable to emit light. When the light source is operated, light emitted by the light source passes through the reconfigurable display element and the illumination module projects an icon established by the reconfigurable display element. The reconfigurable display element is reconfigurable to form the icon responsive to one of (i) a user selection of an icon and (ii) programming of the reconfigurable display element for an icon. When the light source is operated, light emitted by the light source passes through the reconfigurable display element and the illumination module projects the icon of the reconfigurable display element onto a surface exterior of the equipped vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicular illumination system, said vehicular illumination system comprising:
an illumination module disposed at an exterior portion of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular illumination system;
wherein said illumination module comprises a light source operable to emit light;
wherein said illumination module comprises a reconfigurable display element;
wherein, when said light source is operated, light emitted by said light source passes through said reconfigurable display element and said illumination module projects an icon formed by said reconfigurable display element;
wherein said reconfigurable display element is reconfigurable to form the icon responsive to one selected from the group consisting of (i) a user selection and (ii) programming of said reconfigurable display element; and
wherein, when said light source is operated, light emitted by said light source passes through said reconfigurable display element and said illumination module projects the icon formed by said reconfigurable display element onto a surface exterior of the equipped vehicle.

2. The vehicular illumination system of claim 1 , wherein said illumination module comprises a ground illumination module that illuminates a ground region adjacent the vehicle.

3. The vehicular illumination system of claim 1 , wherein, when said light source is operated, light emitted by said light source passes through said reconfigurable display element and said illumination module projects the icon formed by said reconfigurable display element onto a ground surface exterior of the equipped vehicle.

4. The vehicular illumination system of claim 1 , wherein said illumination module comprises a lens element, and wherein, when said light source is operated, light emitted by said light source passes through said reconfigurable display element and said lens element.

5. The vehicular illumination system of claim 1 , wherein said illumination module comprises first and second optical lens elements, and wherein said reconfigurable display element is disposed between said first and second optical lens elements.

6. The vehicular illumination system of claim 5 , wherein said second optical lens element is disposed between said reconfigurable display element and said light source.

7. The vehicular illumination system of claim 6 , wherein said first optical lens element comprises a projecting lens element and said second optical lens element comprises a condensing lens element.

8. The vehicular illumination system of claim 7 , wherein, when said light source is operated, light emanating from said light source (a) passes through a diffusing optic and through an illumination portion of said projecting lens element to provide lower intensity light at a target area, and (b) passes through said condensing lens element and is intensified by said condensing lens element so that light passing through a projecting portion of said projecting lens element is projected as higher intensity light onto a portion of the target area, and wherein said reconfigurable display element is disposed along an optic path between said condensing lens element and said projecting portion of said projecting lens element, and wherein the icon, when said light source is operated, is projected onto the portion of the target area.

9. The vehicular illumination system of claim 1 , wherein said reconfigurable display element is reconfigurable to form the icon responsive to a user selection.

10. The vehicular illumination system of claim 1 , wherein said reconfigurable display element is reconfigurable to form the icon responsive to programming of said reconfigurable display element.

11. The vehicular illumination system of claim 1 , wherein said illumination module is disposed at an exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at a side of the equipped vehicle.

12. The vehicular illumination system of claim 11 , wherein said illumination module is disposed at a lower portion of the exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at a side of the equipped vehicle, and wherein, when said light source is operated, said illumination module projects the icon formed by said reconfigurable display element onto the ground at the side of the equipped vehicle.

13. The vehicular illumination system of claim 1 , wherein said illumination module is disposed at an exterior door handle assembly attached at a side of the equipped vehicle.

14. The vehicular illumination system of claim 1 , wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

15. The vehicular illumination system of claim 1 , wherein said illumination module comprises a circuit element having said light source located thereat.

16. The vehicular illumination system of claim 15 , comprising an electrical connector for electrically connecting circuitry of said circuit element to a power source of the equipped vehicle.

17. The vehicular illumination system of claim 1 , wherein said reconfigurable display element is reconfigurable to form a security beacon.

18. The vehicular illumination system of claim 1 , wherein said reconfigurable display element is reconfigurable to form an emblem.

19. The vehicular illumination system of claim 1 , wherein said reconfigurable display element is reconfigurable to form a logo.

20. A vehicular illumination system, said vehicular illumination system comprising:
an illumination module disposed at an exterior portion of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular illumination system;
wherein said illumination module comprises a light source operable to emit light;
wherein said light source comprises at least one light emitting diode;
wherein said illumination module comprises a reconfigurable display element;
wherein, when said light source is operated, light emitted by said light source passes through said reconfigurable display element and said illumination module projects a vehicle logo formed by said reconfigurable display element;
wherein said reconfigurable display element is reconfigurable to form the vehicle logo responsive to one selected from the group consisting of (i) a user selection and (ii) programming of said reconfigurable display element; and
wherein, when said light source is operated, light emitted by said light source passes through said reconfigurable display element and said illumination module projects the vehicle logo formed by said reconfigurable display element onto a surface exterior of the equipped vehicle.

21. The vehicular illumination system of claim 20 , wherein the vehicle logo comprises a brand name associated with the vehicle.

22. The vehicular illumination system of claim 20 , wherein the vehicle logo comprises a manufacturer logo for the vehicle.

23. The vehicular illumination system of claim 20 , wherein said illumination module comprises a ground illumination module that illuminates a ground region adjacent the vehicle.

24. The vehicular illumination system of claim 20 , wherein, when said light source is operated, light emitted by said light source passes through said reconfigurable display element and said illumination module projects the vehicle logo formed by said reconfigurable display element onto a ground surface exterior of the equipped vehicle.

25. The vehicular illumination system of claim 24 , wherein said illumination module is disposed at an exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at a side of the equipped vehicle.

26. T

Assignees

• Magna Mirrors Of America Inc

Inventors

• De Wind Darryl P
• Sobecki Justin E
• Deuel Eric S

Classifications

• B60Q1/2669 Primary

  on door or boot handles (lighting devices for vehicle interior on door handles B60Q3/267) · CPC title

• B60R25/241 Primary

  whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers · CPC title

• F21V5/04

  of lens shape · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• E05B85/10

  Handles · CPC title