Vehicle wheelchair loading

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11083650-B2
Application number	US-201715842412-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2017
Priority date	Dec 14, 2017
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

A system for a vehicle includes a LIDAR sensor attachable to the vehicle and a puddle lamp fixed relative to the LIDAR sensor and oriented to project a light projection downward beside the vehicle. A computer may be in communication with the LIDAR sensor and the puddle lamp and programmed to actuate the puddle lamp in response to receiving data generated by the LIDAR sensor indicating a user positioned within a threshold distance of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
a LIDAR sensor attachable to the vehicle;
a puddle lamp fixed relative to the LIDAR sensor and oriented to project a first light projection downward beside the vehicle; and
a computer in communication with the LIDAR sensor and the puddle lamp and programmed to actuate the puddle lamp to project the first light projection in response to receiving data from the LIDAR sensor indicating a user positioned within a threshold distance of the vehicle, and then actuate the puddle lamp to project a second light projection in response to receiving data from the LIDAR sensor indicating that the user is positioned at a designated location relative to the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the LIDAR sensor is attachable to an A pillar of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the puddle lamp is attached to the LIDAR sensor.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the puddle lamp is disposed underneath the LIDAR sensor.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first light projection and the second light projection have at least one of different shapes and different colors.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is programmed to actuate a door of the vehicle to open in response to receiving data from the LIDAR sensor indicating that the user is positioned at the designated location relative to the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the light projection is a first light projection, the computer is programmed, after actuating to actuate the puddle lamp to project the first light projection in response to receiving data from the LIDAR sensor indicating the user positioned within the threshold distance from the vehicle, and then actuate the puddle lamp to project a third light projection in response to receiving data from the LIDAR sensor indicating an obstruction in a designated area relative to the vehicle.

8. A system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
a plurality of Bluetooth Low Energy sensors including a sensor;
a puddle lamp fixed relative to the sensor and oriented to project a light projection downward beside the vehicle; and
a computer in communication with the sensor and the puddle lamp and programmed to actuate the puddle lamp in response to receiving data generated by the sensor indicating a user positioned within a threshold distance of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the light projection is a first light projection, the computer is programmed to actuate the puddle lamp to project the first light projection in response to receiving data generated by the sensor indicating the user positioned within the threshold distance of the vehicle, and then actuate the puddle lamp to project a second light projection in response to receiving data generated by the sensor indicating that the user is positioned at a designated location relative to the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first light projection and the second light projection have at least one of different shapes and different colors.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the computer is programmed to actuate a door of the vehicle to open in response to receiving data generated by the sensor indicating that the user is positioned at a designated location relative to the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the light projection is a first light projection, the computer is programmed to actuate the puddle lamp to project the first light projection in response to receiving data generated by the sensor indicating the user positioned within the threshold distance from the vehicle, and then actuate the puddle lamp to project a second light projection in response to receiving data generated by the sensor indicating an obstruction in a designated area relative to the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the computer is programmed to triangulate a position of the user based on data generated by the Bluetooth Low Energy sensors.

14. The system of claim 8 , further comprising the vehicle including a body, a plurality of doors, the sensor, the puddle lamp, and the computer, wherein the puddle lamp is attached to the body and spaced from the doors.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the puddle lamp is oriented to project the light projection beside one of the doors.

16. A system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
a sensor;
a puddle lamp fixed relative to the sensor and oriented to project a light projection downward beside the vehicle; and
a computer in communication with the sensor and the puddle lamp and programmed to actuate the puddle lamp in response to receiving data generated by the sensor indicating a user positioned within a threshold distance of the vehicle, and actuate a door of the vehicle to open in response to receiving data generated by the sensor indicating that the user is positioned at a designated location relative to the vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B60Q1/547

  for issuing requests to other traffic participants; for confirming to other traffic participants they can proceed, e.g. they can overtake · CPC title

• B60Q1/50

  for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking · CPC title

• B60Q1/247

  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

• B60Q1/249

  for illuminating the field of view of a sensor or camera · CPC title

• B60Q2400/50

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