Lighting system for vehicle cupholder with inductive power coupling and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12024088-B2
Application number	US-202318334564-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2023
Priority date	Oct 28, 2022
Publication date	Jul 2, 2024
Grant date	Jul 2, 2024

Abstract

A lighting system may be for a vehicle cup holder installed in a vehicle. The lighting system may include a first inductive member to be positioned adjacent a back side of the vehicle cup holder, and a first controller configured to inductively couple power and command signals through the first inductive member. The lighting system may also include a lighting device to be positioned adjacent a front side of the vehicle cup holder. The lighting device, in turn, may include a second inductive member configured for inductive coupling with the first inductive member, at least one light, and a second controller configured to operate the at least one light based upon power and command signals inductively coupled to the second inductive member from the first inductive member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A lighting system for a vehicle cup holder installed in a vehicle, the lighting system comprising:
a first inductive member to be positioned adjacent a back side of the vehicle cup holder;
a first controller configured to inductively couple power and command signals through the first inductive member; and
a lighting device to be positioned adjacent a front side of the vehicle cup holder and comprising
a second inductive member configured for inductive coupling with the first inductive member;
at least one light; and
a second controller configured to operate the at least one light based upon power and command signals inductively coupled to the second inductive member from the first inductive member.

2. The lighting system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one light comprises at least one light having a controllable color; and wherein the command signals comprise color command signals.

3. The lighting system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one light comprises at least one light having a controllable intensity; and wherein the command signals comprise intensity command signals.

4. The lighting system according to claim 1 wherein the power and command signals comprise a power signal and at least one command signal modulated thereon.

5. The lighting system according to claim 1 wherein the lighting device comprises a water-resistant housing containing the second inductive member and second controller.

6. The lighting system according to claim 1 wherein the water-resistant housing comprises:
a bottom; and
a translucent cover coupled to the bottom.

7. The lighting system according to claim 1 wherein the water-resistant housing comprises:
a translucent bottom; and
an opaque cover coupled to the translucent bottom so that a peripheral ring thereof is exposed.

8. The lighting system according to claim 1 comprising a user input switch coupled to the first controller to operate the at least one light.

9. The lighting system according to claim 1 comprising a wireless receiver coupled to the first controller and responsive to a wireless user device.

10. The lighting system according to claim 1 wherein the first inductive member comprises a first coil; and wherein the second inductive member comprises a second coil.

11. A lighting device to be positioned within a vehicle adjacent a front side of a vehicle cup holder installed in the vehicle, the vehicle comprising a first inductive member adjacent a back side of the cup holder and a first controller configured to inductively couple power and command signals through the first inductive member, the lighting device comprising:
a second inductive member configured for inductive coupling with the first inductive member;
at least one light; and
a second controller configured to operate the at least one light based on power and command signals inductively coupled to the second inductive member from the first inductive member.

12. The lighting device according to claim 11 wherein the at least one light comprises at least one light having a controllable color; and wherein the command signals comprise color command signals.

13. The lighting device according to claim 11 wherein the at least one light comprises at least one light having a controllable intensity; and wherein the command signals comprise intensity command signals.

14. The lighting device according to claim 11 wherein the power and command signals comprise a power signal and at least one command signal modulated thereon.

15. The lighting device according to claim 11 comprising a water-resistant housing containing the second inductive member and second controller.

16. The lighting device according to claim 15 wherein the water-resistant housing comprises:
a bottom; and
a translucent cover coupled to the bottom.

17. The lighting device according to claim 15 wherein the water-resistant housing comprises:
a translucent bottom; and
an opaque cover coupled to the translucent bottom so that a peripheral ring thereof is exposed.

18. The lighting device according to claim 11 wherein the first inductive member comprises a first coil; and wherein the second inductive member comprises a second coil.

19. A method for lighting a vehicle cup holder installed in a vehicle, the method comprising:
positioning a first inductive member adjacent a back side of the cup holder;
coupling a first controller to the first inductive member to inductively couple power and command signals therethrough; and
positioning a lighting device adjacent a front side of the vehicle cup holder, the lighting device comprising
a second inductive member configured for inductive coupling with the first inductive member,
at least one light, and
a second controller configured to operate the at least one light based on power and command signals inductively coupled to the second inductive member from the first inductive member.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the at least one light comprises at least one light having a controllable color; and wherein the command signals comprise color command signals.

21. The method according to claim 19 wherein the at least one light comprises at least one light having a controllable intensity; and wherein the command signals comprise intensity command signals.

22. The method according to claim 19 wherein the power and command signals comprise a power signal and at least one command signal modulated thereon.

23. The method according to claim 19 comprising a water-resistant housing containing the second inductive member and second controller.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the water-resistant housing comprises:
a bottom; and
a translucent cover coupled to the bottom.

25. The method according to claim 23 wherein the water-resistant housing comprises:
a translucent bottom; and
an opaque cover coupled to the translucent bottom so that a peripheral ring thereof is exposed.

Assignees

• Voxx Int Corp
• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Adams John
• Gossiaux Jason
• Soman Mangesh Vinayak
• Kline Doug
• Grasso Jonathan
• Young Steven
• Phan Nelson

Classifications

• F21V23/04

  the elements being switches (safety devices F21V25/00) · CPC title

• H05B47/19

  via wireless transmission · CPC title

• H02J50/005

  Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices · CPC title

• H02J50/10

  using inductive coupling · CPC title

• B60Q2900/30

  Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions · CPC title