Vehicle exterior door handle system with light module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12109947-B2
Application number	US-202318366052-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2023
Priority date	Jun 13, 2017
Publication date	Oct 8, 2024
Grant date	Oct 8, 2024

Abstract

A vehicular lighted exterior door handle system includes a lighted exterior door handle assembly and a light module disposed at the door handle assembly. The light module includes a circuit board having a plurality of illumination sources disposed thereat. Individual illumination sources of the plurality of illumination sources are electrically operable to emit light. When the individual illumination sources are electrically operated with the lighted exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door of the equipped vehicle, the light module emits light at least outboard away from the door of the equipped vehicle. With the lighted exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door of the equipped vehicle, the light module is operable to indicate a charge level of a battery of the equipped vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicular lighted exterior door handle system, the vehicular lighted exterior door handle system comprising:
a lighted exterior door handle assembly configured for mounting at a door of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular lighted exterior door handle system;
a light module disposed at the lighted exterior door handle assembly, the light module comprising a circuit board having a plurality of illumination sources disposed thereat;
wherein individual illumination sources of the plurality of illumination sources are electrically operable to emit light;
wherein the light module emit lights in a first pattern responsive to a first input received at the light module, and wherein the light module emits light in a second pattern responsive to a second input received at the light module, and wherein the second pattern is different from the first pattern;
wherein, when the individual illumination sources are electrically operated with the lighted exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door of the equipped vehicle, the light module emits light at least outboard away from the door of the equipped vehicle; and
wherein, with the lighted exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door of the equipped vehicle, the light module is operable to indicate a charge level of a battery of the equipped vehicle.

2. The vehicular lighted exterior door handle system of claim 1 , wherein, with the lighted exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door of the equipped vehicle, the first input comprises an input indicative of the charge level of the battery of the vehicle.

3. The vehicular lighted exterior door handle system of claim 1 , wherein the second pattern is programmable by a user.

4. The vehicular lighted exterior door handle system of claim 1 , wherein, with the lighted exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door of the equipped vehicle, and when the illumination sources are electrically operated with the door of the equipped vehicle unlocked, the light module emits light in the second pattern.

5. The vehicular lighted exterior door handle system of claim 4 , wherein, with the lighted exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door of the equipped vehicle, and when the illumination sources are electrically operated with the door of the equipped vehicle locked, the light module emits light in a third pattern that is different from the first pattern and that is different from the second pattern.

6. The vehicular lighted exterior door handle system of claim 5 , wherein the different second and third patterns of light are provided by at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) changing an actuation sequence of the illumination sources and (ii) changing color of light emitted by the illumination sources.

7. The vehicular lighted exterior door handle system of claim 1 , wherein the light module comprises a housing and a light transmitting cover, and wherein the circuit board is disposed in a cavity between the housing and the light transmitting cover.

8. The vehicular lighted exterior door handle system of claim 1 , wherein the circuit board has circuitry established thereat, and wherein the circuitry comprises (i) a microcontroller, (ii) the illumination sources, (iii) drivers for the illumination sources and (iv) connector terminals.

9. The vehicular lighted exterior door handle system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of illumination sources comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

10. A vehicular lighted exterior door handle system, the vehicular lighted exterior door handle system comprising:
a lighted exterior door handle assembly configured for mounting at a door of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular lighted exterior door handle system;
a light module disposed at the lighted exterior door handle assembly, the light module comprising a circuit board having a plurality of illumination sources disposed thereat;
wherein individual illumination sources of the plurality of illumination sources are electrically operable to emit light;
wherein, when the individual illumination sources are electrically operated with the lighted exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door of the equipped vehicle, the light module emits light at least outboard away from the door of the equipped vehicle;
wherein, with the lighted exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door of the equipped vehicle, the light module is operable to indicate a charge level of a battery of the equipped vehicle; and
wherein the plurality of illumination sources comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, and wherein the light emitting diodes of the plurality of light emitting diodes are individually electrically controllable to provide a desired pattern of illumination.

11. The vehicular lighted exterior door handle system of claim 10 , wherein, with the lighted exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door of the equipped vehicle, the light emitting diodes of the plurality of light emitting diodes are controlled responsive to a user input in the equipped vehicle that is actuatable by a driver of the equipped vehicle to provide illumination emanating from the light module of the lighted exterior door handle assembly.

12. The vehicular lighted exterior door handle system of claim 11 , wherein the user input, when actuated by the driver of the equipped vehicle, activates a turn signal indicator system of the equipped vehicle.

13. The vehicular lighted exterior door handle system of claim 12 , wherein, responsive to actuation of the user input to activate the turn signal indicator system of the equipped vehicle, the light emitting diodes of the plurality of light emitting diodes are electrically operated to emit light in a pattern that is different from the indication of the charge level of the battery of the equipped vehicle.

14. A vehicular lighted exterior door handle system, the vehicular lighted exterior door handle system comprising:
a lighted exterior door handle assembly configured for mounting at a door of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular lighted exterior door handle system;
a light module disposed at the lighted exterior door handle assembly, the light module comprising a circuit board having a plurality of illumination sources disposed thereat;
wherein individual illumination sources of the plurality of illumination sources are electrically operable to emit light;
wherein, when the individual illumination sources are electrically operated with the lighted exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door of the equipped vehicle, the light module emits light at least outboard away from the door of the equipped vehicle;
wherein, with the lighted exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door of the equipped vehicle, the light module is operable to indicate a charge level of a battery of the equipped vehicle; and
wherein, with the lighted exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door of the equipped vehicle, an actuation sequence or rate of flash of the illumination sources of the plurality of illumination sources is controllable via a communication link between a vehicle body controller of the equipped vehicle and the light module.

15. A vehicular lighted exterior door handle system, the vehicular lighted exterior door handle system comprising:
a lighted exterior door handle assembly configured for mounting at a door of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular lighted exterior door handle system;
a light module disposed at the lighted exterior door handle assembly, the light module comprising a circuit board having a plurality of illumination sources disposed thereat;

Assignees

• Magna Mirrors Of America Inc

Inventors

• Huizen Gregory A
• Peterson Kenneth C
• Wesley Mitchell J
• Hauff Martin A

Classifications

• F21Y2113/13

  comprising an assembly of point-like light sources · CPC title

• B60Q2900/40

  Several lamps activated in sequence, e.g. sweep effect, progressive activation · CPC title

• B60Q1/381

  with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect · CPC title

• B60Q2400/40

  Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle · CPC title

• B60Q1/32

  for indicating vehicle sides {, e.g. clearance lights} · CPC title