Center high-mounted stop lamp system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12208729-B2
Application number	US-202318322219-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2023
Priority date	May 23, 2023
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

Abstract

A center high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL) system for a vehicle is provided. The CHMSL system includes a sensor, a primary CHMSL, a wireless secondary CHMSL, a vehicle wireless transceiver, and at least one processor coupled to the sensor, the primary CHMSL, and the vehicle wireless transceiver. The sensor is configured to generate sensor data, such as image data, proximity data, etc., associated with cargo loaded in a bed of the vehicle. The primary CHMSL includes a primary lamp. The wireless secondary CHMSL includes a secondary lamp, a battery, and control circuitry including a CHMSL wireless transceiver and a microcontroller. The processor is configured to facilitate, based on the sensor data, activation of the wireless secondary CHMSL. The processor is also configured to determine, based on the sensor data, whether the primary CHMSL is blocked or not blocked.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A center high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL) system for a vehicle, comprising:
sensors having a view of a cargo area of the vehicle, the sensors including:
a rear facing camera configured to generate camera image data in response to sensing the presence of a cargo in the cargo area of the vehicle, and
a proximity sensor configured to generate proximity sensor data in response to sensing the presence of the cargo in the cargo area of the vehicle;

a primary CHMSL including a primary lamp;
a wireless secondary CHMSL, including:
a secondary lamp,
control circuitry coupled to the secondary lamp, the control circuitry including a CHMSL wireless transceiver and a microcontroller, and
a battery coupled to the control circuitry, the battery configured to power the secondary lamp and the control circuitry;

a vehicle wireless transceiver; and
at least one processor, coupled to the sensor, the primary CHMSL, and the vehicle wireless transceiver, the at least one processor configured to:
determine, based on the camera image data and the proximity sensor data, whether the view of the primary CHMSL is blocked or not blocked by the cargo present in the cargo area of the vehicle,
when the view of the primary CHMSL is blocked:
in response to receiving a brake engaged signal, send an activation message to the wireless secondary CHMSL over a wireless communication link, and
in response to receiving a brake disengaged signal, send a deactivation message to the wireless secondary CHMSL over the wireless communication link,

when the view of the primary CHMSL is not blocked:
in response to receiving the brake engaged signal, send the activation message to the primary CHMSL via a wired communications link, and
in response to receiving the brake disengaged signal, send the deactivation message to the primary CHMSL via the wired communications link.

2. The CHMSL system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
turn on the secondary lamp in response to receiving the activation message; and
turn off the secondary lamp in response to receiving the deactivation message.

3. The CHMSL system of claim 1 , wherein the brake engaged signal and the brake disengaged signal are generated by a brake pedal of the vehicle that is configured to communicate with the at least one processor.

4. The CHMSL system of claim 1 , wherein the cargo area includes a bed and a rail, and the wireless secondary CHMSL is mounted to the rail.

5. The CHMSL system of claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller and the CHMSL wireless transceiver are packaged in a single module.

6. The CHMSL system of claim 5 , wherein:
the vehicle wireless transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver;
the secondary lamp includes one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) coupled to LED driver circuitry;
the CHMSL wireless transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver; and
the wireless communication link is a Bluetooth low energy communications link.

7. The CHMSL system of claim 1 , wherein:
the control circuitry includes a battery sensor coupled to the battery, the battery sensor configured to generate a battery charge signal; and
the control circuitry is configured to:
determine a battery charge level based on the battery charge signal,
generate a first status message including the battery charge level, and
transmit the first status message to the at least one processor over the wireless communication link.

8. The CHMSL system of claim 7 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
determine a fault status for at least one of the battery, the secondary lamp, the CHMSL wireless transceiver, and the microcontroller,
generate a second status message including the fault status, and
transmit the second status message to the at least one processor over the wireless communication link.

9. The CHMSL system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to send the battery charge level and the fault status to a display of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Kumar Priyank
• Sagastume Luis Guillermo
• Wickramasinghe Shammika Ashan
• Baker Simon
• Neumann Martin
• Thaliath Vinu

Classifications

• H02J7/80

  including monitoring or indicating arrangements · CPC title

• B60R16/0232

  for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions · CPC title

• B60R16/023

  for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems · CPC title

• B60Q1/441

  Electric switches operable by the driver's pedals · CPC title

• B60Q1/44 Primary

  for indicating braking action {or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal} · CPC title