Vehicular rear window assembly with system status indicator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12304287-B2
Application number	US-202218055888-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2022
Priority date	Nov 18, 2021
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

A vehicular rear window assembly includes a fixed window panel and an indicating device having a plurality of light sources. The vehicular rear window assembly is configured to be disposed at a rear portion of a cabin of a vehicle. The indicating device is disposed at the fixed window panel. With the vehicular rear window assembly disposed at the rear portion of the cabin of the vehicle, the light sources, when electrically powered to emit light, emit light that is visible through the window panel so as to be viewable by a person viewing the vehicular rear window assembly from exterior and rearward of the vehicle. The indicating device is operated responsive to at least one system of the vehicle. Responsive to an output of the at least one system, the indicating device adjusts operation of the light sources to indicate a status of the at least one system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicular rear window assembly comprising:
a fixed window panel;
an indicating device comprising a plurality of light sources;
wherein the vehicular rear window assembly is configured to be disposed at a rear portion of a cabin of a vehicle;
wherein the indicating device is disposed at the fixed window panel;
wherein, with the vehicular rear window assembly disposed at the rear portion of the cabin of the vehicle, the light sources, when electrically powered to emit light, emit light that is visible through the fixed window panel so as to be viewable by a person viewing the vehicular rear window assembly from exterior and rearward of the vehicle; and
wherein, with the vehicular rear window assembly disposed at the rear portion of the cabin of the vehicle, the indicating device is operated responsive to at least one system of the vehicle, and wherein, responsive to an output of the at least one system, the indicating device adjusts operation of the light sources to indicate a status of the at least one system of the vehicle including a load of the vehicle.

2. The vehicular rear window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one system comprises a suspension system of the vehicle.

3. The vehicular rear window assembly of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of light sources are arranged vertically along a side region of the fixed window panel.

4. The vehicular rear window assembly of claim 1 , comprising a touch or proximity sensor that senses touch or presence of a person's hand at an exterior region of the fixed window panel.

5. The vehicular rear window assembly of claim 4 , wherein, responsive to sensing touch or presence of a person's hand, the touch or proximity sensor generates an output to activate the indicating device.

6. The vehicular rear window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light sources comprise one selected from the group consisting of (i) a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), (ii) a plurality of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), and (iii) a plurality of electro-luminescent light sources.

7. The vehicular rear window assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an exterior lighting device that is operable to illuminate a rear exterior portion of the vehicle.

8. The vehicular rear window assembly of claim 7 , comprising a touch or proximity sensor that senses touch or presence of a person's hand at an exterior region of the fixed window panel, and wherein, responsive to sensing touch or presence of a person's hand, the touch or proximity sensor generates an output to activate the exterior lighting device.

9. The vehicular rear window assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an exterior lighting device that is operable responsive to actuation of a brake of the vehicle so as to provide a center high mounted stop lamp feature.

10. The vehicular rear window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the indicating device is disposed along a perimeter region of the fixed window panel, and wherein the fixed window panel comprises an opaque layer at the perimeter region of the window panel.

11. The vehicular rear window assembly of claim 1 , comprising a near field communication device at the fixed window panel, wherein the near field communication device generates an output responsive to detecting proximity of an authorized device.

12. The vehicular rear window assembly of claim 11 , wherein the near field communication device generates the output to unlock vehicle doors responsive to detecting proximity of the authorized device.

13. The vehicular rear window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vehicular rear window assembly is configured to be disposed at a rear portion of a cabin of a pickup truck.

14. The vehicular rear window assembly of claim 13 , wherein the vehicular rear window assembly comprises a vehicular rear slider window assembly comprising a movable window panel and a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail, and wherein the fixed window panel is fixed relative to the frame portion, and wherein the fixed window panel comprises an opening, and wherein the movable window panel is movable along the upper rail and the lower rail, and wherein the movable window panel is movable between a closed position, where the movable window panel is disposed at the opening, and an opened position, where the movable window panel is disposed at least partially along the fixed window panel.

15. The vehicular rear window assembly of claim 1 , wherein, with the vehicular rear window assembly disposed at the rear portion of the cabin of the vehicle, the indicating device is electrically connected to a wiring harness of the vehicle.

16. The vehicular rear window assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a speaker disposed thereat, the speaker configured to play audio from a connected system.

17. The vehicular rear window assembly of claim 16 , wherein the speaker is integrated in the vehicular rear window assembly.

18. The vehicular rear window assembly of claim 16 , wherein the speaker is integrated in a spoiler element disposed along an upper region of the vehicular rear window assembly.

19. The vehicular rear window assembly of claim 16 , wherein the connected system comprises an audio system of the vehicle.

20. The vehicular rear window assembly of claim 16 , wherein the speaker is wirelessly connected to the connected system.

21. A vehicular rear slider window assembly comprising:
a frame portion having an upper rail and a lower rail;
a fixed window panel comprising an opening, wherein the fixed window panel is fixed relative to the frame portion;
a movable window panel that is movable along the upper rail and the lower rail, wherein the movable window panel is movable between a closed position, where the movable window panel is disposed at the opening, and an opened position, where the movable window panel is disposed at least partially along the fixed window panel;
an indicating device comprising a plurality of light sources, wherein the indicating device is disposed at the fixed window panel;
wherein the vehicular rear slider window assembly is configured to be disposed at a rear portion of a cabin of a vehicle;
wherein, with the vehicular rear slider window assembly disposed at the rear portion of the cabin of the vehicle, the indicating device is electrically connected to a wiring harness of the vehicle;
wherein, with the vehicular rear slider window assembly disposed at the rear portion of the cabin of the vehicle, the light sources, when electrically powered to emit light, emit light that is visible through the fixed window panel so as to be viewable by a person viewing the vehicular rear slider window assembly from exterior and rearward of the vehicle; and
wherein, with the vehicular rear slider window assembly disposed at the rear portion of the cabin of the vehicle, the indicating device is operated responsive at least to a suspension system of the vehicle, and wherein, responsive to an output of the suspension system, the indicating device adjusts operation of the light sources to indicate a load of the vehicle.

22. The vehicular rear slider window assembly of claim 20 , wherein the plurality of light sources are arranged vertically along a side region of the fixed window panel.

23. The vehicular rear slider window assembly of claim 20 , comprising a touch or proximity sensor that senses touch or presence of a person's hand at an exterior region of the fixed window panel, and wherein, respons

Assignees

• Magna Mirrors Of America Inc

Inventors

• Snider Darin J

Classifications

• B60Q1/30

  for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces · CPC title

• B60Q1/0023

  the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera · 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

• B60Q2400/20

  Multi-color single source or LED matrix, e.g. yellow blinker and red brake lamp generated by single lamp · CPC title

• B60Q1/44

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