Apparatus with light fixture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12434623-B2
Application number	US-202418752179-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2024
Priority date	Feb 14, 2024
Publication date	Oct 7, 2025
Grant date	Oct 7, 2025

Abstract

An apparatus can include a light fixture. The light fixture can be disposed between a first light of a vehicle and a second light of the vehicle. The light fixture can include a first segment having a first light source and a second segment having a second light source. The first segment can produce light with a first pattern via the first light source. The second segment can produce light with a second pattern via the second light source. The first pattern and the second pattern can indicate a vehicle status of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a light fixture to dispose within a central portion of a vehicle, the central portion of the vehicle (i) positioned between a first light source of the vehicle and a second light source of the vehicle and (ii) at least partially separate from a lateral portion of the vehicle that includes the first light source and the second light source, the light fixture including a first segment, disposed within the central portion, having a third light source and a second segment, disposed within the central portion, having a fourth light source;
the first segment configured to produce light with a first pattern via the third light source;
the second segment configured to produce light with a second pattern via the fourth light source;
the first pattern and the second pattern configured to indicate a vehicle status of the vehicle that includes a state of charge of one or more batteries of the vehicle and a charging status of the one or more batteries;
the light having the first pattern which (i) originates, at a first point in time, at a first portion of the first segment and (ii) terminates, at a second point in time, at a second portion of the first segment to indicate the charging status of the one or more batteries; and
the light having the second pattern to illuminate, from the first point in time to the second point in time, across the second segment to indicate the state of charge of the one or more batteries.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle status further includes at least one of:
an autonomous drive mode of the vehicle;
a predetermined color pattern;
an unlocked state of the vehicle; or
a locked state of the vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
a second light fixture to at least partially surround an external surface of a charging cord;
the second light fixture including a third segment having a fifth light source and a fourth segment having a sixth light source;
the third segment configured to, responsive to one or more signals, produce light with the first pattern via the fifth light source; and
the fourth segment configured to, responsive to one or more second signals, produce light with the second pattern via the sixth light source.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first segment or the second segment is configured to produce the light having the first pattern or the light having the second pattern responsive to receipt of one or more signals, and wherein the one or more signals are received responsive to detection of at least one of:
a fob of the vehicle;
a key of the vehicle;
a user device associated with the vehicle; or
a selection of a selectable element displayed on a user interface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
a second light fixture to dispose between a first rear light of the vehicle and a second rear light of the vehicle, the second light fixture including a third segment having a fifth light source and a fourth segment having a sixth light source;
the third segment configured to, responsive to one or more signals, produce light with the first pattern via the fifth light source; and
the fourth segment configured to, responsive to one or more second signals, produce light with the second pattern via the sixth light source.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
at least one of the third light source or the fourth light source configured to produce light having at least one color; and
the light having the at least one color different than a color of light produced by at least one of the first light source of the vehicle or the second light source of the vehicle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
memory configured to store instructions; and
a processor configured to execute the instructions to cause the processor to:
receive, via an over-the-air (OTA) update, a first update to the first pattern or a second update to the second pattern; and
transmit, to the first segment or the second segment, one or more signals to cause the first light source to product light according to the first update or to cause the second light source to product light according to the second update.

8. A vehicle, comprising:
an apparatus, including:
a light fixture to dispose within a central portion of the vehicle, the central portion (i) positioned between a first light source of the vehicle and a second light source of the vehicle and (ii) at least partially separate from a lateral portion of the vehicle that includes the first light source and the second light source, the light fixture including a first segment, disposed within the central portion, having a third light source and a second segment, disposed within the central portion, having a fourth light source;
the first segment configured to, responsive to one or more first signals, produce light with a first pattern via the third light source;
the second segment configured to, responsive to one or more second signals, produce light with a second pattern via the fourth light source;
the first pattern and the second pattern configured to indicate a vehicle status of the vehicle that includes a state of charge of one or more batteries of the vehicle and a charging status of the one or more batteries;
the light having the first pattern which (i) originates, at a first point in time, at a first portion of the first segment and (ii) terminates, at a second point in time, at a second portion of the first segment to indicate the charging status of the one or more batteries; and
the light having the second pattern to illuminate, from the first point in time to the second point in time, across the second segment to indicate the state of charge of the one or more batteries.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle status further includes at least one of:
an autonomous drive mode of the vehicle;
a predetermined color pattern;
an unlocked state of the vehicle; or
a locked state of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle of claim 8 , the apparatus comprising:
the first light source and the second light source configured to receive one or more third signals to cause the first light source and the second light source to produce light with a third pattern.

11. The vehicle of claim 8 , the apparatus comprising:
a second light fixture to at least partially surround an external surface of a charging cord;
the second light fixture including a third segment having a fifth light source and a fourth segment having a sixth light source;
the third segment configured to, responsive to one or more third signals, produce light with the first pattern via the fifth light source; and
the fourth segment configured to, responsive to one or more fourth signals, produce light with the second pattern via the sixth light source.

12. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the one or more first signals or the one or more second signals are received responsive to detection of at least one of:
a fob of the vehicle;
a key of the vehicle;
a user device associated with the vehicle; or
a selection of a selectable element displayed on a user interface.

13. The vehicle of claim 8 , the apparatus comprising:
a second light fixture to dispose between a first rear light of the vehicle and a second rear light of the vehicle, the second light fixture including a third segment having a fifth light source and a fourth segment having a sixth light source;
the third segment configured to, responsive to the one or more first signals, produce light with the first pattern via the fifth light source; and
the fourth segment configured to, responsive to the one or more second signals,

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Xiao Yifu
• Wickramasinghe Shammika Ashan
• Baker Simon
• Jayaraman Vijay
• Amruthur Srikanth
• Glaser Erik Robert
• Alcala Diana Betzabe Cuellar
• Szczupak Jonathan James

Classifications

• B60Q1/2615

  mounted on the vehicle body, e.g. with magnets · CPC title

• B60Q1/543 Primary

  for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle (indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045) · CPC title

• B60Q1/2607

  comprising at least two indicating lamps · CPC title

• B60L2260/20

  Drive modes; Transition between modes · CPC title

• B60L2250/16

  by display · CPC title