Vehicle wheel assembly illumination lamp

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016159274-A1
Application number	US-201615019155-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 9, 2016
Priority date	Nov 22, 2013
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle wheel illumination assembly is provided. The assembly includes a light source located on the body of a vehicle near the wheel well and oriented to direct light onto a wheel assembly having a tire. A tire pressure indicator detects tire pressure of the tire. The light source illuminates the wheel assembly with a desired color to indicate a tire pressure status based on the detected tire pressure. A sensor senses a person near the wheel assembly and a controller activates the light source to illuminate the wheel assembly based on the sensed person to enable servicing of the tire.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle wheel illumination assembly comprising:
a light source located on a vehicle body and arranged to illuminate a wheel assembly having a tire; a sensor for sensing a person near the wheel assembly; and a controller for controlling the light source to illuminate the wheel assembly when a person is detected near the wheel assembly to enable servicing of the tire.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the light source to change from a first color light illumination to a second color light illumination when the person is detected near the wheel assembly.

3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises one or more wireless communication transceivers for detecting an electronic device in possession of the person and determining a location of the person based on signals transmitted between the one or more transceivers and the electronic device.

4 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises one or more proximity sensors.

5 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises one or more imaging cameras.

6 . The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a tire pressure detector for detecting a tire air pressure, wherein the light source illuminates the wheel assembly to indicate the tire pressure status indicative of the detected tire air pressure.

7 . The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the controller controls the light source to illuminate the wheel assembly with a first color light to indicate low tire air pressure when the tire air pressure is below a pressure limit and to illuminate the wheel assembly with a different second color light when the person is detected near the wheel assembly.

8 . The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the controller further controls the light source to illuminate the wheel assembly with a different third color light to indicate sufficient tire air pressure when the tire air pressure is above the pressure limit.

9 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light source is located on the vehicle body near a wheel well.

10 . A vehicle wheel illumination assembly comprising:
a light source located on a body of a vehicle; a tire pressure detector for detecting air inflation pressure of a tire on a wheel assembly of the vehicle; one or more sensors for sensing a person near the wheel assembly; and a controller controlling the light source to illuminate the wheel assembly with a first color light indicative of a tire air pressure status and further illuminating the wheel assembly with a second color light when the person is detected near the wheel assembly to enable servicing of the tire.

11 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first color light indicates the tire air pressure is below a pressure limit and wherein the light source illuminates the wheel assembly with a different third color light to indicate sufficient tire air pressure when the tire air pressure is above the pressure limit.

12 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises one or more wireless communication transceivers for detecting an electronic device in the possession of the person and determining a location of the electronic device based on signals communicated between the electronic device and the one or more wireless communication transceivers.

13 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises one or more proximity sensors.

14 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises one or more imaging cameras.

15 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the light source illuminates an outer wall of the tire of the wheel assembly to indicate the tire air pressure status.

16 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the light source is located on the vehicle body at or near a wheel well of the vehicle.

17 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, each generating a different color light illumination.

18 . A method of illuminating a vehicle wheel assembly comprising:
arranging a light source on a vehicle body to illuminate a wheel assembly comprising a tire; detecting a low tire pressure of the tire; activating a light source to illuminate light on the wheel assembly to indicate the low tire pressure with a first color light; detecting a person near the wheel assembly; and activating the light source to illuminate light at a different second color when the person is detected near the wheel assembly to aid in servicing the tire.

19 . The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of activating the light source to illuminate light at a different third color to indicate the tire pressure is above a low pressure limit.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the light source is located on the vehicle body at or near a wheel well.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Surman James J
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Buttolo Pietro
• Gardner Cornel Lewis

Classifications

• B60C23/02 Primary

  Signalling devices actuated by tyre pressure {(hand-held tyre pressure gauges G01L17/00)} · CPC title

• B60Q2400/40

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

• H05B47/105

  in response to determined parameters · CPC title

• B60Q1/326

  on or for wheels · CPC title

• B60Q2900/30

  Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions · CPC title