Lighted vehicle bin assembly and method of calibrating same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9371035-B2
Application number	US-201414224724-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2014
Priority date	Mar 25, 2014
Publication date	Jun 21, 2016
Grant date	Jun 21, 2016

Abstract

A lighted vehicle bin assembly that activates a light source based on motion and recalibrates a sensor is provided. The lighted vehicle bin assembly includes a vehicle storage bin, a light source arranged to illuminate the bin, and a proximity sensor for sensing an object in the bin based on a sensor signal relative to a threshold. The lighted vehicle bin assembly also includes a controller that activates the light source when the sensor signal exceeds a threshold and recalibrates the sensor when the sensor signal exceeds the threshold for a time period.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lighted vehicle bin assembly comprising:
a vehicle storage bin;
a light source arranged to illuminate the bin;
a proximity sensor for sensing an object in the bin based on a sensor signal relative to a threshold; and
a controller that activates the light source when the sensor signal changes relative to the threshold and recalibrates the sensor when an absolute value of the sensor signal exceeds the threshold for a time period.

2. The bin assembly of claim 1 , wherein the controller compares the sensor signal to a first threshold and recalibrates the sensor signal when the signal exceeds the first threshold for the time period.

3. The bin assembly of claim 2 , wherein the controller compares the sensor signal to a negative second threshold, and recalibrates the sensor when the signal is less than the negative second threshold for the time period.

4. The bin assembly of claim 1 , wherein the recalibration comprises setting the sensor signal to a zero value.

5. The bin assembly of claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

6. The bin assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light source and the proximity sensor are located within the bin.

7. The bin assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bin comprises a vehicle storage compartment having an open access door to allow insertion and removal of objects.

8. The bin assembly of claim 7 , wherein the bin comprises a vehicle door storage bin.

9. The bin assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises an LED.

10. The bin assembly of claim 1 , wherein the controller activates the light source when the sensor signal exceeds the threshold.

11. A method of recalibrating a proximity sensor located in a lighted vehicle bin having a light source, said method comprising:
sensing an object in the vehicle bin with a proximity sensor generating a sensor signal;
turning on the light source when the sensor signal changes relative to a threshold; and
recalibrating the proximity sensor when an absolute value of the sensor signal exceeds the threshold for a time period.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of turning off the light source when the sensor signal is less than the threshold.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of recalibrating the proximity sensor comprises comparing the sensor signal to a first threshold, wherein the proximity sensor is recalibrated when the sensor signal exceeds the first threshold for the time period.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of recalibrating the proximity sensor further comprises comparing the sensor signal to a negative second threshold, wherein the sensor is recalibrated when the sensor signal is less than the negative second threshold for the time period.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of recalibrating the proximity sensor comprises setting the sensor signal to a zero value.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of turning on the light source comprises turning on the light source located within the vehicle bin.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of sensing comprises sensing an object in the vehicle bin with an infrared sensor.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the bin comprises a vehicle storage compartment having an open access door to allow insertion and removal of objects.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the bin comprises a vehicle door storage bin.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of turning on the light source occurs when the sensor signal exceeds the threshold.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Cuddihy Mark A
• Rao Manoharprasad K
• Gale Carla Ann
• Szawarski Hubert

Classifications

• B60Q3/82

  Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens · CPC title

• B60Q3/20

  for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments (lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title

• B60Q3/80

  Circuits; Control arrangements (for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47) · CPC title

• G01S17/04

  Systems determining the presence of a target · CPC title

• G01V8/12

  using one transmitter and one receiver · CPC title