Removable electrical device for a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9855891-B2
Application number	US-201514869100-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2015
Priority date	Oct 1, 2014
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

Abstract

A removable electrical device for a motor vehicle, which is insertable into a recess in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, where its battery is rechargeable, the removable electrical device comprising an indicator light which constitutes a charge indicator of the battery in the daytime and an ambient lighting element for the passenger compartment of the vehicle at nighttime.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A removable electrical device for a motor vehicle, said removable electrical device being insertable into a recess in a passenger compartment of said motor vehicle, a battery that is rechargeable, said removable electrical device comprising an indicator light, wherein said indicator light constitutes a charge indicator of said battery in daytime and an ambient lighting element for said passenger compartment of said motor vehicle at nighttime,
and in that it comprises a control unit that is able to control the light emission by said indicator light depending on whether it is daytime or nighttime and also depending on at least one of the state of charge of said battery or a position of said removable electrical device with respect to said recess.

2. The removable electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein said removable electrical device comprises a subassembly comprising a light source that is able to emit light and an outlet screen for the light emitted by said light source, said outlet screen being transparent or translucent and constituting said indicator light.

3. The removable electrical device according to claim 2 , wherein said outlet screen is a diffusing screen.

4. The removable electrical device according to claim 3 , wherein said outlet screen is made of a transparent material provided with graining.

5. The removable electrical device according to claim 3 , wherein said outlet screen is made of a diffusing material.

6. The removable electrical device according to claim 2 , wherein said subassembly comprises a printed circuit support, said outlet screen and at least one light guide being mounted on said printed circuit support.

7. The removable electrical device according to claim 6 , wherein said light source is mounted on said printed circuit support, said light source being an RGB LED.

8. The removable electrical device according to claim 6 , wherein said light source is mounted on said printed circuit support, said light source being a side-emitting LED.

9. The removable electrical device according to claim 6 , wherein said at least one light guide comprises two elongated light guides and has at least one indentation that is able to receive the light emitted by said light source.

10. The removable electrical device according to claim 2 , wherein said subassembly comprises at least two light sources and two light guides, and in that said outlet screen has two side arms which each externally border said at least one light guide.

11. The removable electrical device according to claim 10 , wherein said outlet screen has a front part which provides a mechanical connection to said two side arms and locks said subassembly in an axial position with respect to a housing.

12. The removable electrical device according to claim 10 , wherein each of said two side arms of said outlet screen constitutes said indicator light.

13. The removable electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein said indicator light defines a line of light.

14. The removable electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein said removable electrical device comprises a light source that is electrically connected to said battery and is able to emit light when it is powered by said battery, such that said removable electrical device is a flashlight.

15. The removable electrical device according to claim 3 , wherein said subassembly comprises a printed circuit support, said outlet screen and at least one light guide being mounted on said printed circuit support.

16. The removable electrical device according to claim 4 , wherein said subassembly comprises a printed circuit support, said outlet screen and at least one light guide being mounted on said printed circuit support.

17. The removable electrical device according to claim 5 , wherein said subassembly comprises a printed circuit support, said outlet screen and at least one light guide being mounted on said printed circuit support.

18. The removable electrical device according to claim 7 , wherein said light source is mounted on said printed circuit support, said light source being a side-emitting LED.

19. The removable electrical device according to claim 7 , wherein said at least one light guide comprises two elongated light guides and has an indentation that is able to receive the light emitted by said light source.

20. The removable electrical device according to claim 8 , wherein said at least one light guide comprises two elongated light guides and has an indentation that is able to receive the light emitted by said light source.

21. The removable electrical device according to claim 11 , wherein each of said two side arms of said outlet screen constitutes said indicator light.

Assignees

• Valeo Vision

Inventors

• Tassy Pierre Louis
• Dubosc Christophe
• Rasoldier Nirina
• Briand Maxime

Classifications

• B60Q3/88

  Means for plugging to the electrical power supply of the vehicle, e.g. by using cigarette lighter sockets · CPC title

• F21L4/085

  Pocket lamps · CPC title

• B60Q3/59

  Lighting devices mounted in the vehicle interior and adapted for portability · CPC title

• B60Q3/62 Primary

  using light guides · CPC title

• B60Q3/74

  for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps (general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43) · CPC title