Vehicle rear lighting assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9896023-B1
Application number	US-201715428569-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 9, 2017
Priority date	Feb 9, 2017
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

Abstract

A backup lamp is provided herein. The backup lamp includes a housing and a lens. A plurality of light sources is disposed in upper and lower positions of the housing. The plurality of light sources in the upper position are angularly offset from the plurality of light sources in the lower position. A plurality of reflectors surround each light source and have a focal axis that is offset from each of the remaining reflectors. A controller is configured to selectively illuminate the light sources in a plurality of illumination patterns.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle backup lamp, comprising:
upper position light sources angularly offset from lower position light sources, the upper and lower position light sources disposed within a housing;
reflectors surrounding the upper and lower position light sources and having a focal axis offset from each remaining reflector; and
a controller configured to selectively illuminate the lower position light sources when a vehicle is below a predefined speed with the upper position light sources illuminated.

2. The backup lamp of claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower position light sources are arranged in rows.

3. The backup lamp of claim 2 , wherein the lens has a curved outer surface and the upper and lower position light sources disposed within each row are arranged along the curved outer surface.

4. The backup lamp of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to set a predefined speed and a first illumination pattern is emitted from the upper and lower position light sources when a vehicle is below the predefined speed and a second illumination pattern is emitted from the upper and lower position light sources when the vehicle is above the predefined speed, wherein the second illumination pattern extends further from a rearward position of the vehicle than the first illumination pattern.

5. The backup lamp of claim 4 , wherein the second illumination pattern is emitted from the upper and lower position light sources at a higher intensity than the first illumination pattern.

6. The backup lamp of claim 1 , further comprising:
a luminescent structure operably coupled with the upper or lower position light sources and configured to luminesce in response to receiving excitation light from the upper or lower position light sources.

7. A vehicle lamp, comprising:
a plurality of light sources disposed within a housing and configured to emit light through a lens;
a plurality of reflectors, wherein each of the plurality of light sources is operably coupled with an independent reflector that is angularly offset from the remaining reflectors; and
a controller configured to selectively illuminate a first illumination pattern when a vehicle is below a predefined speed and a second illumination pattern when the vehicle is above the predefined speed, the second illumination pattern extending further rearward than the first illumination pattern.

8. The vehicle lamp of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of light sources includes a first light source disposed above a second light source, the second light source aimed downwardly of the first light source.

9. The vehicle lamp of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of light sources includes a pair of light sources aligned laterally adjacent to one another.

10. The vehicle lamp of claim 9 , wherein the pair of light sources is angularly offset from one another in relation to a vehicle centerline.

11. The vehicle lamp of claim 7 , further comprising:
a vehicle exterior sensor configured to detect an object disposed rearwardly of a vehicle, wherein the plurality of light sources direct light at the detected object if the object is determined to be within a backing path of the vehicle.

12. The vehicle lamp of claim 7 , further comprising:
a luminescent structure operably coupled with the plurality of light sources and configured to luminesce in response to receiving excitation light from the light source.

13. The vehicle lamp of claim 12 , wherein outboard portions of the lens include a first luminescent material and inboard portions of the lens include a second luminescent material, the first and second luminescent materials configured to emit varied wavelengths of converted light.

14. A vehicle lamp, comprising:
a housing and a lens;
lower row light sources disposed below upper row light sources and aimed downwardly of the upper row light sources;
a plurality of reflectors angularly offset from one another surrounding the upper and lower light sources; and
an incline sensor, wherein the upper and lower row light sources are selectively illuminated when a vehicle is disposed on an incline surface.

15. The vehicle lamp of claim 14 , wherein the upper row sources include a plurality of light sources that are arranged from an inboard position to an outboard position.

16. The vehicle lamp of claim 15 , further comprising:
a steering wheel position sensor, wherein the upper row or lower row light sources progressively illuminate from the inboard position to the outboard position as a magnitude of rotation of a steering wheel, as measured by the steering wheel position sensor, increases.

17. The vehicle lamp of claim 14 , further comprising:
a luminescent structure operably coupled with the upper row light sources and configured to luminesce in response to receiving excitation light.

18. The vehicle lamp of claim 17 , wherein the luminescent structure comprises at least one luminescent material configured to convert an excitation light received from at least a portion of a light source into a visible light.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Johnson Aaron Bradley
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Helwig Stephen Kenneth

Classifications

• B60Q1/525

  automatically indicating risk of collision between vehicles in traffic or with pedestrians, e.g. after risk assessment using the vehicle sensor data · CPC title

• F21S43/26

  Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255 · CPC title

• B60Q1/12

  due to steering position · CPC title

• F21S43/601

  characterised by variable optical properties, e.g. involving the use of LCD or movable parts · CPC title

• B60Q1/22 Primary

  for reverse drive · CPC title