Vehicle exterior door handle with lighting module

1. An exterior door handle assembly suitable for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door, said exterior door handle assembly comprising:

a strap-handle portion pivotally movable to open a vehicle door at which said exterior door handle assembly is mounted, wherein said strap-handle portion has a length dimension and a width dimension, and wherein said length dimension is generally horizontally oriented and said width dimension is generally vertically oriented when said exterior door handle assembly is normally mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door, and wherein said length dimension is greater than said width dimension;

a self-contained elongated module comprising (i) an elongated housing, (ii) an elongated light-transmitting cover and (iii) a light pipe;

wherein said elongated housing and said elongated light-transmitting cover of said self-contained elongated module encase said light pipe of said self-contained elongated module;

wherein said strap-handle portion receives said self-contained elongated module;

wherein at least one light emitting diode is disposed proximate an end region of said length dimension of said strap-handle portion;

wherein said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered in response to at least one of (i) a touch of said strap-handle portion, (ii) a movement of said strap-handle portion, (iii) actuation of a remote keyless entry module, (iv) a passive entry device, (v) a motion detector and (vi) insertion of a key into a keyhole at said exterior door handle assembly;

wherein, when said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered, light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode passes along said light pipe and exits said self-contained elongated module as diffuse illumination; and

wherein, with said door handle assembly mounted at a vehicle door and when said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered, light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode passes through said elongated light-transmitting cover so as to be viewable by a person viewing said exterior door handle assembly from outside of the vehicle door.

2. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said at least one light emitting diode comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

3. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein, when said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered, uniform lighting is emitted by said self-contained elongated module.

4. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered responsive to a remote device.

5. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1 , comprising an antenna for receiving signals from or communicating with a remote device.

6. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 5 , wherein the remote device comprises an element of a passive entry system.

7. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said at least one light emitting diode is in electrical connection with wiring that extends from said strap-handle portion for electrically connecting to wiring of the vehicle door when said exterior door handle assembly is mounted at the vehicle door.

8. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said strap-handle portion comprises a pivot end portion that is configured to pivotally mount to the vehicle door and an opposite end portion that is configured to attach to a door opening mechanism of the vehicle door.

9. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said strap-handle portion comprises structure configured to receive said self-contained elongated module thereat.

10. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 9 , wherein said structure of said strap-handle portion comprises at least one of an opening and a recess.

11. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 9 , wherein, when received at said structure of said strap-handle portion, said self-contained elongated module is mechanically attached at said strap-handle portion.

12. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 11 , wherein, when received at said structure of said strap-handle portion, said self-contained elongated module is snap-attached at said strap-handle portion.

13. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 11 , wherein, when received at said structure of said strap-handle portion, said self-contained elongated module is mechanically attached at said strap-handle portion via at least one a fastener.

14. An exterior door handle assembly suitable for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door, said exterior door handle assembly comprising:

a strap-handle portion pivotally movable to open a vehicle door at which said exterior door handle assembly is mounted, wherein said strap-handle portion has a length dimension and a width dimension, and wherein said length dimension is generally horizontally oriented and said width dimension is generally vertically oriented when said exterior door handle assembly is normally mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door, and wherein said length dimension is greater than said width dimension;

a self-contained elongated module comprising (i) an elongated housing, (ii) an elongated light-transmitting cover and (iii) a light pipe;

wherein said elongated housing and said elongated light-transmitting cover of said self-contained elongated module encase said light pipe of said self-contained elongated module;

wherein said strap-handle portion receives said self-contained elongated module;

wherein at least one light emitting diode is disposed proximate an end region of said length dimension of said strap-handle portion;

wherein said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered in response to at least one of (i) a touch of said strap-handle portion, (ii) a movement of said strap-handle portion, (iii) actuation of a remote keyless entry module, (iv) a passive entry device, (v) a motion detector and (vi) insertion of a key into a keyhole at said exterior door handle assembly;

wherein said strap-handle portion comprises a pivot end portion that is configured to pivotally mount to the vehicle door and an opposite end portion that is configured to attach to a door opening mechanism of the vehicle door;

wherein said at least one light emitting diode is in electrical connection with wiring that extends from said strap-handle portion for electrically connecting to wiring of the vehicle door when said exterior door handle assembly is mounted at the vehicle door; and

wherein, with said door handle assembly mounted at a vehicle door and when said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered, light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode passes along said light pipe and through said elongated light-transmitting cover so as to be viewable by a person viewing said exterior door handle assembly from outside of the vehicle door.

15. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 14 , wherein, when said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered, said self-contained elongated module provides diffuse illumination.

16. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 14 , wherein, when said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered, uniform lighting is emitted by said self-contained elongated module.

17. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 14 , wherein said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered responsive to a remote device.

18. An exterior door handle assembly suitable for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door, said exterior door handle assembly comprising:

a strap-handle portion pivotally movable to open a vehicle door at which said exterior door handle assembly is mounted, wherein said strap-handle portion has a length dimension and a width dimension, and wherein said length dimension is generally horizontally oriented and said width dimension is generally vertically oriented when said exterior door handle assembly is normally mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door, and wherein said length dimension is greater than said width dimension;

a self-contained elongated module comprising (i) an elongated housing, (ii) an elongated light-transmitting cover and (iii) a light pipe;

wherein said elongated housing and said elongated light-transmitting cover of said self-contained elongated module encase said light pipe of said self-contained elongated module;

wherein said strap-handle portion comprises a recess that receives said self-contained elongated module therein, and wherein, when received in said recess of said strap-handle portion, said self-contained elongated module is mechanically attached at said strap-handle portion;

wherein at least one light emitting diode is disposed proximate an end region of said length dimension of said strap-handle portion;

wherein said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered in response to at least one of (i) a touch of said strap-handle portion, (ii) a movement of said strap-handle portion, (iii) actuation of a remote keyless entry module, (iv) a passive entry device, (v) a motion detector and (vi) insertion of a key into a keyhole at said exterior door handle assembly; and

wherein, with said door handle assembly mounted at a vehicle door and when said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered, light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode passes along said light pipe and passes through said elongated light-transmitting cover so as to be viewable by a person viewing said exterior door handle assembly from outside of the vehicle door.

19. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 18 , wherein, when said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered, light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode passes along said light pipe and exits said self-contained elongated module as diffuse illumination.

20. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 18 , wherein, when said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered, uniform lighting is emitted by said self-contained elongated module.

21. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 18 , wherein said at least one light emitting diode is electrically powered responsive to a remote device.

22. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 18 , wherein said at least one light emitting diode is in electrical connection with wiring that extends from said strap-handle portion for electrically connecting to wiring of the vehicle door when said exterior door handle assembly is mounted at the vehicle door.

23. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 18 , wherein, when received at said recess of said strap-handle portion, said self-contained elongated module is snap-attached at said strap-handle portion.

24. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 18 , wherein, when received at said recess of said strap-handle portion, said self-contained elongated module is mechanically attached at said strap-handle portion via at least one a fastener.