IP Library Granted Patent US 11,560,085
Granted Patent B2
US 11,560,085 · App. 17/401,065 · Granted Jan 24, 2023

Vehicle light assembly

Inventors: William Weber (Brighton, MI); Dale Butterworth (Brighton, MI)
Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
B60Q1/24B60Q1/0035B60Q1/0041F21S41/141B60Q2400/50F21W2102/40F21Y2115/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,560,085
App. No.
17/401,065
Granted
Jan 24, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle includes a light assembly and an electric control module. The light assembly is assembled to an underbody of the vehicle. The light assembly has a light bar and an image projector. The light bar has a plurality of first light sources. The image projector has a housing that is fitted to a longitudinal end of the light bar. The housing has a circuit board and an emitting portion that houses a second light source. The circuit board is electrically connected to the second light source to regulate electric current to the light source. The electric control module is electrically connected to the light bar and the circuit board to provide electrical power to both the light bar and the image projector.

Claims (34)

1. A vehicle comprising:

a light assembly assembled to an underbody of the vehicle, the light assembly having a light bar and an image projector,

the light bar having a plurality of first light sources,

the image projector having a housing that is fitted to a longitudinal end of the light bar, the housing having a circuit board and an emitting portion that houses a second light source, the circuit board being electrically connected to the second light source to regulate electric current to the second light source; and

an electric control module that is electrically connected to the light bar and the circuit board to provide electrical power to both the light bar and the image projector.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the electric control module is further electrically connected to a welcome light control module of the vehicle that operates a set of interior map lights of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein

the interior map lights are welcome lights configured to illuminate upon detecting an activation signal that signifies that the vehicle is in a predetermined condition,

the predetermined condition being at least one of a condition in which the vehicle has transitioned from a locked state to an unlocked state, and a condition in which the vehicle is about to be transitioned from the locked state to the unlocked state.

4. The vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein

the electric control module is configured to provide electrical power to the light bar and the image projector in concert with the interior map lights of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the electric control module controls the light bar, the image projector and the welcome light control module so to illuminate the first light sources, the second light source and the interior map lights in concert.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising

a rocker panel and a rocker panel trim that is fixedly attached to the rocker panel, the light assembly being assembled between the rocker panel and the rocker panel trim.

7. The vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein

the light assembly is installed to the rocker panel.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the image projector is a logo projector that projects a logo of the vehicle.

9. A vehicle light assembly comprising:

a light bar configured to be assembled to an underbody of a vehicle, the light bar having a plurality of first light sources extending from the light bar at a first angle with respect to the underbody of the vehicle;

an image projector having a housing that is fitted to a longitudinal end of the light bar, the housing having a circuit board and an emitting portion that houses a second light source and a lens stack, the emitting portion extending from the housing at a second angle with respect to the underbody of the vehicle that is different from the first angle.

10. The vehicle light assembly according to claim 9 , wherein

the housing is made of plastic and includes a recess for receiving the circuit board therein.

11. The vehicle light assembly according to claim 9 , wherein

the image projector is a logo projector that projects a logo of the vehicle.

12. The vehicle light assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the second light source of the image projector is a light emitting diode, and each of the plurality of first light sources includes a light source that is a light emitting diode.

13. The vehicle light assembly according to claim 9 , further comprising

an electric control module that is electrically connected to the light bar and the image projector to provide electrical power to both the light bar and the image projector.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein

the electric control module is further electrically connected to a welcome light control module of the vehicle that operates a set of interior map lights of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14 , wherein

the interior map lights are welcome lights configured to illuminate upon detecting an activation signal that signifies that the vehicle is in a predetermined condition,

the predetermined condition being at least one of a condition in which the vehicle has transitioned from a locked state to an unlocked state, and a condition in which the vehicle is about to be transitioned from the locked state to the unlocked state.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2023
From: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063804/0769 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2021
From: WEBER, WILLIAM; BUTTERWORTH, DALE
To: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 057165/0701 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16540399 · Aug 14, 2019
Related Publication 20210370821A1 · Dec 2, 2021
Cited By (2)
US 12,210,275 US 12,539,807