# US 10,308,168 B2 · Autonomous vehicle service lights > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,168 B2 - Document ID: US10308168B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/493,224 - Filed: 2017-04-21 - Published: 2018-10-25 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-21 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Stuart C. Salter; Paul Kenneth Dellock; Pietro Buttolo; Annette Lynn Huebner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308168B2 ## CPC - B60Q 1/2696: {Mounting of devices using LEDs} - B60Q 1/0035: {relative to the vehicle} - B60Q 1/2611: {Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle} - B60Q 1/34: for indicating change of drive direction (B60Q1/22 takes precedence) - B60Q 1/38: using immovably-mounted light sources, e.g. fixed flashing lamps - B60Q 1/503: {using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text} - B60Q 1/54: for indicating speed {outside of the vehicle} - B60Q 1/543: {for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle (indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045)} - F21S 43/14: Light emitting diodes [LED] - F21S 43/15: Strips of light sources - G05D 1/00: Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots (drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00) - B60Q 2900/40: Several lamps activated in sequence, e.g. sweep effect, progressive activation - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES ## Abstract An autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle body and an illuminated stripe assembly mounted to the vehicle body. The illuminated stripe assembly is adapted to emit a plurality of stripe patterns that are visually distinctive from one another for indicating different operating states of the autonomous vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An autonomous vehicle, comprising: a vehicle roof; an illuminated stripe assembly mounted at a perimeter of the vehicle roof and adapted to emit a plurality of stripe patterns around an entirety of the perimeter, and the plurality of stripe patterns are visually distinctive from one another for indicating different operating states of the autonomous vehicle; and a control system adapted to control the illuminated stripe assembly for selectively indicating the different operating states. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein a first stripe pattern of the plurality of stripe patterns indicates that the autonomous vehicle is moving and a second stripe pattern of the plurality of stripe patterns indicates that the autonomous vehicle is turning. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of stripe patterns are visually distinctive in terms of at least color and brightness. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of stripe patterns are visually distinctive in terms of at least pulse rate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of stripe patterns emits pulsing lights, and a pulse rate of the pulsing lights is tied to a speed of the autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of stripe patterns emits flashing lights. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of stripe patterns indicates that wheels of the autonomous vehicle are slipping. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of stripe patterns indicates that a path of the autonomous vehicle has been blocked. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of stripe patterns indicates that the autonomous vehicle is under the control of a service control operator but no movement has yet been requested. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the illuminated stripe assembly includes a front section, a rear section, a first side section, and a second side section. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 10, wherein each of the front section, the rear section, the first side section, and the second side section includes a housing, at least one light source, and at least one optic device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one light source is a light emitting diode (LED). ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein a front section of the illuminated stripe assembly is mounted to a first cross member of the vehicle roof, a rear section of the illuminated stripe assembly is mounted to a second cross member of the vehicle roof, a first side section of the illuminated stripe assembly is mounted to a first side rail of the vehicle roof, and a second side section of the illuminated stripe assembly is mounted to a second side rail of the vehicle roof. ### Claim 14 A method, comprising: producing a first stripe pattern on an illuminated stripe assembly of an autonomous vehicle to indicate a first operating state of the autonomous vehicle; and producing a second stripe pattern on the illuminated stripe assembly to indicate a second vehicle state that is different from the first vehicle state, wherein the illuminated stripe assembly is configured to emit light of varying color, brightness, pulsing action, and flashing action, wherein the illuminated stripe assembly is mounted about an entire perimeter of a roof of the autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as recited in claim 14, comprising: producing a third stripe pattern on the illuminated stripe assembly to indicate a third vehicle state that is different from the first vehicle state and the second vehicle state. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as recited in claim 15, comprising: producing a fourth stripe pattern on the illuminated stripe assembly to indicate a fourth vehicle state that is different from the first vehicle state, the second vehicle state, and the third vehicle state. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method as recited in claim 16, comprising: producing a fifth stripe pattern on the illuminated stripe assembly to indicate a fifth vehicle state that is different from the first vehicle state, the second vehicle state, the third vehicle state, and the fourth vehicle state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method as recited in claim 14, wherein producing the first stripe pattern includes indicating that the autonomous vehicle is moving, and wherein producing the second stripe pattern indicates that the autonomous vehicle is turning. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method as recited in claim 14, wherein producing the first stripe pattern includes: emitting light having a first color that pulses from 50% to 100% brightness across a width of a first section of the illuminated stripe assembly; and emitting light having a second color that pulses from 50% to 100% brightness across a width of a second section of the illuminated stripe assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method as recited in claim 19, wherein producing the first stripe pattern includes: emitting light having a third color that pulses with a brightness that increases in a direction of movement of the autonomous vehicle from a third section of the illuminated stripe assembly. ### Claim 21 An autonomous vehicle, comprising: a roof; and an illuminated stripe assembly mounted to the roof and configured to emit a plurality of striping patterns that are visually distinctive in terms of color, brightness, pulsing action, and flashing action for indicating different operating states of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the illuminated stripe assembly includes a plurality of housings that together extend about an entire perimeter of the roof.