# US 10,479,296 B2 · Smart grille assembly and modular grille assembly system for a motor vehicle

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- Number: US 10,479,296 B2
- Document ID: US10479296B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/910,514
- Filed: 2018-03-02
- Published: 2019-09-05
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2018-03-02
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: David Brian Glickman; Mohan Kamath; Stuart C. Salter; Paul Kenneth Dellock; Harry Lobo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479296B2

## CPC

- B60R 16/023: for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
- B60K 11/08: Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor
- B60K 11/085: {with adjustable shutters or blinds}
- B60R 19/52: Radiator or grille guards {; Radiator grilles (cooling aspects B60K11/08)}
- B62D 25/085: {Front-end modules}
- B62D 65/16: the sub-units or components being exterior fittings, e.g. bumpers, lights, wipers {, exhausts}
- B60R 2019/525: {Radiator grilles}
- Y02T 10/88: Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A grille assembly for a motor vehicle includes a grille support mounted to the motor vehicle and a grille module carried on the grille support. The grille module includes a grille, and a plurality of electronic devices and a controller carried on the grille. A related modular grille assembly system includes the grille assembly as well as human interface controls and a control module carried on the motor vehicle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A grille assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a grille support mounted to said motor vehicle;
a grille module carried on said grille support, said grille module including a grille, a plurality of electronic devices carried on said grill and a controller carried on said grille and configured to communicate information respecting said plurality of electronic devices carried on said grille over an area network of said motor vehicle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The grille assembly of claim 1, further including a stud carried on said grille support and a latch mechanism carried on said grille whereby said grille is secured to said grille support.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The grille assembly of claim 2 wherein said stud includes a power pathway and an electrical ground pathway to said grille.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The grille assembly of claim 3 wherein said stud includes an area network communication pathway to said grille.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The grille assembly of claim 4 including integral wiring carried on said grille and extending from said plurality of electronic devices toward said power pathway, said electrical ground pathway and said area network communication pathway of said stud.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The grille assembly of claim 2, further including an active grille shutter carried on said grille support.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The grille assembly of claim 1, further including a modular bus bar carried on said grille support.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The grille assembly of claim 2, wherein said plurality of electronic devices are selected from a group consisting of an integrated light bar, a power point, a spotlight, an illuminated badge, a heater, a winch, turn signals, an active grille shutter, a brush bar with integral lighting, camera, an emergency vehicle light system, an emergency vehicle communication sensor for traffic light control, a lighted integrated step and combinations thereof.

### Claim 9

A modular grille assembly system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a grille support mounted to said motor vehicle;
a grille carried on said grille support;
a plurality of electronic devices carried on said grille;
human interface controls carried on said motor vehicle;
a control module carried on said motor vehicle; and
a controller carried on said grille and configured to communicate information respecting said plurality of electronic devices carried on said grille over an area network of said motor vehicle to said control module, said modular grille assembly system being further characterized by said control module being adapted to configure said human interface controls for said plurality of electronic devices.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The modular grille assembly system of claim 9, further including a stud carried on said grille support and a latch mechanism carried on said grille whereby said grille is secured to said grille support.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The modular grille assembly system of claim 10, wherein said stud includes a power pathway and an electrical ground pathway to said grille.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The modular grille assembly system of claim 11, wherein said stud includes an area network communication pathway to said grille.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The modular grille assembly system of claim 12, including integral wiring carried on said grille and extending from said plurality of electronic devices toward said power pathway, said electrical ground pathway and said area network communication pathway of said stud.

### Claim 14

A method of configuring human interface controls of a motor vehicle for operating a plurality of electronic devices carried on a particular grille module, comprising:
selecting a grille from a plurality of different grilles;
mounting the selected grille onto a grille support of the motor vehicle;
communicating, by a controller carried on said selected grille, information respecting said plurality of electronic devices to a control module on the motor vehicle; and
configuring, by said control module, said human interface controls for operating said plurality of electronic devices.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further including connecting a stud on one of said grille support and said grille with a latch mechanism on the other of said grille support and said grille.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, including completing a power pathway from said motor vehicle to said plurality of electronic devices upon connecting said stud with said latch mechanism.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, including completing an electrical ground pathway from said plurality of electronic devices to said motor vehicle upon connecting said stud with said latch mechanism.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, including completing an area network communication pathway from said controller on said grille to said control module on said motor vehicle upon connecting said stud with said latch mechanism.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, including disconnecting said grille from said grille support and mounting a second grille on said grille support.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further including (a) communicating, by a second controller carried on the second grille, information respecting a second plurality of electronic devices carried on the second grille and (b) reconfiguring, by said control module, said human interface controls for operating said second plurality of electronic devices.