# US 11,440,463 B2 · Vehicular exterior door handle assembly with illumination module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,463 B2 - Document ID: US11440463B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/448,955 - Filed: 2021-09-27 - Published: 2022-01-13 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2007-05-03 - Assignees: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc. - Applicants: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc. - Inventors: David A. Dingman; Brett A. Gorby; Keith D. Foote - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440463B2 ## CPC - B60Q 1/2669: {on door or boot handles (lighting devices for vehicle interior on door handles B60Q3/267)} - B60Q 1/26: the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic - B60Q 1/2665: {on rear-view mirrors (lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258)} - B60Q 1/2696: {Mounting of devices using LEDs} - B60Q 3/258: Rear-view mirrors - B60Q 3/267: Door handles; Hand grips - B60Q 3/80: Circuits; Control arrangements (for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47) - B60R 16/0207: {Wire harnesses} - E05B 17/10: Illuminating devices on or for locks or keys; {Transparent or translucent lock parts; Indicator lights} - E05B 85/16: a longitudinal grip part being pivoted at one end about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the grip part - G02B 6/0096: {the lights guides being of the hollow type} - B60Y 2410/10: Housings - B60Y 2410/115: Electric wiring; Electric connectors - F21W 2103/60: Projection of signs from lighting devices, e.g. symbols or information being projected onto the road - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS ## Abstract A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a handle portion, a light transmitting cover element disposed at least partially along a length dimension of the handle portion, and an illumination module having an illumination source. When the illumination source is electrically powered, light emitted by the illumination source passes at least partially along the length dimension of the handle portion. With the exterior door handle assembly mounted at a door handle region of a vehicle door and when the illumination source is electrically powered, light that passes at least partially along the length dimension of the handle portion is viewable by a person viewing the handle portion of the exterior door handle assembly. When the illumination source is not electrically powered, the illumination source is covert to the person viewing the handle portion of the exterior door handle assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An exterior door handle assembly configured for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door of a vehicle, said exterior door handle assembly comprising: a handle portion, wherein said handle portion has a length dimension and a width dimension, and wherein, with said exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, the length dimension is oriented horizontal with respect to ground and the width dimension is oriented vertical with respect to ground, and wherein the length dimension is greater than the width dimension; a light transmitting cover element disposed at least partially along the length dimension of said handle portion; an illumination module, said illumination module comprising an illumination source that, when electrically powered, emits light; wherein, when said illumination source is electrically powered, light emitted by said illumination source passes at least partially along the length dimension of said handle portion; wherein, with said exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, and when said illumination source is electrically powered, light that passes at least partially along the length dimension of said handle portion is viewable by a person viewing said handle portion of said exterior door handle assembly from outside the vehicle; and wherein, with said exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, and when said illumination source is not electrically powered, said illumination source is covert to the person viewing said handle portion of said exterior door handle assembly from outside the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said light transmitting cover element extends along the length dimension of said handle portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said illumination source comprises at least one light emitting diode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said illumination source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein, with said exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, said illumination source of said illumination module is electrically powered responsive to wireless transmission from a remote transmitter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 5, further comprising an antenna for receiving signals from the remote transmitter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 5, wherein the remote transmitter comprises an element of a passive entry system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein, with said exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, said illumination source is electrically powered responsive to at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) a touch of said handle portion, (ii) a movement of said 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein, when said illumination source is electrically powered, uniform light is emitted at least partially along the length dimension of said handle portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said illumination source is in electrical connection with wiring of the vehicle door when said exterior door handle assembly is mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said handle portion comprises an end portion that is configured to pivotally mount at the door handle region of the vehicle door and an opposite end portion that is configured to attach to a door opening mechanism of the vehicle door. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein, when said illumination source is electrically powered, said illumination module provides diffuse illumination of said handle portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said illumination module comprises at least one optic element for directing light emitted by said illumination source along said handle portion of said exterior door handle assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein, with said exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, said illumination source is electrically powered responsive to presence of the person at said exterior door handle assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 14, further comprising a sensor, wherein, with said exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, and responsive to said sensor sensing presence of the person at said exterior door handle assembly, said illumination source of said illumination module is electrically powered to illuminate said handle portion of said exterior door handle assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 15, wherein said sensor comprises a capacitive sensor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, further comprises an emblem or icon that is back lit by light emitted by a back-lighting illumination source of said exterior door handle assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 17, wherein, with said exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, the emblem or icon is visible to the person viewing from outside the vehicle when back lit by light emitted by the back-lighting illumination source of said exterior door handle assembly but is covert when not back lit by light emitted by the back-lighting illumination source of said exterior door handle assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 18, wherein said illumination source comprises the back-lighting illumination source. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 18, wherein the emblem or icon comprises a vehicle emblem. ### Claim 21 An exterior door handle assembly configured for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door of a vehicle, said exterior door handle assembly comprising: a handle portion, wherein said handle portion has a length dimension and a width dimension, and wherein, with said exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, the length dimension is oriented horizontal with respect to ground and the width dimension is oriented vertical with respect to ground, and wherein the length dimension is greater than the width dimension; a light transmitting cover element disposed at least partially along the length dimension of said handle portion; an illumination module, said illumination module comprising an illumination source that, when electrically powered, emits light; wherein said illumination source comprises at least one light emitting diode; wherein, when said illumination source is electrically powered, light emitted by said illumination source passes at least partially along the length dimension of said handle portion; wherein, with said exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, and when said illumination source is electrically powered, light that passes at least partially along the length dimension of said handle portion is viewable by a person viewing said handle portion of said exterior door handle assembly from outside the vehicle; wherein, with said exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, and when said illumination source is not electrically powered, said illumination source is covert to the person viewing said handle portion of said exterior door handle assembly from outside the vehicle; and wherein, with said exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, said illumination source is electrically powered responsive to at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) a touch of said handle portion, (ii) a movement of said 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. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 21, wherein said at least one light emitting diode comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 21, wherein said illumination source is in electrical connection with wiring of the vehicle door when said exterior door handle assembly is mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 21, wherein said handle portion comprises an end portion that is configured to pivotally mount at the door handle region of the vehicle door and an opposite end portion that is configured to attach to a door opening mechanism of the vehicle door. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 21, wherein, when said illumination source is electrically powered, said illumination module provides diffuse illumination of said handle portion. ### Claim 26 An exterior door handle assembly configured for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door of a vehicle, said exterior door handle assembly comprising: a handle portion, wherein said handle portion has a length dimension and a width dimension, and wherein, with said exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, the length dimension is oriented horizontal with respect to ground and the width dimension is oriented vertical with respect to ground, and wherein the length dimension is greater than the width dimension; a light transmitting cover element disposed at least partially along the length dimension of said handle portion; an illumination module, said illumination module comprising an illumination source that, when electrically powered, emits light; wherein said illumination source comprises at least one light emitting diode; wherein, when said illumination source is electrically powered, light emitted by said illumination source passes at least partially along the length dimension of said handle portion; wherein, with said exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, and when said illumination source is electrically powered, light that passes at least partially along the length dimension of said handle portion is viewable by a person viewing said handle portion of said exterior door handle assembly from outside the vehicle; wherein, with said exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, and when said illumination source is not electrically powered, said illumination source is covert to the person viewing said handle portion of said exterior door handle assembly from outside the vehicle; and wherein, with said exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, said illumination source of said illumination module is electrically powered responsive to receiving a wireless transmission from a remote transmitter for a passive entry system of the vehicle. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 26, wherein said at least one light emitting diode comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 26, wherein said illumination source is in electrical connection with wiring of the vehicle door when said exterior door handle assembly is mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 26, wherein said handle portion comprises an end portion that is configured to pivotally mount at the door handle region of the vehicle door and an opposite end portion that is configured to attach to a door opening mechanism of the vehicle door. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The exterior door handle assembly of claim 26, wherein, when said illumination source is electrically powered, said illumination module provides diffuse illumination of said handle portion.