Accent lighting systems for cupholders in vehicles
AssigneeNissan North America, Inc.
InventorsSteven Young, Nelson Phan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An accent lighting system for a vehicle that includes a light module, which may be flexible or rigid in construction, and a transmitter. The light module includes a first inductive member, and the transmitter includes a second inductive member that is configured for electromagnetic communication with the first inductive member so as to create current in the first inductive member and thereby power the light module. The light module may be reconfigurable between unfolded and folded configurations and may emit light via a light-permeable diffuser that extends along an outer perimeter of the housing or via a display panel (e.g., an OLED screen).
Claims20
An accent lighting system for a vehicle, the accent lighting system comprising:
- a light module configured for insertion into a cupholder in a console of the vehicle, wherein the light module includes:
- a housing;
- a diffuser extending along an outer perimeter of the housing and including one or more light-permeable materials so as to allow light to pass therethrough;
- a first inductive member located within the housing;
- and
- a cover supported by the housing, wherein the housing, the cover, and the diffuser are flexible in construction so as to allow the light module to conform to the cupholder;
- and
- a transmitter located externally of the cupholder and including a second inductive member configured for electromagnetic communication with the first inductive member such that the second inductive member wirelessly delivers power to the first inductive member, thereby obviating any need for penetrations in the cupholder to establish electrical communication between the transmitter and the light module so as to inhibit fluid leakage from the cupholder.
An accent lighting system for a vehicle, the accent lighting system comprising:
- a light module configured for insertion into a cupholder in a console of the vehicle, wherein the light module defines a longitudinal axis and includes:
- a first segment;
- and
- a second segment connected to the first segment such that the light module is reconfigurable between an unfolded configuration, in which the first segment and the second segment are positioned in adjacent relation along the longitudinal axis, and a folded configuration, in which the first segment and the second segment are superimposed;
- and
- a transmitter located externally of the cupholder and configured for electromagnetic communication with the light module to thereby power the light module.
An accent lighting system for a vehicle, the accent lighting system comprising:
- a light module configured for insertion into a cupholder in a console of the vehicle, wherein the light module is reconfigurable between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration and includes:
- a housing;
- a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) located within the housing;
- and
- a cover overlying the PCBA and including a display panel;
- and
- a transmitter located externally of the cupholder and configured for electromagnetic communication with the light module to thereby power the display panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.