# US 2014/0191859 A1 · Puddle Light With Status Display

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- Number: US 2014/0191859 A1
- Document ID: US20140191859A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/147,956
- Filed: 2014-01-06
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Peter Koelsch
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191859A1

## CPC

- B60Q 1/2665: {on rear-view mirrors (lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258)}
- H02J 7/82: Control of state of charge [SOC]
- B60Q 1/2669: {on door or boot handles (lighting devices for vehicle interior on door handles B60Q3/267)}
- B60Q 2400/40: Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
- B60Q 2400/50: Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
- H02J 2105/30: the load networks being external to vehicles, i.e. exchanging power with vehicles
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY

## Abstract

A puddle light for a motor vehicle, in particular for a battery-operated motor vehicle, wherein the puddle light projects the status of charge of a drive battery of the vehicle onto a surface; and a method for projecting the status image.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A puddle light for a motor vehicle comprising:
a projection lens projecting a status image onto a surface that is not integral with the puddle light.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The puddle light of claim 1, wherein said motor vehicle is a hybrid electric vehicle or an electric vehicle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The puddle light of claim 2, wherein said status image is a status of charge (SOC) of a drive battery for said motor vehicle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The puddle light of claim 1, wherein the surface is the ground surrounding the vehicle or a surface of the vehicle body panel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The puddle light of claim 1, wherein the surface is a ceiling or wall of a building surrounding the vehicle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The puddle light of claim 1, wherein the projection lens is integrated into a side mirror or a door handle of the motor vehicle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The puddle light of claim 1, wherein the puddle light can be switched between a pure lighting mode and a status image mode.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The puddle light of claim 1, wherein the status image indicates the status in color or in flashing lights.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The puddle light of claim 1, wherein the status image comprises a state of charge of a drive battery shown in percentages.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The puddle light of claim 1, wherein the status image is formed by an LED light source.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The puddle light of claim 1, wherein the puddle light comprises a lighting arrangement in which an LED lights a transparent display or a camera closure in such a way that said LED projects the status as an image.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The puddle light of claim 1, wherein the puddle light further comprising a controller for outputting the status image.

### Claim 13 (depends on 3)

The puddle light of claim 3 further comprising a drive battery and a battery charging and control circuit in electrical communication with said puddle light.

### Claim 14

A method for projecting a status image of a motor vehicle into a surface comprising:
mounting an image forming device into a component of the vehicle, and
projecting said status image onto a surface juxtaposed to said vehicle or a surface of said vehicle.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 further comprising mounting a projection lens and a light source into said component of the vehicle.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 further comprising selecting said component of the vehicle from the group consisting of a side mirror and a door handle.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 further comprising mounting a projection lens and a LED light source into said component of the vehicle.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 further comprising projecting said status image onto a ground surface.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 further comprising projecting said status image onto a body panel of said vehicle.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 further comprising projecting a status of charge of a drive battery of said motor vehicle.