Luminescent vehicle molding
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsStuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Dragos Maciuca, Chester Stanislaus Walawender
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lighting apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The lighting apparatus comprises a cover portion mounted to a body panel and forming an opening extending along a perimeter of the body panel. The apparatus further comprises at least one light source disposed within the opening and configured to emit light outward through the opening. A reflective portion is disposed proximate the opening. The light is projected from the reflective portion to illuminate a region proximate the vehicle.
Claims20
A lighting apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
- a cover portion mounted to a body panel and forming an opening extending along a perimeter of the body panel;
- at least one light source disposed within the opening and configured to emit light outward through the opening;
- and
- a reflective portion disposed proximate the opening, wherein the light is projected from the reflective portion to illuminate a region proximate the vehicle.
A monitoring system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a lighting apparatus comprising:
- a cover portion proximate a perimeter of a body panel;
- and
- a light source concealed by the cover portion and configured to output an emission;
- and
- an imaging device configured to capture a field of view;
- and
- a controller in communication with the imaging device and the light source, wherein the controller is configured to:
- receive image data from the imaging device;
- and
- control the light source to illuminate a region proximate the vehicle with the emission, the region corresponding to the field of view.
A lighting system of a vehicle configured to illuminate a field of view of an imaging system comprising:
- a cover portion at least partially covering a seam of a body panel of the vehicle;
- a carrier disposed between the cover portion and the body panel, the carrier having an exposed portion configured to luminesce in response to a light excitation;
- and
- at least one light source configured to emit light for exciting the exposed portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.