Vehicle puddle lamp assembly generating animated image and method
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsAli Ammar, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Stuart C. Salter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle puddle lamp assembly is provided and includes a plurality of light projectors located on a vehicle and configured to illuminate different lighted image patterns on a ground surface adjacent to the vehicle. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly also includes a controller for sequentially activating the plurality of light projectors to generate an animated lighted image on the ground surface.
Claims19
A vehicle puddle lamp assembly comprising:
- a plurality of light projectors located on a vehicle and configured to illuminate different lighted image patterns on a surface adjacent to the vehicle;
- a sensor sensing a distance between the vehicle and a user;
- and
- a controller sequentially activating the plurality of light projectors to generate an animated lighted image on the surface and adjusting intensity of the plurality of light projectors and speed at which the animated image changes based on the sensed distance.
A method of generating an animated lighted image with a vehicle puddle lamp assembly, comprising:
- receiving a signal to activate a vehicle puddle lamp;
- determining distance between the vehicle and a user;
- sequentially activating a plurality of light projectors configured to illuminate different light patterns on a surface adjacent to the vehicle to generate the animated lighted image;
- and
- controlling speed at which the animated light image changes based on the sensed distance.
A vehicle puddle lamp assembly comprising:
- a plurality of light projectors located on a vehicle and configured to illuminate different lighted image patterns on a surface adjacent to the vehicle;
- a sensor sensing distance between the vehicle and a user;
- and
- a controller sequentially activating the plurality of light projectors to generate an animated lighted image on the surface and adjusting speed at which the animated lighted image changes based on the sensed distance.
A method of generating an animated lighted image with a vehicle puddle lamp assembly, comprising:
- receiving a signal to activate a vehicle puddle lamp;
- determining distance between the vehicle and a user;
- sequentially activating a plurality of light projectors configured to illuminate different light patterns on a surface adjacent to the vehicle to generate the animated lighted image;
- and
- controlling intensity of light illuminated by each of the plurality of light projectors and speed at which the animated image changes based on the sensed distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.