EXPRESSIVE VEHICLE LIGHTING ASSEMBLY

摘要

A vehicle includes a main lighting control sensor, a body, a housing, an outer lens, and main and expressive lighting assemblies. The sensor generates an output signal in response to a detected vehicle condition such as braking or headlight activation. The lens defines a cavity in conjunction with the housing. The main lighting assembly is positioned within the cavity, and illuminates in response to the output signal. An expressive lighting assembly positioned within the cavity includes clear transparent plates arranged in a stack, with LEDs arranged in multiple rows and columns on a major surface of each plate. Wire arrays connect the LEDs to a control board. The control board receives an activation signal from a device, e.g., a fob, and individually addresses the LEDs to command illumination of the LEDs according to a calibrated LED illumination sequence. A controller may be used for downloading sequences as applications.

主权项

1. A vehicle comprising:
a main lighting control sensor which generates an output signal in response to a detected predetermined vehicle condition; a body having a surface; a light housing positioned with respect to the surface; an outer lens that is connected to the light housing, wherein the outer lens and the light housing collectively define a cavity; a main lighting assembly positioned within the cavity in communication with the main lighting control sensor, wherein the main lighting assembly is configured to illuminate in response to the output signal from the main lighting control sensor; and an expressive lighting assembly positioned within the cavity between the outer lens and the main lighting assembly, and including:
a plurality of clear transparent plates arranged in a stack, wherein each of the clear transparent plates includes a major surface and a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged in multiple rows and columns on the major surface;a plurality of wire arrays each electrically connected the LEDs on a respective one of the clear transparent plates; anda control board in communication with the LEDS in the stack, wherein the control board is configured to receive an activation signal from a device, and is programmed to selectively and individually address each of the LEDs in the stack in response to the received activation signal and thereby command illumination of the LEDs according to a calibrated LED illumination sequence.