Abstract: A charge port illumination system for an electric vehicle includes a charge port disposed at the electric vehicle and configured for electrically connecting to a charging source to charge a power source of the electric vehicle. The charge port includes an outer portion that is exposed and viewable at the electric vehicle when a person is connecting the charge port to the charging source. The charge port includes at least one illumination source that, responsive to an activating event associated with an electric charging event of the electric vehicle, is activated to provide backlighting at the outer portion, which may include a translucent polymeric material. The activated illumination source may be automatically deactivated. The system may include a cover panel that is opened to expose and access the charge port. The illumination source may be controlled to indicate a state of charge of the power source.

Abstract: An exterior door handle assembly suitable for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door includes a strap-handle portion and a sealed self-contained elongated lighting module having (i) at least one illumination source that, when electrically powered, emits light, (ii) an elongated housing and (iii) an elongated light-transmitting cover. The module may include an antenna and/or a light pipe. The strap-handle portion receives the sealed self-contained elongated lighting module. With the sealed self-contained elongated light module received in the strap-handle portion, the contour of the sealed self-contained elongated lighting module generally matches the contour of the strap-handle portion.

Abstract: A charge port illumination system for an electric vehicle includes a charge port disposed at the electric vehicle and configured for electrically connecting to a charging source to charge a power source of the electric vehicle. The charge port includes an outer portion that is exposed and viewable at the electric vehicle when a person is connecting the charge port to the charging source. The charge port includes at least one illumination source that, responsive to an activating event associated with an electric charging event of the electric vehicle, is activated to provide backlighting at the outer portion, which may include a translucent polymeric material. The activated illumination source may be automatically deactivated. The system may include a cover panel that is opened to expose and access the charge port. The illumination source may be controlled to indicate a state of charge of the power source.

Abstract: An exterior door handle assembly suitable for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door includes a strap-handle portion and a sealed self-contained elongated lighting module having (i) at least one illumination source that, when electrically powered, emits light, (ii) an elongated housing and (iii) an elongated light-transmitting cover. The module may include an antenna and/or a light pipe. The strap-handle portion receives the sealed self-contained elongated lighting module. With the sealed self-contained elongated light module received in the strap-handle portion, the contour of the sealed self-contained elongated lighting module generally matches the contour of the strap-handle portion.

Abstract: A charge port illumination system for a vehicle includes a charge port configured for electrically connecting to a charging source to charge a power source of the vehicle. A pocket assembly is disposed at or proximate to the charge port and includes a base and a bezel at an outer region of the base. At least a portion of the bezel is exposed and viewable when the charge port is accessed to charge the power source. At least one illumination source is disposed at or behind the bezel. The illumination source, responsive to an activating event associated with an electric charging event, is activated to provide backlighting of the bezel. The activated illumination source is automatically deactivated responsive to a deactivating event.

Abstract: An exterior door handle assembly includes an illumination device and a handle portion movable to open a vehicle door. The illumination device includes at least one illumination source that, when actuated, emits light. The illumination device includes a lighting strip that is disposed at the handle portion, and the lighting strip extends at least partially along a length dimension of the handle portion. When the illumination source is actuated, the lighting strip is illuminated and the illumination is viewable at least partially along the length dimension of the handle portion by a person viewing the handle portion of the exterior door handle assembly from outside of the vehicle door. When the illumination source is not actuated, the lighting strip may not be readily viewable by and discernible to a person viewing the handle portion of the exterior door handle assembly from outside of the vehicle door.

Abstract: A charge port illumination system for a vehicle includes a charge port configured for electrically connecting to a charging source to charge a power source of the vehicle. A pocket assembly is disposed at or proximate to the charge port and includes a base and a bezel at an outer region of the base. At least a portion of the bezel is exposed and viewable when the charge port is accessed to charge the power source. At least one illumination source is disposed at or behind the bezel. The illumination source, responsive to an activating event associated with an electric charging event, is activated to provide backlighting of the bezel. The activated illumination source is automatically deactivated responsive to a deactivating event.

Abstract: A charge port illumination system for an electric vehicle includes a charge port at an electric vehicle for electrically connecting to a charging source to charge a power source of the electric vehicle. A self-contained sealed module is disposed at or proximate to the charge port and includes at least one illumination source. The illumination source, responsive to an activating event associated with an electric charging event of the electric vehicle, is activated to provide illumination at the charge port. The activating event may include detection of touch at or movement of a cover panel and/or a signal from a remote transmitting device or a passive entry device or a motion detection device. The illumination source may be automatically deactivated after at least one of a period of time after activation, plugging in a charging source at the charge port and closing a cover panel at the charge port.

Abstract: An illumination module for a vehicle includes at least one illumination source for illuminating a target area at the vehicle. The illumination module may be mounted at a handle of a vehicle door and may be operable to illuminate the handle region and/or pocket region of the vehicle door and to illuminate a ground region adjacent to the vehicle and generally below the door handle assembly. The illumination module may include an icon established thereat and the at least one illumination source may back light the icon so that the icon, when the illumination module is activated, is viewable by a person viewing the vehicle. The illumination module may project or direct the illumination toward a targeted area so that the icon is discernible at the targeted area.

Abstract: A pocket assembly is provided for mounting at a recess of a vehicle body where a charge port of the vehicle is located, the pocket assembly has a body mountable to a vehicle, wherein the body has a base portion and a bezel portion, at least one outer layer established at an outer surface of said bezel portion, wherein the at least one outer layer is viewable at the side of the vehicle when the charge port is being accessed by a user of the vehicle and an illumination source disposed at or behind said bezel portion, and an illumination source being operable to illuminate indicia established at or on the bezel portion.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus for an automobile generally includes a projection device coupled to the automobile (e.g., an external component, such as a door handle assembly) wherein the projection device is configured to project an image onto a display surface that is external to the automobile (e.g., the ground adjacent to a door of the automobile or a region near the door handle itself). The lighting apparatus is configured to activate in response to one or more events, such as proximity of a key fob, the unlocking of one or doors, or the like.

Abstract: An illumination module for a vehicle includes at least one illumination source for illuminating a target area at the vehicle. The illumination module may be mounted at a handle of a vehicle door and may be operable to illuminate the handle region and/or pocket region of the vehicle door and to illuminate a ground region adjacent to the vehicle and generally below the door handle assembly. The illumination module may include an icon established thereat and the at least one illumination source may back light the icon so that the icon, when the illumination module is activated, is viewable by a person viewing the vehicle. The illumination module may project or direct the illumination toward a targeted area so that the icon is discernible at the targeted area.

Abstract: A pocket assembly is provided for mounting at a recess of a vehicle body where a charge port of the vehicle is located, the pocket assembly has a body mountable to a vehicle, wherein the body has a base portion and a bezel portion, at least one outer layer established at an outer surface of said bezel portion, wherein the at least one outer layer is viewable at the side of the vehicle when the charge port is being accessed by a user of the vehicle and an illumination source disposed at or behind said bezel portion, and an illumination source being operable to illuminate indicia established at or on the bezel portion.

Abstract: A handle/liftgate assembly for a door of a vehicle is mounted to a handle region of a vehicle door and includes a handle control and a handle sensor. The handle control is responsive to the handle sensor to detect the presence of or proximity of a user or operator at the vehicle door. The handle control actuates a door latch of the vehicle door to open the vehicle door independent of a door zone module or passive entry system of the vehicle door.