Ceiling Patents (Class 362/490)
  • Patent number: 11958405
    Abstract: An illumination device is to be mounted on a ceiling of an interior of a vehicle, and the illumination device includes a light source that emits light to illuminate the interior, a light guide that receives the light emitted from the light source and transmits the received light, a first flow path that, in a state in which the illumination device is mounted on the ceiling, extends so as to intersect with an up and down direction of the vehicle and is located at the same position as at least one of the light source or the light guide in the up and down direction, and an air blower that produces an airflow that, having been sucked into the illumination device, travels through the first flow path and is blown out of the illumination device after having traveled through the first flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryota Yoshizumi
  • Patent number: 11796780
    Abstract: A structure and method for utilizing natural light indoors or in the interior in a moving space are disclosed. The structure includes: at least one natural light condenser configured to reflect the natural light; a natural light transmitter configured such that the natural light reflected by the at least one natural light condenser is moved to the natural light transmitter; a smart lamp unit including an artificial light generator; a smart lamp driver located adjacent to the smart lamp unit and configured to move the smart lamp unit; and a controller connected to the at least one natural light condenser, the natural light transmitter, the smart lamp unit, and the smart lamp driver so as to transmit and receive information therewith. The controller is configured to combine artificial light with the natural light in response to a user request signal to radiate a combination of the artificial and natural light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soon Sung Park, Kwang Ok Jeon, Dae Sun Kim
  • Patent number: 11732866
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lamp for a vehicle, the lamp including a light source unit including a light source and a board, an optical fiber disposed forward of the light source unit, an inner lens disposed between the light source unit and the optical fiber, provided to be in close contact with the board, and configured to fix or hold one side of the optical fiber, a heat sink disposed rearward of the light source unit and provided to be in close contact with the board, an elastic member disposed rearward of the heat sink, provided to be in close contact with the heat sink, and having elasticity, and an aiming bolt disposed rearward of the elastic member and configured to penetrate the elastic member and press a rear surface of the heat sink, in which the aiming bolt is movable in a forward/rearward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ki Ryong Song
  • Patent number: 11603040
    Abstract: A device for controlling emotional lighting of a vehicle allows a driver and a passenger of the vehicle to emotionally view an external landscape through a door glass. Such a device includes: a camera for recording a video of a surrounding region of the vehicle; an emotional lighting device for irradiating light toward the door glass of the vehicle; and a controller for controlling the emotional lighting device to detect a representative color within the video of the surrounding region and irradiate light of a color corresponding to the representative color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ho Ssang Jo
  • Patent number: 11548658
    Abstract: This disclosure details exemplary moonroof systems for vehicles. An exemplary moonroof system may include a pod assembly that may be received within an opening of a headliner. The pod assembly may be utilized to dock, deploy, and land an unmanned aerial vehicle relative to the moonroof system. The pod assembly may include a charging and cooling system for charging and cooling the unmanned aerial vehicle when it is docked within the pod assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Robertson, Jr., Segundo Baldovino, Venkatesh Krishnan, Raghuraman Surineedi
  • Patent number: 11491912
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting device and a method of controlling luminance thereof are provided. The vehicle lighting device includes a camera module configured to capture an image of the driver's face, a sensing unit configured to detect the surroundings of a vehicle, a lighting unit including at least one light source to illuminate the interior of the vehicle, and a controller. The controller is configured to acquire information on a daytime mode and a nighttime mode through the sensing unit, to acquire information on an infrared brightness level or information on the size of the pupil of the driver's eye based on the image of the driver's face captured by the camera module, and to control the luminance of the lighting unit in response to the acquired information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chongbae Park
  • Patent number: 11421862
    Abstract: The present application has a first engagement part that is provided at a first end and that engages with a plate-like member by holding the plate-like member from both sides at a first edge portion of a through-hole in the plate-like member; and a second engagement part that is provided at a second end and that engages with the plate-like member by holding the plate-like member from both sides at a second edge portion of the through-hole in the plate-like member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruhito Ohtsuka, Ryohei Ochiai
  • Patent number: 11396260
    Abstract: An illumination lamp includes: a frame-shaped body provided with a first guide portion; and a function portion provided with a light emitting portion emitting light and a first guided portion. The first guided portion is engaged with the first guide portion in a state where the function portion is installed in the frame-shaped body, so that a change in the posture of the function portion with respect to the frame-shaped body is regulated around a predetermined axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruhito Ohtsuka, Yuta Masuda
  • Patent number: 11274804
    Abstract: A windshield light strip assembly includes a molding that has a channel integrated into the molding to receive an outer edge of a windshield on a motorcycle. A plurality of light emitters is each integrated into the molding and each of the light emitters emits light outwardly from the molding. The light emitters are spaced apart from each other and are distributed along a full length of the molding. A wiring harness is coupled to the molding and the wiring harness is electrically coupled to a power source comprising an electrical system of the motorcycle. Additionally, each of the light emitters is in electrical communication with the wiring harness and each of the light emitters is turned on when the motorcycle is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Inventors: David Harmon, Angela Spanger
  • Patent number: 11156018
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock comprising a lock housing, an electric power supply and at least one illuminant which can be connected to the electric power supply, emits light into a light-guiding element and can be placed directly on a circuit board located inside the lock housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Thorsten Bendel, Werner Pohle, Thorsten Nottebaum
  • Patent number: 10807524
    Abstract: An LED lighting assembly (1) is disclosed which is arranged to produce a predetermined non-circular light pattern the LED lighting assembly comprising a cassette (2), a lens, a printed circuit board (6) having at least one LED light source (9) mounted thereon wherein the lighting assembly further comprises a lens holder (16) arranged to support the lens and the lens holder (16) being arranged to be rotatable and wherein the cassette and lens holder (16) are connected. The lens holder (16) and the cassette (2) may rotate together. The lens holder (16) may be arranged to rotate relative to the cassette (2). An arm (42) may be provided extending through a slot (44) in the cassette (2) and engageable by a fitter to align the predetermined light pattern relative a passenger space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SAF-T-GLO LIMITED
    Inventors: Sean O'Kell, Adrian Crute
  • Patent number: 10807526
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting system for a vehicle a light guide and a light dispensing device configured to receive light from a light source via the light guide and emit the light into an interior of the vehicle. A first end of the light guide is coupled to the light source and a second end of the light guide is coupled to the light dispensing device. The light dispensing device includes a textile configured to dispense the light from the light guide to an interior of the vehicle and a reflector configured to reflect the light within the light dispensing device that is received from the light guide towards the textile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Johan Anders Persson, Markus Lars Edvin Andersson
  • Patent number: 10589666
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle includes at least one cover capable of closing an opening in a fixed roof of the vehicle. The at least one cover comprises a light emitting layer capable of guiding light from a longitudinal edge of the light emitting layer, substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, towards a main surface and capable of emitting light from a main surface of the light emitting layer towards an interior space of the vehicle. The cover further comprises a light device for emitting light into the light emitting layer, the light device including at least one light source and a light guide for guiding the light from the light source to the edge of the light emitting layer, wherein in the light guide is formed by a bundle of light fibers existing of several light fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Stephan Christiaan Vervoort, Thomas Anton Martijnszoon Albers
  • Patent number: 10576884
    Abstract: A device for interior illumination for a vehicle includes an array formed by multiple light sources, with which an ambient illumination and a reading illumination can be generated inside the vehicle, an additional lamp unit with which exclusively an ambient illumination can be generated inside the vehicle, and a control unit for controlling the light sources and the additional lamp unit in three modes. The control unit is designed and configured in such a way that in the first mode the light sources are controlled in such a way that exclusively a reading illumination is generated inside the vehicle; in the second mode the light sources and the additional lamp unit are controlled in such a way that exclusively an ambient illumination is generated inside the vehicle; and in the third mode the control unit simultaneously activates the first and second modes for simultaneously generating an ambient illumination and a reading illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: DAIMLER AG
    Inventors: Daniel Betz, Daniel Fuhrmann, Michael Holz, Juergen Ketterer, Daniel Steffen Setz
  • Patent number: 10495278
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting device including a light source support, a light source coupled to the light source support, and an alignment frame coupled to the light source support in a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the light source. An optical element is coupled to the light source support such that the alignment frame is interposed between the light source support and the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Julien Hemon
  • Patent number: 10488010
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a light source assembly for a vehicle lamp, a method for producing a light source assembly, and a signal lamp for an automobile vehicle. The light source assembly for a vehicle lamp includes: a base body; at least one metal holding member, each of which includes a light source holding part and one or more penetration parts, the light source holding part being arranged on a first surface of the base body, the penetration part penetrating through the base body from the first surface of the base body and extending outwardly from a second surface of the base body, the second surface being opposite to the first surface; and a light emitting component mounted on the light source holding part of the at least one metal holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Foshan Ichikoh Valeo Auto Lighting Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sylvain Yvon, Lixian Liu, Chunming-Parker Zhang
  • Patent number: 10415792
    Abstract: A light guiding device for an illumination device, especially for a motor vehicle or an indicator device in a rearview device of a motor vehicle includes a light coupling side for incoupling light from a light source, a reflection side having a reflection layer; and a light outcoupling side, which is disposed generally opposite the reflection side. A clearance between the reflection side and the light outcoupling side generally decreases as the distance from the light incoupling side increases. The reflection side having the reflection layer is configured so that light arriving from the light incoupling side is deflected to the light outcoupling side. The reflection layer may be a paint or lacquer layer that is imprinted or evaporation-coated on the reflection side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: Norbert Kürschner, Daniel Fritz
  • Patent number: 10307608
    Abstract: A pair of awareness glasses includes a frame, a light source, a driving unit, light guide lenses, and diffraction grating patterns. The light source unit is disposed in the frame. The light source unit is configured to generate light in response to input power. The driving unit is configured to supply the input power. The light guide lenses are configured to guide the light to the eyes of a user. The diffraction grating patterns are formed on surfaces of the light guide lenses. The diffraction grating patterns are configured to diffract and reflect the light to the eyes of the user. The light output from each of the diffraction grating patterns has a peak wavelength between 444 nm and 484 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jongin Baek, Haksun Kim, WonSang Park, Mingyeong Jo
  • Patent number: 10259377
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a frame having a straight central portion and first and second curved end portions, a plurality of spot light sources mounted on the straight central portion and aligned parallel to each other, and a plurality of diffuse light sources may be mounted on each of the curved end portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Kennemer, Christian D. Fogg, Ty Rager, Adam Prater
  • Patent number: 10064256
    Abstract: A lighting system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises a controller in communication with at least one light source and an occupancy sensor. The controller is configured to control an activation emission output from the light source configured to charge a persistent luminescent portion. The controller is further configured to detect an occupancy of the vehicle and charge the luminescent portion by periodically outputting the activation emission. The controller determines the periodicity of the output based on the occupancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Annette Lynn Huebner, Pietro Buttolo, Scott Holmes Dunham
  • Patent number: 9908457
    Abstract: A lighting device for motor vehicles comprising an optical waveguide element (14) that has a light entrance surface (16) and a light exit surface (15) and that has an electric light-emitting layer (19) on at least part of at least one surface of the optical waveguide element. The light-emitting layer is advantageously in the form of an OLED layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: ZKW GROUP GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Reinprecht, Stefan Miedler, Gerald Böhm, Adolf Teufl, Thomas Edletzberger
  • Patent number: 9487135
    Abstract: A dome light assembly for a vehicle is provided herein. The dome light assembly includes a headliner having a trough and a light-producing assembly arranged as a strip configured to be received in the trough. The light-producing assembly includes a plurality of light sources and a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the plurality of light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Todd Jared Konet
  • Patent number: 9398270
    Abstract: An imaging system and method is provided that generates image data. A processor is configured to process the image data and to generate a signal in response to analysis of the image data and a selected mode of operation. The processor selects either a village mode or a non-village mode as a mode of operation depending on whether at least one characteristic in the image data meets village detect conditions. The processor monitors an ambient light level over a period of time and modifies the village detect conditions when the ambient light level reaches a threshold that indicates that the driver's eyes have adapted to a bright ambient light level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter A. Liken, Phillip R. Pierce, Troy A. Redder
  • Patent number: 9150150
    Abstract: There is provided an interior illumination lamp for a vehicle. In the interior illumination lamp for a vehicle including a lamp unit having a light source, which is a functional part, and a lens provided inside a vehicle room, which is a decorative part, the lens is engaged with the lamp unit through an inner peripheral edge of an opening in a roof trim, thereby to clamp the roof trim between them and to attach the interior illumination lamp for a vehicle in a state where the roof trim is clamped. The lamp unit is provided with a plurality of positioning projections at a position where the lamp unit is contacted with the roof trim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ken Suzuki, Ryohei Ochiai
  • Patent number: 9127477
    Abstract: A latch is provided which includes a housing having a face plate and an internal chamber; a handle is rotatably connected to the housing and includes a solar panel disposed on said front face of the handle. A battery is in electrical communication with the solar panel. A keyhole light encircles a keyhole. A handle light is proximate the handle and provides light thereto. A rear light illuminates an area opposite the front face of the housing. The latch includes a sensor consisting of one or more of the following: a light sensor, a movement sensor, a sound sensor The sensor in electrical communication with one or more of said keyhole light or said handle light or said rear light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignees: ESSC Group, Inc., Wagon Key Group, LLC
    Inventor: Mary Yang
  • Patent number: 9115860
    Abstract: An interior lamp includes a design portion and a function portion. A circuit board is attached to the function portion. A light source is mounted on the circuit board. Terminals are mounted on a side portion of the circuit board. A connector is disposed on a side portion of the function portion. Connector terminals are provided on the connector. A switch has a switch knob and a switch body. The switch knob is attached to a side portion of the design portion. The switch body is attached to the side portion of the function portion. The switch knob and the switch body are operated in an interlocked manner to perform electrical connection between the terminals and the connector terminals selectively so as to perform a tuning on or off of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuo Suzuki, Yuta Masuda
  • Patent number: 9115495
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter is a reflector assembly for a skylight curb and the method of installing same through a safety grid from the roof. The purpose of the disclosed subject matter is to improve the optical performance of skylight curbs. The reflector assembly is manufacture from metallized polymer film, trimmed to match the desired interior curb surface where it will be mounted, and equipped with attachment devices to facilitate installation. The reflector assembly is configured by folding or rolling into a compact shape, passing it through an opening in the safety grid, unfolding it, and securing it in its proper position using the integrated attachment devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Entech Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: David Gelbaum, Robert Walters, Don Spears
  • Patent number: 8998464
    Abstract: Trim component with integrated lighting device comprising a lighting substrate, which in turn comprises a base substrate and a lighting substrate, said lighting substrate being covered by a decorative lining in which have been defined areas that allow light to pass and other areas that prevent light from passing, establishing by their combination a lighting pattern. These areas that allow light to pass are obtained by a laser treatment, removing at least one part of the material of said decorative lining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Grupo Antolin-Ingeniera, S.A.
    Inventors: Ricardo Ureta Hortigüela, Jesús Vicente Escudero Delgado, Alejandro Jorro De Inza
  • Patent number: 8985820
    Abstract: A lighted interior accessory assembly for a vehicle includes an interior accessory such as an armrest or console and a plurality of fasteners mounting the interior accessory on the interior panel. A mounting plate has a light pipe mounted thereon and emitting light along the length of the light pipe. The mounting plate is sandwiched between the armrest and the interior panel so that the mounting plate creates a gap between the armrest and the interior panel through which the light pipe emits light into the vehicle interior. Mounting the armrest directly to the door trim without inter-positioning the mounting plate between the armrest and the door trim eliminates the gap and eliminates the light pipe. Accordingly, a vehicle manufacturer can readily include a lighting feature in a luxury version of the vehicle and omit the lighting feature from a standard version of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Lorin A. Mazur, Darryle R. Woodham, Ralph Brink
  • Patent number: 8979353
    Abstract: A light fixture (400) includes a housing (401) having a cavity (403) for use with at least one accessory module (415). A light source (411) is integrated in the housing (401) such that the accessory module (415) is modular for allowing functionality of the light to be customized to a specific application. The light fixture (400) is particularly useful in an RV environment where a single light housing is all that is available which must have user selectable functionality in a limited space location. Moreover, the accessory module (415) makes it easy to move functional features from fixture-to-fixture enabling the user to achieve greater utility in many different lighting applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Starlights, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg Wilson, Jason P. Weaver
  • Publication number: 20150062942
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a lighting device includes: a light emitting section that has a light emitting element and a switch for controlling a lighting state of the light emitting element; a housing that stores the light emitting section and of which one end section is open; a cover that covers the opening of the housing and has translucency; and a frame that is provided between the housing and the cover. The frame includes an edge section that presents a frame shape and a holding section of which one end is provided in the edge section and the other end protrudes from the edge section, and which holds an operation section operating the switch and is exposed from the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Shiraishi, Yohei Matsuda, Ryuji Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 8882318
    Abstract: A peripheral illumination device for a vehicle component includes at least one light guide, and an enclosure for guiding the at least one light guide. The at least one light guide is securely mounted in the enclosure via a fixed support at a predefined location and has two ends which are movably mounted in relation to the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Marcus Pfeil, Elena Justus-Bischler
  • Patent number: 8878438
    Abstract: A lamp and proximity assembly is provided that includes a lens having a transparent window and a light source disposed to illuminate light through the transparent window of the lens. The lamp and proximity assembly further includes a proximity switch having one or more proximity sensors disposed near a perimeter of the transparent window of the lens and generating an activation field proximate to the transparent field of the lens to sense activation of the proximity switch to control activation of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Jeffrey Singer, Pietro Buttolo
  • Patent number: 8840288
    Abstract: A vehicle window assembly includes a vehicle structure, a window panel and a light source. The vehicle structure defines a viewing aperture. The window panel is mounted to the vehicle structure and covers the viewing aperture. The window panel has a peripheral edge surrounding a first window surface and a second window surface opposite the first window surface. The first window surface includes an etched section. The light source is mounted to the vehicle structure adjacent to a portion of the peripheral edge of the window panel such that light from the light source is directed to the portion of the peripheral edge of the window panel. The light travels in a lateral direction through the window panel selectively illuminating the etched section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Plavetich, Ching Pin Chang
  • Patent number: 8820988
    Abstract: A lighting system for installation in a ceiling portion of a passenger compartment, including a lamp unit; a selection unit having a different shape from the lamp unit; and a case having a first unit installation opening configured to detachably accommodate the lamp unit and a second unit installation opening configured to detachably accommodate the selection unit. The selection unit may be selected from a plurality of selection units, where the plurality of slection units may each have a different application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Nagai, Yoshihito Masuko
  • Patent number: 8820989
    Abstract: A fixing structure of an indoor lamp includes a lamp unit and an interior wall member. The lamp unit includes a design part arranged at an indoor side of the interior wall member and a functional part arranged at an outdoor side of the interior wall member and assembled with the design part through a lamp attachment hole in a state that the functional part holds the interior wall member therebetween. The functional part has a connector portion for connecting a connector. The design part has a regulating portion which forms a connector insertion portion together with the connector portion when the design part is assembled with the functional part. The regulating portion engages with the connector inserted into the connector insertion portion to regulate displacement of the design part in a disengagement direction from the functional part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Suzuki, Shinji Yamada
  • Patent number: 8801243
    Abstract: A vehicle interior illumination lamp 11 is formed by a function portion 12 and a design portion 13. Retaining claws 15 are formed on side surfaces of a base housing 41 of the design portion 13. Operating plates 33 are formed at a housing 21 of the function portion 12, and each operating plate 33 has retaining portions 34 with which retaining claws 51 on the design portion 13 (which can be fitted into the function portion 12) can be retainingly engaged, respectively. The operating plates 33 are pressed from the inside of a bulb receiving chamber 44 of the design portion 13 to be elastically deformed, thereby releasing the retaining engagement of the retaining portions 34 with the retaining claws 51.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Nagai, Yoshinori Hirayama
  • Patent number: 8777466
    Abstract: A panel includes at least one icon area (8), the area (8) being illuminated by a light source (10) placed under the ornament panel, the ornament panel (1) including a translucent skin (2) forming the outer surface (6) of the ornament panel and a substrate layer (4) placed against the skin (2), the substrate layer (4) including an opening (14) placed at least between the light source (10) and the icon area (8). A light-transmitting material (18) is placed in at least part of the opening (14), the material (18) being placed in a translucent substrate element (20) placed in the opening (14) between the material (18) and the light source (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Oeuvrard, Godefroy Beau
  • Patent number: 8777467
    Abstract: A vehicle interior lighting system includes: a designed cover 10 attached to a ceiling wall in an inside of a vehicle compartment; and a light source unit 20 arranged in the rear of the designed cover. In this system, a light beam emitted from an emission port 25 of the light source unit illuminates the inside of the vehicle compartment through two irradiation holes 15 for spot illumination, which are provided in the designed cover. A light guide 50 is arranged between the emission port 25 of the light source unit and the two irradiation holes 15 of the designed cover. The light guide 50 is configured to divide the light beam emitted from the light source unit into two directions, and to guide the thus-divided light beams to the respective irradiation holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Nagai, Hiroyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8740425
    Abstract: A low glare overhead lighting fixture for a transit vehicle comprises a lighting fixture base assembly for mounting one or more light sources (e.g., LEDs or fluorescent tubes), and a light permeable cover adapted to reduce glare. The light permeable cover may include a light guide embodied as a grid-like structure with holes or perforations for directing the light from the light source in a manner reducing light spread. The light guide may be disposed between a front and rear lens covers. The lighting fixture may also utilize a light permeable cover having an anti-glare surface element, such as a privacy filter screen or mesh which may be formed using microlouver technology. The lighting fixture base assembly may have separate compartments, each lined with a highly reflective coating, housing one or more deeply set LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: I/O Controls Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey Ying
  • Patent number: 8733990
    Abstract: An interior vehicle component comprises a base and a panel coupled to the base. The panel is moveable between a first position and a second position. The panel has a first side and an opposite second side. The first side is configured to be visible to a vehicle occupant when the panel is in the first position. The second side cooperates with the base to define a cavity. The panel has an aperture extending through the first side and the second side. The panel also comprises at least one of a solid state switch and a light source supported at the first side of the panel, and a flexible circuit coupled to a backside of the at least one of the solid state switch and the light source through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Nels R. Smith, Michael Catlin, Stephen J. Gwinnup, Rodney J. Tindall
  • Patent number: 8690402
    Abstract: An illuminated grab handle assembly for a vehicle includes a handle body and at least one light source. The handle body has a center portion and two opposed ends and is adapted to be attached to a surface of the vehicle interior. The at least one light source is disposed within the center portion of the handle body for illuminating the vehicle interior. The illuminated grab handle assembly is operable to provide more than one mode of illumination for the vehicle interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jedidiah Paul Durkin, Luis Miguel Lopez Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 8636398
    Abstract: A room lamp for a motor vehicle, including a lamp assembly having a resin clip; a vessel having an opening; and a reinforcing member. The resin clip is engaged with a peripheral edge of the reinforcing member through the opening of the vessel to integrally attach the lamp assembly, the vessel and the reinforcing member. The resin clip has an inverted U shape, is made of an elastic member and includes a base part, an inverted U shape part and a lock. The resin clip has a protruding piece in a lower part of the lock, a side protruding piece formed in a lower part side of the protruding piece which is located in an engaging recessed part of an opening peripheral edge of the vessel which has a clip abutting surface when the resin clip is engaged with the peripheral edge of the reinforcing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Chiba
  • Publication number: 20140016339
    Abstract: In the case of storing a bus bar in a housing, terminals for switch connection of the bus bar are arranged so as to be exposed to a port for switch of the housing, and terminals for roof harness connection of the bus bar are arranged so as to be exposed to a connector port for roof W/H connection of the housing, and crimp terminal parts of the bus bar are arranged so as to be exposed to the inside of an electric wire holder port of the housing, and engaging protrusions formed on a bus bar holder are engaged and fixed to engaging recesses formed in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinji Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 8622596
    Abstract: A lamp assembly to be attached with a reinforcement through an opening formed in a roof panel is provided. A clip to be locked with the reinforcement is provided in the lamp assembly. The clip includes a base portion connected to the housing, an inverted U-shape portion connected to the base portion, a lock connected to the inverted U-shape portion, a projecting piece projected from a lower end of the lock, an extension portion extended further downwards from the projecting piece, and a side projecting piece formed on a side surface of the extension portion at a lower portion. A front projecting piece which faces the side projecting piece with a space provided therebetween is formed on the housing. The side projecting piece comes in contact with the front projecting piece in a state where the clip is locked on a circumferential edge of an opening of the reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuro Takasaki
  • Patent number: 8602614
    Abstract: The lighting apparatus, especially a reading lamp, has a light source (48), a movable cover (24) to which the light source (48) is fastened, an adjusting element (21) that cooperates with the cover (24), a bearing unit (26) for supporting the cover (24) and an adjusting ring (21). The cover (24) and light source (48) are movable around a longitudinal axis (L) of the lighting apparatus (10) by actuating the adjusting element (21) and the cover (24) and light source (48) are moveable around a transverse axis (Q) extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L) by actuating the cover (24). The lighting apparatus in the form of the reading lamp is particularly useful aboard aircraft, ships, trains, automobiles, or other vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Bernd Schultheis, Achim Weil, Andreas Dietrich, Dirk Vogel
  • Publication number: 20130301286
    Abstract: A motor vehicle with a headliner and one or more lighting devices extending on or adjacent to the headliner over at least a portion of the length or width of the headliner. The lighting device emits its light such that at least the headliner area can at least be partially illuminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventor: Ahmed MOUSSA
  • Patent number: 8568008
    Abstract: An illumination unit for a vehicle comprising: a light emitting element; an outer housing including an opening, on which the light emitting element is mounted; a prism disposed between the light emitting element and the opening, the prism including a tip portion which is disposed at the opening, a body portion which continues from the tip portion, a flange portion which continues from the body portion, and a stage at a boundary between the tip portion and the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Haruki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8562168
    Abstract: A perimeter lighting fixture has housing and a separate trim piece. The trim piece is attached to a wall. A wall compound, such as plaster, is smoothed over a blend area or band on the wall just below the trim piece, and also onto a transition section of the trim piece. The housing and/or a reflector of the perimeter lighting fixture is positioned in contact with the trim piece. The trim piece compensates for waviness or uneven wall surfaces. As the trim piece is straight, the variances in wall straightness are corrected. This allows the lighting fixture to be placed against or closely adjacent to the wall, without creating unsightly dark gaps between them, and without highlighting the imperfections in the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Gammalux Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph David Napoli, Jose′ Luis Adame
  • Patent number: 8506141
    Abstract: A trim means for a motor vehicle comprises a carrier having a B side and a C side. A recess is formed into the B side of the carrier, and the carrier has an aperture in the region at the edge of the recess. A planar lighting unit comes to lie flush in the recess on the B side of the carrier, so that on the B side of the carrier a substantially continuous planar surface of the carrier with the lighting unit is produced. The lighting unit has a connection cable which is guided through the aperture to the C side of the carrier, where it is connected with a plug connector, a further conductor or directly with a control unit. A cover layer is applied onto the B side of the carrier and covers the planar lighting unit and at least a portion of the surface of the carrier. The cover layer forms the visible side of the trim means and is permeable to the light emitted from the lighting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: International Automotive Components Group GmbH
    Inventors: Carter Scott Cannon, Michael Behnke, Daniel Christochowitz, Christian Mauritz, Carsten Müller