Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Jeffrey Singer

Stuart C Salter

Cornel Lewis Gardner

Pietro Buttolo

Denis Patrick Igoe

Paul Kenneth Dellock

James J Surman

Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake

Chi Li

Matthew Anthony Majkowski

Michael James Whitens

Scott Simon

Frank J Desjarlais

Michael Istok

Michael L Chan

Michael Musleh

Arun Kumar

Anthony Ligi, Jr

Peter Joseph Bejin

Kelly Michael Kohlstrand

Scott A Clark

Mike James Whitens

Anna Miller Hill

Raymond Anthony Oldani

Megan Lovejoy

Brandon M Aselage

David Paul Marshman

Mark Edward Porter

Khaled Omar

Michael Alan Samluk

Beatriz Esthela Padilla

Roger Hayden

Tuan-Anh Nguyen

An illuminating vehicle assembly includes a plastic grille component and a badge mounted to the plastic grille component. The badge houses at least one light source. The light source may be illuminated to create various lighting effects. Any heat generated by the at least one light source can be dissipated into the plastic grille component.

Illuminating vehicle assemblies with illuminated badges

A glove is provided that includes a body configured to engage a hand and a plurality of finger sheaths configured to cover fingers of the hand. The glove also has an electrically conductive ink disposed at least at the tip of at least one of the finger sheaths to interact with a proximity sensor, such as a capacitive sensor.

Method of interacting with proximity sensor with a glove

A badge is provided herein. The badge includes a substrate attached to a housing. The housing includes a viewable portion. A light source is operably coupled with an optic. A reflective member is further disposed within the badge. A first portion of an excitation light emitted from the light source is directed through the optic toward a first portion of the viewable portion. A second portion of the excitation light is reflected by the reflective member towards a second portion of the viewable portion.

Vehicle badge

A vehicle decal assembly is provided herein. The decal assembly includes a substrate having a diffraction grating along a surface thereof. A luminescent structure is disposed along a surface of the substrate. A reflective layer is disposed on an opposing side of the luminescent structure from the substrate. An adhesive layer is configured to maintain the substrate on a vehicle panel.

Vehicle decal assembly

Glove having conductive ink and method of interacting with proximity sensor

According to one aspect of the present invention, a light assembly of a vehicle is provided herein. The light assembly includes an array of light sources and a plurality of light-directing elements, each configured to direct light received from the light sources in an associated direction. A sensor arrangement is configured to sense a user-supplied action and a controller determines which light sources to activate in response to the sensed user-supplied action.

Light assembly operable as a dome lamp

A light system for a vehicle is provided herein. The light system includes a trim panel having an upper portion disposed proximately to an opening. A light guide is coupled to the panel. The light guide has an upper portion disposed between the trim panel and the opening and is configured to direct an excitation light therethrough. A light transmissive member is operably coupled with the light guide having a photoluminescent structure configured to convert an excitation light into a converted light. The converted light is directed towards a trim panel feature.

Illuminated trim panel

A vehicle includes a powertrain having a transmission capable of operating in a plurality of modes to propel the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a steering wheel first switch to receive user input indicative of a desired transmission operating mode. The vehicle further includes a controller programmed to in response to a user input at the steering wheel first switch while a brake is applied, cause the transmission to shift into a drive mode from a non-drive mode.

Transmission drive mode user selection systems and methods

A proximity switch is provided having a sensing pad and a proximity sensor disposed near a perimeter of the sensing pad to generate an activation field proximate to the sensing pad. The proximity sensor includes a plurality of interdigitated electrode fingers having differing lengths and spacings. The switch may be integrally formed as a lamp and proximity switch assembly.

Proximity switch assembly having varying size electrode fingers

A lighting system of a vehicle is provided herein. A floor console bin is provided having a housing and a movable lid. A reflective target is coupled to the floor console bin. An overhead console is provided having an IR transmitter for emitting an IR signal toward a target location, an IR receiver for receiving and detecting the IR signal reflected by the target, and a projector for illuminating the housing based on detection of the IR signal.

Floor console IR bin light

A proximity switch assembly and method for detecting activation of a proximity switch assembly is provided. The assembly includes a plurality of proximity switches each having a proximity sensor providing a sense activation field and control circuitry processing the activation field of each proximity switch to sense activation. A pliable material overlays the proximity sensors. The control circuitry monitors the activation field and determines an activation of a proximity switch based on a signal generated by the sensor in relation to a threshold when a user's finger depresses the pliable material. The pliable material may further include an elevated portion and an air gap between the elevated portion and the sensor.

Pliable proximity switch assembly and activation method

A vehicle backlit assembly is provided and includes a support member and at least one backlit interactive member at least partially extending through an opening in the support member. An excitation source is operable to emit a primary emission for backlighting the at least one backlit interactive member. A photoluminescent structure is coupled to the at least one backlit interactive member and is formulated to convert the primary emission into a secondary emission. An opaque layer is coupled to the photoluminescent structure and defines an opening through which the secondary emission is transmitted.

Vehicle backlit assembly with photoluminescent structure

A vehicle dome lighting system is provided and includes a headliner and a photoluminescent structure coupled to the headliner. At least one excitation source is operable to emit at least one inputted electromagnetic radiation for exciting an associated area of the photoluminescent structure to produce at least one outputted electromagnetic radiation.

Vehicle dome lighting system with photoluminescent structure

A vehicle reading lamp is provided and includes an outer lens and a light source for illuminating an outer lens. A controller is included for prompting the light source to generate a low intensity light to assist a vehicle occupant in visually locating the reading lamp in dark conditions, wherein when the occupant desires task lighting and subsequently activates the light source, the controller prompts the light source to switch from the low intensity light to a high intensity light.

Growing community of inventors

Canton, MI, United States of America

Jeffrey Singer