Nissan North America, Inc.

Voxx International Corporation

Nissan Motor Company Limited

Nelson Phan

Steven Young

Randall Johnson

Bhargav Sura

Jason Gossiaux

Quan Cat

Norbert Weinert

Mangesh Vinayak Soman

John Adams

Jonathan Grasso

Doug Kline

William Weber

Sonia Rief

Constance Newbound

An accent lighting system for a vehicle is disclosed that includes a light module and a transmitter. The light module includes a first inductive member and a diffuser that extends along a periphery of the light module so as to collect and distribute light generated by the light module. The transmitter includes a second inductive member that is configured for electromagnetic communication with the first inductive member so as to create current in the first inductive member and thereby power the light module.

Accent lighting systems for vehicles

A vehicle lamp assembly includes a lamp housing, a trim panel and a bezel. The lamp housing includes a lens, a light source and first attachment structures. The trim panel defines a first lens receiving opening. The bezel has a second lens receiving opening and second attachment structures. The lamp housing attaches to the bezel with the lamp housing overlaying a portion of the trim panel on an opposite side from the bezel. The lens of the lamp housing extends through the first lens receiving opening and the second lens receiving opening with the first attachment structures and the second attachment structures attached to one another.

Vehicle lamp assembly

An accent lighting system for a vehicle that includes a light module, which may be flexible or rigid in construction, and a transmitter. The light module includes a first inductive member, and the transmitter includes a second inductive member that is configured for electromagnetic communication with the first inductive member so as to create current in the first inductive member and thereby power the light module. The light module may be reconfigurable between unfolded and folded configurations and may emit light via a light-permeable diffuser that extends along an outer perimeter of the housing or via a display panel (e.g., an OLED screen).

Accent lighting systems for cupholders in vehicles

A lighting system may be for a vehicle cup holder installed in a vehicle. The lighting system may include a first inductive member to be positioned adjacent a back side of the vehicle cup holder, and a first controller configured to inductively couple power and command signals through the first inductive member. The lighting system may also include a lighting device to be positioned adjacent a front side of the vehicle cup holder. The lighting device, in turn, may include a second inductive member configured for inductive coupling with the first inductive member, at least one light, and a second controller configured to operate the at least one light based upon power and command signals inductively coupled to the second inductive member from the first inductive member.

Lighting system for vehicle cupholder with inductive power coupling and related methods

A vehicle interior lighting assembly includes a roof structure, a headliner and a light source. The roof structure has a lower surface portion located inboard of the outer periphery. The headliner is supported to the outer periphery of vehicle roof structure. The headliner has a central opening defined by an inner edge portion of the headliner. The opening exposes a portion of the roof structure. The inner edge portion of the headliner is spaced apart from the lower surface portion of the vehicle roof structure such that a gap is defined between the vehicle roof structure and inner edge portion of the headliner. The light source is installed to the lower surface portion of the vehicle roof structure such that when the light source is illuminated, light is emitted through the gap between the vehicle roof structure and inner edge portion of the headliner.

Vehicle interior lighting assembly

A vehicle body structure includes a first surface, a closure panel, an interactive display panel and a controller. The first surface has a first edge extending along an exterior portion of a vehicle and a second edge opposite the first edge extending along an interior portion of the vehicle. The first surface at least partially defines a door opening. The closure panel is movably coupled for movement between an open position exposing the first surface and a closed position covering the first surface such that a closure panel surface overlays the first surface. The interactive display panel is disposed along the first surface and is covered by the closure panel with the closure panel in the closed position and is exposed with the closure panel in the open position. The controller is in communication with the interactive display to display user inputted data on the interactive display panel.

Vehicle body structure

An illumination assembly for a vehicle includes an energy harvesting module disposed on an exhaust pipe of the vehicle. The energy harvesting module includes an energy harvesting device configured to capture heat and to convert the harvested heat to electrical energy. An illumination member is electrically connected to the energy harvesting module and is configured to be illuminated by the electrical energy supplied from the energy harvesting device.

Energy harvesting module and illumination member for a vehicle

A vehicle panel assembly comprises a trim assembly, a light and a sensor. The trim assembly defines a recessed storage area. The light is disposed on the trim assembly and configured to emit visible light toward the recessed storage area. The sensor is disposed on the trim assembly proximate to the recessed storage area and configured to activate the light to emit the visible light upon the sensor sensing a presence of an object entering an area proximate to the sensor that includes the recessed storage area.

Vehicle panel assembly including a gesture activated vehicle lighting system

An auxiliary power pack for a vehicle includes an energy harvesting system for converting energy from an ambient environment into electrical power, a storage device in communication with the energy harvesting device for storing energy in response to the electrical power, and an output interface in communication with the storage device for supplying the stored energy to an electronic device. The power pack further includes a portable housing for the energy harvesting system, the storage device and the output interface. The housing is configured for removable mounting to a vehicle.

Vehicle with an auxiliary power pack

A vehicle interior illumination assembly includes a lighting fixture and a controller. The lighting fixture has a proximity detection layer and an illumination layer, with one of the proximity detection layer and the illumination layer overlaying the other of the proximity detection layer and the illumination layer. The controller is operably connected to the proximity detection layer and the illumination layer. The controller is configured to toggle the illumination layer on and off in response to detecting a first movement gesture at the proximity detection layer. The controller is configured to adjust a first prescribed lighting parameter of the light produced by the illumination layer in response to detecting a second movement gesture at the proximity detection layer.

Vehicle illumination assembly

A lighted vehicle cargo area arrangement includes a cargo area wall structure and a lighting system. The cargo area wall structure includes a first wall surface facing a vehicle cargo area. The lighting system includes a rail, a mounting bracket and a lamp. The rail is fixedly coupled to the cargo area wall structure and defines a lamp receiving space located laterally between an outboard surface of the rail and the first wall surface. The mounting bracket includes a rail attachment section rigidly attached to the rail and a lamp attachment section. The lamp is attached to the lamp attachment section. The lamp is aimed to shine light beneath the mounting bracket and the rail toward the vehicle cargo area.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Nelson Phan