The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 22, 2014
Filed:
Mar. 17, 2010
Marc Lucas, Novi, MI (US);
Marc Lucas, Novi, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
An interior lighting system that responds to changes in vehicle operating parameters, such as fuel economy, electric power consumption and battery recharging, by changing color of interior lighting. The system includes an engine vacuum sensor associated with the internal combustion engine and, when used on a hybrid vehicle, a motor power draw sensor associated with the vehicle's electric motor and a battery recharging sensor associated with the vehicle's storage battery. An array of color-changing ambient interior lights is provided and is operatively associated with the vehicle system controller. The sensors measure specific changes in driving parameters and send signals to the vehicle system controller for further processing. The vehicle system controller then interprets the received information to identify any changes in operating parameters (fuel consumption, electric power consumption, storage battery recharging), and signals one or more of the ambient lights to change colors and thereby signal the driver (or other occupant) as to a change in operating parameters.