An authentication pattern generation unit, if a signal from a portable device is received, prompts a user who uses the portable device to perform a specific action. A checking unit determines whether or not the user has performed the specific action. If the checking unit determines that the user has performed the specific action, the checking unit authenticates that the portable device is an authorized device.

A vehicular vision system includes at least a sideward-viewing side camera at a side of a vehicle, a rearward-viewing rear backup camera, and a ground illumination light module disposed at the side of the vehicle and including at least one light emitting diode and a freeform optic. The vehicular ground illumination light module, when the light emitting diode is electrically powered so as to emit light through the freeform optic, illuminates a ground region at that side of the vehicle. The illuminated ground region includes an illuminated side ground region at least partially along the side of the vehicle and an illuminated rearward ground region rearward of a rear portion of the vehicle. The illuminated ground region is at least in part viewed by the sideward-viewing side camera and the rearward-viewing rear backup camera. A portion of the illuminated side ground region is illuminated with a luminance of at least 10 lux.

An illumination system and method of ground and other illuminating that comprises a plurality of sensors that scan/detect the exterior area around the vehicle and at least one controller, the system selectively turning on/off a series of lighting elements placed strategically around the vehicle to allow light to be directed to at least one ground or other surface at the persons at all times or any predetermined time. A controller is provided to activate ground lighting in coordination with sensor signals identifying where an individual or object are located in predetermined proximity to the vehicle.

A logo lamp device includes a housing having a top, a bottom, a left side, a right side, a front, and a back, a cap covering the top of the housing or preferably an encapsulant, one or more clips formed integrally with or attached to the housing, a connector receiving portion including an opening formed at the back of the housing, a printed circuit board (PCB) fully enclosed within the housing, a light source connected to the PCB and enclosed within the housing, and an optical assembly including at least one optical element for receiving light projected by the light source.

A marker lamp system includes a sensor configured to detect information around a vehicle, a projector configured to project an image onto a road surface around the vehicle, a controller configured to control the projector based on a detecting result of the sensor, and a marker lamp having a light emitting area surrounding the sensor and the projector.

A vehicle control device includes: an irradiation device that is disposed in a vehicle, and that irradiates a road surface with light so as to draw a determination area on the road surface; an action determination unit that determines an action of a user existing in the determination area; and a vehicle control unit that controls the vehicle, based on the action of the user which is determined by the action determination unit.

A tailgate assembly includes a tailgate body having a first receiver at a first lateral end and a second receiver at a second later end, a first light module held in the first receiver and a second light module held in the second receiver. The tailgate assembly may also include a third light module. The light modules illuminate a cargo area on the ground adjacent the tailgate and may be removed to a remote location if desired. A related illumination method is also provided.

When a vehicle (10) is made stationary, a control device of the vehicle (10) determines whether there is another vehicle approaching the vehicle (10) or not before opening a door (16) to let a user get out of the vehicle. When another vehicle is approaching, the control device (12) allows at least some of a plurality of light-emitting panels to display a warning (14d, 14e). In the warning display, the control device (12) determines a light-emitting pattern of the light-emitting panels using the approaching direction of the moving object.

A system implemented in a vehicle, the system comprises a sensing module, a zone determination module, and an intent determination module. The sensing module is configured to sense a signal from a mobile device proximate to the vehicle. The zone determination module is configured to determine locations of the mobile device in a plurality of zones around the vehicle based on the signal. A sequence of the locations indicates movement of the mobile device in the plurality of zones. The intent determination module is configured to select weights according to a set of rules to apply to successive locations in the sequence, determine an intent indicator of whether a person carrying the mobile device intends to enter the vehicle by applying the selected weights to the successive locations in the sequence, and generate an output to perform one or more operations in the vehicle based on the intent indicator.

A vehicle control apparatus includes: a distance acquiring unit that acquires a distance between the vehicle and a mobile terminal having an unlocking function of the vehicle; and a lighting control unit that controls lit states of room lights and under lights that are provided to the vehicle.