A running board illumination system is provided for a motor vehicle. That system includes a first illumination element having a first color, a second illumination element having a second, different color and a controller. The controller is configured to receive information respecting at least one motor vehicle status and also adapted to illuminate a running board with the first illumination element or the second illumination element based upon that information.

A door handle includes a case including a placement space therein, and a light guide disposed in the placement space and configured to guide light emitted from a light source, the light guide including a light exiting surface from which the light is irradiated toward the outside of the case. An irradiation passage hole through which the light irradiated from the light exiting surface passes is formed in the case. When a tangent line which passes through an outer surface of a door panel on a travelling direction side of the light passing through the irradiation passage hole and a wall surface for forming the irradiation passage hole is defined as a connecting line and an assembly of the connecting lines at the entire circumference of the irradiation passage hole is defined as a connecting line assembly, the light exiting surface is located on the outside of the connecting line assembly.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for configuring automotive lamp illumination control are provided. One example method includes, at a computing device, generating a graphical user interface for configuring at an automotive lamp illumination pattern. The graphical user interface includes user input elements and is displayed by way of a display device. An input command is received by way of at least one of the plurality of user input elements. The input command corresponds to the at least one of the user input elements. A message is transmitted to an automotive lamp control device by way of a communication path including a first communication port of the computing device and a second communication port of the automotive lamp control device, based on the received input command. The message is received at the automotive lamp control device, and an action is performed in response to receiving the message.

An illumination system for a vehicle is provided that includes a vehicle having a rear spoiler, a light assembly located on an underside of the spoiler, a sensor for sensing a location of a person proximate to the spoiler, and a controller for controlling the light assembly to illuminate an area proximate the rear of the vehicle when a person is detected proximate to the spoiler.

The subject matter of the invention is a light assembly which comprises means for emitting and means for focusing one or more light beams for the lighting or the signaling of a vehicle. It also comprises a mask which extends below the focusing means. This mask has at least a first surface that can be seen by any person passing close to the vehicle and at least a second surface opposite the first surface.

The mask is made from a dark diffusing material and a reflective material coating is deposited on part of the second surface while leaving a portion of this second surface free of reflective coating. Additional light-emitting means are placed opposite the second surface, such that the light rays emitted by the additional light-emitting means can pass through the mask via the portion free of reflective coating.

A multifunction lamp unit for a vehicle includes a housing, at least one light conductor with at least one illuminant provided by an LED on a printed circuit board, at least one light foil, and a clear lens. A method for manufacturing lamps for vehicles includes producing a housing, a light conductor, and a clear lens as one unit out of plastic in a 3-component injection procedure.

A method for generating an output for controlling a vehicular function of a vehicle includes providing (i) a vehicular sensing device having at least one illumination source operable to backlight a plurality of icons, each icon representative of a respective vehicle function, and (ii) a plurality of sensors, each sensor having a respective field of sensing associated with a respective icon of the plurality of icons. With the vehicular sensing device disposed at a vehicle, and with the at least one illumination source activated to backlight the plurality of icons, the backlit icons are viewable at an exterior portion of the vehicle, and the sensors sense movement of a person's hand or foot in a field of sensing of one of the sensors, and a controller generates an output to control the vehicular function that is represented by the respective backlit icon associated with that sensor.

A motor vehicle includes a surroundings lighting device with a plurality of projection modules for generating a light distribution on the ground in the surroundings of the motor vehicle. The plurality of projection modules includes a first projection module and a second projection module which are designed and arranged such that when operated the first projection module generates a first light distribution on the ground in the surroundings of the motor vehicle and the second projection module generates a second light distribution which overlaps with the first light distribution on the ground in the surroundings of the motor vehicle. The second light distribution covers a smaller surface area on the ground than the first light distribution and has a higher average illuminance on the ground than the first light distribution.

A system for remotely opening a land vehicle door is provided. The system includes a mobile communication device supported on the vehicle and operative to produce a first signal in the form of a first electromagnetic field defined by a field envelope. A hand-held communication device is operative to detect the first electromagnetic field and produce a second signal in the form of a second electromagnetic field when the hand-held device is located within the field envelope. Control logic is coupled to the mobile device and is operative to determine if the hand-held device is an authorized hand-held device. The control logic is operative to determine if a pedestrian carrying an authorized hand-held device is located within the field envelope and to generate a door-opening command signal when the authorized device is located within the field envelope for a predetermined period of time.

A system for enhancing the visibility of a ground surface adjacent to a land vehicle is provided. The system includes a mobile communication device, a hand-held communication device and control logic coupled to the mobile device and operative to determine if the hand-held device is an authorized device. An imaging assembly is supported on the vehicle to obtain an image of the ground surface. An image processor processes the image to detect an obstacle located on the ground surface. The control logic is operative to generate a display command signal. A display device is responsive to the signal to display in real time the detected obstacle or a welcome mat onto or adjacent the vehicle for enhanced viewing by an approaching pedestrian when the pedestrian carrying the authorized device is located within a predetermined range of the mobile device.