B60Q1/24

Vehicle operation with interchangeable drive modules

Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.

Vehicle operation with interchangeable drive modules

Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.

VEHICLE PUDDLE LIGHTS FOR ONBOARD DIAGNOSTICS PROJECTION

A diagnostic system of a vehicle is provided herein. The system includes a control unit onboard the vehicle for controlling at least one of a vehicle system and a vehicle subsystem. A device prompts the control unit to diagnose an operating condition of the vehicle and report diagnostic data to the device. A light source onboard the vehicle is operable to project a diagnostic image onto a viewing surface located external to the vehicle.

AUTOMOTIVE DIRECTIONAL DARK AREA PATHWAY ILLUMINATION
20230191985 · 2023-06-22 · ·

A system for illuminating an area around a motor vehicle, having: a pair of radar systems and a pair of lighting systems mounted on the motor vehicle; a vehicle level sensor configured to detect changes in pitch or roll of the motor vehicle; and an illumination control system in the motor vehicle. The illumination control system includes a key fob communication system and determines the location of a person by detecting the person approaching the motor vehicle by detecting the presence of the key fob while also detecting the location of the person with a radar system mounted on the vehicle. Next, when the location of the person has been determined, the illumination system lights up the area the person is standing while following movement of the person with the radar system to continuously re-directing the illumination towards the location on the ground where the person is standing as the person moves.

AUTOMOTIVE DIRECTIONAL DARK AREA PATHWAY ILLUMINATION
20230191985 · 2023-06-22 · ·

A system for illuminating an area around a motor vehicle, having: a pair of radar systems and a pair of lighting systems mounted on the motor vehicle; a vehicle level sensor configured to detect changes in pitch or roll of the motor vehicle; and an illumination control system in the motor vehicle. The illumination control system includes a key fob communication system and determines the location of a person by detecting the person approaching the motor vehicle by detecting the presence of the key fob while also detecting the location of the person with a radar system mounted on the vehicle. Next, when the location of the person has been determined, the illumination system lights up the area the person is standing while following movement of the person with the radar system to continuously re-directing the illumination towards the location on the ground where the person is standing as the person moves.

LIGHTING SYSTEM
20230194066 · 2023-06-22 · ·

A lighting system includes a lighting device arranged to attach to a vehicle. The lighting device includes at least two ultraviolet lights and at least one sensor. The sensor determines whether any of at least two areas or zones adjacent to the lighting device are poorly visibly illuminated and/or occupied by personnel, and illuminates these areas or zones with ultraviolet light. The lighting system is configured to operate in conjunction with existing emergency visible lighting and/or flashing visible light systems by using the sensors to sense visible illumination of each individual area or zone provided by the existing emergency visible lighting and flashing visible light systems. The lighting system may be configured to synchronize the illumination of each individual area or zone in ultraviolet light with intermittent absence of visible light illumination in each area or zone from the existing emergency visible lighting and flashing visible light systems.

Ground projection device for a motor vehicle
11680694 · 2023-06-20 · ·

Floor projection device for a motor vehicle for producing at least one floor projection, wherein the floor projection device has an illuminant and a projection means, wherein the illuminant is configured to generate and at least partially emit light onto the projection means, wherein the projection means is configured to project the light which is emitted by the illuminant onto the projection means, in a state of the floor projection device integrated into the motor vehicle, onto a carriageway as a floor projection to the side of the motor vehicle, wherein the floor projection comprises at least two light segments separated from one another, wherein the illuminant has for this purpose at least two individually controllable light sources, wherein each light segment is assigned at least one light source, wherein the projection means has a focal point or a focal line, wherein at least one of the at least two light sources is arranged offset relative to the focal point or focal line of the projection means, wherein a first portion of the light is emitted along a first beam direction, which is directed directly onto the projection means, wherein a second portion of the light is emitted in a second beam direction, which is not directed directly onto the projection means, wherein the floor projection device has absorption means and/or deflection means, which are configured to at least partially absorb and/or deflect the second portion of the light such that the second portion of the light does not reach the projection means.

Ground projection device for a motor vehicle
11680694 · 2023-06-20 · ·

Floor projection device for a motor vehicle for producing at least one floor projection, wherein the floor projection device has an illuminant and a projection means, wherein the illuminant is configured to generate and at least partially emit light onto the projection means, wherein the projection means is configured to project the light which is emitted by the illuminant onto the projection means, in a state of the floor projection device integrated into the motor vehicle, onto a carriageway as a floor projection to the side of the motor vehicle, wherein the floor projection comprises at least two light segments separated from one another, wherein the illuminant has for this purpose at least two individually controllable light sources, wherein each light segment is assigned at least one light source, wherein the projection means has a focal point or a focal line, wherein at least one of the at least two light sources is arranged offset relative to the focal point or focal line of the projection means, wherein a first portion of the light is emitted along a first beam direction, which is directed directly onto the projection means, wherein a second portion of the light is emitted in a second beam direction, which is not directed directly onto the projection means, wherein the floor projection device has absorption means and/or deflection means, which are configured to at least partially absorb and/or deflect the second portion of the light such that the second portion of the light does not reach the projection means.

VEHICLE ILLUMINATION DEVICE
20170349088 · 2017-12-07 ·

In a vehicle door mirror device, a projection device projects a graphic from a graphic film. The projection device is inserted into a cap in a state in which a holding tube of the cap has been inserted into a through hole in a visor, and the holding tube is held between a peripheral face of the through hole and a protrusion portion of the projection device. The projection device is thus installed at the visor in a manner retained by the cap alone. This thereby enables easy installation of the projection device to the visor.

Vehicle equipped with means for illuminating/watching a side area thereof
09834132 · 2017-12-05 · ·

In order to provide a vehicle in which a side road area of the vehicle to be watched by a side area watching camera is illuminated by a side area illumination lamp for illuminating a foot area of a man climbing into the vehicle when the vehicle is parked or driven carefully on an alley or a mountain road in the darkness, the vehicle is equipped with the side area illumination lamp for illuminating a side road area, a side area watching camera for watching the side road area, a navigation display and an electronic control unit, whereby the side area illumination lamp is put on when a man approaches the vehicle as well as when the vehicle is being driven at a vehicle speed less than a certain low threshold speed with the side area watching camera being made on.