A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base portion configured to mount at an exterior door handle region of a vehicular door of a vehicle, a handle portion, and a sensing module that includes a light emitter and a light sensor. With the base portion of the handle assembly mounted at the exterior door handle region of the vehicular door, the light emitter is episodically energized to emit light. When the light emitter is not energized to emit light, the light sensor senses ambient light at the handle portion, and when the light emitter is energized to emit light, the light sensor senses emitted light emitted by the light emitter. The sensing module determines presence of a person's hand at the handle portion based at least in part on a difference between the sensed ambient light and the sensed emitted light being below a threshold light level.

An illumination module (1) for illuminating a region of a vehicle component (8), which includes a main body (9). The illumination module (1) includes a light source support (2) having at least one light source (3, 3′) and a housing half shell (4), which is connectable to a wall region of the main body (9) of the vehicle component (8) such that a housing defined by the housing half shell (4) of the illumination module, on the one hand, and by the wall region of the main body (9) of the vehicle component (8), on the other hand, is formed. The light source support (2) has the at least one light source received in the housing, at least in regions, and the housing includes at least one light outlet region (5, 5′), via which light emitted by the at least one light source can be decoupled from the housing.

An illumination module (1) for illuminating a region of a vehicle component (8), which includes a main body (9). The illumination module (1) includes a light source support (2) having at least one light source (3, 3′) and a housing half shell (4), which is connectable to a wall region of the main body (9) of the vehicle component (8) such that a housing defined by the housing half shell (4) of the illumination module, on the one hand, and by the wall region of the main body (9) of the vehicle component (8), on the other hand, is formed. The light source support (2) has the at least one light source received in the housing, at least in regions, and the housing includes at least one light outlet region (5, 5′), via which light emitted by the at least one light source can be decoupled from the housing.

A mounting assembly includes a lighting device, a vehicular interior component, and a light guide member mounting member with which the light guide member is mounted on the vehicular interior component. The lighting device includes a light source and a long light guide member. The vehicular interior component includes a through hole and a receiving member that includes a stopper hole near the through hole. The light guide member mounting member includes a support portion and a fitting portion that extends from the support portion and is fitted to the stopper hole. The support portion includes a curved wall that has a space defined by the curved wall and receives and supports a portion of the light guide member in the space to be opposite the through hole such that the light exits the light guide member is supplied to a vehicular interior surface side of the vehicular interior component.

A mounting assembly includes a lighting device, a vehicular interior component, and a light guide member mounting member with which the light guide member is mounted on the vehicular interior component. The lighting device includes a light source and a long light guide member. The vehicular interior component includes a through hole and a receiving member that includes a stopper hole near the through hole. The light guide member mounting member includes a support portion and a fitting portion that extends from the support portion and is fitted to the stopper hole. The support portion includes a curved wall that has a space defined by the curved wall and receives and supports a portion of the light guide member in the space to be opposite the through hole such that the light exits the light guide member is supplied to a vehicular interior surface side of the vehicular interior component.

A lighting device for use in vehicles includes a light generating part having a substrate and a light source disposed on the substrate; a base including a light emitting part having a light emitting surface for emitting light from the light source, and a reverse surface on a backside of the light emitting surface, and a connector housing part disposed on the reverse surface and housing a connector electrically connected to the light source; and a case assembled with the base and housing the light generating part and the connector housing part. The base including the light emitting part and the connector housing part is an integral molding and constituted by a light transmitting member containing a light diffusing material.

A lighting device for use in vehicles includes a light generating part having a substrate and a light source disposed on the substrate; a base including a light emitting part having a light emitting surface for emitting light from the light source, and a reverse surface on a backside of the light emitting surface, and a connector housing part disposed on the reverse surface and housing a connector electrically connected to the light source; and a case assembled with the base and housing the light generating part and the connector housing part. The base including the light emitting part and the connector housing part is an integral molding and constituted by a light transmitting member containing a light diffusing material.

An in-vehicle illumination system which is to be disposed in a door of a vehicle has: a door warning lamp which is disposed in the vicinity of a door handle that is operated when the door is to be opened, and which indicates an open/close state of the door; a door handle illumination lamp which illuminates the door handle; a decorative lamp which emits decorative light; and a first control connector having a first control apparatus which controls ON/OFF states of the door warning lamp, the door handle illumination lamp, and the decorative lamp. The first control apparatus of the first control connector causes, when the door is in an open state, the door warning lamp, the door handle illumination lamp, and the decorative lamp to be lighted ON with a predetermined warning color.

An in-vehicle illumination system which is to be disposed in a door of a vehicle has: a door warning lamp which is disposed in the vicinity of a door handle that is operated when the door is to be opened, and which indicates an open/close state of the door; a door handle illumination lamp which illuminates the door handle; a decorative lamp which emits decorative light; and a first control connector having a first control apparatus which controls ON/OFF states of the door warning lamp, the door handle illumination lamp, and the decorative lamp. The first control apparatus of the first control connector causes, when the door is in an open state, the door warning lamp, the door handle illumination lamp, and the decorative lamp to be lighted ON with a predetermined warning color.

A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base portion configured to mount at an exterior door handle region of a vehicular door of a vehicle, a handle portion, and a sensing module that includes at least one light emitter and at least one light sensor. With the base portion of the vehicular exterior door handle assembly mounted at the exterior door handle region of the vehicular door, the light emitter, when energized, emits light. With the base portion mounted at the exterior door handle region of the vehicular door, and with the light emitter energized, the light sensor senses light emitted by the light emitter. Responsive to light sensed by the light sensor with the light emitter energized being below a threshold level, the sensing module determines a presence of a person's hand at the handle portion.