An exterior assembly component for a vehicle and a manufacturing method thereof, where the component is in the form of an exterior mirror, door handle, door sill, skirt or similar, the component including a light module having at least one lamp emitting visible light toward the outside, and a plug to supply the lamp with electrical energy, where the light module represents a separate component of the assembly component which can be mounted on the assembly component and wherein the plug is designed as a single part with the a case of the light module.

A door handle includes a casing inside which an accommodation space is provided, and a lamp unit disposed in the accommodation space. The lamp unit includes a light emission element, a circuit board on which the light emission element is mounted, a housing that supports the circuit board, and a light guiding lens that guides light emitted from the light emission element in a predetermined direction. The light guiding lens includes an incident surface that receives light emitted from the light emission element, and an emission surface that emits the light entering in the light guiding lens through the incident surface and is positioned below the incident surface. In the door handle, the emission surface is positioned above a lower surface of the casing.

Provided is a vehicle lamp unit that enables a user to perceive a detection range of a sensor. A vehicle lamp unit 1 includes: a sensor 4 mounted at a lower part of a vehicle 90; and an irradiation device 30 configured to irradiate a vehicle outer plate 95 present at a position corresponding to a detection range of the sensor 4.

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.

A passenger protection system for a vehicle includes a vehicle sensor control system having at least one processor and computerized memory storing vehicle control software therein, wherein the vehicle control software receives input data from a plurality of vehicle sensors. A digital control sequence is triggered in the software by a presence of at least one occupant other than a driver in the vehicle, with the digital control sequence activating and de-activating an alert system on a door of the vehicle. The alert system includes at least one of an audible alert and/or a visible alert and/or haptic alert on the door of the vehicle.

An illumination module (1) for highlighting a region of a vehicle component, such as a charging or tank recess (20) or a handle assembly, includes a light source support (2) having at least one light source (3) and a housing (4), in which the light source support with the at least one light source is received. The housing includes a light outlet region (5), via which light can be decoupled from the housing (4). The illumination module (1) further includes a light diffuser (6) optically coupled to the light outlet region of the housing , which diffuser includes a first light outlet region (7), via which light can be decoupled for direct illumination or highlighting of the region of the vehicle component and which includes a second light outlet region (8), which is spatially separated from the first light outlet region (7) via which signal light can be decoupled.

A tailgate illumination system includes an illumination device having (i) a tailgate bracket configured for mounting at a tailgate of a vehicle and (ii) a pivot bracket pivotally mounted at the tailgate bracket. The pivot bracket supports a light source that, when powered, emits light. With the tailgate bracket mounted at the vehicle tailgate, the pivot bracket pivots relative to the tailgate bracket responsive to gravitational force acting on the pivot bracket as the tailgate moves from a closed position to an opened position. With the tailgate bracket mounted at the vehicle tailgate, and with the tailgate in the closed position, light emitted by the light source, when powered, illuminates a ground region rearward of the vehicle. With the tailgate bracket mounted at the vehicle tailgate, and when the tailgate is in the opened position, light emitted by the light source, when powered, illuminates the ground region rearward of the vehicle.

A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror reflective element and an illumination module that includes an illumination source and a freeformed lens optic. When the illumination source is operated to emit light, emitted light passes through the freeformed lens optic. The freeformed lens optic is configured such that, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly mounted at a side of a vehicle, light emitted by the illumination source that passes through the freeformed lens optic provides ground lighting that illuminates a ground region located at the side of the equipped vehicle. The ground lighting includes (a) ground illumination of the illuminated ground region and (b) within the ground illumination of the illuminated ground region, a logo formed by the freeformed lens optic. The logo formed by the freeformed lens optic has a light intensity greater than any light intensity of the ground illumination of the illuminated ground region.

A vehicular illumination system includes a ground illumination module disposed at a side door of a vehicle. The ground illumination module includes a reconfigurable display element and at least one light source operable to emit light. When the at least one light source is electrically powered, light emitted by the at least one light source illuminates a ground region adjacent the vehicle. When the at least one light source is electrically powered, light emitted by the at least one light source passes through the reconfigurable display element and the ground illumination module projects an icon established by the reconfigurable display element onto the ground region. The reconfigurable display element is reconfigurable to form the icon responsive to programming of the reconfigurable display element for an icon.

A lighted exterior mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle includes a lighted exterior rearview mirror assembly having a light module, which includes a planar circuit board and a light guiding element. The light module includes a plurality of illumination sources disposed on a mounting side of the circuit board and operable to emit light. When the illumination sources are actuated, light emitted by each of the illumination sources is emitted in a direction normal to the mounting side of the planar circuit board. The light guiding element is configured so that light emitted by the illumination sources is redirected by the light guiding element so that light emanates from the light guiding element in a direction parallel to the mounting side of the planar circuit board and parallel to the road surface.