A method for determining presence of a person's hand at an exterior door handle assembly for a vehicular door includes providing an exterior door handle assembly having a base portion, a handle portion and a pocket lighting and sensing module, with the pocket lighting and sensing module including at least one light emitting diode and at least one light sensor. With the base portion mounted at the exterior door handle region of the vehicular door, the light emitting diode is energized to emit light to illuminate a pocket surface at the base portion, and the light sensor light senses light emitted by the light emitting diode that is reflected off the pocket surface at the base portion. Responsive to light sensed by the light sensor being below a threshold level, the pocket lighting and sensing module determines a presence of a person's hand at the handle portion.

A vehicular illumination system includes an illumination module disposed at an exterior portion of a vehicle. The illumination module includes a reconfigurable display element and a light source operable to emit light. When the light source is operated, light emitted by the light source passes through the reconfigurable display element and the illumination module projects an icon established by the reconfigurable display element. The reconfigurable display element is reconfigurable to form the icon responsive to one of (i) a user selection of an icon and (ii) programming of the reconfigurable display element for an icon. When the light source is operated, light emitted by the light source passes through the reconfigurable display element and the illumination module projects the icon of the reconfigurable display element onto a surface exterior of the equipped vehicle.

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.

A motor vehicle lock arrangement for a motor vehicle door which is adjustably coupled to a motor vehicle body work, wherein the motor vehicle lock arrangement has a motor vehicle lock wherein the motor vehicle lock arrangement has a push-open arrangement for applying a drive force to the motor vehicle door in its opening direction, so that the motor vehicle door can be adjusted, in a motor-operated push-open process, from a closed door position into a push-open door position which is located further in the opening direction of said motor vehicle door, and as a result an engagement gap can be produced between the motor vehicle door and the motor vehicle body work. It is proposed that the motor vehicle lock arrangement has a light arrangement and a light controller for actuating the light arrangement.

This disclosure details illuminating vehicle closure member systems for selectively producing various exterior lighting effects. Exemplary closure member systems may include a closure member and a discrete illuminating section secured relative to the closure member and including a lighting module that is configured to produce at least one of a beltline lighting effect, a motion path lighting effect, or an operation status lighting effect at or near the closure member. A control module may control the various lighting effects emitted by the illuminating closure member system.

A method for determining presence of a person's hand at an exterior door handle assembly for a vehicular door includes providing an exterior door handle assembly having a base portion, a handle portion and a pocket lighting and sensing module, with the pocket lighting and sensing module including at least one light emitting diode and at least one light sensor. With the base portion mounted at the exterior door handle region of the vehicular door, the light emitting diode is energized to emit light to illuminate a pocket surface at the base portion, and the light sensor light senses light emitted by the light emitting diode that is reflected off the pocket surface at the base portion. Responsive to light sensed by the light sensor being below a threshold level, the pocket lighting and sensing module determines a presence of a person's hand at the handle portion.

A system and method of controlling a surrounding lamp system of a vehicle are provided. The method includes sensing an approach of the user to the vehicle acquiring an image of the user with respect to a vehicle body, when the user approaches the vehicle body. A motion of the user, the motion having directionality with respect to the vehicle body is determined from the image and a surrounding lamp is then operated based on the motion having directionality with respect to the vehicle body.

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.

An assembly for a vehicle door, the assembly including a housing containing a back-up camera and at least one of an exterior light and a manually operable release operative to effect the opening of the vehicle door.

A handle device for an opening panel handle, in particular for a motor vehicle, includes a handle support mounted on the inside of the opening panel and a rim mounted on the outside of the opening panel, the rim being attached to the handle support from a recess of the opening panel. The handle support includes the handle and the rim extends through a guide towards the inside of the opening panel, which includes an opening to allow a hand to access the handle.