초록 ▼

A vehicle sill illumination assembly has a main body, an illumination panel and a controller. The main body includes a first portion, a second portion and a third portion that together define an inverted U-shaped structure as viewed in cross-section. The first portion has an upright surface. The sec

A vehicle sill illumination assembly has a main body, an illumination panel and a controller. The main body includes a first portion, a second portion and a third portion that together define an inverted U-shaped structure as viewed in cross-section. The first portion has an upright surface. The second portion extends horizontally inboard from an upper edge of the first section. The third portion extends downward from an inboard side of the second portion. The illumination panel is installed to an area of the first portion of the main body such that the illumination panel faces in an outboard direction with the main body installed to a vehicle sill structure. The controller is located within the main body and is configured to control illumination of the illumination panel.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vehicle sill illumination assembly, comprising a vehicle sill structure at least partially defining a vehicle closure opening of a vehicle and having a first sill surface, a second sill surface, and a third sill surface, the first sill surface being an upright surface and an outboard facing sur

1. A vehicle sill illumination assembly, comprising a vehicle sill structure at least partially defining a vehicle closure opening of a vehicle and having a first sill surface, a second sill surface, and a third sill surface, the first sill surface being an upright surface and an outboard facing surface, the second sill surface being horizontal and extending from an inboard upper end of the first sill surface and the third sill surface extending downward from an inboard end of the second sill surface, the third sill surface being an inboard facing surface;a seal installed to the vehicle structure along the intersection of the first sill surface and the second sill surface, the seal extending around the vehicle closure opening;a vehicle closure member movable between an open orientation exposing the vehicle sill structure and a closed orientation at least partially covering the vehicle sill structure;a sill trim assembly having a main body with a first portion, a second portion and a third portion that together define an inverted U-shaped structure as viewed in cross-section, the first portion having an upright surface, the second portion extending horizontally inboard from an upper edge of the first portion and the third portion extending downward from an inboard side of the second portion, the first portion at least partially covering the first sill surface, the second portion at least partially covering the second sill surface and the third portion at least partially covering the third sill surface, the second portion extending horizontally inboard from an upper end of the first portion and the third portion extending downward from an inboard edge of the second portion such that the sill trim assembly covers a section of the seal;an illumination panel being installed to the upright surface of the first portion of the sill trim assembly such that the illumination panel is upright and faces in an outboard direction relative to the vehicle sill structure with the main body installed to the vehicle sill structure, and with the vehicle closure member in the closed orientation an inboard, interior upright surface of the vehicle closure member at least partially covers and contacts the illumination panel, and in the closed orientation the interior surface of the vehicle closure member further contacts portions of the seal not covered by the sill trim assembly;an optical light pipe that extends along the third portion of the main body and is exposed along an inboard side of the third portion providing illumination along the third portion in an inboard direction to an interior of the vehicle; anda controller within the sill trim assembly and configured to control illumination of the illumination panel and control illumination of the optical light pipe. 2. The vehicle sill illumination assembly according to claim 1, wherein the main body includes a fourth portion that extends in an outboard direction from a lower end of the first portion, the fourth portion defining a kick plate. 3. The vehicle sill illumination assembly according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes an independent internal power cell. 4. The vehicle sill illumination assembly according to claim 3, wherein the independent internal power cell comprises a replaceable battery. 5. The vehicle sill illumination assembly according to claim 4, wherein the sill trim assembly includes a battery chamber configured to retain the replaceable battery and a cover that is removable in order to remove and replace the replaceable battery. 6. The vehicle sill illumination assembly according to claim 5, wherein the sill trim assembly is configured to be removable from vehicle sill structure and with the sill trim assembly removed from the vehicle sill structure, the cover is exposed, and with the sill trim assembly installed to the vehicle sill structure, the cover is concealed. 7. The vehicle sill illumination assembly according to claim 1, wherein the illumination panel includes a connector configured for attachment to a power source of the vehicle. 8. The vehicle sill illumination assembly according to claim 1, wherein the main body further includes a fourth portion that extends outboard from a lower end of the first portion. 9. The vehicle sill illumination assembly according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes a photoelectric sensor that is at least partially covered with the vehicle closure member in the closed orientation and exposed with the vehicle closure member in the open orientation, andthe controller is configured to illuminate the illumination panel in response to the photoelectric sensor detecting that the vehicle closure member is in the open orientation and cease illumination of the illumination panel in response to the photoelectric sensor detecting that the vehicle closure member is in the closed orientation. 10. The vehicle sill illumination assembly according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes a wireless communication device. 11. The vehicle sill illumination assembly according to claim 1, wherein the illumination panel includes a liquid crystal display. 12. The vehicle sill illumination assembly according to claim 11, wherein the controller includes an output adjusting circuit that controls an output of the liquid crystal display. 13. The vehicle sill illumination assembly according to claim 1, wherein the with the vehicle closure member in the open orientation the illumination panel is exposed and illuminates areas outboard of the vehicle sill structure.