GB2409440A

GB2409440A - Vehicle wheel lighting

Info

Publication number: GB2409440A
Application number: GB0329695A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ather Khaja Sharif
Original assignee: CIVIL ENGINEERING DYNAMICS Ltd
Current assignee: CIVIL ENGINEERING DYNAMICS Ltd
Priority date: 2003-12-22
Filing date: 2003-12-22
Publication date: 2005-06-29
Also published as: GB0329695D0

Abstract

An array of lights 10 is used to illuminate the existing structure of the wheel with the timing of the lighting utilising the strobe effect to make the wheel pattern appear to rotate slowly forward or reverse, or to be stationary, according to the programme selected on a controller. The controller also enables the representation of a new image while the vehicle wheel is rotating by using the lights 10 to make such wheel patterns appear to rotate slowly forward or reverse, or to be stationary using the strobe effect. These images (either dependant or independent of the pattern of the wheel structure) may be rotationally stationary, such as a manufacturer's logo, or they may be rotationally dynamic, such as a radial pulsing ring or a rolling wheel image according to the programme selected on the controller. It therefore provides a dynamic medium for expression, which may be utilised for advertising or brand recognition.

Description

Dvnamlc Lighting The pattern on vehicle wheels (e.g moulded, wheel cover

or alloy) Is only clearly dscemable when there is adequate daylight or artificial light and the vehicle is either stationary or moving slowly. The vehicle wheels lose much of their cosmetic appeal when rotating quickly, as the features become indistinguishable.

This invention seeks to achieve one or both of the following for vehicle wheels (road wheels) To make the existing pattern on a vehicle wheel more visible when the wheel Is rotating by usmg lights to Illuminate the existing structure of the wheel with the timmg of the lighting utilising the strobe effect to make the wheel pattern appear to rotate slowly forward or reverse, or to be stationary, according to the programme selected on the controller.

Jo enable the representation of a new image while the vehicle wheel is rotating by using lights to make such wheel patterns appear to rotate slowly forward or reverse, or to be stationary using the strobe effect. These images (either dependent or independent of the pattern of the wheel structure) may be rotationally stationary, such as a manufacturer's logo, or they may be rotationally dynamic, such as a radial pulsing rmg or a rolling wheel Image according to the programme selected on the controller. It therefore provides a dynamic medium for expression, which may be utilised for advertising or brand recognition.

The primary intention Is that these would be cosmetic enhancements to the vehicle Secondary benefits include general visibility and signalhng visibility Improvements Depending upon the functionality of the wheel lighting required, the wheel lighting system is either integrated into each wheel, such that it operates without modifications to the vehicle, or the wheel hghtng system is designed integrally with the vehicle Where a wheel lighting system Is integrated mto each wheel, accordingly a controller with its power source are attached to or embedded within a wheel. A single or plurality of wheel mounted sensors detects the rotation rate of the wheel, feeding information to the controller. A plurality of hghts of any appropriate type are attached to the wheel, or attached to a wheel cover, or attached to a plurahty of interfaces or wheel adapters, of any appropriate material or shape, which may include electrical circuitry, that in turn can attach to the wheel. A plurality of electrical connections are made (using circuit board, wire or fibre ophic) between the plurality of hghts on the wheel (or on wheel cover, wheel interface/adapter) and the controller. The controller attached to each wheel (or wheel cover) of a vehicle, are synchronized with the controllers attached to all the other wheels (or wheel covers) of the same vehicle. The controller settings can either be altered by switches, buttons, wire links or additionally be altered using an optional remote control driver interface unit.

Communication between the controllers and between controller and the driver interface unit can be by any suitable wireless means. A daylight sensor connected to the controller will be used to ensure the wheel lighting system operates during adequate levels of lighting to ensure visibility, and operate to certam programmer of lighting sequence when the sensors detect the wheel Is rotating Sensors will provide the controller with information on the rate of rotation of the wheel and could additionally provide Information on its acceleration and deceleration. Additional inertial sensors could be used to detect change of vehicle direction. Information from such sensors may be used to control the lighting effects The power source may be renewable or rechargeable The plurality of power sources may be integrated with the controller or separate Where a wheel 1'ghtng system is integrated into the design of the vehicle accordingly a central controller (or master controller with slaves) uses a single or plurality of sensors to detect the rotation rate of the plurality of wheels A plurality of lights of any appropriate type are attached to a plurality of wheels (or attached to wheel cover wheel nterface/adapter) A plurality of electrical connections between the lights attached to the wheel (or attached to wheel interface/adapter) and the controller is made via a plurality of electrical contacts between the wheel (and or wheel interface/adapter) and the hub (or spindle) which can be enabled when the wheel (and or wheel interface/adapter) is fitted to the hub (or spindle) of a vehicle and disabled when it is removed. Transmission of signals from the controller(s) and where required power transmission from the power source(s) to the lights attached to the rotating wheel via the hub or spindle will be where appropriate usmg an electrical rotary connector/joint contactless rotary electrical couplings or fibre optic rotary joint Power for the lights on the wheels will either be obtained from a power source attached to the wheel or from a central power source which will be either renewable or rechargeable.

In the above cases the controller initiates the switching on/off for the fights individually or in groups selectable by the controller to either illuminate the existing wheel structure or to generate a plurality of new or changing pattern of images depending upon the nature and deployment of the lights and according to the rotation rate of the wheels The programme settings of the controller can either be left at factory settings or optionally changed as and when required utilismg the optional user interface The controller will comprise hardware and software.

The rotation rate of the wheels will be sensed using any appropriate sensor (e g proximity sensor rotary encoder or light sensor) Where the fights are to illuminate an existing pattern of the wheel the quantity and position of the hghts depend upon the wheel pattern to be illuminated (e.g. number of spokes). Accordingly a plurality of small hghts (e g. LED OLED bulb type or lasers) are placed discretely around either the wheel hub (or hub cap) the outside of the rim or both. Their beams are directed radially outward or mward depending on their position along the spoke(s) Where the hghts are to generate new images (either dependent or independent of the pattern of the wheel structure) the type of light quantity position and means of attaching the lights to the wheel will depend upon the Images to be created. Accordingly a plurality of small light sources (e.g. LED OLED bulb type) are discretely attached to one or more spokes of each wheel of the vehicle (on the face leading edge or trahng edge) or attached to the rim or attached to a plurahty of steps or attached to a plurality of wheel interface(s) or wheel adapter unit (s) or wheel cover (s) of any appropriate material shape and size. Where wheel interface or adapter units or wheel covers are used for the attachment or and protection of lights such units may be detachable from the wheel to allow access to wheel nuts either allowing electrical connections to the rest of the system to be disabled and enabled during maintenance or the shape and size of the unit such as to allow ummpeded access to wheel nuts. The lights will be visible to an observer looking at the wheel when viewed withm certain angles to the axis of rotation (e g looking at the wheels on a vehicle from venous views side on) Features selectable on the controller will be either directly on the controller by switches, buttons, wire hnks, or by the driver using an interface unit Where the wheel lighting system is integrated mto each wheel, an optional remote control interface unit operated by the driver will be used to commumcate with the controller using any wired or wireless means to change the display settings as and when required. The remote control Interface unit may be portable or attached to the vehicle. The interface unit may comprise for example a key fob, keypad or any communication terminal which may comprise buttons, switches, levers, knobs, dials, LCD screens, touch screens, command line driven, menu driven, or icons, mouse and pointer driven Where the wheel lighting system Is integrated into the design of the vehicle it will furthermore comprise an integrated Interface unit that will have access to information about other systems on the vehicle (e g. status of running light, turn sgnalling, engine RPM, music, etc). This commumcation (wired or wireless) with other vehicle systems will provide additional functionality m the control ofthe wheel lighting system The vehicle wheel lighting system will be such as to enable one or any combination of the following controls: Wheel lighting control hnked to vehicle running lights and turn signalling lights Wheel lighting control linked to rotation rate of the wheels Colour selection or automatic change whilst stationary or in motion.

Intensity selection or automatic change whilst stationary or in motion.

Intelligent control linking wheel display to variables such as driver action (e.g. Turn signallng, accelerator, brake use), vehicle response (e. g. RPM, speed), music, or environmental factors (e g. Temperature).

Preset display features, selectable by the driver.

Display features will include one or any combination of the following: Flood hghhng of the entire wheel surface from hub to nm, whilst stationary or moving Wheel motion imagery, achieved by strategically timing the 'strobe' of each light, such that the existing wheel pattern or new image appears to be rotating slowly forward or reverse, or to be stationary.

Stationary or rotating 'bar' patterns (in multiple colours), achieved by strategic stroking of mdvdual hghts to give the Impression that the bar(s) of hght is slowly rotating about the hub.

Stationary or rotating Images (logos, range of patterns, numerals, text) These setups can be used on any or all wheels of the vehicle, which includes, but Is not limited to:- cars, trucks, buses, construction vehicles, emergency vehicles, motorbikes and pushbikes (bicycle) Figure 1 gives an example of how a wheel lighting system could be incorporated into a wheel cover, wheel interface or wheel adapter attached to a vehicle wheel The Figure is a side view of the outside face of a vehicle wheel (2) with the tyre (4) partly shown The wheel nuts (6) attach the wheel to the vehicle, and may also be used to attach the wheel cover (8). The wheel cover (8) holds and protects the wheel lights (10). It contains electrical connections (not shown) to and from the controller (20) and the power supply (22) The rotation of the vehicle wheel is indicated by the arrow (12) The rotation rate of the vehicle wheel is determined using the pair of sensors (14), which may compose a rotary encoder, proximity sensor or light sensor, and the wheel rotation is established relative to any appropriate non rotating part of the vehicle shown In part (16). Light sensor (18) establishes the times at which the wheel lights should be illuminated, and their intensity may be adjusted accordingly The settings on the controller can either be adjusted by operating switches, buttons, or making wire links (not shown) directly on the controller, or the settings can be altered using an optional remote control interface unit (24). The remote control interface unit can be provided with information on other vehicle systems (e.g. engine RPM, status of running lights, etc) An optional secondary cover (26) that also comprises lights (10) can be used to hide the wheel nuts, and so provide additional area of lighting. The wheel cover(s), wheel interface or adapters (8, 26) can be of any shape, size, and made of any appropriate matenal. The controller (20) and power supply (22) can be of any shape, size and be attached to or embedded within any part of the wheel cover (8).

Figure 2 gives an example of how a wheel hghting system could be incorporated into a wheel (e.g alloy wheel) The Figure is a side view of the outside face of a vehicle wheel (28) with the tyre (4) partly shown. The structure of the wheel (28) pattern formed by wheel spoke (30) and wheel voids (32) can be of any plurality, shape and size The wheel nuts (6) attach the wheel to the vehicle The wheel hghts (10) are attached to the wheel (28). The wheel (28) contains electrical connections (not shown) from the lights to and from the controller (20) and the power supply (22). The rotation of the vehicle wheel is indicated by the arrow (12) The rotation rate of the vehicle wheel is determined using the pair of sensors (14), which may comprise a rotary encoder, proximity sensor or light sensor, and the wheel rotation Is established relative to any appropriate non rotating part of the vehicle shown in part (16). Light sensor (18) establishes the times at which the wheel lights should be Illuminated, and their intensity may be adjusted accordingly. The settings on the controller can either be adjusted by operating switches, buttons, or makmg wire links (not shown) directly on the controller, or the settings can be altered using an optional remote control interface unit (24). The remote control interface umt can be provided with information on other vehicle systems (e g. engine RPM, status of running lights, etc). An optional secondary cover (26) that also comprises lights (10) can be used to hide the wheel nuts (6), and so provide additional area of 1ghtng. The optional secondary wheel cover (26) can be of any shape, size, and made of any appropriate material. The controller (20) and power supply (22) can be of any shape, size and be attached to or embedded withy any part of the wheel (28) figure 3 shows an Isometric view of figure 2.

figure 4 shows an isometric view of an example of how a wheel lighting system can be incorporated mto a vehicle and in this example relates to one wheel The vehicle wheel (34) and the vehicle tyre (36) partly shown with wheel nuts (58), are attached to the hub (44) A rotation of the wheel (34) and hub (44) are mdcated by the arrow (38). The wheel (34) has a plurality of lights (40) attached so as to be visible on the outside face, which Is shown in the figure. The wheel (34) comprises a plurality of electrical connections between the lights (40) for eventual connection to the controller (54) and power source (52) A sensor to detect rotation of the hub (44) and spindle (42) is shown schematically as a sensor pair (48) between the hub (44) and any appropriate non rotating part of the vehicle (50) shown in part. The sensing signal Is shown (60). To allow a wheel to be removed for maintenance, the wheel (34) has electrical contacts that can be enabled and disabled to the hub (44) or spindle (42) shown as (66) Appropriate electrical communication shown diagrammatically as (64) Is arranged between the rotating hub (44) and spindle (42) and any appropriate non-rotating part of the vehicle (50) to enable signal (62) continuity to the controller (54) and power source (52). A hg,,ht sensor is shown as (46) and can be attached at any appropriate position to the vehicle (not shown) or attached to a wheel. A remote control interface unit (56) Is shown, and can be attached at any appropriate position to the vehicle. The electrical connections between the various units are appropriate, either wired or wireless. The wheel position Is accurately recorded by a sensor pair (48) communicating by some signal (60), such as by a proximity sensor, rotary encoder or optical sensors, mounted between an axle linkage/spindle (42) or hub (44) and a stationary point on the vehicle body (50). This information (62) Is fed mto the control unit (54), which then determines the hg,ht "firing" sequence necessary for the userselected pattern utihsing the strobe effect. The output data-stream and power supply (62) are fed to the spindle (42) and hub (44) via a rotary power/data junction (64) The signal and power (62) are then fed from the hub (44) onto the wheel (34) via electrical connections (66) that can be enabled and disabled when the wheel is removed for maintenance. The plurality of electrical connections to the plurality of wheel lights (40) are not shown. The user can optionally select the desired settings on the controller via the remote control Interface umt (56), or directly by appropriate switches/buttons(not shown) on the controller itself.

The controller (54) and power source (52) will also communicate with the lights and sensors on other wheels of the vehicle (not shown).

Figure 5 shows a vehicle wheel (70). Lights (76) are attached to the hub cap (74). Lights (84) can be attached to the wheel rim (82). Lights (86) can be attached to the wheel hub (72) The lights (76), (84), (86) can be used to illuminate a typical wheel spoke (78). The figure shows light rays (80) from only one light Illuminated (76) on the hub cap (74).

Figure 6 shows an example of a stationary alloy wheel (90) and an attached strip (92) of fights (94) behind the edge of a spoke (96) Figure 7 shows an example of what the lights (94) can produce while the wheel Is rotating (98), under appropriate instructions from a controller/rotation sensor (not shown) In this instance the word "SPEEDY" (100) and an arrow (102) pointing In the direction of rotation.

figure 8 shows a version of the vehicle wheel (110) with the lights (112) attached or embedded to the face of the spokes (114). This example has five spokes, all with a set of lights, each spoke having a different colour, and the lights can be placed on the rim (116) or any other part of the vehicle wheel (110), for example the wheel hub (118) or hub cap (120).

Claims

CLAII\iS I A controller for a vehicle wheel having, in at least one side

surface, an array of controllable lights, the controller being arranged to activate the lights selectively so as to form a pattern on the wheel.
2 A vehicle wheel having, in at least one side surface, an array of controllable lights
3 A system including a controller according to claim I and at least one vehicle wheel according to claim 2
4 A controller for a vehicle wheel having, in at least one side surface, an array of lights, the controller being arranged to activate the lights selectively so as to cause the lights to display a pattern.
5. A controller according to claim 4 further including a user interface arranged to allow a user to select the pattern.
6 A controller according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the controller is arranged to activate the lights such that the pattern does not rotate with rotation of the wheel.
7 A controller according to claims 6 wherein, as the wheel rotates, the pattern appears stationary or appears to rotate at a different speed to the wheel.
8 A vehicle wheel having, in at least one side surface, an array of lights which can be controlled to provide an apparently stationary pattern whilst the wheel rotates.
9. A system including a controller according to any one of claims 4 to 7 and at least one wheel according to claim 8.
10. A controller for a vehicle wheel having, in at least one side surface, an array of controllable lights for illuminating the said side surface, the controller being arranged to activate the lights selectively so as to cause the side surface to appear to not rotate with the wheel
I 1. A controller according to claim 10 wherein, as the wheel rotates, the side surface appears stationary or appears to rotate at a different speed to the wheel
12 A controller according to claim 10 or I 1 further including a user interface arranged to allow a user to select how the side surface is illuminated.
13. A vehicle wheel having, in at least one side surface, an array of controllable lights for illuminating said side surface.

14 A system including a controller according to claim 10, 1 1 or 12 and at least one wheel according to claim 13.

A system according to claim 3, 9 or 14 further including a sensor for connection to the controller and for indicating at least one predetermined orientation of the wheel.

16 A method of providing a display on a rotating vehicle wheel, the method including: providing an array of controllable lights on the wheel, and controlling the array of lights in a stroboscopic manner so as to provide an image and/or illumination of the wheel which appears to be stationary or rotating at a speed different to the wheel.

17 A vehicle wheel constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbetore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

18 A controller substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

19 A system constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings A method of providing a display substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings