Vehicle lighting control system and method

Abstract

A lighting control system for a wheel of a vehicle, the lighting control system including a brush configured to statically mount to a body of the vehicle; a hub for the wheel; and a plurality of arcuate contacts statically mounted to the hub, each of the plurality of contacts comprising an arc angle measure of less than 360 degrees, the plurality of contacts configured to rotate relative to the brush, each contact operable between: a connected mode wherein the contact is electrically connected to the brush during rotation relative to the brush and a disconnected mode wherein the contact is electrically disconnected from the brush during rotation relative to the brush.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A lighting control system for a wheel of a vehicle, the lighting control system comprising:
 a brush configured to statically mount to a body of the vehicle;   a hub for the wheel;   a plurality of arcuate contacts statically mounted to the hub, each of the plurality of contacts comprising an arc angle measure of less than 360 degrees, the plurality of contacts configured to rotate relative to the brush, each contact operable between:
 a connected mode wherein the contact is electrically connected to the brush during rotation relative to the brush; and 
 a disconnected mode wherein the contact is electrically disconnected from the brush during rotation relative to the brush. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is mounted to an arcuate surface of the hub. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the brush comprises:
 a body defining a lumen configured to statically mount to a wheel axle extending therethrough; and   a radial protrusion configured to electrically connect with the contacts.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of contacts are arranged in a series of coaxial rings, each ring cooperatively formed by multiple contacts, each ring angularly offset from an adjacent ring. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the arc angle measure of each contact is 120 degrees or less, wherein each ring is angularly offset from the adjacent ring by 30 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the radial protrusion extends from an arcuate surface of the brush body, wherein the rings are arranged along an inner arcuate surface of the hub. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of light emitting elements, each light emitting element electrically connected to one of the plurality of contacts, each of the light emitting elements operable between:
 a lit mode while the contact is in the connected mode; and   a dim mode while the contact is in the disconnected mode.   
     
     
         8 . A lighting system for a wheel, the lighting system comprising:
 a plurality of light emitting elements;   an electrically conductive brush;   a plurality of contacts rotatably arranged relative to the brush, each contact electrically connected to one of the plurality of light emitting elements, each of the plurality of contacts operable between:
 a connected mode along a segment of a contact rotation path relative to the brush, the segment having an arc angle of less than 360 degrees, wherein the contact is electrically connected with the brush; and 
 a disconnected mode outside of the segment, wherein the contact is disconnected from the brush. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of contacts are configured rotate about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the brush. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of contacts are rotationally disposed about the brush and configured to rotate with the wheel. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of contacts are angularly offset about an axis of rotation such that the brush simultaneously connects to a set number of contacts at any point during wheel rotation. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of light emitting elements are configured to emit light radially outward of the wheel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising a ring configured to mount to a rim of the wheel, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements are substantially evenly dispersed about the ring. 
     
     
         14 . A wheel for a vehicle, the wheel comprising:
 an axle comprising an electrically conductive brush;   a hub comprising a plurality of electrical contacts tracing an arcuate segment of the hub, the arcuate segment having an arc angle less than 360 degrees, each contact operable between:
 a connected mode wherein the contact is electrically connected to the brush during hub rotation; and 
 a disconnected mode wherein the contact is electrically disconnected from the brush during hub rotation; 
   a rim comprising a plurality of light emitting elements, each light emitting element electrically connected to one of the plurality of electrical contacts, each light emitting element operable between:
 a lit mode wherein the light emitting element projects light radially outward of the rim when the respective contact is in the connected mode; and 
 a dim mode when the respective contact is in the disconnected mode. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of electrical contacts is arranged along an inner arcuate surface of the hub, wherein the brush extends along a length of the axle from an arcuate surface of the axle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of spokes extending from the hub to the rim, each spoke comprising an electrical connection between an electrical contact and the respective light emitting element. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the electrical connection comprises the spoke, wherein spoke is conductive. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 an electrically insulated spoke nipple mechanically coupling the spoke to the rim; and   an electrically conductive takeoff electrically connecting the spoke to a terminal of the light emitting element.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the takeoff comprises a washer coupled along the spoke between the spoke nipple and hub. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising a power source electrically connected to the brush.