Illuminated vehicle grille with animated emblem and surrounding LEDs
A grille assembly that hides an LED backlight panel behind the grille and an emblem opening; on power-up the center emblem LEDs light in a sequence that traces the badge outline while peripheral LEDs around the emblem illuminate outward in a lateral direction. The system is intended for vehicle manufacturers or tier suppliers to add scripted lighting effects to a front grille tied to ignition and timing logic.
(57) What the patent covered
The independent claim covered a system with a backlight panel of LEDs behind a vehicle grille that has a central emblem opening and multiple diamond-shaped openings around it, plus an emblem controller that sequences center LEDs to trace the emblem outline and a peripheral controller that drives LEDs around the center to illuminate outward laterally; a dependent independent claim added matrix-arranged LEDs and timing logic where emblem sequencing precedes peripheral illumination and starts based on vehicle ignition.
The distinctive part: Sequenced LED control that first traces the emblem outline and then drives circumferential peripheral LEDs outward, with timing tied to an ignition signal.
Novelty 3/5. Exterior decorative grille lighting and backlit emblems existed, but the patent focused on a particular sequencing/zone control (trace-outline then outward peripheral) and diamond-shaped grille openings which was a specific approach rather than a wholly new product class.
Making it
injection-molded grille body, stamped or molded emblem, PCB assembly with surface-mount LEDs, adhesive or screw mounting of backlight panel, electrical harnessing and vehicle-level controller integration
Materials: ABS or PC automotive-grade plastic grille, aluminum or steel emblem insert (possible chrome plating), SMD LEDs on PCB or flexible printed circuit, polycarbonate or acrylic light guide/backlight panel
Manufacturability 4/5. Typical automotive assembly: several molded metal/plastic parts and a populated LED PCB, with modest electronic control and harnessing but no exotic manufacturing.
Is anyone buying?
We haven't run a demand check on this one yet. Shoppers would likely search for backlit car grille LED, illuminated vehicle emblem grille, animated grille lighting; the links on the right open those searches.
Who buys it: OEMs or tier-one suppliers integrating decorative grille lighting
Before you make it
We didn't find any related continuation or divisional patents still in force, although that doesn't rule out design patents, trademarks or unrelated patents covering the same product.
Regulatory limits on front-facing colored lighting, vehicle electrical integration and EMI requirements, and a crowded market for illuminated emblems and grille modules.
Owners occasionally revive lapsed patents (about 1.5% are), and this page is a research lead rather than legal advice, so get a freedom-to-operate opinion before you manufacture anything.