Ford's New Roof With Integrated Lighting Has Plenty Of Potential

9月6日2023 1:45 PM ET byGerhard Horn Patents and Trademarks /2 Comments

Ford's roof with an uninterrupted light strip is lit.

Ford has filed a patent for a new light assembly that slots vertically underneath the roof.CarBuzzdiscovered the patent, filed with theUnited States Patent and Trademark Office, describing an uninterrupted light strip that runs along the top of the front windshield and down the sides of the vehicle.

According to Ford, this particular patent is for an electric vehicle like theMustang Mach-E, but it is not limited to electrified cars. This is a perfect option for the Ford Bronco, especially since the application also mentions a roof that includes multiple panels.

The patent mentions various ways this lighting feature can be fixed to a car, suggesting it could be a fixed or removable feature. Ford says the light assembly is U-shaped and can illuminate the vehicle's front and sides.

We initially thought it would be a great feature to have on an off-roader oroverland vehicle. Having all-around illumination would make it easier to set up camp, and the applications mention having control over which side of the car you want to be illuminated. But Ford also came up with several other benefits for this unique light source.

One simple but brilliant example is adding color to the mix, in which case the light strip can blink green once an EV's battery is fully charged. The owner can also choose from a selection of other colors in a plurality of patterns, including pulsing, chasing, intensifying, and fading. This should make tailgate parties particularly fun, as you can already plug a decent amount of sound equipment into the bed of an F-150 Lightning.

Ford also mentions that the roof can illuminate the car's surroundings when it detects the owners approaching. This could be done via the key or another recognizable device like a phone-based key. Once the vehicle is locked, the light strip can also be programmed to fade gradually. This is a nifty safety feature, especially when traveling at night and parking in a dodgy place. While driving, the lights can also act as additional daytime running lights. Ford also mentions that additional colors can be added via over-the-air updates.

The owners can set up their own locking procedure with specific patterns, too. Ford mentions the roof lights blinking three times and then slowly fading in whatever color the owner chooses. This will clearly indicate that the car is indeed locked and that there has been no outside interference. This is one of themost common methods of stealing a car, so we find it quite helpful.

The most helpful use for this feature relates to autonomous driving. Ford says that these exterior lights can be illuminated in a specific way once the driver hands over control to an autonomous driving feature. Ford's hands-free driver-assist system, BlueCruise, is one of the most advanced, but manyAmericans do not trust these systems.

We're 100% behind a system that allows us to see whether a car is being actively driven or whether an advanced algorithm is in charge. You can give such a car a wide berth if you remain skeptical about how it may behave.

Do we see this making it into production? The NHTSA is notoriously finicky regarding exterior lights, so we might only see a feature like this on next-generation electric vehicles. Still, the accessories industry makes a lot of money, and this isnot the first accessory patentFord has filed this year.

We hope this system becomes available for the Bronco, if only to make camping easier.