Patent attributes
A vehicular lighted exterior door handle system includes a lighted exterior door handle assembly having a light module, which includes a circuit board and at least three linearly arranged illumination sources at the circuit board. When the illumination sources are actuated, light emitted by each of the illumination sources is emitted outboard away from the door of the equipped vehicle. With the lighted exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door of the equipped vehicle, and when the illumination sources are actuated with the door of the equipped vehicle unlocked, the light module emits light in a first pattern. With the lighted exterior door handle assembly mounted at the door of the equipped vehicle, and when the illumination sources are actuated with the door of the equipped vehicle locked, the light module emits light in a second pattern that is different from the first pattern.