Illuminated badge

• US 10,011,219 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2016
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Surman, James J., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Helwig, Stephen Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Anh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Nathaniel
• Application Number:
  US14/997,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20170203686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/549 for expressing greetings, gratitude or emotions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/56 for illuminating registrations or the like , e.g. for licence plates
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/20 Multi-color single source or LED matrix, e.g. yellow blinker and red brake lamp generated by single lamp
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/005 Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/16 Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/08 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements and reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/00 Reflectors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/505
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/32 characterised by the arrangement of the photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/38 Combination of two or more photoluminescent elements of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/45 by adjustment of photoluminescent elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/044 Signs, boards or panels mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/08 using both translucent and non-translucent layers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/20 with luminescent surfaces or parts luminescent compositions C09K11/00; light sources using luminescence F21K2/00

Abstract

A vehicle is provided herein. The vehicle includes a body panel and a badge attached to the panel. The badge includes a substrate and a housing attached thereto that define a cavity therebetween. A reflective member is disposed within the cavity. A light source is disposed within the cavity and is configured to emit excitation light in a first direction to illuminate a viewable portion of the badge and in a second direction towards the reflective member. The reflective member redirects the light through a peripheral portion of the badge.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a body panel;

a badge attached to the panel and including a substrate and a housing attached thereto and defining a cavity therebetween;

a reflective member disposed within the cavity; and

a light source within the cavity configured to emit an excitation light in a first direction to illuminate a viewable portion of the badge and in a second direction towards the reflective member, wherein the reflective member redirects the excitation light through a peripheral portion of the badge.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of printed LEDs.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a first photoluminescent structure disposed within the cavity configured to convert the excitation light emitted from the light source into a converted light of a different wavelength, wherein the converted light exits the badge through the viewable portion.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, further comprising:

a second photoluminescent structure disposed within the cavity configured to convert the excitation light emitted from the light source into a second converted light of a different wavelength, wherein the second converted light exits the badge through the peripheral portion.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the first photoluminescent structure and the second photoluminescent structure each include at least one photoluminescent material therein configured to down convert an excitation light received from at least a portion of the light sources into a visible converted light.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the excitation light emitted through the peripheral portion is directed towards the panel.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the panel has a non-planar surface geometry for directing light emitted from the badge towards a desired location.

8. A badge, comprising:

a housing attached to a substrate forming a cavity between the housing and substrate;

a light source disposed within the cavity configured to emit an excitation light in a first direction to illuminate a viewable portion and in a second direction towards a reflective member disposed within the cavity, wherein the reflective member redirects the excitation light through a peripheral portion of the badge; and

a first photoluminescent structure disposed between the light source and housing.

9. The badge of claim 8, wherein the light transmissive portion correlates with the peripheral portion.

10. The badge of claim 8, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of printed LEDs.

11. The badge of claim 8, wherein the first photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material configured to down convert the excitation light received from at least a portion of the light source into a visible, converted light that is outputted from the housing or substrate.

12. The badge of claim 11, wherein the excitation light comprises at least one of blue light, violet light, and UV light.

13. The badge of claim 8, wherein the first photoluminescent structure is disposed on an inner surface of the peripheral portion.

14. The badge of claim 13, further comprising:

a second photoluminescent structure disposed between the light source and the viewable portion, wherein the light source is configured to illuminate the first photoluminescent structure and the second photoluminescent structure independently.

15. A vehicle badge, comprising:

a rear portion, a peripheral portion, and a viewable front portion;

a light-producing assembly disposed within the peripheral portion and configured to emit an excitation light in two opposing directions;

a first photoluminescent structure disposed over a portion of the light-producing assembly; and

a second photoluminescent structure configured to convert the excitation light emitted from the light-producing assembly to a converted light that exists through the peripheral portion.

16. The vehicle badge of claim 15, wherein the light-producing assembly includes a plurality of printed LEDs configured to emit excitation light at a first wavelength.

17. The vehicle badge of claim 16, wherein the first photoluminescent structure includes at least one photoluminescent material configured to down convert an excitation light received from at least a portion of the light-producing assembly into a visible, converted light that is emitted through the peripheral portion.

18. The vehicle badge of claim 16, wherein the first photoluminescent structure is configured to convert an excitation light received from at least a portion of the light-producing assembly into a visible, converted light of a different wavelength that is emitted through the viewable portion.

19. The vehicle badge of claim 15, wherein the excitation light comprises one of blue light, violet light, and UV light.