Photoluminescent emission system

• US 10,047,911 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2016
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2016
• 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., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Karmo, Talat
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Anh
• Assistant Examiner(s): FAROKHROOZ, FATIMA N
• Application Number:
  US15/252,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20180058635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2688 on exhaust pipes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/04 External Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices thereon fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/082 of tailpipe, e.g. with means for mixing air with exhaust for exhaust cooling, dilution or evacuation F01N13/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2240/04 an electric, e.g. electrostatic, device other than a heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2260/00 Exhaust treating devices having provisions not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 5/00 Exhaust or silencing apparatus combined or associated with devices profiting by exhaust energy using kinetic or wave energy of exhaust gases in exhaust systems for charging F02B
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 5/02 the devices using heat
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 5/025 the device being thermoelectric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 2/005 excited by infrared radiation using up-conversion
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2104/00 Exterior vehicle lighting devices for decorative purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/13 characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction

Abstract

A vehicle emissions system is provided that includes a tail pipe configured to emit a first emission, a heat shield positioned proximate the tail pipe having a shield substrate. A semiconductor layer is positioned on the shield substrate and configured to convert the first emission into a second emission. An overmold is positioned over the semiconductor layer.

Claims

1. A vehicle emissions system, comprising:

a tail pipe configured to emit a first emission;

a heat shield positioned proximate the tail pipe and having a shield substrate wherein ambient air extends between the heat shield and the tail pipe; and

a semiconductor layer positioned between and in contact with a tie layer and an overmold, the tie layer in contact with the shield substrate, wherein the semiconductor layer is configured to convert the first emission into a second emission and a space is defined between the semiconductor layer and the tail pipe.

2. The vehicle emissions system of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor layer comprises a plurality of quantum dots.

3. The vehicle emissions system of claim 1, wherein the overmold is at least partially transparent.

4. The vehicle emissions system of claim 1, wherein the second emission is emitted toward the tail pipe.

5. The vehicle emissions system of claim 1, wherein the first emission has a wavelength greater than about 800 nm and the second emission has a wavelength of less than about 800 nm.

6. The vehicle emissions system of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor layer is positioned between the heat shield and the tail pipe.

7. The vehicle emissions system of claim 1, wherein the overmold defines optics configured to shape the second emission.

8. The vehicle emissions system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of quantum dots are suspended in polymethylmethacrylate.

9. A vehicle, comprising:

an emissions system comprising at least one of a tail pipe, a muffler and a catalytic converter, the emissions system configured to emit a first emission having a wavelength greater than about 800 nm;

a heat shield spaced apart by ambient air from the emissions system; and

a semiconductor layer comprising quantum dots coupled with the heat shield configured to absorb the first emission and emit a second emission.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the first emission has a longer wavelength than the second emission.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein an overmold in contact with the semiconductor layer defines an indicium configured to be illuminated by the second emission.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the second emission is configured to illuminate a space under the vehicle.

13. A vehicle, comprising:

a tail pipe configured to emit a first emission;

a heat shield spaced apart from the tail pipe with ambient air in-between the heat shield and the tail pipe, wherein a gap is defined between the tail pipe and the heat shield; and

a semiconductor layer in contact with the heat shield and configured to absorb the first emission and emit a second emission.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the first emission has a longer wavelength than the second emission.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the second emission has a wavelength of less than about 800 nm.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the semiconductor layer comprises a plurality of quantum dots.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the tail pipe is illuminated by the second emission.