Dome light assemblies and units that produce natural and courtesy light patterns

• US 10,099,606 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2016
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US15/171,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20170349094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/20 for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/745 using lighting panels or mats, e.g. electro-luminescent panels, LED mats
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/237 Details of housings or cases, i.e. the parts between the light-generating element and the bases; Arrangement of components within housings or cases F21K9/238 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/00 Lighting devices or systems producing a varying lighting effect
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/0625 the material diffusing light, e.g. translucent plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/22 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings, e.g. dichroic reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A dome light assembly that includes a reflective surface facing an interior; a light-diffusing element over the reflective surface having a plurality of corresponding opposed edges and LED sources; and a controller for directing the sources to transmit a plurality of light patterns from the element into the interior based at least in part on a plurality of inputs. Further, each source is configured to direct incident light into the corresponding edge. These light patterns include natural light and other light patterns. The inputs include manual inputs, weather inputs, exterior light sensor inputs, temporal inputs and global positioning system inputs.

Claims

1. A dome light assembly, comprising:

a light barrier comprising a metallized reflective surface facing an interior;

a light-diffusing element over the reflective surface having a plurality of corresponding opposed edges and LED sources; and

a controller for directing the sources to transmit a natural light pattern from the element into the interior based at least in part on an environmental input,

wherein each source is configured to direct incident light into the corresponding edge.

2. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light-diffusing element comprises an acrylic polymer matrix and light-diffusing particles.

3. The light assembly according to claim 2, wherein the interior is an interior of a vehicle, and further wherein the assembly is configured for mounting to a roof in the interior of the vehicle.

4. The light assembly according to claim 3, wherein the environmental input is ambient light from the sun on the exterior of the vehicle.

5. The light assembly according to claim 3, wherein the environmental input is ambient light from the sun on portions of the exterior of the vehicle, and further wherein the controller directs the sources to transmit natural light patterns from the element into a plurality of locations within the interior based at least in part on the input.

6. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the environmental input is selected from the group consisting of a moisture input, a weather input, an exterior light sensor input, a temporal input and a global positioning system input.

7. The light assembly according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured for directing the sources to transmit a vehicle-related light pattern from the element into the interior based at least in part on a vehicular input.

8. A dome light assembly, comprising:

a light barrier comprising a metalized reflective surface facing an interior;

a light-diffusing element over the reflective surface having a plurality of corresponding opposed edges and LED sources; and

a controller for directing the sources to transmit light patterns from the element at a plurality of locations within the interior,

wherein each source is configured to direct incident light into the corresponding edge.

9. The light assembly according to claim 8, wherein the light-diffusing element comprises an acrylic polymer matrix and light-diffusing particles.

10. The light assembly according to claim 9, wherein the interior is an interior of a vehicle, and further wherein the assembly is configured for mounting to a roof in the interior of the vehicle.

11. The light assembly according to claim 10, wherein the controller transmits light patterns from the element into a plurality of locations within the interior of the vehicle based at least in part on a manual input, and further wherein the plurality of locations comprises a plurality of passenger locations within the vehicle.

12. The light assembly according to claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured for directing the sources to transmit light patterns from the element into a plurality of locations outside of the vehicle upon a movement of one or more doors of the vehicle to an open position.

13. The light assembly according to claim 11, wherein the thickness of the light-diffusing element is tapered across the element between the opposed edges, and further wherein the thickness of the element at a central location between each of the opposed edges is greater than the thickness of the element at each of the opposed edges.

14. The light assembly according to claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured for directing the sources to transmit a vehicle-related light pattern from the element into the interior based at least in part on a vehicular input.

15. A dome light assembly, comprising:

a light barrier comprising a metallized reflective surface facing an interior;

a light-diffusing element over the reflective surface having a plurality of corresponding opposed edges and LED sources; and

a controller for directing the sources to transmit a plurality of light patterns from the element into the interior based at least in part on a plurality of inputs,

wherein each source is configured to direct incident light into the corresponding edge.

16. The light assembly according to claim 15, wherein the light-diffusing element comprises an acrylic polymer matrix and light-diffusing particles.

17. The light assembly according to claim 16, wherein the interior is an interior of a vehicle, and further wherein the assembly is configured for mounting to a roof in the interior of the vehicle.

18. The light assembly according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of inputs comprises ambient light from the sun on the exterior of the vehicle, and further wherein the plurality of light patterns comprises a natural light pattern.

19. The light assembly according to claim 18, wherein the controller transmits light patterns from the element into a plurality of locations within the interior of the vehicle based at least in part on a manual input, and further wherein the plurality of locations comprises a plurality of passenger locations within the vehicle.

20. The light assembly according to claim 19, wherein the thickness of the light-diffusing element is tapered across the element between the opposed edges, and further wherein the thickness of the element at a central location between each of the opposed edges is smaller than the thickness of the element at each of the opposed edges.