Photoluminescent vehicle appliques

• US 10,137,826 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2017
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Salter, Stuart C., Johnson, Aaron Bradley, Karmo, Talat, Musleh, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Raleigh, Donald
• Application Number:
  US15/813,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20180079354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated
• 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 3/267 Door handles; Hand grips
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/275 Smoking-related fittings, e.g. cigarette lighters or ashtrays
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/54 Lighting devices embedded in interior trim, e.g. in roof liners
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/60 characterised by optical aspects
• 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: F21K 2/005 excited by infrared radiation using up-conversion
• 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: F21S 43/245 emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/33 characterised by their material, surface treatment or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/37 Attachment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/08 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements and reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2104/00 Exterior vehicle lighting devices for decorative purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/22 characterised by the chemical or physical composition or the arrangement of auxiliary dielectric or reflective layers

Abstract

A vehicle applique is provided that includes a decorative layer and an over-mold positioned over the decorative layer. The over-mold is substantially transparent. A light conversion layer is positioned on an opposite side of the decorative layer from the over-mold and configured to convert ambient illumination. A reflective layer is configured to convert ambient illumination. A reflective layer is configured to reflect light into the light conversion layer.

Claims

1. A vehicle applique, comprising:

a decorative layer;

an over-mold positioned over the decorative layer, the over-mold being substantially transparent;

a light conversion layer positioned on an opposite side of the decorative layer from the over-mold and configured to convert ambient illumination; and

a reflective layer configured to reflect light into the light conversion layer.

2. The vehicle applique of claim 1, wherein the over-mold comprises silicone.

3. The vehicle applique of claim 1, wherein the reflective layer comprises TiO₂.

4. The vehicle applique of claim 3, further comprising:

an adhesive layer positioned on an opposite side of the reflective layer than the light conversion layer.

5. The vehicle applique of claim 1, wherein the light conversion layer comprises a plurality of quantum dots.

6. The vehicle applique of claim 5, wherein the plurality of quantum dots are suspended in polymethylmethacrylate.

7. The vehicle applique of claim 1, wherein the decorative layer is configured to be at least partially transmissive.

8. A vehicle, comprising:

a grille;

an applique positioned on the grille comprising;

a decorative layer;

a light conversion layer positioned on the decorative layer;

a reflective layer configured to reflect light into the light conversion layer; and

a light source positioned proximate the applique configured to emit light onto the applique, wherein the light conversion layer is configured to be excited by the light from the light source.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the light conversion layer is configured to emit light through the decorative layer in response to excitation by the light from the light source.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the decorative layer is configured to be at least partially transmissive.

11. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the light conversion layer comprises a plurality of quantum dots.

12. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:

an over-mold comprising silicone.

13. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the decorative layer comprises a vacuumized metal.

14. A vehicle, comprising:

a surface of the vehicle;

an applique positioned on the surface comprising;

a decorative layer;

a light conversion layer positioned on the decorative layer; and

a light source positioned on an opposite side of the light conversion layer from the decorative layer, the light source configured to emit light having a wavelength less than about 800 nm into the light conversion layer; and

a light sensor configured to detect a light output from the light conversion layer and activate the light source when the light output drops below a predetermined threshold.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising:

an adhesive layer positioned between the light source and the surface.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the surface is an exterior surface and is located on a grille.

17. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the decorative layer is configured to be at least partially transmissive.

18. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the light conversion layer is configured to emit light having a wavelength greater than about 400 nm in response to excitation by the light from the light source.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the light conversion layer comprises a plurality of quantum dots.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, further comprising:

an over-mold positioned over the decorative layer.