Light system

• US 10,173,582 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2017
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2017
• 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., Huebner, Annette Lynn, Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Surman, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tumebo, Tsion
• Application Number:
  US15/416,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20180208105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 362503
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/00 Windows; Windscreens; Accessories therefor B60J10/00 takes precedence; air curtains instead of windows B60J9/04 ; sealing strips for windshields B60J10/70; sealing sash guides for sliding window panes B60J10/74; glass partitions inside vehicles to protect occupants against personal attack B60R21/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/08 arranged at vehicle sides
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0011 with light guides for distributing the light between several lighting or signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/268 on windscreens or windows B60Q1/302 takes precedence; lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for windows B60Q3/208
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/503 using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/507 specific to autonomous vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/10 Electro- or photo- luminescent surfaces, e.g. signalling by way of electroluminescent strips or panels
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/19 Attachment of light sources or lamp holders
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/236 characterised by the shape of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/237 rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/239 plate-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/245 emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/255 Filters
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/005 Illumination controller or illuminated signs including an illumination control system
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/18 Edge-illuminated signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/227 Electroluminescent displays for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/048 : Advertisement panels on sides, front or back of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 : via wireless transmission

Abstract

A window for a vehicle is provided herein. The window includes a light guide disposed between an outer panel and an inner panel. A light source is optically coupled with the light guide and is configured to direct excitation light towards a luminescent structure. The luminescent structure luminesces in response to receiving the excitation light. A controller is configured to illuminate the light source when an electronic device having an application thereon is in operation.

Claims

1. A window for a vehicle, comprising:

a light guide disposed between an outer panel and an inner panel;

a light source optically coupled with the light guide and configured to direct excitation light towards a luminescent structure, the light source disposed within a seal surrounding the periphery of the outer and inner panels; and

a controller configured to illuminate the light source when an electronic device having an application thereon is in operation; and

first and second light-blocking layers disposed on opposing sides of the light guide, the first light-blocking layer disposed between the light guide and the inner panel and the second light-blocking layer disposed between the light guide and the outer panel wherein the light source emits excitation light in the UV spectrum and the first and second light-blocking layers block light in the UV spectrum from transmission therethrough.

2. The window for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the window is a front quarter window.

3. The window for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the luminescent structure comprises at least one luminescent material configured to convert the excitation light in a non-visible spectrum received from the light source into a visible, converted light.

4. The window for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the luminescent structure defines a first set of indicia and a second set of indicia.

5. The window for a vehicle of claim 4, wherein the light source is configured to emit varied wavelengths to luminesce the first set of indicia and the second set of indicia independently.

6. The window for a vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

an indicia disposed on an interior side of the light guide, the symbol configured to indicate a turn signal status when the turn signal corresponding to a common side of the vehicle of the indicia is initiated.

7. A light system for a vehicle, comprising:

a light source optically coupled with a light guide, the light guide directing light towards a luminescent structure first and second indicia defined by a luminescent structure;

an electronic device in wireless communication with the light source; and

first and second light-blocking layers disposed on opposing sides of the light guide, the first light-blocking layer disposed between the light guide and an inner panel and the second light-blocking layer disposed between the light guide and an outer panel.

8. The light system for a vehicle of claim 7, wherein the luminescent structure is substantially non-visible in an unexcited state.

9. The light system for a vehicle of claim 8, wherein the indicia luminesce while the vehicle is being used for commercial purposes.

10. The light system for a vehicle of claim 7, further comprising:

a seat sensor, wherein the light source is deactivated when the seat sensor detects that a seat of the vehicle is occupied indicating an incoming passenger has entered the vehicle.

11. The light system for a vehicle of claim 10, further comprising:

a navigation system, wherein the light source is illuminated as the navigation system detects that the vehicle is approaching its destination through a location sensing routine stored in memory of a controller electrically coupled with the light source.

12. The light system for a vehicle of claim 7, wherein the light guide has a tapered core, wherein a thicker first portion is disposed proximately to the light source and a thinner second portion is disposed further from the light source than the first portion.

13. A light system for a vehicle, comprising:

a light source optically coupled to a light guide;

an indicia defined by a luminescent structure that luminesces in response to receiving excitation light from the light source;

a controller configured to activate the light source based on an initiation of an application on an electronic device; and

first and second light-blocking layers disposed on opposing sides of the light guide, the first light-blocking layer disposed between the light guide and an inner panel and the second light-blocking layer disposed between the light guide and an outer panel.

14. The light system for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein the controller includes one or more wireless communication transceivers for altering characteristics of the light source.

15. The light system for a vehicle of claim 14, wherein the controller associated with the wireless communication transceiver is configured to store information about the electronic device.

16. The light system for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein the indicia is arranged to indicate one of a left turn and a right turn when in a luminescent state.

17. The light system for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein the indicia luminesce in a first state when the electronic device performs a first function and in a second state when the electronic device performs a second function.

18. The light system for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein the luminescent structure is substantially non-visible in an unexcited state.

19. The light system for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein the light guide includes optics that are configured to direct an excitation light emitted from the light source towards the indicia.