Illuminating badge for a vehicle

• US 10,235,911 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2016
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2016
• 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., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Musleh, Michael A., Buttolo, Pietro
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jong-Suk (James)
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunay, Christopher E
• Application Number:
  US14/993,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20170200403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0035 relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2615 mounted on the vehicle body, e.g. with magnets
• 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 9/30 Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40
• 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 13/06 using individual cut-out symbols or cut-out silhouettes, e.g. perforated signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/20 with luminescent surfaces or parts luminescent compositions C09K11/00; light sources using luminescence F21K2/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2007/1882 Emblems, e.g. fixed by pins or screws
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles

Abstract

A badge mounted on a vehicle is provided herein. The badge includes a substrate and a housing attached thereto defining a cavity therebetween. A light source is configured to emit an excitation light. A first photoluminescent structure and a second photoluminescent structure are disposed within the badge and each is configured to convert the excitation light emitted from the light source into a converted light of a different wavelength. A light scattering layer is disposed between the first and second photoluminescent structures.

Claims

1. A badge for a vehicle, comprising:

a substrate and a housing attached thereto defining a cavity therebetween;

first and second light sources disposed within the cavity and configured to emit an excitation light;

a first photoluminescent structure disposed between the light source and a viewable portion and separated from the light source by a gap, the gap having a varied thickness;

a second photoluminescent structure disposed between the first photoluminescent structure and the viewable portion and extending to a position rearwardly of the light source, wherein the first and second photoluminescent structures are configured to convert the excitation light into a converted light of a different wavelength; and

a light scattering layer having a varied thickness and disposed between the first and second photoluminescent structures, a maximum thickness of the light scattering layer disposed between the first and second light sources.

2. The badge for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light source is operably coupled with a circuit board, the circuit board disposed within the cavity and having a solder mask on an internal surface of the circuit board.

3. The badge for a vehicle of claim 2, 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.

4. The badge for a vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a translucent metallic layer disposed between the second photoluminescent structure and the housing.

5. The badge for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light source is configured to emit the excitation light at a plurality of independent wavelength ranges, wherein the first photoluminescent structure is excited by a first wavelength range and the second photoluminescent structure is excited by a second wavelength range such that the first and second photoluminescent structures may be independently excited based on the independent wavelength range emitted from the light source.