Illuminated vehicular assembly for day and night use

• US 10,556,536 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2019
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Shipman
• Original Assignee: Michael Shipman
• Inventors: Shipman, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Bowman, Mary Ellen
• Application Number:
  US16/298,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20190202346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• 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 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/64 using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/145 Surface emitters, e.g. organic light emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/15 Strips of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/235 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/06 for filtering out ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/208 for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/18 Edge-illuminated 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 2013/222 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/225 with electroluminescent lamps
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/227 Electroluminescent displays for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/042 the advertising matter being fixed on the roof of the vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle lighting system is provided primarily for use with emergency response vehicles. The vehicle lighting system includes at least one luminescent planar sheet affixed to a vehicle'"'"'s mounting surface. The luminescent planar sheet includes a non-luminescent printed circuit board in the shape of a letter or number which has a top surface of a color which contrasts with the mounting surface'"'"'s color. The luminescent planar sheet includes a plurality of light emitting LEDs which are surface mounted upon the printed circuit board so as to be arranged in the shape of the desired letter or number with the LEDs covering no more than 20% of the printed circuit board'"'"'s top surface. Preferably, the LEDs cover no more than 7% the printed circuit board'"'"'s top surface.

Claims

1. A luminescent indicia assembly comprising:

a mounting surface displaying a first color;

a luminescent planar sheet affixed to said mounting surface and constructed to provide a non-luminescent and a luminescent indicia, said luminescent planar sheet including a non-luminescent printed circuit board, said printed circuit board having one or more layers of non-electrically conducting substrates and a plurality of electrically conducting pathways;

said printed circuit board having a top surface displaying a second color which contrasts with said mounting surface'"'"'s first color, said luminescent planar sheet including a plurality of light sources surface mounted upon said printed circuit board which are electrically connected to said electrically conducting pathways, and said light sources are mounted substantially uniformly upon said printed circuit board and mounted so as to emit light in a direction perpendicular to said mounting surface; and

a power source for providing power to said one or more luminescent planar sheets.

2. The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said non-luminescent printed circuit board is in the shape of a letter or number, and said light sources are mounted substantially uniformly upon said printed circuit board so as to be arranged in the shape of said letter or number so that upon illumination of said light sources an illuminated letter or number is produced.

3. The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein the first color is selected from the group consisting of white, yellow and light green, and said second color is selected from the group consisting of black, brown, red, blue and dark green.

4. The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein the first color is selected from the group consisting of black, brown, red, blue and dark green, and said second color is selected from the group consisting of white, yellow and light green.

5. The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said luminescent planar sheet includes an upper layer of substantially transparent plastic which encapsulates and covers said printed circuit board and light sources to provide a substantially smooth upper surface.

6. The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said light sources include light emitting diodes (LEDs) each having a surface area of 25 mm² or less.

7. The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said light sources include light emitting diodes (LEDs) each having a surface area of 10 mm² or less.

8. The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said light sources include a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) which produce light at a peak wavelength that is not visible to the human eye.

9. The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said light sources include a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) which produce light at a peak wavelength of about 850 nm.

10. The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said light sources include a first set of light emitting diodes which produce light that is visible to the human eye and a second set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) which produce light at a peak wavelength that is not visible to the human eye.

11. The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 2 wherein said light sources include a plurality of infrared light emitting diodes (LEDs) which produce infrared light at a peak wavelength that is not visible to the human eye, said plurality of infrared light emitting diodes (LEDs) located substantially uniformly at the periphery of said letter or number so that upon illumination of said infrared light emitting diodes (LEDs) an illuminated infrared letter or number is produced.

12. The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 2 wherein said light sources include a first set of light emitting diodes which produce light at a peak wavelength below 760 nm that is visible to the human eye and a second set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) which produce infrared light at a peak wavelength of about 850 nm, and said second set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are located substantially uniformly at the periphery of said letter or number so that upon illumination of said second set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) an illuminated infrared letter or number is produced.

13. The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said light sources cover no more than 20% of the surface area of said printed circuit board'"'"'s top surface so that at least 80% of said printed circuit board top surface can be seen.

14. The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said light sources cover no more than 10% of the surface area of said printed circuit board top surface so that at least 90% of said printed circuit board can be seen.

15. The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said light sources cover no more than 7% of the surface area of said printed circuit board'"'"'s top surface so that at least 93% of said printed circuit board can be seen.

16. The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said mounting surface is the planar surface of a mobile vehicle.

17. The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said mounting surface is the planar surface of an emergency response vehicle.