METHODS FOR ILLUMINATION OF DRIVER AIRBAG EMBLEMS

• US 20100194080A1
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Karwaczynski, Krzysztof W., Paxton, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US12/363,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20100194080A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/283 Steering wheels; Gear levers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/005 Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21543 with emblems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21656 Steering wheel covers or similar cup-shaped covers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/305 being the ends of optical fibres G09F9/302 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods for illuminating (backlighting) an emblem on a steering wheel cover include the use of a light guide, organic LEDs, or a fiber optic rope structure. The fiber optic rope may include many fiber optic filaments bunched together with a light source at one end. When this light source is activated, the filaments glow. For the organic LEDs, several layers of organic paint positioned on a substrate and the organic paint will emit light when a DC current is applied. For the light diffuser, LEDs are placed behind and opaque substrate that diffuses and disperse the light. All of these methods will provide sufficient illumination to backlight an emblem.

Claims

1. An airbag apparatus comprising:

an airbag cover including an emblem;

an illumination source designed to illuminate the emblem, the illumination source being selected from the group including an OLED, a light diffuser, or a fiber optic rope.

2. An airbag apparatus comprising:

an airbag cover including an emblem;

an OLED positioned on a substrate, the OLED designed to illuminate the emblem, the OLED and the substrate positioned rearward of the emblem.

3. An airbag apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the OLED comprises a cathode, an anode, a conductive layer and an emissive layer, the conductive and emissive layers being positioned between the cathode and the anode.

4. An airbag apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the cathode is the top layer of the OLED.

5. An airbag apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the substrate is a component of the OLED.

6. An airbag apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the OLED is powered via DC power.

7. An airbag apparatus comprising:

an airbag cover including an emblem;

a light diffuser comprising a non-transparent surface positioned in front of one or more LEDs, the diffusing surface designed to diffuse the light produced by the LEDs.

8. An airbag apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the diffuser is made of a white, translucent plastic.

9. An airbag apparatus comprising:

an airbag cover including an emblem;

a rope structure composed of fiber optic fibers and a light source positioned at one end of rope structure, wherein when the light source is activated, each of the fibers glows to illuminate the emblem.

10. An airbag apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the distal end of the fibers also glow when the light source is activated.

11. An airbag apparatus as in claim 10 wherein fibers of different lengths are distributed through the rope structure.