Headlamp with Backlit Side Bezel Signature Image

• US 20110310610A1
• Filed: 06/17/2010
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kumar, Arun, Brown, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,939,621 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/253
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/56 for illuminating registrations or the like , e.g. for licence plates
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/24 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/50 characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49885 with coating before or during assembling

Abstract

A lighting system for a vehicle comprises a headlamp light source. A trim piece is mounted adjacent the light source having an inner surface illuminated by light from the light source and an outer surface visible from outside the vehicle. The trim piece comprises a light transmitting plastic body, wherein a signature image is formed on the body having a foreground region and a background region. The foreground region has a corresponding surface characteristic on the inner and outer surfaces within the foreground region different from a corresponding surface characteristic on the inner and outer surfaces within the background region so that more light from the light source is transmitted through the foreground region than through the background region. The outer surface may be fully metalized to provide a pleasing appearance under ambient light conditions.

Claims

1. A lighting system for a vehicle, comprising:

a headlamp light source;

a trim piece mounted adjacent the light source and having an inner surface illuminated by light from the light source and an outer surface visible from outside the vehicle, wherein the trim piece comprises a light transmitting plastic body, wherein a signature image is formed on the body having a foreground region and a background region, wherein the foreground region has a corresponding surface characteristic on the inner and outer surfaces within the foreground region different from a corresponding surface characteristic on the inner and outer surfaces within the background region so that more light from the light source is transmitted through the foreground region than through the background region.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the surface characteristic is comprised of a smooth texture for one of the foreground region or background region, and wherein the surface characteristic is comprised of a stippled texture for the other one of the foreground region or background region.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the stippled texture is included on the outer surface.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the stippled texture of the foreground or background region has a mild grain, and wherein at least one of the inner surface or outer surface outside of the signature image is comprised of a stippled texture having an aggressive grain to provide greater scattering of light than the mild grain.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the foreground region has the smooth texture and the background region has the stippled texture.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the foreground region is raised with respect to the background region.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the trim piece further comprises a metallization layer applied to at least a portion of the outer surface.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the metallization layer covers the foreground regions and the background region.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a refracting element disposed in a light path from the light source to divert light toward the signature image.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the trim piece forms a skirt around the periphery of the signature image.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the trim piece further comprises a metallization layer applied to the outer surface over the skirt and not over the signature image.

12. A method of illuminating a signature image formed on a trim piece of a vehicle lighting system mounted adjacent a light source and having an inner surface illuminated by light from the light source and an outer surface visible from outside the vehicle, wherein the trim piece comprises a light transmitting plastic body, wherein the signature image has a foreground region and a background region within a relatively opaque framing area of the trim piece, the method comprising the steps of:

diverting a portion of the light produced by the light source toward the signature image and the relatively opaque framing area;

passing the light directed toward one of the background region or the foreground region through a first surface texture that causes a first amount of diffusion of the light;

passing the light directed toward the other one of the background region or the foreground region through a second surface texture that causes a second amount of diffusion of the light that is less than the first amount of diffusion; and

substantially blocking the light directed toward the relatively opaque framing area due to a third surface texture that causes a third amount of light diffusion that is greater than the first amount of diffusion.

13. A bezel for a vehicle headlamp, comprising:

a light transmitting plastic body with inner and outer surfaces, wherein a signature image is formed on the body having a foreground region with a first surface texture and a background region with a second surface texture, wherein light diffusion by the first and second surface textures are perceptibly different; and

a light-transmitting metallization layer over the outer surface.

14. The bezel of claim 13 wherein the first surface texture is substantially smooth and the second surface texture is stippled.