ILLUMINATED BADGE FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20170043709A1
• Filed: 10/06/2015
• Published: 02/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Salter, Stuart C., Myszka, Joseph, Sidhu, Mandeep Singh, Zilinskas, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 10,168,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2607 comprising at least two indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/005 Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor
• 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 43/241 of complex shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/243 emitting light from one or more of its extremities
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/249 with two or more light sources being coupled into the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/31 Optical layout thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/003 the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/044 Signs, boards or panels mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2007/1882 Emblems, e.g. fixed by pins or screws
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/227 Electroluminescent displays for vehicles

Abstract

A badge is provided herein. The badge includes a viewable portion having indicia thereon. A plurality of first LED sources is configured to emit light toward the viewable portion. A light guide extends between the viewable portion and the first LED sources. A plurality of second LED sources is configured to emit light toward the viewable portion. The first LED sources illuminate a first region of the viewable portion and the second LED sources illuminate a second region of the viewable portion.

Claims

1. A badge, comprising:

a viewable portion having indicia thereon;

a plurality of first LED sources configured to emit light toward the viewable portion;

a light guide extending between the viewable portion and the first LED sources; and

a plurality of second LED sources configured to emit light toward the viewable portion, wherein the first LED sources illuminate a first region of the viewable portion and the second LED sources illuminate a second region of the viewable portion.

2. The badge of claim 1, wherein the first LED sources are disposed below the indicia and configured to emit light through the indicia when illuminated.

3. The badge of claim 2, wherein a plurality of light guides extends between the first LED sources and the indicia.

4. The badge of claim 3, wherein the plurality of light guides includes a distal portion disposed proximately to the viewable portion and a proximal portion disposed proximately to each light source.

5. The badge of claim 2, further comprising:

an opaque material on a longitudinal surface of each light guide that is disposed adjacent to one another to prevent light directed through a first light guide from bleeding into a second light guide.

6. The badge of claim 5, further comprising a controller configured to illuminate each first LED source sequentially while simultaneously illuminating the second LED sources at varied intensities.

7. The badge of claim 1, wherein a controller is configured to control illumination of each first LED source independently.

8. A badge for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing having a viewable portion, wherein the viewable portion has indicia thereon and a background region; and

a first light source configured to illuminate the indicia; and

a second light source configured to illuminate the background region.

9. The badge of claim 8, wherein the first light source is configured as a plurality of independently controlled first LED sources and the second light sources are configured as a plurality of independently controlled second LED sources.

10. The badge of claim 8, further comprising:

a light guide disposed above the first LED sources configured to direct light from each first LED source towards the viewable portion.

11. The badge of claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of light guides disposed above each respective first LED source and configured to direct emitted therefrom towards the viewable portion, wherein each first LED source is sequentially illuminated.

12. The badge of claim 8, wherein the first light source illuminates in a substantially white color and wherein the second light source illuminates in a non-white color.

13. The badge of claim 11, wherein the each first LED source maintains an illuminated state as each sequential first LED is illuminated.

14. A badge, comprising:

a housing having a viewable portion; and

an indicia disposed proximate the viewable portion;

a plurality of first LED sources disposed within the housing configured to emit light through the viewable portion; and

a first light guide disposed above the first LED sources and below the indicia, wherein each first LED source is independently illuminated and light emitted therefrom escapes the badge through the viewable portion.

15. The badge of claim 14, wherein the plurality of first LED sources is sequentially illuminated such that the indicia is progressively illuminated.

16. The badge of claim 15, further comprising:

a controller configured to control a sequential illumination of the first LED sources at a predefined speed between illumination of each respective first LED source, wherein sequential illumination repeats by lighting adjacently disposed first LED sources until each first LED source is illuminated.

17. The badge of claim 14, further comprising:

a second light guide extending transversely along a forward portion of the first light guides configured to blend light emitted from each first light guide disposed rearwardly thereof.

18. The badge of claim 14, further comprising:

a plurality of second LED sources configured to illuminate a background region of the viewable portion in a second color.

19. The badge of claim 18, wherein the plurality of second LED sources emit varying hues of a color of light while the plurality of first LED sources sequentially illuminate indicia disposed on the viewable portion.

20. The badge of claim 18, further comprising:

a third plurality of light sources configured to emit light through a peripheral portion of the housing to illuminate a feature of a vehicle disposed proximately to the badge.