Vehicle sunshade assembly

• US 9,371,033 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2015
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2013
• 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., Surman, James J., Gardner, Cornel Lewis, Mass, Noah Barlow
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US14/721,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20150251595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 362487-488, 362/490, 362/492
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0007 moveable head-liners, screens, curtains or blinds for ceilings
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/208 Sun roofs; Windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/68 using ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• 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: F21V 9/40 with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A sunshade assembly for a vehicle is provided herein. The sunshade assembly includes a housing and a light-producing assembly coupled to the housing. The housing includes a plurality of light sources and a photoluminescent structure configured to be excited by light emitted from the plurality of light sources such that at least a portion of the housing exhibits a luminescent appearance.

Claims

1. A sunshade assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing for the sunshade assembly;

a light-producing assembly coupled to the housing and comprising;

a plurality of light sources; and

a photoluminescent structure configured to be excited by light emitted from the plurality of light sources such that at least a portion of the housing exhibits a luminescent appearance;

wherein the housing is movable relative a window and comprises a first side disposed proximate to the window and a second side disposed distal to the window, wherein the first side is substantially light blocking and the second side is substantially light permeable.

2. The sunshade assembly of claim 1, wherein the light-producing assembly is disposed between the first and second sides of the housing and is oriented such that the photoluminescent structure of the light-producing assembly is proximate to the second side of the housing.

3. The sunshade assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources are dispersed in a printed LED arrangement.

4. The sunshade assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of light sources comprise one of an ultraviolet, a violet, and a blue LED source.

5. The sunshade assembly of claim 1, further comprising a controller for selectively activating the plurality of light sources based on at least one vehicle-related condition.

6. The sunshade assembly of claim 1, further comprising a switch for selectively activating the plurality of light sources based on at least one touch event.

7. A sunshade assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing for the sunshade assembly;

a light-producing assembly disposed inside the housing and comprising;

a plurality of light sources, wherein the plurality of light sources are dispersed in a printed LED arrangement; and

a photoluminescent structure configured to be excited by light emitted from the plurality of light sources such that at least a portion of the housing exhibits a luminescent appearance.

8. The sunshade assembly of claim 7, wherein the housing is movable relative a window and comprises a first side disposed proximate to the window and a second side disposed distal to the window, wherein the first side is substantially light blocking and the second side is substantially light permeable.

9. The sunshade assembly of claim 8, wherein the light-producing assembly is disposed between the first and second sides of the housing and is oriented such that the photoluminescent structure of the light-producing assembly is proximate to the second side of the housing.

10. The sunshade assembly of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of light sources comprise one of an ultraviolet, a violet, and a blue LED source.

11. The sunshade assembly of claim 7, further comprising a controller for selectively activating the plurality of light sources based on at least one vehicle-related condition.

12. The sunshade assembly of claim 7, further comprising a switch for selectively activating the plurality of light sources based on at least one touch event.

13. A lighting system of a vehicle, comprising:

a first light-producing assembly disposed inside a sunshade and comprising;

a first plurality of light sources; and

a first photoluminescent structure configured to be excited by light emitted from the first plurality of light sources such that at least a portion of the sunshade exhibits a luminescent appearance; and

a second light-producing assembly coupled to a window coverable by the sunshade and comprising;

a second plurality of light sources; and

a second photoluminescent structure configured to be excited by light emitted from the second plurality of light sources such that at least a portion of the window exhibits a luminescent appearance.

14. The lighting system of claim 13, wherein the sunshade and the window are located on a roof structure of the vehicle and the window is configured as one of a moonroof and a sunroof.

15. The lighting system of claim 13, wherein the first and second plurality of light sources are dispersed in a printed LED arrangement.

16. The lighting system of claim 13, wherein each of the first and second plurality of light sources comprise one of an ultraviolet, a violet, and a blue LED source.

17. The lighting system of claim 13, further comprising a controller for selectively activating at least one of the first and second plurality of light sources based on at least one vehicle-related condition.

18. The lighting system of claim 13, further comprising a switch for selectively activating at least one of the first and second plurality of light sources based on at least one touch event.