Photoluminescent vehicle compartment light

• US 9,393,905 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2015
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Chea, Vichit, Surman, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US14/615,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20150146445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 362/487, 362/496, 362/502, 362509-510
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/68 using ultraviolet light

Abstract

A lighting system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises a photoluminescent portion disposed on an inner surface of a closure of a compartment. A light source is located proximate the closure. The light source is configured to emit an excitation emission at a first wavelength directed toward the photoluminescent portion. The photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength.

Claims

1. A lighting system for a vehicle comprising:

a photoluminescent portion disposed on an inner surface of a closure of an engine compartment; and

a light source located proximate the closure, the light source configured to emit an excitation emission at a first wavelength directed toward the photoluminescent portion, wherein the photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength,

a controller configured to selectively illuminate the light source, wherein the controller is configured to illuminate the light source to emit light at a first intensity or a second intensity, wherein the controller is configured to supply an increased voltage at a reduced duty cycle to produce the second intensity relative the first intensity.

2. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the closure comprises a hood configured to enclose the engine compartment.

3. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed proximate a forward portion of an engine compartment.

4. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the second intensity is configured to emit light having an increased brightness.

5. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive a temperature signal.

6. The lighting system according to claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to suppress the second intensity in response to the temperature signal corresponding to a temperature exceeding a temperature threshold.

7. A lighting system for a compartment of a vehicle comprising:

at least one photoluminescent portion disposed on an inner surface of an engine closure; and

at least one light source disposed proximate an outer portion of the compartment and configured to emit light at a first wavelength, wherein the photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength, wherein the outer portion corresponds to an access region of the compartment.

8. The lighting system according to claim 7, wherein the photoluminescent portion comprises a coating disposed on at least a portion of a hood insulator.

9. The lighting system according to claim 7, wherein the at least one photoluminescent portion comprises a first photoluminescent portion and a second photoluminescent portion.

10. The lighting system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one light source corresponds to a first emitter configured to excite the first photoluminescent portion and a second emitter configured to excite the second photoluminescent portion.

11. The lighting system according to claim 10, wherein a first excitation emission is configured to illuminate the first photoluminescent portion substantially independent of a second excitation emission configured to illuminate the second photoluminescent portion.

12. A lighting system for a compartment of a vehicle comprising:

at least one photoluminescent portion disposed on an inner surface of an engine closure;

at least one light source disposed proximate an outer portion of the compartment and configured to emit light a first wavelength, wherein the photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength and emit the second wavelength toward the compartment; and

a shade configured to extend from the inner surface of the closure to a surface proximate an access region of the compartment.

13. The lighting system according to claim 12, wherein the closure is configured to selectively enclose the compartment.

14. The lighting system according to claim 12, wherein the shade corresponds to a mask operable to pass an output emission from the photoluminescent portion through a cutout portion.

15. The lighting system according to claim 14, wherein the cutout portion forms at least one of a character and a graphic selectively illuminated by the output emission.