Hidden photoluminescent vehicle user interface

• US 9,434,301 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2014
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRUCE, DAVID VERNON
• Application Number:
  US14/452,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2500/30 Arrangements for illuminating different zones in the vehicle, e.g. front/rear, different seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/20 for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/252 Sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/54 Lighting devices embedded in interior trim, e.g. in roof liners
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/68 using ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/74 for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/745 using lighting panels or mats, e.g. electro-luminescent panels, LED mats
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/76 for spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps spotlighting on or for specific fittings B60Q3/20; spotlighting in mass transit vehicles B60Q3/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47

Abstract

A user interface for a vehicle is disclosed. The user interface comprises a proximity sensor disposed proximate a vehicle panel. An exterior layer is disposed over the proximity sensor and configured to conceal the proximity sensor. The user interface further comprises a photoluminescent portion disposed on the exterior layer, wherein the photoluminescent portion is selectively excited to reveal a location of the proximity sensor.

Claims

1. A user interface for a vehicle comprising:

a proximity sensor disposed proximate a vehicle panel;

an exterior layer disposed over the proximity sensor and configured to conceal the proximity sensor; and

a photoluminescent portion disposed on the exterior layer, wherein the photoluminescent portion is selectively excited to reveal a location of the proximity sensor.

2. The user interface according to claim 1, further comprising:

a light source in communication with the proximity sensor.

3. The user interface according to claim 2, wherein the light source is configured to emit a first emission of light at a first wavelength directed toward the first photoluminescent portion.

4. The user interface according to claim 3, wherein the photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first emission to a second emission of light at a second wavelength in response to receiving the first emission.

5. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein the photoluminescent portion comprises at least one of a symbol or icon configured to identify a location of the proximity sensor.

6. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein the light source is selectively activated in response to an object detected by the proximity sensor at a proximity relative to the proximity sensor.

7. A selectively visible user interface comprising:

a controller in communication with a light source and a proximity sensor; and

a vehicle panel configured to conceal the proximity sensor, wherein the controller is configured to;

identify a first signal from the proximity sensor corresponding to a detection of an object at a first proximity; and

activate the light source in response to the detection to reveal a location of the proximity sensor.

8. The user interface according to claim 7, further comprising:

a photoluminescent portion disposed on the vehicle panel, the photoluminescent portion being configured to selectively illuminate and emit a second emission in response to receiving a first emission from the light source.

9. The user interface according to claim 8, wherein the photoluminescent portion is configured to identify the location of the proximity sensor in response to receiving the first emission.

10. The user interface according to claim 8, wherein the photoluminescent portion comprises at least one of a symbol or icon to identify a function of a control output corresponding to the proximity sensor.

11. The user interface according to claim 8, wherein the first emission comprises a first wavelength of light and the second emission comprises a second wavelength of light, the first wavelength corresponding to a different color than the second wavelength.

12. The user interface according to claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to identify a second signal from the proximity sensor corresponding to a detection of the object at a second proximity.

13. The user interface according to claim 12, wherein the second proximity corresponds to the object being closer to the proximity sensor than the first proximity.

14. The user interface according to claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to output a control output to control at least one vehicle system in response the identification of the second signal.

15. A user interface for a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle panel comprising a proximity sensor, a first photoluminescent portion and a second photoluminescent portion,

a first light source configured to selectively activate the first photoluminescent portion; and

a second light source configured to selectively activate the second photoluminescent portion, wherein the second photoluminescent portion is configured to reveal a location of the proximity sensor in response to the activation of the second light source.

16. The user interface according to claim 15, wherein the first light source is configured to emit a first emission having a first wavelength to activate the first photoluminescent portion to output a second emission corresponding to a first color of light.

17. The user interface according to claim 16, wherein the first color of light comprises a substantially white light.

18. The user interface according to claim 16, wherein the first photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate a portion of a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

19. The user interface according to claim 16, wherein the second light source is configured to emit a third emission having a third wavelength to activate the second photoluminescent portion to emit a fourth emission corresponding to a second color of light.

20. The user interface according to claim 19, wherein the first color of light is substantially different than the second color of light.