Illuminated vehicle compartment

• US 9,434,304 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2015
• 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: Surman, James J., Salter, Stuart C., Gardner, Cornel Lewis, Dellock, Paul Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US14/718,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20150251597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 362/487, 362/496, 362/502, 362509-510
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/64 using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• 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

An illuminated engine compartment disposed within a vehicle is provided herein. The illuminated engine compartment includes a light-producing assembly. A first luminescent portion is disposed on the light-producing assembly and is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light-producing assembly. A second luminescent portion is disposed on a feature within the vehicle engine compartment and is configured to luminesce in response to light emitted from the light-producing assembly.

Claims

1. An illuminated compartment for a vehicle, comprising:

a light-producing assembly;

a first luminescent portion disposed on the light-producing assembly configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light-producing assembly;

a second luminescent portion disposed on a feature within a vehicle engine compartment configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light-producing; and

a controller for controlling an activation state of the light-producing assembly in response to at least one vehicle related condition.

2. The illuminated compartment for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light-producing assembly comprises a printed LED.

3. The illuminated compartment for a vehicle of claim 2, wherein the light-producing assembly comprises a plurality of LED sources and the first and second luminescent portions comprise at least one photoluminescent material, wherein each photoluminescent material is configured to down convert an inputted light received from at least a portion of the plurality of LED sources into a visible light.

4. The illuminated compartment for a vehicle of claim 3, wherein the inputted light comprises one of a blue light, violet light, and a UV light.

5. The illuminated compartment for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first luminescent portion partially covers a top surface of the light-producing assembly.

6. The illuminated compartment for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller determines at least one of a light emission intensity and a light emission duration of the light-producing assembly.

7. The illuminated compartment for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light emitted from the light-producing assembly comprises one of a blue light, violet light, and a UV light.

8. A lighting system for a vehicle, comprising:

a printed LED capable of being coupled to a vehicle surface;

a first photoluminescent structure partially covering the printed LED and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the printed LED;

a light transmissive portion disposed adjacently to the first photoluminescent structure; and

a second photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to light emitted from the printed LED, wherein the second photoluminescent structure is disposed on a feature within an engine compartment to receive light from the printed LED via the light transmissive portion.

9. The lighting system of claim 8, wherein the first photoluminescent structure illuminates in a first color and the second photoluminescent structure illuminates in a second color.

10. An illuminated engine compartment, comprising:

a light-producing assembly emitting light at a first wavelength;

a first photoluminescent portion arranged over the light-producing assembly configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light-producing assembly, wherein a fraction of the light passes through the first photoluminescent portion at the first wavelength for use as a utility light; and

a second photoluminescent portion disposed within the compartment that luminesces in response to the light at the first wavelength for illuminating at least one feature of the engine compartment.

11. The illuminated compartment of claim 10, wherein the light-producing assembly comprises a printed LED.

12. The illuminated compartment of claim 10, wherein the light-producing assembly is coupled to a hood.

13. The illuminated compartment of claim 10, wherein the light-producing assembly is connected to an interior vertical wall surrounding the engine compartment.

14. The illuminated compartment of claim 10, wherein the light-producing assembly is disposed proximate a forward portion of an engine compartment.

15. The illuminated compartment of claim 10, further comprising a controller configured to selectively illuminate the light-producing assembly.

16. The illuminated compartment of claim 10, wherein the light-producing assembly comprises a plurality of LED sources and the first photoluminescent portion comprises at least one photoluminescent material, wherein the at least one photoluminescent material is configured to down convert an inputted light received from at least a portion of the plurality of LED sources into a visible light.