Vehicle backlit assembly with photoluminescent structure

• US 9,446,709 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2014
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• 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., Singer, Jeffrey, Dassanayake, Mahendra Somasara, Majkowski, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Anh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Glenn
• Application Number:
  US14/156,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 362/510, 362/488, 362/489, 362/490, 362/491, 362/546, 362/548, 362/84, 362/23, 200/313, 200/314, 200/315, 200/316
• 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 3/54 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

Abstract

A vehicle backlit assembly is provided and includes a support member and at least one backlit interactive member at least partially extending through an opening in the support member. An excitation source is operable to emit a primary emission for backlighting the at least one backlit interactive member. A photoluminescent structure is coupled to the at least one backlit interactive member and is formulated to convert the primary emission into a secondary emission. An opaque layer is coupled to the photoluminescent structure and defines an opening through which the secondary emission is transmitted.

Claims

1. A backlit assembly comprising:

a trimplate of a vehicle;

an interactive member operably coupled to the trimplate and including a light conducting body having a front side exposed through the trimplate;

an excitation source operable to emit a primary emission for backlighting the interactive member;

a photoluminescent structure disposed atop the front side and configured to convert the primary emission into a secondary emission; and

an opaque layer partially covering the photoluminescent structure.

4. The backlit assembly of claim 1, wherein the interactive member is configured as one of a push button, a rotary knob, and a toggle switch.

5. The backlit assembly of claim 1, wherein the excitation source comprises a first blue light emitting diode, a second blue light emitting diode, and a third blue light emitting diode, each operable to output a uniquely associated peak wavelength of blue light.

9. The backlit assembly of claim 5, wherein the primary emission comprises at least one of a first inputted electromagnetic radiation emitted from the first blue light emitting diode, a second inputted electromagnetic radiation emitted from the second blue light emitting diode, and a third inputted electromagnetic radiation emitted from the third blue light emitting diode.

12. The backlit assembly of claim 9, wherein the photoluminescent structure comprises an energy conversion layer having a red-emitting photoluminescent material that is primarily excited by the first inputted electromagnetic radiation, a green-emitting photoluminescent material that is primarily excited by the second inputted electromagnetic radiation, and a blue-emitting photoluminescent material that is primarily excited by the third blue light emitting diode.

14. The backlit assembly of claim 12, wherein the secondary emission comprises at least one of a first outputted electromagnetic radiation, a second outputted electromagnetic radiation, and a third outputted electromagnetic radiation, each having a uniquely associated peak emission wavelength.

16. The backlit assembly of claim 14, wherein the red-emitting photoluminescent material converts the first inputted electromagnetic radiation into the first outputted electromagnetic radiation, the green-emitting photoluminescent material converts the second inputted electromagnetic radiation into the second outputted electromagnetic radiation, and the blue-emitting photoluminescent material converts the third inputted electromagnetic radiation into the third outputted electromagnetic radiation.

2. A backlit assembly of a vehicle, comprising:

a trimplate of the vehicle;

an interactive member configured as one of a push button, a rotary knob, and a toggle switch, the interactive member operably coupled to the trimplate and including a light conducting body having a front side exposed through the trimplate;

an excitation source operable to emit a primary emission for backlighting the interactive member;

a photoluminescent structure disposed atop the front side and configured to convert the primary emission into a secondary emission; and

an opaque layer partially covering the photoluminescent structure.

6. The backlit assembly of claim 2, wherein the excitation source comprises a first blue light emitting diode, a second blue light emitting diode, and a third blue light emitting diode, each operable to output a uniquely associated peak wavelength of blue light.

10. The backlit assembly of claim 6, wherein the primary emission comprises at least one of a first inputted electromagnetic radiation emitted from the first blue light emitting diode, a second inputted electromagnetic radiation emitted from the second blue light emitting diode, and a third inputted electromagnetic radiation emitted from the third blue light emitting diode.

13. The backlit assembly of claim 10, wherein the photoluminescent structure comprises an energy conversion layer having a red-emitting photoluminescent material that is primarily excited by the first inputted electromagnetic radiation, a green-emitting photoluminescent material that is primarily excited by the second inputted electromagnetic radiation, and a blue-emitting photoluminescent material that is primarily excited by the third inputted electromagnetic radiation.

15. The backlit assembly of claim 13, wherein the secondary emission comprises at least one of a first outputted electromagnetic radiation, a second outputted electromagnetic radiation, and a third outputted electromagnetic radiation, each having a uniquely associated peak emission wavelength.

17. The backlit assembly of claim 15, wherein the red-emitting photoluminescent material converts the first inputted electromagnetic radiation into the first outputted electromagnetic radiation, the green-emitting photoluminescent material converts the second inputted electromagnetic radiation into the second outputted electromagnetic radiation, and the blue-emitting photoluminescent material converts the third inputted electromagnetic radiation into the third outputted electromagnetic radiation.

3. A backlit assembly of a vehicle, comprising:

a trimplate of the vehicle;

an interactive member operably coupled to the trimplate and including a light conducting body having a front side exposed through the trimplate;

an excitation source for backlighting the interactive member and operable to selectively emit a first, a second, and a third inputted electromagnetic radiation;

a photoluminescent structure disposed atop the front side and comprising;

a red-emitting photoluminescent material that is primarily excited by the first inputted electromagnetic radiation;

a green-emitting photoluminescent material that is primarily excited by the second inputted electromagnetic radiation;

and a blue-emitting photoluminescent material that is primarily excited by the third inputted electromagnetic radiation; and

an opaque layer partially covering the photoluminescent structure.

7. The backlit assembly of claim 3, wherein the interactive member is configured as one of a push button, a rotary knob, and a toggle switch.

8. The backlit assembly of claim 3, wherein the excitation source comprises a first blue light emitting diode, a second blue light emitting diode, and a third blue light emitting diode, each operable to output a uniquely associated peak wavelength of blue light.

11. The backlit assembly of claim 8, wherein the first inputted electromagnetic radiation is emitted from the first blue light emitting diode, the second inputted electromagnetic radiation is emitted from the second blue light emitting diode, and the third inputted electromagnetic radiation is emitted from the third blue light emitting diode.