Seatbelt lighting system

• US 9,463,738 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2015
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• 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: Salter, Stuart C., Surman, James J., DeSmet, Edward Joseph, Masserant, Michael, Boese, Christine
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US14/809,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20150329041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 362487-488, 362509-510
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/217 Doors, e.g. door sills; Steps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/242 Safety belts; Body harnesses
• 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: B60R 2022/4866 Displaying or indicating arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/12 Construction of belts or harnesses B60R21/18 takes precedence ; woven fabrics for safety belts D03D1/0005
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A lighting system for a vehicle seatbelt assembly is provided herein. The lighting system includes a light source disposed on a seatbelt webbing. A first photoluminescent structure is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by at least a portion of the light source. A controller is configured to control an activation state of the light source. In some embodiments, the light source may implement a thin design, thereby helping to fit the light source into small package spaces of the vehicle where traditional light sources may not be practicable.

Claims

1. A seatbelt assembly, comprising:

a webbing having opposing ends each fixed to a vehicle structure;

a tongue member slidable along the seatbelt webbing;

a light source disposed on the seatbelt webbing, wherein a portion of the light source prevents the tongue member from movement beyond the light source; and

a first photoluminescent structure operatively coupled to the light source and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source.

2. The seatbelt assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of printed LEDs.

3. The seatbelt assembly of claim 2, wherein the first photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material configured to down convert an inputted light received from at least a portion of the light source into a visible light that is outputted to a viewable portion.

4. The seatbelt assembly of claim 3, wherein the inputted light comprises one of blue light, violet light, and UV light.

5. The seatbelt assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a second photoluminescent structure separated from the seatbelt webbing.

6. The seatbelt assembly of claim 1, further comprising a controller for controlling an activation state of the light source in response to at least one vehicle-related condition.

7. The seatbelt assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source flashes when a vehicle senses an occupant on a seat and an unlatched condition.

8. A lighting system for a vehicle seatbelt, comprising:

a seatbelt webbing having a tongue member slidable therealong, the tongue member releasably coupled to a buckle disposed on an opposing side of a seat;

a light source disposed on the seatbelt webbing;

an overmold material configured to maintain the tongue member above the light source; and

a first luminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by at least a portion of the light source.

9. The lighting system for a vehicle seatbelt of claim 8, wherein the light source comprises a printed LED.

10. The lighting system for a vehicle seatbelt of claim 8, wherein the light source is disposed on a lap portion of the webbing when a seatbelt assembly is placed in a latched condition.

11. The lighting system for a vehicle seatbelt of claim 9, wherein the luminescent structure comprises at least one luminescent material configured to down convert an inputted light received from at least a portion of the printed LED into a visible light that is outputted to a viewable portion.

12. The lighting system for a vehicle seatbelt of claim 8, further comprising:

a second luminescent structure separated from the seatbelt webbing.

13. The lighting system for a vehicle seatbelt of claim 12, wherein the first luminescent structure illuminates in a first color and a second luminescent structure illuminates in a second color.

14. A lighting system for a vehicle seating assembly, comprising:

a webbing having opposing ends each fixed to a vehicle structure;

a light source disposed on the webbing; and

a first photoluminescent structure disposed on a first vehicle component and a second photoluminescent structure disposed on a second vehicle component, wherein the first and second photoluminescent structures are operatively coupled to the light source and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light output from at least a portion of the light source.

15. The lighting system for a vehicle seating assembly of claim 14, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of printed LEDs.

16. The lighting system for a vehicle seating assembly of claim 15, wherein the first and second photoluminescent structures each comprises at least one photoluminescent material configured to convert an inputted light received from at least a portion of the light sources into a visible light.

17. The lighting system for a vehicle seating assembly of claim 16, wherein the inputted light comprises one of blue light, violet light, and UV light.

18. The lighting system for a vehicle seating assembly of claim 14, wherein the first photoluminescent structure illuminates in a first color and the second photoluminescent structure illuminates in a second color.

19. The lighting system for a vehicle seating assembly of claim 18, further comprising:

a sensor configured to determine the presence of an occupant on a vehicle seat wherein the light source is actuated based on the sensed presence of an occupant.

20. The lighting system for a vehicle seating assembly of claim 19, wherein the light source illuminates in the second color when the vehicle senses an occupant on the seat and an unlatched condition.