Illuminated speaker

• US 9,464,803 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2015
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• 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., Surman, James J., Thota, Bhavani, Doan, Linh
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US14/961,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20160084493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: 362/86, 362487-488, 362509-510
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/64 for a single lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/85 for manual control of the light, e.g. of colour, orientation or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/288 for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles

Abstract

A speaker is provided herein. The speaker includes a light source configured to emit inputted light. A diaphragm is configured to move as a magnet receives electrical signals. A first photoluminescent structure is disposed on the diaphragm. A second photoluminescent structure is also disposed on the diaphragm. The inputted light emitted from the light source is converted to outputted light by the first and second photoluminescent structures.

Claims

1. A speaker comprising:

a light source configured to emit input light;

a diaphragm configured to move as a magnet receives electrical signals, the light source disposed on a first side of the diaphragm;

a first photoluminescent structure disposed on the diaphragm; and

a second photoluminescent structure disposed on the diaphragm, wherein the input light emitted from the light source is converted to output light of a different wavelength by the first and second photoluminesent structures and is emitted from the first side of the diaphragm.

2. The speaker of claim 1, wherein light emitted from the source comprises one of a blue light, violet light, and a UV light.

3. The speaker of claim 1, wherein the first and second photoluminescent structures are at varying distances from the light source such that a plurality of colors may be emitted from the diaphragm based on a combination of outputted light from the first and second photoluminescent structures as the diaphragm moves.

4. The speaker of claim 1, wherein the first or second photoluminescent structure includes a variable concentration of photoluminescent material.

5. The speaker of claim 1, wherein the photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material configured to down convert an inputted light received from at least a portion of the light sources into a visible light.

6. The speaker 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. A vehicle comprising:

a speaker including a diaphragm;

a light source configured to emit inputted light at a first wavelength towards the diaphragm; and

a first photoluminescent structure disposed on the diaphragm, wherein the first photoluminescent structure is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source and emits varying colors of outputted light based on a vehicle condition.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the light source is configured as an LED and is disposed on an attachment structure.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, 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 from the diaphragm.

10. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the inputted light comprises one of blue light, violet light, and UV light.

11. The vehicle of claim 7, further comprising:

a second photoluminescent structure disposed on the diaphragm, wherein the speaker illuminates in a plurality of colors as the first and second photoluminescent structures are excited at varying ratios while the diaphragm oscillates.

12. The vehicle of claim 7, further comprising:

a light guide disposed circumferentially above the diaphragm and configured to emit inputted light towards the diaphragm.

13. An illuminated speaker for a vehicle, comprising:

a light source configured to emit inputted light optically coupled with a component of the vehicle speaker; and

a first photoluminescent structure disposed on the component and configured to reflectively emit outputted light in response to light emitted from the light source, wherein the inputted light and outputted light are of varying wavelengths.

14. The illuminated speaker for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein the component is a diaphragm.

15. The illuminated speaker for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein the component is a dust cover.

16. The illuminated speaker for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein the photoluminescent structure comprises at least one luminescent 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.

17. The illuminated speaker for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein the inputted light comprises one of a blue light, violet light, and UV light.

18. The illuminated speaker for a vehicle of claim 13, further comprising:

a reflective member configured to direct light emitted from the light source towards a desired location coupled to an attachment structure of the speaker.

19. The illuminated speaker for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein the speaker illuminates in a first color while a first vehicle system utilizes the speaker and a second color when a second vehicle system utilizes the speaker.