Luminescent vehicle seal

• US 9,469,244 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2015
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• 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., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Wade, David Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US14/710,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20150246637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 362487-488, 362/501, 362509-510
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/217 Doors, e.g. door sills; Steps
• 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: 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: 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 opening is provided herein. The lighting system includes a seal disposed around a periphery of an opening in the body of a vehicle. A light source is disposed on a portion of the seal. The light source may implement a thin design, thereby helping to fit the light source into small package spaces of the vehicle. A first photoluminescent structure is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by at least a portion of the light sources.

Claims

1. A lighting system for a vehicle opening, comprising:

a seal disposed at least partially around a periphery of an opening in a body of a vehicle;

a light source disposed on a portion of the seal between a body panel and a door contact member of the seal;

a first photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source; and

a reflective material disposed on an inner surface of the door contact member and configured to direct light towards the body panel.

2. The lighting system for a vehicle opening of claim 1, wherein the light source is configured as a printed LED.

3. The lighting system for a vehicle opening of claim 2, 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 that is outputted to a viewable portion.

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

5. The lighting system for a vehicle opening of claim 1, further comprising:

a second photoluminescent structure separated from and disposed proximate the seal.

6. The lighting system for a vehicle opening 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 lighting system for a vehicle opening of claim 6, wherein the controller determines at least one of a light emission intensity and a light emission duration of the light source.

8. A seal for a vehicle, comprising:

a door contact member of the vehicle and a mounting member configured to engage the door contact member;

a light source disposed on the mounting member;

a luminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source;

a controller configured to control an activation state of the light source; and

a user interface operably coupled with the controller.

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

10. The seal for a vehicle of claim 9, wherein the luminescent structure comprises at least one luminescent material configured to convert an inputted light received from the LED source into a visible light that is outputted to a viewable portion.

11. The seal for a vehicle of claim 10, wherein the inputted light comprises one of a blue light, violet light, and a UV light.

12. The seal for a vehicle of claim 8, wherein a plurality of luminescent structures are separated by a plurality of light transmissive portions such that a first portion of light emitted from the light source is converted to a second wavelength and a second portion of light emitted from the light source passes through a light transmissive portion.

13. The seal for a vehicle of claim 8, wherein the controller determines at least one of a light emission intensity and a light emission duration of the light source.

14. A door opening for a vehicle, comprising:

a door seal having a door contact member and a mounting member attached to vehicle body panel;

a light source disposed on the door seal;

a first photoluminescent structure disposed on the light source; and

a second photoluminescent structure disposed on a component separated from the door seal, wherein the first and second photoluminescent structures are configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source.

15. The door opening for a vehicle of claim 14, wherein the light sources comprise printed LEDs.

16. The door opening for a vehicle of claim 15, wherein the first and second photoluminescent structures each comprise 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.

17. The door opening for a vehicle of claim 16, wherein the inputted light comprises one of a blue light, violet light, and a UV light.

18. The door opening for a vehicle 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 door opening for a vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a controller for controlling an activation state of the light source in response to at least one vehicle-related condition.

20. The door opening for a vehicle of claim 19, wherein the controller determines at least one of a light emission intensity and a light emission duration of the light source.