Illuminated steering assembly

• US 9,481,297 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2015
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• 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., Buttolo, Pietro, Gardner, Cornel Lewis, Huebner, Annette Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US14/851,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20150375677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 362/488, 362/491, 362509-511, 362543-545
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/12 lighting onto the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/283 Steering wheels; Gear levers
• 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: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/06 Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers B62D1/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/029 Steering assistants using warnings or proposing actions to the driver without influencing the steering system
• 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: F21V 3/08 the material comprising photoluminescent substances
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/32 characterised by the arrangement of the photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/10 for land vehicles
• 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

A lighting system for a vehicle steering assembly is provided herein. The lighting system includes a steering wheel having a central hub and a rim connected to the hub through a spoke. A light source is disposed on the rim. A first photoluminescent structure is disposed on the steering wheel and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by at least a portion 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 lighting system for a vehicle, comprising:

a light source having a plurality of independently illuminable portions disposed circumferentially around a steering wheel; and

a first photoluminescent structure disposed on the light source and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source, wherein the light source progressively illuminates adjacent portions to notify a driver of a suggested rotational direction of the steering wheel.

2. The lighting system for a steering wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of printed LEDs.

3. The lighting system for a steering wheel assembly of claim 2, wherein the first photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material configured to 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 lighting system for a steering wheel assembly of claim 3, wherein the inputted light comprises one of blue light, violet light, and UV light.

5. The lighting system for a steering wheel assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a second photoluminescent structure separated from the steering wheel.

6. The lighting system for a steering wheel 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 lighting system for a steering wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source cooperates with a global positioning system to direct an occupant to change an orientation of the steering wheel.

8. A lighting system, comprising:

a steering wheel having a central hub and a rim connected to the hub through a spoke;

a light-producing assembly disposed on the rim and a having a plurality of independently illuminable portions, wherein the independently illuminable portions include varying concentrations of tight sources therein;

a first luminescent structure disposed on the steering wheel and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by at least a portion of the light-producing assembly.

9. The lighting system of claim 8, wherein the light-producing assembly comprises a printed LED.

10. The lighting system of claim 8, wherein the light-producing assembly is configured to notify an occupant of a recommended rotational magnitude based on a portion of the rim that is illuminated.

11. The lighting system of claim 9, wherein the luminescent structure comprises at least one luminescent material configured to 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 of claim 8, further comprising:

a second luminescent structure separated from the rim.

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

14. The lighting system of claim 8, wherein the light-producing assembly has a first curvature substantially matching a radius of the rim and a second, transverse curvature substantially matching a cross-sectional shape of a substrate forming the rim.

15. A lighting system for a vehicle steering wheel assembly lighting system, comprising:

a light source disposed on a steering wheel and configured to direct light in two opposing directions away from the steering wheel;

a first photoluminescent structure disposed on the steering wheel, wherein the first photoluminescent structure is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light output from the light source; and

a second photoluminescent structure disposed on a vehicle component separated from the steering wheel assembly.

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

17. The lighting system for a vehicle steering wheel assembly of claim 16, 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.

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

19. The lighting system for a vehicle steering wheel assembly of claim 15, wherein the light source has a first curvature substantially matching a radius of a rim of the steering wheel and a second, transverse curvature substantially matching a cross-sectional shape of a substrate forming the rim of the steering wheel.

20. The lighting system for a vehicle steering wheel assembly of claim 15, wherein the light source is configured to notify an occupant of a recommended rotational magnitude based on a portion of a rim of the steering wheel that is illuminated.