Photoluminescent puddle lamp

• US 9,487,126 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2014
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• 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., Gardner, Cornel Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US14/322,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/325 on or for running boards or steps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle

Abstract

An illumination apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The illumination apparatus comprises a photoluminescent portion disposed on a downward facing portion of the vehicle and a light source located proximate the downward facing portion. The light source is configured to emit light at a first wavelength directed toward the photoluminescent portion. In response to receiving the light at the first wavelength, the photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength, longer than the first wavelength, to illuminate a surface beneath the vehicle.

Claims

1. An illumination apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a photoluminescent portion disposed on a substantially downward facing portion of a vehicle door trim panel; and

a light source located proximate the downward facing portion and configured to emit light at a first wavelength directed toward the photoluminescent portion, wherein the photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength to illuminate a surface beneath the vehicle.

2. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed in a bottom portion of the vehicle door trim panel.

3. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second photoluminescent portion disposed proximate a door sill of a vehicle.

4. The illumination apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the light source is further configured to direct the light at the first wavelength toward the door sill to illuminate the second photoluminescent portion.

5. The illumination apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to a third wavelength having a different color than the second wavelength.

6. The illumination apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second photoluminescent portion comprises a logo configured to convert the first wavelength to the second wavelength.

7. An illumination system for a vehicle comprising:

a first photoluminescent portion disposed on a substantially downward facing portion of a door of the vehicle;

a second photoluminescent portion located proximate a door sill; and

a light source located proximate the first photoluminescent portion configured to emit light at a first wavelength, wherein the photoluminescent portions are configured to convert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength to illuminate the photoluminescent portions.

8. The illumination system according to claim 7, wherein the first photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate a surface beneath the vehicle with the second wavelength of the light.

9. The illumination system according to claim 7, wherein the light source is configured to direct the light at the first wavelength toward the first photoluminescent portion and the second photoluminescent portion when the door is oriented in an open position.

10. The illumination system according to claim 7, wherein the portion of the door comprises a door trim panel.

11. The illumination system according to claim 10, wherein the first photoluminescent portion and the light source are each disposed in a bottom portion of the door trim panel.

12. The illumination apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to a third wavelength having a different color than the second wavelength.

13. A method for illuminating a surface beneath a vehicle comprising:

activating a light source in response to a door being oriented in an open position;

directing light at a first wavelength from the light source toward a photoluminescent portion disposed on a substantially downward facing portion of the vehicle;

converting light at the first wavelength to a second wavelength with the photoluminescent portion; and

illuminating the surface with the light at the second wavelength.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

emitting the light at the second wavelength from the photoluminescent portion toward the surface.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the light at the first wavelength and the light at the second wavelength are emitted from a bottom portion of a door trim panel.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

directing the light at the first wavelength toward a door sill portion to illuminate a second photoluminescent portion.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

converting the light at the first wavelength to a third wavelength with the second photoluminescent portion, the third wavelength corresponding to a different color than the second wavelength.