Color changing and disinfecting surfaces

• US 9,492,575 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2015
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• 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: Holub, Patrick Kevin, Van Wiemeersch, John Robert, Salter, Stuart C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Raleigh, Donald
• Application Number:
  US14/735,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20150273092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/00 Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor for contact lenses A61L12/00; atomisers for disinfecting agents A61M; sterilisation of packages or package contents in association with packaging B65B55/00; treatment of water, waste water, sewage or sludge C02F; disinfecting paper D21H21/36; disinfecting devices for water closets E03D; articles having provision for disinfection, see the relevant subclasses for these articles, e.g. H04R1/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/20 Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/25 Rooms in buildings, passenger compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/00 Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air body deodorants A61Q15/00; purifying air by respirators A62B, A62D9/00; separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours B01D45/00 - B01D51/00, B03C3/00; chemical or biological purification of waste gases B01D53/34; production of ozone C01B13/10; air-conditioning systems incorporating sterilisation F24F3/16, F24F8/20
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/208 Sun roofs; Windows
• 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: F21K 9/64 using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• 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

An apparatus configured to disinfect a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first electrode substantially coating a portion of a partially light transmissive panel. A plurality of printed light emitting diodes (LEDs) is suspended in a semiconductor ink on the first electrode and configured to emit a disinfecting emission. A second electrode is in electrical connection with the plurality of LEDs. In connection with the second electrode and/or one or more intermediate layers a light transmitting layer is disposed forming an interior surface of the glass panel. The light transmitting layer is operable to transmit at least a portion of the disinfecting emission therethrough such that the portion of the disinfecting emission impinges upon an interior surface of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to disinfect a vehicle comprising:

a first electrode substantially coating a portion of a partially light transmissive glass panel;

a plurality of printed LEDs suspended in a semiconductor ink on the first electrode and configured to emit a disinfecting emission;

a second electrode in electrical connection with the plurality of LEDs; and

a light transmitting layer forming an interior surface of the glass panel and in connection with the second electrode, wherein the light transmitting layer is operable to transmit at least a portion of the disinfecting emission therethrough such that the portion of the disinfecting emission impinges upon an interior surface of the vehicle.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode correspond to at least partially light transmissive layers.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a controller in communication with the first electrode and the second electrode.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate the disinfecting emission in response to at least one state of the vehicle.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at least one state corresponds to the vehicle being unoccupied.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising at least one occupancy sensor in communication with the controller.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the at least one occupancy sensor corresponds to at least one of a seat sensor, a proximity sensor, an infrared sensor, a camera and a microphone.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a photoluminescent layer applied between the second electrode and the light transmitting layer.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the photoluminescent layer is configured to convert a portion of the disinfecting emission to an output emission configured to illuminate at least a portion of the vehicle.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the disinfecting emission corresponds to a wavelength less than approximately 380 nm and the output emission is greater than approximately 400 nm.

11. A light emitting surface layer for a vehicle comprising:

a pair of electrodes substantially coating a portion of a glass panel of the vehicle;

a plurality of printed LEDs in a semiconductor ink disposed between the electrodes and operable to emit an excitation emission of a first wavelength; and

a photoluminescent layer proximate one of the electrodes configured to convert the excitation emission to an output emission of a second wavelength.

12. The surface layer according to claim 11, wherein the surface layer is connected to an interior surface of the glass panel via an adhesive that is substantially light transmissive.

13. The surface layer according to claim 11, wherein the surface layer is configured to receive light from the glass panel and transmit at least a portion of the light into an interior of the vehicle.

14. The surface layer according to claim 11, further comprising a diffuser film disposed proximate the photoluminescent layer and configured to diffuse the output emission such that the output emission is emitted substantially uniformly from an emitting surface of the surface layer.

15. The surface layer according to claim 11, wherein the surface layer forms a flexible, thin-film layer configured to conform to non-planar surfaces.

16. The surface layer according to claim 11, wherein surface layer has a profile thickness of approximately 0.1 mm to 2 mm.

17. A light emitting assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a plurality of light generating layers comprising;

a pair of electrodes substantially coating a portion of a glass panel of the vehicle; and

a plurality of printed LEDs in a semiconductor ink disposed between the electrodes and operable to emit an excitation emission of a first wavelength, wherein at least one of the light generating layers comprises a photoluminescent layer proximate one of the electrodes configured to convert the excitation emission to at least a first output emission of a second wavelength.

18. The light emitting assembly according to claim 17, wherein each of the light generating layers is configured to generate an output emission corresponding to a different wavelength of light.

19. The light emitting assembly according to claim 18, further comprising a controller configured to selectively activate each of the light generating layers such that a combined output emission corresponds to a variety of the different wavelengths of light.

20. The light emitting assembly according to claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to activate a first light generating layer of the plurality of light generating layers to emit a first color of light in response to a heating operation and activate a second light generating layer of the plurality of light generating layers to emit a second color of light in response to a cooling operation.