Photoluminescent blind spot warning indicator

• US 9,527,438 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2014
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US14/322,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 362/488, 362/490, 362510-511
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/12 lighting onto the surface to be illuminated
• 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: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling

Abstract

A vehicle indicator apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a photoluminescent portion disposed on a forward vehicle pillar and a light source located proximate the forward vehicle pillar. The light source is configured to emit light at a first wavelength directed toward the photoluminescent portion. 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 of the forward vehicle pillar.

Claims

1. A vehicle notification apparatus comprising:

a photoluminescent portion disposed on a forward vehicle pillar adjacent a windshield; and

a light source separately disposed away from the photoluminescent portion and located proximate the forward vehicle pillar, the light source 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 of the forward vehicle pillar.

2. The vehicle notification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source is configured to selectively illuminate the photoluminescent portion in response to a vehicle warning condition.

3. The vehicle notification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source is configured to direct the light at the first wavelength through at least a portion of a passenger compartment to illuminate the photoluminescent portion.

4. The vehicle notification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first wavelength is approximately less than 500 nm such that the first wavelength of the light is not significantly visible.

5. The vehicle notification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed in one of a window ledge, a door frame, and a headliner of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle notification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photoluminescent portion is disposed along a seal portion of a front window trim.

7. The vehicle notification apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the photoluminescent portion extends from a significantly forward bottom portion of the window trim upward and is significantly co-extensive with an upper extent of the windshield to maximize a notification to the operator.

8. The vehicle notification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photoluminescent portion comprises a photoluminescent structure disposed in an interior material of the forward vehicle pillar.

9. The vehicle notification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the forward pillar corresponds to an A-pillar of a vehicle.

10. A vehicle notification system comprising:

at least one photoluminescent portion located on a forward vehicle pillar adjacent a windshield; and

at least one light source separately disposed away from the photoluminescent portion and in communication with a light controller and a vehicle warning system, wherein the light source is configured to emit light at a first wavelength toward the photoluminescent portion to illuminate the photoluminescent portion in at least a second wavelength in response to a signal received from the vehicle warning system.

11. The vehicle notification system according to claim 10, further comprising:

an ambient light sensor in communication with the light source controller.

12. The vehicle notification system according to claim 11, wherein the light controller is configured to vary an intensity of the light at the first wavelength from the light source in response to an ambient light level detected by the ambient light detector.

13. The vehicle notification system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one photoluminescent portion comprises a first photoluminescent portion disposed on a driver side A-pillar and a second photoluminescent portion disposed on a passenger side A-pillar.

14. The vehicle notification system according to claim 13, wherein the at least one light source comprises a first light source configured to illuminate the driver side photoluminescent portion and a second light source configured to illuminate the passenger side light source.

15. The vehicle notification system according to claim 14, wherein the light controller is configured to illuminate the first light source and the second light source in response to a blind spot warning detected by the vehicle warning system.

16. The vehicle notification system according to claim 15, wherein the light controller is configured to illuminate the first photoluminescent portion in response to a target vehicle detected by the vehicle warning system in a driver side region.

17. The vehicle notification system according to claim 16, wherein the light controller is configured to illuminate the second photoluminescent portion in response to a target vehicle detected by the warning system in the passenger side region.

18. A vehicle notification system comprising:

a photoluminescent portion disposed proximate an A-pillar; and

a light source separately disposes away from the photoluminescent portion and located proximate the A-pillar 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 of the forward vehicle pillar.

19. The notification system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a light pipe extending from the light source to the photoluminescent portion, the light pipe configured to communicate the light at the first wavelength to substantially all of the photoluminescent portion.

20. The notification system according to claim 19, wherein the light pipe is disposed behind the photoluminescent portion relative to a passenger compartment in a backlit configuration.