Photoluminescent logo for vehicle trim and fabric

• US 9,539,939 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2014
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• 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, Surman, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRUCE, DAVID VERNON
• Application Number:
  US14/471,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20150197186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/233 Seats; Arm rests; Head rests
• 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

Abstract

An illumination apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The illumination apparatus comprises at least on fabric portion comprising a first photoluminescent portion having a first luminescent absorption range. The illumination apparatus further comprises a second photoluminescent portion having a second luminescent absorption range. A light source is configured to emit a first emission at a first wavelength directed toward the fabric portion, wherein the first wavelength is within the first absorption range and significantly outside the second absorption range.

Claims

1. An illumination apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

at least one fabric portion comprising thread treated with a photoluminescent material disposed on a textile surface of the vehicle, the at least one fabric portion comprising a first photoluminescent portion having a first luminescent absorption range and a second photoluminescent portion comprising a second luminescent absorption range; and

a first light source configured to emit a first emission at a first wavelength, wherein the first wavelength is within the first absorption range and significantly outside the second absorption range.

2. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first luminescent absorption range corresponds to a different range of wavelengths of light than the second absorption range.

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

a second light source configured to emit a second emission at a second wavelength different than the first wavelength and within the second absorption range.

4. The illumination apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first photoluminescent portion is configured to emit a third emission in response to the first emission.

5. The illumination apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second photoluminescent portion is configured to emit a fourth emission in response to the second emission.

6. The illumination apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second wavelength is within the second absorption range such that the second photoluminescent portion emits a fourth emission.

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

a controller in communication with the first and second light sources, wherein the controller is configured to selectively illuminate each of the first and second light sources.

8. The illumination apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to control the first emission and the second emission such that at least a section of each of the first photoluminescent portion is selectively illuminated substantially independent of an illumination of the second photoluminescent portion.

9. A lighting system configured to illuminate a fabric portion of a vehicle comprising:

a light source configured to emit a first emission having a first wavelength; and

a thread treated with a photoluminescent material and disposed on a textile surface of the vehicle, wherein the first emission is directed toward the thread such that the thread emits a second emission having a second wavelength.

10. The lighting system according to claim 9, wherein the thread is embroidered into the textile and the textile corresponds to an upholstery of the vehicle.

11. The lighting system according to claim 9, wherein the light source is selectively activated in response to an object detection of a proximity sensor.

12. The lighting system according to claim 9, wherein the light source is selectively activated in response to at least one vehicle status.

13. The lighting system according to claim 12, wherein the vehicle status corresponds to at least one of a door ajar status, an ignition status of the vehicle, and a gear selector status.

14. A lighting system for a vehicle comprising:

a controller in communication with a light source configured to emit a first emission having a first wavelength; and

a first thread treated with a first photoluminescent material and disposed on a textile surface of the vehicle, wherein the first emission is directed toward the first thread such that the first thread emits a second emission having a second wavelength.

15. The lighting system according to claim 14, wherein the first thread corresponds to an embroidered feature disposed on the textile surface.

16. The lighting system according to claim 14, wherein the textile corresponds to a portion of upholstery of the vehicle.

17. The lighting system according to claim 15, further comprising a second light source configured to emit a third wavelength of light directed toward the embroidered feature.

18. The lighting system according to claim 15, wherein the embroidered feature further comprises a second thread treated with a second photoluminescent material.

19. The lighting system according to claim 18, wherein the second photoluminescent material is configured to emit a fourth emission having fourth wavelength in response to receiving the third emission having a third wavelength.

20. The lighting system according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the first thread and the second thread is color corrected such that environmental light reflected therefrom generates a desired appearance.