Rear vehicle lighting system

• US 9,573,516 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2015
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• 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., Surman, James J., Chea, Vichit
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US14/598,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 362/503, 362/510
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/268 on windscreens or windows B60Q1/302 takes precedence; lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for windows B60Q3/208
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/16 Laser light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/176 Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/16 Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element

Abstract

A rear vehicle light system is provided herein. The system includes a rear windshield and a plurality of photoluminescent structures that are each disposed at a rear windshield location and configured to luminesce in response to light excitation. A plurality of light sources are each configured to supply light to a uniquely associated photoluminescent structure and actuate based on a position of a turn signal lever.

Claims

1. A rear vehicle light system comprising:

a first plurality of photoluminescent structures coupled to a rear windshield and arranged as arrows aligned head-to-tail in a first direction;

a second plurality of photoluminescent structures coupled to the rear windshield and arranged as arrows aligned head-to-tail in a second direction; and

a plurality of light sources, each configured to excite a uniquely associated photoluminescent structure and sequentially actuate based on a position of a turn signal lever.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of photoluminescent structures indicate a left turn when excited and the second plurality of photoluminescent structures indicate a right turn when excited.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein when the turn signal lever is moved to a left turn position and, the first plurality of photoluminescent structures are excited by the corresponding light sources to luminesce intermittently and in succession so as to give the impression that the arrows are moving across the rear windshield in the first direction.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein when the turn signal lever is moved to a right turn position, the second plurality of photoluminescent structures are excited by the corresponding light sources to luminesce intermittently and in succession so as to give the impression that the arrows are moving across the rear windshield in the second direction.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each light source is configured to emit blue light.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each light source is coupled to a vehicle headliner.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each light source is actuated in conjunction with a hazard signal such that the first and second plurality of photoluminescent structures luminesce in a blinking pattern.

8. A rear vehicle light system comprising:

a first plurality of photoluminescent structures coupled to a rear windshield and arranged as arrows aligned horizontally head-to-tail in a leftward direction;

a second plurality of photoluminescent structures coupled to the rear windshield and arranged as arrows aligned horizontally head-to-tail in a rightward direction; and

a plurality of light sources, each configured to excite a uniquely associated photoluminescent structure and sequentially actuate in conjunction with a turn signal.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first plurality of photoluminescent structures indicate a left turn when excited and the second plurality of photoluminescent structures indicate a right turn when excited.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first and second plurality of photoluminescent structures are arranged across an upper portion of the rear windshield.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein when the turn signal indicates a left turn, the first plurality of photoluminescent structures are excited by the corresponding light sources to luminesce intermittently and in succession so as to give the impression that the arrows are moving across the rear windshield in the leftward direction.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein when the turn signal indicates a right turn, the second plurality of photoluminescent structures are excited by the corresponding light sources to luminesce intermittently and in succession so as to give the impression that the arrows are moving across the rear windshield in the rightward direction.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein each light source is coupled to a vehicle headliner.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein each light source is actuated in conjunction with a hazard signal such that the first and second plurality of photoluminescent structures luminesce in a blinking pattern.

15. A rear vehicle light system comprising:

a first plurality of photoluminescent structures coupled to a rear windshield and arranged as arrows aligned head-to-tail in a first direction;

a second plurality of photoluminescent structures coupled to the rear windshield and arranged as arrows aligned head-to-tail in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and

a plurality of light sources, each configured to excite a uniquely associated photoluminescent structure and sequentially actuate in conjunction with one of a left turn signal and a right turn signal.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first plurality of photoluminescent structures indicate a left turn when excited and the second plurality of photoluminescent structures indicate a right turn when excited.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein when the left turn signal is active, the first plurality of photoluminescent structures are excited by the corresponding light sources to luminesce intermittently and in succession so as to give the impression that the arrows are moving across the rear windshield in the first direction.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein when the right turn signal is active, the second plurality of photoluminescent structures are excited by the corresponding light sources to luminesce intermittently and in succession so as to give the impression that the arrows are moving across the rear windshield in the second direction.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein each light source is coupled to a vehicle headliner.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein each light source is actuated in conjunction with a hazard signal such that the first and second plurality of photoluminescent structures luminesce in a blinking pattern.