Luminescent console storage bin

• US 9,573,520 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2016
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lince, Alex, Salter, Stuart C., Buttolo, Pietro, Surman, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US15/232,082
• Time in Patent Office: 196 Days
• Field of Search: 362478-488, 362/492, 362503-504, 362509-511
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A vehicle lighting apparatus is disclosed. The lighting apparatus comprises a vehicle console comprising a storage bin. An emissive portion comprising a luminescent material is disposed proximate the storage bin. A light guide is in optical communication with an exterior glass portion of the vehicle and configured to communicate environmental light to the emissive portion.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting apparatus comprising:

a vehicle console comprising a storage bin;

a first emissive portion comprising a luminescent material disposed proximate the storage bin; and

a light guide in optical communication with an exterior glass portion and configured to communicate environmental light from outside the vehicle to the emissive portion.

2. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the luminescent material is configured to emit a luminescent emission in response to receiving the environmental light.

3. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the luminescent material corresponds to persistent luminescent material configured to emit the luminescent emission over a decay time exceeding ten minutes.

4. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle console corresponds to an overhead console disposed in a roof of a vehicle.

5. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the glass portion corresponds to a windshield of the vehicle.

6. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second emissive portion in communication with the light guide.

7. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle console further comprises a utility light configured to generate light to illuminate a portion of a passenger compartment.

8. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second emissive portion corresponds to an accent light disposed proximate the utility light.

9. A vehicle lighting apparatus comprising:

a vehicle console comprising a storage bin;

an active light source configured to emit a charging emission;

an emissive portion comprising a luminescent material disposed proximate the storage bin; and

a light guide in optical communication with an exterior glass portion and the active light source, wherein the light guide is configured to communicate environmental light from outside the vehicle and the charging emission to the emissive portion.

10. The lighting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the luminescent material is configured to emit a luminescent emission in response to receiving at least one of the environmental light and the charging emission.

11. The lighting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the luminescent material corresponds to persistent luminescent material configured to emit the luminescent emission over a decay time exceeding ten minutes.

12. The lighting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle console corresponds to an overhead console disposed in a roof of a vehicle.

13. The lighting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the glass portion corresponds to a windshield of the vehicle.

14. The lighting apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a controller, the controller configured to selectively activate the active light source to supply the charging emission to the emissive portion.

15. The lighting apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a light sensor configured to detect the environmental light.

16. The lighting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate the active light source to emit the charging emission in response to a lapse in the environmental light identified by the light sensor.

17. The lighting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the lapse in the environmental light is identified by the controller for a predetermined period of time.

18. A vehicle lighting apparatus comprising:

a vehicle console comprising a storage bin;

an active light source configured to emit a charging emission;

an emissive portion comprising a luminescent material disposed proximate the storage bin and configured to emit a luminescent emission; and

a light guide in optical communication with a windshield, wherein the light guide is configured to communicate environmental light from outside the vehicle and the charging emission to the emissive portion to emit the luminescent emission.

19. The lighting apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a controller, the controller configured to selectively activate the active light source to supply the charging emission to the emissive portion.

20. The lighting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate the active light source to emit the charging emission in response to a lapse in the environmental light identified by the light sensor.