Illumination assembly

• US 9,664,354 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2016
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Lobo, Harry, Musleh, Michael A., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Maj, Michael Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US15/041,431
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 362487, 362496, 362509-510, 362540
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0041 of several lamps in relation to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2603 Attenuation of the light according to ambient luminiosity, e.g. for braking or direction indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2607 comprising at least two indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2615 mounted on the vehicle body, e.g. with magnets
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/30 for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/20 Multi-color single source or LED matrix, e.g. yellow blinker and red brake lamp generated by single lamp
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/16 Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/26 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/31 Optical layout thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/40 characterised by the combination of reflectors and refractors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/10 Position lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/30 Semiconductor lasers

Abstract

An illumination assembly for a vehicle is provided herein. The illumination assembly includes one or more decorative elements each having a substrate and a film attached thereto. A light source is configured to emit an excitation light. The light source is disposed within a tail-light assembly and the excitation light exits the tail-light assembly through a light transmissive portion towards the decorative element. A first photoluminescent structure is disposed within the decorative element and is configured to convert the excitation light emitted from the light source into a converted light of a different wavelength.

Claims

1. An illumination assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

one or more decorative elements each having a substrate and a film attached thereto;

a light source configured to emit an excitation light, wherein the light source is disposed within a vehicle tail-light assembly and the excitation light exits the tail-light assembly through a light transmissive portion towards the decorative element; and

a first photoluminescent structure disposed within the decorative element and configured to convert the excitation light emitted from the light source into a converted light of a different wavelength.

2. The illumination assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the excitation light comprises at least one of blue light, violet light, IR, and UV light.

3. The illumination assembly for a vehicle of claim 2, wherein the first photoluminescent structure includes at least one photoluminescent material therein configured to down convert or to up convert the excitation light received from at least a portion of the light sources into the visible converted light.

4. The illumination assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the film includes a base layer, a translucent decorative layer, and a protective layer.

5. The illumination assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a second photoluminescent structure disposed within the decorative elements, wherein the first photoluminescent structure emits the converted light at a first wavelength and the second photoluminescent structure emits a converted light at a second wavelength.

6. The illumination assembly for a vehicle of claim 5, wherein the light source is configured to emit the excitation light at a plurality of wavelengths such that the first and second photoluminescent structures may be independently excited.

7. A vehicle illuminable decorative element, comprising:

a film including a base layer, a decorative layer, and a protective layer;

a substrate integrally attached to the base layer of the film, wherein the substrate includes a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light emitted from a light source of a tail-light assembly; and

an adhesive coating disposed between the substrate and a vehicle body panel.

8. The decorative element of claim 7, wherein the light source is disposed in a lighting assembly that is separated from the decorative element such that excitation light is emitted along the body panel between the lighting assembly and the decorative element.

9. The decorative element of claim 7, wherein the photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material configured to perform an energy conversion on the excitation light received from at least a portion of the light source into a visible, converted light that is outputted to a viewable portion.

10. The decorative element of claim 7, wherein the photoluminescent structure includes a short persistence photoluminescent material therein that is configured to illuminate for 100 millisecond or less once the light source returns to an unilluminated state.

11. The decorative element of claim 10, wherein the light source is configured as a light-emitting diode.

12. The decorative element of claim 8, wherein the light source is disposed on a member that extends into the lighting assembly such that the light source is directed towards a light transmissive portion and the decorative element.

13. The decorative element of claim 8, further comprising:

a light transmissive portion that is operably coupled with optics for directing the excitation light towards the decorative element.

14. The decorative element of claim 11, wherein the light-emitting diode is configured as a laser diode that includes an LED, optics, and a rod that directs a laser emission towards the decorative element, wherein the laser emission correlates to the excitation light.

15. A vehicle comprising:

an illumination assembly including one or more decorative elements, wherein each decorative element includes a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light; and

a vehicle tail-light assembly having one or more light sources therein, wherein a first portion of excitation light emitted therefrom through a lens and a second portion of excitation light emitted therefrom is directed through a transmissive portion towards the illumination assembly.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the photoluminescent structure includes a short persistence phosphorescent material.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the photoluminescent structure includes a long persistence phosphorescent material.

18. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the excitation light comprises one of blue light, violet light, IR, and UV light.

19. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the decorative element is formed through an in-mold decoration process such that a film and a substrate are integrally molded to one another.

20. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the decorative element includes a film having a decorative layer such that the decorative element is reflective when the photoluminescent structure is in a non-luminescent state.