Illuminating decal for a vehicle

• US 9,688,186 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2015
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• 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., Musleh, Michael A., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Gardner, Cornel Lewis, Surman, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter, William
• Application Number:
  US14/686,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20150217681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 362459-549
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/323 on or for doors illuminated exterior door handles B60Q1/2669; illuminated door locks E05B17/10
• 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: B60R 13/04 External Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices thereon fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• 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 decal for a vehicle is provided herein. The decal includes a plurality of light sources and a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by at least a portion of the light sources. A decorative layer has a pattern that is at least partially illuminated by the photoluminescent structure when the photoluminescent structure is in luminescent state is provided.

Claims

1. A decal comprising:

a plurality of printed light emitting diodes (LEDs) directly coupled to an exterior body of a vehicle;

a remote photoluminescent structure arranged over the plurality of printed LEDs and configured to luminesce in response to light excitation by at least a portion of the plurality of printed LEDs; and

a decorative layer arranged over the remote photoluminescent structure and having a pattern that is at least partially illuminated by luminescent light.

2. The decal of claim 1, wherein the plurality of plurality of printed LEDs are arranged as printed LEDs and are coupled to the exterior body via an adhesive.

3. The decal of claim 2, wherein the remote photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material, wherein the at least one photoluminescent material is configured to down convert an inputted light received from at least a portion of the plurality of printed LEDs into a visible light.

4. The decal of claim 3, wherein the inputted light comprises one of a blue light, violet light, and a UV light.

5. The decal of claim 1, wherein the decorative layer comprises a light translucent portion and an opaque portion.

6. The decal of claim 1, further comprising a controller for controlling an activation state of the plurality of printed LEDs in response to at least one vehicle-related condition.

7. The decal of claim 6, wherein the controller determines at least one of a light emission intensity and a light emission duration of the plurality of printed LEDs.

8. A decal for a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of plurality of printed LEDs directly adhered to a visible vehicle surface;

a remote photoluminescent structure arranged over the plurality of printed LEDs and configured to luminesce in response to light excitation by at least a portion of the plurality of printed LEDs; and

a decorative layer arranged over the remote photoluminescent structure and having a pattern that is at least partially illuminated by luminescent light.

9. The decal of claim 8, wherein the remote photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material, wherein the at least one photoluminescent material is configured to down convert an inputted light received from at least a portion of the plurality of plurality of printed LEDs into a visible light.

10. The decal of claim 9, wherein the inputted light comprises one of a blue light, violet light, and a UV light.

11. The decal of claim 8, wherein the decorative layer comprises a light translucent portion and an opaque portion.

12. The decal of claim 8, further comprising a controller for controlling an activation state of the plurality of printed LEDs in response to at least one vehicle-related condition.

13. The decal of claim 12, wherein the controller determines at least one of a light emission intensity and a light emission duration of the plurality of printed LEDs.

14. A decal, comprising:

printed LEDs directly adhered to an exterior surface of a vehicle;

a remote photoluminescent structure arranged over the printed LEDs and configured to luminesce in response to light excitation by the printed LEDs;

a decorative layer arranged over the remote photoluminescent structure and having a pattern that is at least partially illuminated by luminescent light; and

a clear protective layer arranged over the decorative layer to protect the decal against environmental exposure.

15. The decal of claim 14, wherein the remote photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material, wherein the at least one photoluminescent material is configured to down convert an inputted light received from at least a portion of the printed LEDs into a visible light.

16. The decal of claim 15, wherein the inputted light comprises one of a blue light, violet light, and a UV light.

17. The decal of claim 14, wherein the pattern is defined using an opaque ink and a translucent ink.

18. The decal of claim 14, further comprising a controller for controlling an activation state of the printed LEDs in response to at least one vehicle-related condition.

19. The decal of claim 18, wherein the controller determines at least one of a light emission intensity and a light emission duration of the printed LEDs.