Illuminated license plate

• US 9,688,189 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2016
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Johnson, Aaron Bradley, Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Salter, Stuart C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US15/065,220
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 362497-499, 362509-511
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/56 for illuminating registrations or the like , e.g. for licence plates
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/10 Registration, licensing, or like devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/00 Exterior vehicle lighting devices for signalling purposes

Abstract

A vehicle is provided that includes a license plate positioned on a rear of the vehicle, the license plate includes indicia with a first phosphorescent material. A light source is configured to activate the first phosphorescent material and a license plate frame at least partially surrounding the license plate. The license plate frame has an at least partially transparent substrate including a partially transmissive coating. A second phosphorescent material is positioned proximate the partially transmissive coating. The license plate frame also includes a reflective surface and a transparent surface positioned proximate the license plate.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a license plate positioned on a rear of the vehicle, the license plate including an indicia comprising a first phosphorescent material;

a light source configured to activate the first phosphorescent material; and

a license plate frame at least partially surrounding the license plate, the license plate frame comprising;

an at least partially transparent substrate comprising a partially transmissive coating;

a second phosphorescent material positioned proximate the partially transmissive coating;

a reflective surface; and

a transparent surface positioned proximate the license plate.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light source is configured to emit light with a wavelength shorter than about 425 nm.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein a second phosphorescent material is positioned between the partially transmissive coating and the substrate.

4. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the second phosphorescent material is molded into the substrate and the light source is configured to activate the second phosphorescent material.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a second light source configured to emit white light.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the second light source has a color temperature between about 7,000K and about 10,000K.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of a first and a second phosphorescent material are configured to have a perceptible glow for greater than 10 hours after charging.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, further comprising:

a light sensor positioned proximate the license plate, wherein the light sensor is configured to sense an amount of light falling on the license plate and the license plate frame.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the indicia comprises a plurality of beads.

10. A vehicle, comprising:

a light sensor configured to determine the amount of light impinging on a license plate; and

a license plate frame positioned proximate the license plate, the license plate frame comprising;

a substrate comprising a partially transmissive surface;

a phosphorescent material disposed within the substrate;

a reflective surface positioned on the substrate; and

a transparent surface positioned proximate the license plate, the transparent surface configured to edge illuminate the license plate.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the phosphorescent material is configured to have a perceptible glow for greater than 10 hours after charging.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the license plate frame fully surrounds the license plate.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the partially transmissive surface comprises a metal.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the reflective surface comprises a metal.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the license plate frame at least partially surrounds the license plate.

16. A frame for a license plate, comprising:

a light sensor configured to determine an amount of light impinging on the license plate;

a substrate comprising an at least semi-transparent polymeric material having a phosphorescent material disposed therein;

a partially transmissive coating and a reflective coating each on at least a portion of the substrate; and

a transparent surface of the substrate, wherein the transparent surface is positioned on an inboard edge of the substrate.

17. The frame of claim 16, wherein the reflective coating is configured to reflect light through the substrate.

18. The frame of claim 17, wherein the partially transmissive coating, reflective coating, and the transparent surface cooperate to surround the substrate.

19. The frame of claim 16, wherein the reflective coating includes a white paint.