Dual purpose lighting assembly

• US 9,694,743 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2015
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US14/730,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20150266418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 362486-487, 362501, 362509-510
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• 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 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/217 Doors, e.g. door sills; Steps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/68 using ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/745 using lighting panels or mats, e.g. electro-luminescent panels, LED mats
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A dual purpose lighting assembly for a vehicle is provided herein. The dual purpose lighting assembly includes a puddle lamp assembly disposed proximate a doorway and operable to emit light by luminescence to illuminate a ground area outside the vehicle and a dome lamp assembly disposed next to the puddle lamp assembly and operable to emit light by luminescence to illuminate a vehicle cabin area.

Claims

1. A dual purpose lighting assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a puddle lamp assembly disposed proximate a doorway and operable to emit light by luminescence to illuminate a ground area outside the vehicle; and

a dome lamp assembly disposed next to the puddle lamp assembly and operable to emit light by luminescence to illuminate a vehicle cabin area, wherein the puddle lamp and dome lamp assemblies together define a curved structure, and wherein the dome lamp is higher positioned relative the puddle lamp.

2. The dual purpose lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the puddle lamp assembly is coupled to an edge of a roof structure of the vehicle, wherein the edge is located adjacent the doorway.

3. The dual purpose lighting assembly of claim 2, wherein the dome lamp assembly is coupled to the roof structure and located at a greater distance from the doorway relative to the puddle lamp assembly.

4. The dual purpose lighting assembly of claim 3, wherein the roof structure comprises a headliner of the vehicle.

5. The dual purpose lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the puddle lamp and dome lamp assemblies each comprise a plurality of light sources arranged as printed LEDs and a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from the plurality of light sources.

6. The dual purpose lighting assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one controller for selectively operating the puddle lamp and dome lamp assemblies.

7. The dual purpose lighting assembly of claim 6, wherein the controller activates the puddle lamp when a door associated with the doorway is moved to an open position.

8. A dual purpose lighting assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a puddle lamp assembly located adjacent a doorway and operable to emit light by luminescence to illuminate a ground area outside the vehicle; and

a dome lamp assembly disposed next to the puddle lamp assembly and operable to emit light by luminescence to illuminate a vehicle cabin area, wherein the puddle and dome lamp assemblies are each coupled to a roof structure, wherein the puddle lamp and dome lamp assemblies together define a curved structure, and wherein the dome lamp is higher positioned relative the puddle lamp.

9. The dual purpose lighting assembly of claim 8, wherein the dome lamp assembly is located at a greater distance from the doorway relative to the puddle lamp assembly.

10. The dual purpose lighting assembly of claim 8, wherein the roof structure comprises a headliner of the vehicle.

11. The dual purpose lighting assembly of claim 8, wherein the puddle lamp and dome lamp assemblies each comprise a plurality of light sources arranged as printed LEDs and a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from the plurality of light sources.

12. The dual purpose lighting assembly of claim 8, further comprising at least one controller for selectively operating the puddle lamp and dome lamp assemblies.

13. The dual purpose lighting assembly of claim 12, wherein the controller activates the puddle lamp when a door associated with the doorway is moved to an open position.

14. A dual purpose lighting assembly comprising:

a first light-producing assembly disposed proximate a doorway and operable to emit light in a vehicle-outward direction;

a second light-producing assembly disposed next to the first light-producing assembly and operable to emit light in a vehicle-inward direction; and

a controller for selectively operating the first and second light-producing assemblies based on at least one input signal, wherein the first light-producing and the second light-producing assemblies together define a curved structure, and wherein the second light-producing assembly is higher positioned relative the first light-producing assembly.

15. The dual-purpose lighting assembly of claim 14, wherein the first and second light-producing assemblies each comprise a plurality of light sources arranged as printed LEDs and a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from the plurality of light sources.

16. The dual-purpose lighting assembly of claim 14, wherein the first and second light-producing assemblies are each coupled to a headliner such that the second light-producing assembly is located at a greater distance from the doorway relative to the first light-producing assembly.

17. The dual-purpose lighting assembly of claim 14, wherein the at least one input signal is received from one of a user-operated switch, a door sensor, an ambient light sensor, and a vehicle lighting system.

18. The dual-purpose lighting assembly of claim 14, wherein the first light-producing assembly is configured as a puddle lamp and the second light-producing assembly is configured as a dome lamp.