Photoluminescent vehicle panel

• US 9,789,810 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2015
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• 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., Whitens, Michael James, Gardner, Cornel Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US14/603,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 362487, 362496, 362509-510
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/797 at the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/797 At the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0035 relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/543 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045
• 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: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/16 Laser light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/176 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

Abstract

A vehicle illumination apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least one aperture disposed in a panel of the vehicle. A light source is disposed proximate the aperture and configured to emit a first emission having a first wavelength. A first photoluminescent portion is disposed proximate the panel substantially within the aperture and configured to emit a second emission having a second wavelength in response to receiving the first emission.

Claims

1. A vehicle illumination apparatus comprising:

at least one aperture disposed in a panel of the vehicle;

a light source disposed proximate the aperture and configured to emit a first emission having a first wavelength;

a first photoluminescent portion disposed proximate the panel substantially within the aperture and configured to emit a second emission having a second wavelength in response to receiving the first emission; and

a screen disposed in the aperture and configured to extend to a perimeter of the aperture formed by the panel, wherein the first photoluminescent portion is disposed on the screen.

2. A vehicle illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the panel corresponds to an exterior panel of the vehicle.

3. A vehicle illumination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the panel corresponds to at least a portion of a hood of the vehicle.

4. A vehicle illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed substantially inside a cavity formed in the panel by the aperture.

5. A vehicle illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed on an inner wall of the panel behind the screen relative to an exterior surface of the panel.

6. A vehicle illumination apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the photoluminescent portion and the screen are at least partially light transmissive and configured to illuminate the screen in a backlit configuration such that an exterior surface of the screen illuminates in response to receiving the first emission.

7. A vehicle illumination apparatus comprising:

at least one aperture disposed in a hood panel of the vehicle;

a light source disposed proximate the aperture and configured to emit a first emission having a first wavelength;

a first photoluminescent portion disposed proximate the panel substantially within the aperture and configured to emit a second emission having a second wavelength in response to receiving the first emission; and

a screen disposed in the aperture and configured to extend to a perimeter of the aperture formed by the panel.

8. A vehicle illumination apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the photoluminescent portion is disposed on the screen.

9. A vehicle illumination apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the light source is disposed outside of the screen relative to an exterior surface of the panel.

10. A vehicle illumination apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the at least one aperture includes apertures formed in the panel of the vehicle such that the apertures are sloped toward a passenger cabin of the vehicle and configured to direct the second emission from each of the apertures to display a tachometer status to the passenger cabin.

11. A vehicle illumination apparatus comprising:

a plurality of apertures disposed in a hood panel of the vehicle;

a light source comprising a plurality of emitters disposed proximate the apertures and configured to emit a first excitation emission;

a photoluminescent portion disposed substantially within the apertures and configured to emit a first output emission in response to receiving the first excitation emission; and

a controller configured to selectively activate each of the emitters.

12. A vehicle illumination apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to illuminate at least one emitter corresponding to each of the apertures in response to a rate of operation of an engine of the vehicle.

13. A vehicle illumination apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to sequentially illuminate more of the apertures in response to the rate of operation of the vehicle increasing.

14. A vehicle illumination apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to illuminate each of the emitters corresponding to an operating temperature of an engine of the vehicle.

15. A vehicle illumination apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the photoluminescent portion comprises a first photoluminescent element configured to emit the first output emission and a second photoluminescent element configured to emit a second output emission.

16. A vehicle illumination apparatus according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the emitters corresponding to an aperture is operable to emit a second excitation emission to selectively excite the second photoluminescent element to output the second output emission.