Vehicle illumination assembly

• US 9,803,822 B1
• Filed: 06/03/2016
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2016
• 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., Helwig, Stephen Kenneth, Johnson, Aaron Bradley, Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Myszka, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US15/172,900
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 362487, 362505-507, 362509-510, 362520-522, 362540-545
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/30 for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/125 Coloured light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/13 Ultraviolet light; Infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/37 characterised by their material, surface treatment or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/40 characterised by screens, non-reflecting members, light-shielding members or fixed shades
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/10 characterised by the light source
• 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 43/195 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/33 characterised by their material, surface treatment or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/15 Side marker lights

Abstract

A vehicle reflective assembly is provided herein. The reflective assembly includes a lens and a housing attached to the lens. The lens includes a reflective assembly portion. A base layer having reflective characteristics is disposed on the lens in the reflective assembly portion. A photoluminescent structure is disposed on the base layer and is configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light emitted by a light source. A reflective layer is disposed on the photoluminescent structure and has one or more reflective beads configured to reflect a first portion of incident light directed towards the reflective assembly portion and allow a second portion of the incident light to pass therethrough. The second portion of the incident light includes the excitation light therein.

Claims

1. A vehicle reflective assembly, comprising:

a lens and a lamp housing attached to the lens, wherein the lens includes a reflective assembly portion;

a base layer having reflective characteristics disposed on the lens in the reflective assembly portion;

a photoluminescent structure disposed on the base layer and configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light emitted by a light source; and

a reflective layer disposed on the photoluminescent structure having one or more reflective beads configured to reflect a first portion of incident light directed towards the reflective assembly portion and allow a second portion of the incident light to pass therethrough, wherein the second portion of the incident light includes the excitation light therein.

2. The vehicle reflective assembly of claim 1, wherein the photoluminescent structure includes at least one photoluminescent material configured to convert an excitation light received from the second portion of the incident light into a visible light.

3. The vehicle reflective assembly of claim 1, wherein the first photoluminescent structure includes a long persistent photoluminescent material therein.

4. The vehicle reflective assembly of claim 1, wherein the photoluminescent structure is part of a medium that includes reflective characteristics such that the lens is reflective when the photoluminescent structure is not illuminated and emits converted light of a desired color when the photoluminescent structure receives the excitation light.

5. The vehicle reflective assembly of claim 1, wherein the excitation light comprises one of blue light, violet light, and UV light.

6. The vehicle reflective assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an adhesive layer, wherein the beads may be embedded within the adhesive layer.

7. The vehicle reflective assembly of claim 6, wherein the adhesive layer is partially light transmissive such that the incident light may pass therethrough.

8. A reflective assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a lens disposed on a lamp assembly of the vehicle;

a photoluminescent structure disposed on the lens between a base layer and a reflective layer and configured to luminesce in response to an excitation light; and

one or more reflective beads disposed within the reflective layer.

9. The reflective assembly for a vehicle of claim 8, wherein the photoluminescent structure includes a long persistent photoluminescent material therein.

10. The reflective assembly for a vehicle of claim 8, wherein the first photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material configured to convert an excitation light into a visible converted light that is outputted to a viewable portion.

11. The reflective assembly for a vehicle of claim 10, wherein the excitation light comprises one of blue light, violet light, and UV light.

12. The reflective assembly for a vehicle of claim 8, wherein the lens is configured as a side marker for a vehicle.

13. The reflective assembly for a vehicle of claim 9, wherein the lens is also configured to output a light emitted from a headlamp.

14. The reflective assembly for a vehicle of claim 9, wherein the reflective beads are maintained within and protrude from an adhesive material.

15. A reflective assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a lens defining a reflective assembly portion on a lamp of the vehicle;

a reflective bead layer disposed on the lens and configured to redirect an incident light directed at the lens;

a photoluminescent structure disposed inwardly of the reflective layer; and

a base layer disposed inwardly of the photoluminescent structure and configured to substantially prevent light from passing therethrough.

16. The reflective assembly for a vehicle of claim 15, wherein an excitation light is supplied from a natural light source.

17. The reflective assembly for a vehicle of claim 15, wherein an excitation light is supplied from an artificial light source.

18. The reflective assembly for a vehicle of claim 15, wherein the base layer includes TiO₂ and has a reflectance percentage greater than 90%.

19. The reflective assembly for a vehicle of claim 15, wherein a converted light outputted from the photoluminescent structure is emitted towards the base layer and the reflective layer, wherein the converted light emitted towards the base layer is redirected to the photoluminescent structure and then through the reflective layer.

20. The reflective assembly for a vehicle of claim 19, wherein the base layer is formed through vapor metal deposition of the reflective assembly portion of the lens.