Illuminated exterior strip

• US 9,821,708 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2015
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• 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., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Gardner, Cornel Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter, William
• Application Number:
  US14/795,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20150307020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 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 1/2615 mounted on the vehicle body, e.g. with magnets
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2669 on door or boot handles lighting devices for vehicle interior on door handles B60Q3/267
• 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: 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: 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 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/26 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255
• 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 lighting system for a vehicle panel is provided herein. The lighting system includes an outer panel mated to an inner panel. An aperture is disposed in the outer panel. A light-producing assembly is arranged as a strip and includes a plurality of light sources. A photoluminescent structure is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the plurality of light sources. A retention feature is coupled to the light-producing assembly and insertable through the aperture for disposing the light-producing assembly on the outer panel.

Claims

1. A body panel for a vehicle, comprising:

a panel having an aperture provided therein;

a light-producing assembly comprising a plurality of light sources arranged as a strip attached to a portion of the panel; and

a photoluminescent structure on the light-producing assembly configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the plurality of light sources, wherein the plurality of light sources is dispersed in a variable density along the strip such that portions of the photoluminescent structure located above occupant seating areas exhibit a greater degree of luminescence than portions of the photoluminescent structure located above non-occupant seating areas.

2. The body panel of claim 1, further comprising:

a retention feature coupled to the light-producing assembly and insertable through the aperture for disposing the light-producing assembly on the panel.

3. The body panel of claim 1, wherein the panel includes an outer panel and an inner panel and a cavity is formed therebetween.

4. The body panel of claim 3, further comprising:

a set of conductive leads disposed through the aperture and into the cavity.

5. The body panel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources comprises LEDs dispersed in a printed LED arrangement.

6. The body panel of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the photoluminescent structure is located proximate a vehicle feature and exhibits a first intensity of luminescence and a second portion of the photoluminescent structure is located further from the vehicle feature and exhibits a second, lower intensity of luminescence while illuminated.

7. The body panel of claim 1, wherein the light-producing assembly is configured to illuminate in a plurality of colors.

8. A lighting system for a vehicle, comprising:

a panel having a light-producing assembly disposed on a first surface and a second surface offset from the first surface;

a photoluminescent structure on the panel, wherein the light-producing assembly is configured to excite greater degrees of luminescence proximate an occupant seating area than portions located above non-occupant seating areas; and

an overmold material disposed over the light-producing assembly at an intersection of the first and second surfaces.

9. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:

a controller for selectively activating the plurality of light sources.

10. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 8, wherein the plurality of light sources comprises LEDs dispersed in a printed LED arrangement.

11. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 8, wherein the light-producing assembly illuminates indicia disposed over a portion of the light-producing assembly.

12. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 11, wherein the overmold material and a conductive lead are disposed in an indent in the panel at an intersection of the first and second surfaces of the panel.

13. A lighting system for a vehicle, comprising:

a first light-producing assembly disposed on a fender of said vehicle;

a second light-producing assembly disposed on a door of said vehicle, wherein the first and second light-producing assemblies are co-planar and each includes a plurality of light sources dispersed at variable densities; and

a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in greater degrees proximate a location relative to occupant seating areas than portions located above non-occupant seating areas.

14. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 13, further comprising a controller for selectively activating the plurality of light sources.

15. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein the first and second light-producing assemblies appear as a single, continuous illuminated trim component.

16. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 15, wherein the first and second light-producing assemblies are disposed proximate to one another so as to appear as a single continuous strip.

17. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein the plurality of light sources comprises LEDs dispersed in a printed LED arrangement.

18. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein the plurality of light sources are dispersed such that portions of the photoluminescent structure proximate to a vehicle feature exhibit a greater degree of luminescence than portions of the photoluminescent structure located remotely from the feature.

19. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 13, wherein the first and second light-producing assemblies each illuminate in a first and a second color.