Vehicle badge

• US 9,840,188 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2017
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2016
• 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., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Buttolo, Pietro, Musleh, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US15/473,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20170240100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 257 Days
• Field of Search: 362487, 362496, 362509-510, 362545
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0011 with light guides for distributing the light between several lighting or signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2619 built in the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• 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: B60R 13/005 Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/64 using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 43/235 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/236 characterised by the shape of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/31 Optical layout thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/045 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/002 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0075 Arrangements of multiple light guides G02B6/0028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0083 Details of electrical connections of light sources to drivers, circuit boards, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 : by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A badge for a vehicle is provided herein. The badge includes a substrate attached to a housing. The housing has a viewable portion. A first light guide is operably coupled with a first light source. A second light guide is operably coupled with a plurality of second light sources. The geometric shape of the first light guide is varied from the second light guide.

Claims

1. A badge for a vehicle, comprising:

a substrate attached to a housing of said badge;

a first light guide operably coupled with a first light source, wherein the first light guide has a four point star-shaped cross section configured to diffuse light transmitted therethrough; and

a second light guide operably coupled with a plurality of second light sources, wherein a geometric shape of the first light guide is varied from the second light guide.

2. The badge for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first light source emits a first excitation light and the plurality of second light sources emits a second excitation light.

3. The badge for a vehicle of claim 2, further comprising:

a first photoluminescent structure disposed above the first light guide; and

a second photoluminescent structure disposed above the second light guide.

4. The badge for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first light source is disposed outwardly of the plurality of second light sources.

5. The badge for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first light source illuminates in a non-white color and wherein the plurality of second light sources illuminates in a substantially white color.

6. The badge for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second light guide includes a horizontally extending portion defining a distal portion and a plurality of vertically extending portions defining a proximal portion that is disposed proximately to each of the plurality of second light sources.

7. The badge for a vehicle of claim 6, wherein the distal portion of the second light guide is progressively illuminated as each of the plurality of second light sources is sequentially illuminated.

8. The badge for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first light guide may have a geometric shape that is configured to refract light in a plurality of directions.

9. The badge for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the first and second light guides has a smaller cross-sectional area than a second portion of the first and second light sources, the light emitted from the first and second light sources configured to enter the first portion and exit through the second.

10. A badge for a vehicle, comprising:

a substrate attached to a housing of said badge, the housing having a viewable portion;

a first light guide operably coupled with a first light source; and

a second light guide operably coupled with a second light source, wherein the second light guide includes a horizontally extending portion forwardly of a plurality of vertically extending portions, wherein each vertically extending portion is disposed over a respective second light source.

11. The badge for a vehicle of claim 10, further comprising:

a first photoluminescent structure disposed between the first light guide and the viewable portion.

12. The badge for a vehicle of claim 11, wherein the first photoluminescent structure includes a short persistence photoluminescent material therein that is configured to illuminate in a plurality of colors, wherein each color of converted light is emitted for 100 milliseconds or less once an excitation light is removed.

13. The badge for a vehicle of claim 10, wherein a distal portion of the second light guide provides illumination for indicia disposed proximately thereto.

14. A badge for a vehicle, comprising:

a substrate attached to a housing, the housing having a viewable portion;

a first light guide operably coupled with a first light source, the first light guide configured to diffuse light;

a second light guide operably coupled with a pair of second light sources, wherein the second light guide blends light from each respective second light source within the second light guide;

a photoluminescent structure including at least one photoluminescent material therein configured to perform an energy conversion on the first or second excitation light received from at least a portion of the first or second light source into a visible converted light; and

a decorative layer disposed on a rear surface of the housing.

15. The badge for a vehicle of claim 14, wherein the first and second light guides include a first portion having a reflective material thereon and a second portion that is free of the reflective material.

16. The badge for a vehicle of claim 14, wherein the first light guide is configured to refract light transmitted therethrough.