Vehicle lamp assembly

• US 9,840,191 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2016
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2016
• 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., Johnson, Aaron Bradley, Dellock, Paul Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US15/207,857
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 362487, 362494, 362509-510, 362543-545
• 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 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• 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 1/323 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: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• 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: F21W 2104/00 Exterior vehicle lighting devices for decorative purposes

Abstract

A lamp assembly is provided herein. The lamp assembly includes first and second light sources disposed in a housing. The first and second light sources emit light at varied wavelengths. A badge is disposed on a vehicle and is operably coupled with the first light source. A photoluminescent structure is disposed on the badge and is configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light emitted by the first light source.

Claims

1. A lamp assembly, comprising:

first and second light sources disposed in a rearview mirror, wherein the first and second light sources emit light at varied wavelengths;

a badge disposed on a vehicle and operably coupled with the first light source; and

a photoluminescent structure disposed on the badge and configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light emitted by the first light source.

2. The lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the photoluminescent structure includes at least one photoluminescent material configured to convert an excitation light received from the first light source into a visible light.

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

4. The lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the first light source emits light that is directed towards a portion of the vehicle and the second light source directs light towards a ground surface.

5. The lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the first wavelength is within one of blue light, violet light, and UV light spectrums.

6. The lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the first or second light sources emit excitation light as an occupant approaches the vehicle.

7. The lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein a controller in the vehicle stores an average away time of an occupant and the first light source emits the excitation light before the average away time expires if the vehicle determines that the vehicle is unoccupied.

8. A vehicle mirror assembly, comprising:

first and second light sources disposed within respective first and second housings in said vehicle mirror assembly, wherein a direction of illumination from the second light source is offset from the first light source; and

a vehicle badge having a first photoluminescent structure disposed therein and configured to luminesce in response to an excitation light emitted by the first light source.

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

10. The vehicle mirror assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

a second photoluminescent structure disposed on a second light source window forming a portion of the second housing.

11. The vehicle mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein the first photoluminescent structure and the second photoluminescent structure each comprise at least one photoluminescent material configured to convert an excitation light into a visible converted light.

12. The vehicle mirror assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

a first light source window operably coupled with the first light source and configured to allow the excitation light emitted form the first light source to pass therethrough.

13. The vehicle mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein the first light source window includes optics for directing excitation light emitted therefrom towards a desired location.

14. The vehicle mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein the first light source intermittently emits the excitation light towards the feature when a vehicle is in an off state.

15. A vehicle lamp assembly, comprising:

a light source disposed on a vehicle rearview mirror;

a vehicle badge operably coupled with the light source; and

a photoluminescent structure disposed on the vehicle badge and configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light from the light source, wherein the light source emits intermittent emissions of the excitation light at the badge when the vehicle is in a parked state.

16. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 15, wherein the intermittent emission of the excitation light excites the photoluminescent structure such that the feature may continually luminesce.

17. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 15, wherein sequential intermittent emissions of excitation light are at lower intensity levels than a previous emission.

18. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 15, wherein a controller within the vehicle stores an average away time of an occupant from a vehicle and increase the intensity of the intermittent emissions when the average time is about to expire.

19. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 15, wherein a time period between the intermittent emissions expands as the vehicle remains in a parked state.

20. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 19, wherein the intensity of the excitation light emitted from the light source increases as an occupant approaches the vehicle.