Printed LED storage compartment

• US 9,849,831 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2015
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• 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., Surman, James J., Buttolo, Pietro
• Primary Examiner(s): Breval, Elmito
• Assistant Examiner(s): Farokhrooz, Fatima
• Application Number:
  US14/733,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20150298603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/225 Small compartments, e.g. glove compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/233 Seats; Arm rests; Head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/68 using ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/78 for generating luminous strips, e.g. for marking trim component edges
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0108 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/4664 Adding a circuit layer by thick film methods, e.g. printing techniques or by other techniques for making conductive patterns by using pastes, inks or powders H05K3/4647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An illumination apparatus for a vehicle storage cavity is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a circuit disposed proximate to and extending significantly along an opening of the cavity. At least one proximity sensor and a plurality of LEDs suspended in a semiconductor ink are printed on the circuit. The circuit is configured to activate an emission from the LEDs in response to the proximity sensor detecting an object entering the storage cavity.

Claims

1. An illumination apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

an at least partially flexible circuit disposed on an inner surface of a storage compartment proximate an access region, wherein the at least partially flexible circuit further comprises a ground strip printed on the flexible circuit;

a plurality of LEDs suspended in a semiconductor ink printed on the flexible circuit; and

at least one proximity sensor in communication with a controller via the flexible circuit, wherein the controller is configured to selectively illuminate the LEDs in response to a detection of an object entering an access region by the proximity sensor, wherein the at least partially flexible circuit is oriented relative the access region such that the at least one proximity sensor extends along an opening of a cavity formed by the storage compartment, and wherein the ground strip printed on the flexible circuit extends between an entrance of the opening and the at least one proximity sensor.

2. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least partially flexible circuit corresponds to a thin film assembly having the plurality of LEDs and the proximity sensor printed thereon.

3. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ground strip is configured to limit a range of a sensory field emitted by the at least one proximity sensor.

4. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one photoluminescent portion disposed proximate the plurality of LEDs.

5. The illumination apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the range of the sensory field is limited by the ground strip such that the sensory field extends substantially equidistant to an entrance of the opening of the access region.

6. The illumination apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of LEDs are configured to emit an excitation emission directed toward the at least one photoluminescent portion.

7. The illumination apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the at least one photoluminescent portion is configured to convert a first wavelength of the first emission to at least a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength to illuminate a cavity formed by the storage compartment.

8. An illumination apparatus for a storage pocket comprising:

a flexible circuit disposed proximate to and extending significantly along an opening of the storage pocket comprising at least one proximity sensor and a plurality of LEDs suspended in a semiconductor ink printed thereon and in communication with a controller, the controller configured to activate an emission from the LEDs in response to the proximity sensor detecting an object entering the storage pocket, and

a ground strip printed on the flexible circuit, the ground strip extending between an entrance of the opening and the at least one proximity sensor.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the flexible circuit is configured to substantially conform to an opening of the storage pocket.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the storage pocket comprises an access slot forming the opening of the storage pocket.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the access slot is formed of a flexible material extending from a first opening edge to a second opening edge.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to monitor a sensory field extending significantly along the opening from the first opening edge to the second opening edge.

13. An illumination apparatus for a vehicle storage cavity comprising:

a circuit disposed proximate and extending significantly along an opening of the cavity and comprising;

at least one proximity sensor extending along the opening; and

a plurality of LEDs suspended in a semiconductor ink printed thereon; and

a ground strip printed on the circuit and extending between an entrance of the opening and the at least one proximity sensor;

wherein the circuit is configured to activate an emission from the LEDs in response to the proximity sensor detecting an object entering the storage cavity.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the storage cavity corresponds to a seatback pocket formed of a pliable material connected to a back portion of a passenger seat.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a photoluminescent portion disposed on a first surface of the storage pocket, wherein the flexible circuit is disposed on a second surface of the storage pocket.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the seatback pocket comprises a slot-like opening formed by an outer wall connected to the seatback along a first edge and a second edge.

17. The illumination apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a photoluminescent portion disposed proximate the flexible circuit configured to receive an excitation emission from the plurality of LEDs.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of LEDs are configured to emit an excitation emission through the cavity to excite the photoluminescent portion.