Photoluminescent printed LED molding

• US 9,868,387 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2015
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• 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, Surman, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gramling, Sean
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sufleta, II, Gerald J
• Application Number:
  US14/696,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20150232019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0005 Devices preventing the lights from becoming dirty or damaged, e.g. protection grids or cleaning by air flow windshield wipers for cleaning optical devices of vehicles B60S1/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0088 Details of electrical connections B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195
• 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 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2653 with arrangement for sealing the device with respect to the vehicle body, or for concealing gaps between the device and the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/324 for signalling that a door is open or intended to be opened
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/15 Strips of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/255 Filters
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/62 Arrangements for conducting electric current to or from the semiconductor body, e.g. lead-frames, wire-bonds or solder balls
• 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

An illumination apparatus configured to seal and substantially conform to a roof ditch of a vehicle is disclosed. The illumination apparatus comprises a first electrode in connection with a seam of the roof ditch via an adhesive. A plurality of printed LEDs configured to emit a first emission and suspended in a semiconductor ink is disposed on a surface of the first electrode, and a second electrode is conductively connected to the plurality of LEDs. A photoluminescent layer is disposed on the second electrode. The illumination apparatus may be in communication with a controller via the first and second electrodes such that the controller may selectively activate the illumination apparatus.

Claims

1. An illumination apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a plurality of lighting portions disposed in an elongated trough formed by an intersection of a roof panel and a body side panel forming a seam, each comprising;

a first electrode;

a plurality of printed LEDs suspended in a semiconductor ink on a surface of the first electrode;

a second electrode in electrical connection with the plurality of LEDs; and

a photoluminescent layer disposed on the second electrode; and

a plurality of electrical conductors extending along the plurality of lighting portions and are in connection with at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode to supply power to each of the lighting portions.

2. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode forms a base portion of each lighting portion.

3. The illumination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of electrical conductors are in communication with a controller configured to selectively illuminate each of the lighting portions.

4. The illumination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of electrical conductors are disposed within the lighting portions and interconnect each of the lighting portions.

5. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the seam corresponds to an intersecting portion wherein a first panel of the vehicle and a second panel of the vehicle are joined.

6. The illumination apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first panel corresponds to a body side panel and the second panel corresponds to a roof panel of the vehicle.

7. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the seam corresponds to a roof ditch forming an elongated trough along a longitudinal portion of the seam.

8. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode is connected to the seam by an adhesive configured to seal the seam.

9. An illumination apparatus comprising:

a first electrode in connection with a seam of a roof ditch via an adhesive;

a plurality of printed LEDs configured to emit a first emission and suspended in a semiconductor ink disposed on a surface of the first electrode;

a second electrode in electrical connection with the plurality of LEDs;

a photoluminescent layer disposed on the second electrode; and

a retention detail connecting the apparatus to a roof ditch seam.

10. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

the first emission corresponds to a first color of light having a wavelength less than 500 nm.

11. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of LEDs are configured to transmit the first emission into the photoluminescent layer wherein a photoluminescent material of the photoluminescent layer converts the first emission to a second emission having a second color, different from the first color.

12. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the photoluminescent layer corresponds to a molded cover portion disposed proximate the second electrode and configured to receive the first emission.

13. The illumination apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the photoluminescent layer comprises a first photoluminescent material and a second photoluminescent material.

14. The illumination apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first photoluminescent material is disposed in an outer section of the molded cover portion and is configured to convert the first emission to a second emission directed substantially toward a body side panel of the vehicle.

15. The illumination apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the second photoluminescent material is disposed in an inner section of the molded cover portion and is configured to convert the first emission to a third emission directed substantially toward a roof panel of the vehicle.

16. The illumination apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each of the first emission, the second emission, and the third emission correspond to substantially different colors of light.

20. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the retention detail is configured to interlock between a roof panel and a body side panel forming the roof ditch seam.

17. An illumination apparatus comprising:

a plurality of lighting portions extending along and disposed in a trough formed by a roof panel and a body side panel of a vehicle comprising;

a first electrode in connection with a seam of the roof ditch via an adhesive;

a plurality of printed LEDs configured to emit a first emission and suspended in a semiconductor ink disposed on a surface of the first electrode;

a second electrode in electrical connection with the plurality of LEDs; and

a photoluminescent layer disposed on the second electrode; and

a controller in communication with the first and second electrodes and configured to selectively illuminate the plurality of lighting portions.

18. The illumination apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of lighting portions corresponds to a first photoluminescent portion configured to emit a first color of light and a second photoluminescent portion configured to emit a second color of light.

19. The illumination apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to selectively illuminate the illumination apparatus in the first color in response to a first vehicle status signal and the second color in response to a second vehicle status signal.