Vehicle lighting assembly

• US 9,889,801 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2016
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• 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, Helwig, Stephen Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US15/210,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20180015887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 362507, 362509-510
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1415 Dimming circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/10 Electro- or photo- luminescent surfaces, e.g. signalling by way of electroluminescent strips or panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/005 Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/25 Projection lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/28 Cover glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/285 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S41/24-F21S41/28
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/30 characterised by reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/50 characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers
• 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 43/20 characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
• 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: F21S 43/30 characterised by reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/50 characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/10 Protection of lighting devices cooling of lighting devices F21S45/40; waterproofing of lighting devices F21S45/50
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/30 Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40

Abstract

A vehicle lighting assembly is provided herein. The vehicle lighting assembly includes a lens and a housing attached to the lens. One or more indicia defined by recessed portions are disposed on a component of the housing. A photoluminescent structure is disposed within and substantially filling the recessed portion and is configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light emitted by a light source. A protective layer is disposed over the photoluminescent structure.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting assembly, comprising:

a housing attached to a lens;

one or more indicia defined by one or more recessed portions disposed on a component of the housing;

a photoluminescent structure disposed within the one or more recessed portions and configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light emitted by a headlamp projection source; and

a protective layer disposed over the photoluminescent structure.

2. The vehicle lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the photoluminescent structure includes at least one photoluminescent material configured to convert an excitation light into a converted light.

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

4. The vehicle lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective layer makes the indicia appear to be a first color when the photoluminescent structure is non-luminescent and the photoluminescent structure emits converted light of a second color when the photoluminescent structure receives the excitation light.

5. The vehicle lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the excitation light comprises one of blue light, violet light, and UV light.

6. The vehicle lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the indicia are disposed on a trim piece within a cavity of the lighting assembly.

7. The vehicle lighting assembly of claim 6, wherein the headlamp projection source intermittently illuminates to provide continued luminescence of the photoluminescent structure.

8. A vehicle lighting assembly, comprising:

a photoluminescent structure disposed on an inner surface of a lens and configured to luminesce in response to an excitation light from a projection headlamp; and

a protective layer disposed on the photoluminescent structure.

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

10. The vehicle lighting assembly of claim 8, wherein the first photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material configured to convert an excitation light into a visible converted light that is outputted to a viewable portion.

11. The vehicle lighting assembly of claim 10, wherein the excitation light comprises one of blue light, violet light, and UV light.

12. The vehicle lighting assembly of claim 8, wherein the photoluminescent structure and the protective layer are substantially non-visible in a non-luminescent state.

13. The vehicle lighting assembly of claim 8, wherein the protective layer is translucent such that the indicia appear in a first color when the photoluminescent structure is non-luminescent and a second color when the photoluminescent structure is excited by the excitation light.

14. The vehicle lighting assembly of claim 9, wherein the projection headlamp intermittently emits excitation light to provide continued luminescence of the photoluminescent structure.

15. A vehicle lighting assembly, comprising:

a photoluminescent structure disposed between a housing and an outer lens and configured to form one or more indicia; and

a headlamp projection source disposed within the lighting assembly configured to emit an excitation light to excite the photoluminescent structure.

16. The vehicle lighting assembly of claim 15, wherein the photoluminescent structure and a protective layer are substantially non-visible in a non-luminescent state.

17. The vehicle lighting assembly of claim 15, wherein a protective layer is translucent such that the indicia appear in a first color when the photoluminescent structure is non-luminescent and a second color when the photoluminescent structure is excited by the excitation light.

18. The vehicle lighting assembly of claim 15, wherein the headlamp projection source intermittently illuminates to provide continued luminescence of the photoluminescent structure.

19. The vehicle lighting assembly of claim 15, wherein the photoluminescent structure is disposed between a decorative layer and a protective layer.

20. The vehicle lighting assembly of claim 19, wherein the photoluminescent structure is disposed in and substantially fills one or more recessed portions in a component of the lighting assembly.