Vehicle lighting system employing a light strip

• US 9,969,323 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2014
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US14/519,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 362487, 362503, 362509-510, 362545
• 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 1/268 on windscreens or windows B60Q1/302 takes precedence; lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for windows B60Q3/208
• 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 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• 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: F21S 41/16 Laser light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/176 Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• 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: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A vehicle lighting system is provided herein. The vehicle lighting system includes a light strip including an elongated housing and at least one light source disposed inside the housing. A controller is configured to control a light output of the at least one light source. A viewable portion of the housing is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from the at least one light source.

Claims

1. A light strip comprising:

an elongated housing disposed beneath a vehicle window and extending a length thereof, the housing having a rear portion and a front portion that is arcuate;

a first and a second light source coupled to an inner surface of the rear portion;

a reflecting layer disposed on the inner surface of the rear portion and contacting the front portion, the reflecting layer configured to reflect incident light emitted by the first and second light sources;

a photoluminescent structure coupled to the front portion and separate from the first and second light source, the photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from at least one of the first light source and the second light source; and

a metallic layer that is light permeable and is disposed between the front portion and the photoluminescent structure, wherein the metallic layer and the photoluminescent structure are contoured to the front portion so as to be arcuate.

2. The light strip of claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources are vertically aligned, and wherein the first light source is configured to emit a first wavelength of light and the second light source is configured to emit a second wavelength of light that is different than the first wavelength of light.

3. The light strip of claim 2, wherein the photoluminescent structure is configured to luminesce in a first color in response to excitation by the first wavelength of light and a second color in response to excitation by the second wavelength of light.

4. The light strip of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first light source and the second light source is operated at a first intensity during the day and a second intensity at night.

5. The light strip of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second light source is operated to provide periodic excitation, thereby causing the front portion of the housing to exhibit periodic luminescence.

6. A light strip comprising:

an elongated housing disposed beneath a vehicle window and extending a length thereof, the housing having a rear portion and a front portion that is arcuate;

at least one light source disposed on a printed circuit board coupled to the rear portion;

a reflecting layer contacting both the rear portion and the front portion and configured to reflect incident light emitted by the at least one light source; and

a metallic layer that is light permeable and is disposed between the front portion and the photoluminescent structure, wherein the metallic layer and the photoluminescent structure are contoured to the front portion so as to be arcuate; and

wherein the front portion is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from the at least one light source.

7. The light strip of claim 6, wherein the at least one light source comprises a first plurality of light emitting diodes configured to emit a first wavelength of light and a second plurality of light emitting diodes configured to emit a second wavelength of light.

8. The light strip of claim 7, wherein the front portion of the housing is configured to luminesce in a first color in response to excitation by the first wavelength of light and a second color in response to excitation by the second color of light.

9. The light strip of claim 6, wherein the least one light source is operated at a first intensity during the day and a second intensity at night.

10. The light strip of claim 6, wherein the at least one light source is operated to provide periodic excitation, thereby causing the front portion of the housing to exhibit periodic luminescence.

11. The light strip of claim 6, wherein the at least one light source is a turn signal.

12. The light strip of claim 6, wherein the housing is disposed proximate to a vehicle window.

13. A vehicle lighting system comprising:

a light strip disposed below a vehicle window and including an elongated housing having a rear portion and front portion that is arcuate;

at least one light source coupled to the rear portion;

a reflecting layer contacting both the rear portion and the front portion and configured to reflect incident light emitted by the at least one light source;

a controller configured to control a light output of the at least one light source;

a photoluminescent structure coupled to the front portion and separate from the at least one light source, the photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from the at least one light source; and

a metallic layer that is light permeable and is disposed between the front portion and the photoluminescent structure, wherein the metallic layer and the photoluminescent structure are contoured to the front portion so as to be arcuate.

14. The vehicle lighting system of claim 13, wherein the at least one light source comprises a first plurality of light emitting diodes configured to emit a first wavelength of light and a second plurality of light emitting diodes configured to emit a second wavelength of light.

15. The vehicle lighting system of claim 14, wherein the photoluminescent structure is configured to luminesce in a first color in response to excitation by the first wavelength of light and a second color in response to excitation by the second wavelength of light.

16. The vehicle lighting system of claim 13, wherein the controller operates the at least one light source at a first intensity during the day and a second intensity at night.

17. The vehicle lighting system of claim 13, wherein the controller operates the at least one light source to provide periodic excitation to cause the front portion of the housing to exhibit periodic luminescence.

18. The vehicle lighting system of claim 17, wherein the controller operates the at least one light source as a turn signal.

19. The vehicle lighting system of claim 13, wherein the housing is disposed proximate to a vehicle window.