Illuminated indicator

• US 9,982,780 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2016
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• 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., Konet, Todd Jared
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US15/363,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20170072846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 362487-488, 362491
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 20/02 of initiating means control mechanisms in general G05G
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 20/08 Dashboard means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/283 Steering wheels; Gear levers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/68 using ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2063/423 Range indicators for automatic transmissions, e.g. showing selected range or mode
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/42 Ratio indicator devices
• 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

A gear shifter indicator assembly is provided herein. The gear shifter assembly includes a light source disposed below a plurality of indicia. A position indicator is configured to move in concert with a shifter lever. The light source is disposed on the position indicator. A first photoluminescent structure is proximate the indicia and is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source.

Claims

1. A gear shifter indicator assembly, comprising:

a plurality of indicia separated from a shifter lever;

a position indicator configured to move in concert with the shifter lever;

a light source disposed on the position indicator and below the plurality of indicia;

a first photoluminescent structure proximate the indicia and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source; and

a user interface configured to control the light source.

2. The gear shifter indicator assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of printed LEDs.

3. The gear shifter indicator assembly of claim 2, wherein the first photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material configured to convert an inputted light received from the light source into a visible light.

4. The gear shifter indicator assembly of claim 3, wherein the inputted light comprises one of blue light, violet light, and UV light.

5. The gear shifter indicator assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a light blocking component disposed at opposing ends of the light source to selectively illuminate a single indicia at one time.

6. The gear shifter indicator assembly of claim 5, further comprising:

a second photoluminescent structure disposed on the indicia configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source in a color different from the first photoluminescent structure.

7. A gear shifter indicator assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a member separated from a gear shifter lever and having a plurality of indicia thereon;

a light source configured to move in concert with the gear shifter lever, wherein the light source cooperates with the indicia to provide a transmission mode;

a luminescent structure excitable by the light source; and

a user interface configured to control a wavelength of light emitted by the light source.

8. The gear shifter indicator assembly for a vehicle of claim 7, wherein light source is disposed on a position indicator and the position indicator is configured to move in concert with the gear shifter lever.

9. The gear shifter indicator assembly for a vehicle of claim 7, wherein the indicia is defined by the luminescent structure.

10. The gear shifter indicator assembly for a vehicle of claim 8, wherein the light source is disposed on a position indicator that is operably coupled with the gear shifter lever.

11. The gear shifter indicator assembly for a vehicle of claim 7, wherein the light source comprises a printed LED.

12. The gear shifter indicator assembly for a vehicle of claim 11, wherein the luminescent structure comprises at least one luminescent material configured to convert an inputted light received from at least a portion of the printed LED into a visible light.

13. A gear shifter indicator assembly, comprising:

a member separated from a gear shifter lever and having one or more transmissive member portions therein;

a position indicator and a light source each movable in concert with the gear shifter lever;

a first photoluminescent structure disposed on the transmissive member portions, the first photoluminescent structure operably coupled with the light source; and

a user interface configured to control a wavelength of light emitted by the light source.

14. The gear shifter indicator assembly of claim 13, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of printed LEDs.

15. The gear shifter indicator assembly of claim 14, wherein the first photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material configured to convert an inputted light received from the light source into a visible light.

16. The gear shifter indicator assembly of claim 13, wherein the transmissive member portions define indicia that correlates to a state of operation of a vehicle transmission.

17. The gear shifter indicator assembly of claim 15, wherein the light emitted from the light source comprises one of blue light, violet light, and UV light.

18. The gear shifter indicator assembly of claim 13, further comprising:

a second photoluminescent structure disposed proximate the transmissive member portions configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source in a color different from that of the first photoluminescent structure.

19. The gear shifter indicator assembly of claim 18, wherein a current state of a vehicle transmission is illuminated in a third color defined by an additive light mixture of the first and second photoluminescent structures by indicia disposed proximate the transmissive portion.