Vehicle interior lighting systems using electroluminescent panels
First Claim
1. A vehicle interior component assembly for providing interior vehicle illumination, comprising:
- a vehicle interior component having a substrate and a fabric disposed over said substrate covering; and
an electroluminescent panel disposed between said fabric and substrate covering, with said electroluminescent panel being configured to direct light from said panel through said fabric covering.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle interior component and lighting assembly that includes a vehicle interior component having a fabric disposed over a substrate or foam layer, or both. An electroluminescent panel is located between the fabric and substrate/foam layer and directs light from the panel through the fabric. In this way, the light source can be effectively hidden when not in use and can be incorporated into the interior component in a manner that requires little space. The vehicle interior component can be any of a number of different interior articles, including, for example, a headliner, door panel, vehicle seat, rear deck, sun visor, and trunk panel. Also disclosed are vehicle interior illumination systems using touch switches and electroluminescent panels to provide back lighting of the switch and/or vehicle interior illumination through the switch.
76 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A vehicle interior component assembly for providing interior vehicle illumination, comprising:
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a vehicle interior component having a substrate and a fabric disposed over said substrate covering; and
an electroluminescent panel disposed between said fabric and substrate covering, with said electroluminescent panel being configured to direct light from said panel through said fabric covering. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle interior component assembly for providing interior vehicle illumination, comprising:
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a vehicle interior component having a foam layer and a fabric disposed over said foam layer; and
an electroluminescent panel disposed between said fabric and foam layer, with said electroluminescent panel being configured to direct light from said panel through said fabric. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A vehicle carpet, comprising:
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a substrate;
a carpet pile attached to said substrate; and
an electroluminescent panel mounted underneath said carpet pile, with said electroluminescent panel being configured to direct light from said panel through said carpet pile. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A instrument panel assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
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an instrument panel having a lower surface that faces towards a floor area of the vehicle when installed within the vehicle, said lower surface having a light-transmitting region; and
an electroluminescent panel mounted within said instrument panel behind said lower surface at said light-transmitting region, with said electroluminescent panel being configured to direct light from said panel through said light-transmitting region of said lower surface.
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30. A vehicle interior component assembly for providing interior vehicle illumination, comprising:
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a vehicle interior component having a substrate and a foam layer disposed over said substrate wherein said substrate includes a recessed portion facing said foam layer; and
an electroluminescent panel disposed in said recessed portion with said electroluminescent panel being configured to direct light through said foam layer.
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31. A headliner for providing illumination to an interior of a vehicle, comprising:
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a laminate having an interior surface for facing the interior of the vehicle;
an electroluminescent illumination source immovably fixed to said laminate below said interior surface, the electroluminescent illumination source comprising a plurality of electroluminescent panels in spaced relation to one another; and
a controller coupled to each of said plurality of electroluminescent panels and operative to operate said plurality of electroluminescent panels. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. A vehicle, comprising:
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a vehicle body defining an interior and including a headliner comprising a laminate having an interior surface facing said interior;
an electroluminescent illumination source immovably fixed to said laminate below said interior surface, the electroluminescent illumination source comprising a plurality of electroluminescent panels in spaced relation to one another; and
a controller coupled to each of said plurality of electroluminescent panels and operative to operate said plurality of electroluminescent panels.
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36. A vehicle, comprising:
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a vehicle body defining an interior having a plurality of seating positions;
a headliner disposed above said plurality of seating positions;
an electroluminescent illumination source incorporated into said headliner and extending across said plurality of seating positions to illuminate each of said plurality of seating positions, the electroluminescent illumination source comprising a plurality of electroluminescent panels in spaced relation to one another; and
a controller coupled to each of said plurality of electroluminescent panels and operative to operate said plurality of electroluminescent panels. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A vehicle interior component assembly for providing illumination to an interior of a vehicle, comprising:
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a vehicle interior component having a substrate and a lining disposed over said substrate wherein said vehicle interior component includes a recessed portion for facing the interior of the vehicle;
a plurality of electroluminescent panels disposed in said recessed portion; and
controller coupled to each of said plurality of electroluminescent panels and operative to operate said plurality of electroluminescent panels. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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Specification