Luminescent windshield display

• US 10,220,784 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2016
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2016
• 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., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Surman, James J., Johnson, Aaron Bradley
• Primary Examiner(s): Syed, Nabil H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eustaquio, Cal J
• Application Number:
  US15/362,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20180147990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/12 lighting onto the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/001 integrated in the windows, e.g. Fresnel lenses

Abstract

A display system of a vehicle is provided herein. The display system includes light sources and an indicator that luminesces in response to light excitation by the light sources. A controller is provided for selectively operating each of the light sources based on input from one or more proximity sensors. The indicator luminesces in one of a number of colors depending on which of the light sources is activated and each color indicates the proximity of a detected object relative to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A display system of a vehicle, comprising:

light sources and respective silicone lenses coupled with a headliner;

an indicator that luminesces in response to light excitation by the light sources; and

a controller for selectively operating each of the light sources based on input from one or more proximity sensors, the indicator luminescing in one of a number of colors depending on which of the light sources is activated, and each color indicating the proximity of a detected object relative to the vehicle and a vehicle speed.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the indicator luminesces in a first color in response to excitation by only a first light source, a second color in response to excitation by only a second light source, and a third color in response to excitation by the first and second light sources, wherein the first, second, and third colors are visually distinguishable from each other.

3. The display system of claim 2, wherein the first, second, and third colors are green, red, and yellow, respectively.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

activate only a first light source if an object is detected at a first distance from the vehicle;

activate only the first source and a second light source if the object is detected at a second distance from the vehicle, the second distance less than the first distance; and

activate only the third light source if the object is detected at a third distance from the vehicle, the third distance less than the second distance, wherein each of the first, second, and third distances are varied based on a vehicle speed.

5. The display system of claim 4, wherein the first distance is closest to the vehicle, the third distance is furthest from the vehicle, and the second distance is between the first and third distances.

6. The display system of claim 1, wherein the input is wirelessly transmitted to the controller by the one or more proximity sensors.