Vehicle grille assembly

• US 10,627,092 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2018
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Brown, LaRon Michelle, Dubey, Prashant, Glickman, David Brian, Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Salter, Stuart C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US15/911,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20190271458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/503 using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/507 specific to autonomous vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/543 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/10 Electro- or photo- luminescent surfaces, e.g. signalling by way of electroluminescent strips or panels
• 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: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/153 arranged in a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/155 Surface emitters, e.g. organic light emitting diodes [OLED]
• 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: F21V 17/10 characterised by specific fastening means or way of fastening F21V17/02 - F21V17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/50 Cooling arrangements air-treatment systems dissipating or using the heat of lighting fixtures F24F3/056
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2102/40 the light being emitted to facilitate access to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/20 Direction indicator lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/55 Daytime running lights [DRL]
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/078 : combined with lighting fixtures
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 : of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 : of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 : in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93275 : in the bumper area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2015/937 : sensor installation details constructional features of transducers G01S7/521 and B06B; casing of transducers, e.g. housing, cover or filler details, G10K9/22; mounting of transducers, i.e. fixture, fitting or holder details, G10K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4813 : Housing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/521 : Constructional features

Abstract

A vehicle grille assembly is provided herein. The grille assembly includes a panel sealingly coupled to a substrate and defining a cavity therebetween. A light source is disposed within the cavity. A diffuser is disposed between the light source and a portion of the panel.

Claims

1. A vehicle grille assembly comprising:

a panel coupled to a substrate and defining a cavity therebetween;

a light source disposed within the cavity, wherein the light source selectively illuminates to form various image codes, the image codes readable by an electronic device separated from a vehicle having the substrate affixed thereto; and

a diffuser disposed between the light source and a portion of the panel.

2. The vehicle grille assembly of claim 1, wherein the diffuser is disposed on an internal surface of the panel.

3. The vehicle grille assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source is configured as a matrix of light sources that independently and selectively activate.

4. The vehicle grille assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source is provided on a printed circuit board that is disposed along a channel defined by the substrate.

5. The vehicle grille assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

a camera disposed between the substrate and the panel, wherein the light source selectively illuminates a field of view of the camera.

6. The vehicle grille assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor disposed between the substrate and the panel.

7. The vehicle grille assembly of claim 6, wherein the sensor is formed from a flexible ink that is disposed on an internal surface of the panel.

8. The vehicle grille assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

indicia disposed on the panel, wherein the indicia are not readily visible when the light source is in an unilluminated state and visible when the light source is illuminated.

9. The vehicle grille assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source illuminates an area within a field of view of a camera when the light source is illuminated.

10. The vehicle grille assembly of claim 3, wherein a controller selectively activates the light sources within the matrix to provide various messages to onlookers of a vehicle.

11. The vehicle grille assembly of claim 8, wherein the indicia are defined by a luminescent structure.

12. A vehicle grille assembly comprising:

a panel sealingly coupled to a substrate and defining a cavity therebetween;

a matrix of light sources disposed within the cavity configured to illuminate various messages, wherein the various messages are based on at least one of an input from an electronic device separated from said vehicle grille assembly and an object sensed by a sensor; and

a diffuser disposed between the light source and a portion of the panel.

13. The vehicle grille assembly of claim 12, further comprising:

a camera disposed between the substrate and the panel.

14. A method of making a grille assembly, the method comprising:

molding a plurality of panels that are each formed from a polymeric, translucent material;

fixing a matrix of light sources along each of the plurality of panels; and

overmolding a substrate over the plurality of panels, the substrate defining alternating vanes and channels, wherein each of the plurality of panels aligns with one of the vanes, the substrate and the plurality of panels at least partially sealing each of the matrices of light sources therebetween.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

adhering a decorative layer to the panel; and

applying a luminescent structure to the panel, the luminescent structure configured to convert emitted light received from the matrix of light sources and re-emit the light at a different wavelength.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the panel is formed from a translucent material.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

coupling at least one of a camera and a sensor to the panel, the substrate and the panel at least partially sealing the at least one of the camera and the sensor therebetween.

18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

coupling a diffuser to an internal surface of the panel.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the molding is conducted such that the polymeric substrate is tinted and comprises a polymeric material selected from a group consisting of an acrylic, a polycarbonate, a polypropylene, a nylon, an acrylonitrile styrene acrylate and combinations of these polymeric materials.