System for providing illumination

• US 7,534,017 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Felgenhauer, Reinhard, Barowski, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong; Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US11/511,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20070047246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 362/231, 362/488, 362/490, 362/492, 362/493, 362/501, 362/511, 362/540, 362/541, 362543-545, 362/800, 362/471, 362/494, 362/135, 362/136, 405/92, 405/93
• US Class Current: 362/488
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2500/30 Arrangements for illuminating different zones in the vehicle, e.g. front/rear, different seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/20 for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/233 Seats; Arm rests; Head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/51 for mounting lighting devices onto vehicle interior, e.g. onto ceiling or floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/62 using light guides
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/66 for distributing light among several lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/00 Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps reversing lights F21S43/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/15 Strips of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/35 Brake lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An illumination system for a vehicle is provided and includes a plurality of illumination units each having at least one light emitting diode attached thereto. A plurality of electrical leads connect the plurality of illumination units. The plurality of illumination units and the plurality of electrical leads are interconnected to define an illumination circuit that is embedded within at least one vehicle structure. Light emitted by at least one of the illumination units is guided from within the at least one vehicle structure to illuminate a vehicle interior.

Claims

1. An illumination system for a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of illumination units each having at least one light emitting diode (LED) attached thereto; and

a plurality of electrical leads that connect the plurality of illumination units;

wherein the plurality of illumination units and the plurality of electrical leads are interconnected to define an illumination circuit;

wherein the illumination circuit is embedded within at least one vehicle structure;

wherein light emitted by at least one of the illumination units is guided from within the at least one vehicle structure to illuminate a vehicle interior, and

wherein each of said plurality of illumination units has a flexible printed circuit board mounting said at least one LED and having flat conductors printed thereon, said flat conductors and flexible printed circuit board having an extension that forms integral electrical leads.

2. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle structure includes a gap that is defined between an exterior shell and a cover, and wherein the plurality of illumination units are disposed within the gap at a location that is remote from a light distribution surface that is exposed to the vehicle interior.

3. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle structure includes a pillar, within which the plurality of illumination units are disposed, and wherein the pillar includes a light distribution surface that diffuses and directs light emitted from at least one of the LED'"'"'s in a respective illumination unit towards a vehicle roof.

4. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle structure includes a vehicle roof assembly having a handle attached thereto, wherein the illumination unit is disposed within a gap defined by components of the vehicle roof assembly, and wherein light emitted from the illumination unit is guided from within the gap to highlight the handle.

5. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of illumination units further includes a housing that encloses the flexible printed circuit board and that includes an opening, through which light emitted from at least one LED of a respective illumination unit passes.

6. The illumination system of claim 1, further comprising:

an illumination assembly including at least one of the illumination units; and

a light guide having a light receiving face, a body and at least one light emitting face;

wherein the light receiving face receives light emitted from the at least one LED and guides the light through a path defined by the body of the light guide from within the vehicle structure to the light emitting face, which is exposed to the vehicle interior.

7. The illumination system of claim 6, wherein the illumination assembly further includes a secondary light guide that is adjacent to the light guide and that includes a surface that reflects or absorbs a portion of the light.

8. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of illumination units are at least partially embedded within a vehicle roof assembly.

9. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of illumination units are at least partially embedded within a vehicle rail assembly.

10. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of illumination units are at least partially embedded within a vehicle console.

11. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality illumination units are at least partially embedded within a vehicle seat assembly.

12. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of illumination units includes a plurality of LEDs, and in that the plurality of LEDs include the same color LEDs.

13. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of illumination units includes a plurality of LEDs, and in that the plurality of LEDs include different color LEDs.

14. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the illumination system provides illumination for a doorsill.

15. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the illumination system provides illumination for a reading lamp.

16. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the illumination system provides illumination for an interior courtesy light.

17. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the illumination system provides illumination for a vanity mirror.

18. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the illumination system provides illumination for a door handle.

19. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the illumination system provides illumination for an arm rest.

20. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the illumination system provides illumination for an interior console.

21. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the illumination system provides illumination for an indicator.

22. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the illumination system provides illumination for a pillar.

23. The illumination system of claim 1, said plurality of illumination units comprising a central, high-mounted stop lamp having a thickness of less than 7 mm.