Illuminated badge for a vehicle

• US 9,889,791 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2015
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2015
• 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., Johnson, Aaron Bradley, Surman, James J., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Musleh, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US14/955,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20170151903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/22 for reverse drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/323 on or for doors illuminated exterior door handles B60Q1/2669; illuminated door locks E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/56 for illuminating registrations or the like , e.g. for licence plates
• 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: B60Q 2900/40 Several lamps activated in sequence, e.g. sweep effect, progressive activation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/005 Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor

Abstract

A badge is provided herein. The badge includes a viewable portion having indicia thereon. A viewable portion light source is configured to emit light towards the viewable portion. A feature portion light source is configured to emit light towards a feature portion. A peripheral light source is configured to emit light through a periphery of the badge. Each light source is independently controlled by a controller.

Claims

1. A vehicle badge comprising:

a viewable portion having indicia thereon;

a first light source configured to emit light toward the viewable portion;

a second light source configured to emit light towards a feature portion;

a third light source configured to emit light through a periphery of the badge;

an opaque member separating the first light source and the second light source; and

a controller configured to independently illuminate the first, second, and third light sources.

2. The badge of claim 1, wherein the viewable portion light source, the feature portion light source, and the peripheral light source are all comprised of a plurality of LED sources, wherein each LED source is independently illuminable.

3. The badge of claim 1, wherein the peripheral light source is disposed proximate a rear portion of a vehicle and emits light rearwardly of the vehicle when a transmission of the vehicle is placed in reverse.

4. The badge of claim 1, wherein the badge is disposed proximate a front portion of a vehicle and emits light towards a feature disposed on the exterior of the vehicle.

5. The badge of claim 1, wherein the peripheral light source emits light through the periphery of the badge towards a portion of the ground proximate a vehicle opening.

6. The badge of claim 1, wherein the feature portion light source comprises a plurality of LED sources that are independently illuminable.

7. The badge of claim 6, further comprising a controller configured to illuminate each second LED source sequentially in response to a predefined condition of a vehicle.

8. A badge for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing having a viewable portion;

a viewable portion light source configured to illuminate a background region surrounding an opaque indicia to backlight the indicia;

a feature portion light source configured to illuminate a second portion of the viewable portion; and

an opaque member separating light emitted from the viewable portion light source from illuminating the second portion to the viewable portion.

9. The badge of claim 8, wherein the viewable portion light source is configured as a plurality of independently controlled first LED sources and the feature portion light source is configured as a plurality of independently controlled second LED sources.

10. The badge of claim 8, further comprising:

an indicia disposed on the viewable portion and illuminable by the viewable portion light source, wherein the indicia is metallic in an unilluminated state.

11. The badge of claim 8, wherein the viewable portion light source illuminates in a substantially white color and wherein the feature portion light source illuminates in a non-white color.

12. The badge of claim 8, further comprising:

a peripheral light source configured to emit light through an optical component that is integrally formed in a periphery of the badge towards an exterior feature of the vehicle.

13. A badge comprising:

a housing disposed on an exterior panel of a vehicle and defining a peripheral portion surrounding a viewable portion, wherein the peripheral portion defines a light transmissive portion;

a peripheral light source within the housing and configured to emit light through the peripheral portion;

an optical component integrated within the light transmissive portion and configured to direct the light towards a feature of the vehicle;

a viewable portion light source configured to illuminate the viewable portion; and

a member separating the peripheral light source and the viewable portion light source.

14. The badge of claim 13, wherein the feature is a door handle.

15. The badge of claim 13, wherein the feature is a fuel door.

16. The badge of claim13, further comprising:

a controller configured to control illumination of the peripheral light source based on predefined events.

17. The badge of claim 13, wherein the peripheral light source further illuminates a portion of the ground proximate the feature of the vehicle.

18. The badge of claim 13, wherein the badge further comprises a feature portion light source that is configured to sequentially illuminate indicia disposed on the viewable portion.