Lighting assembly including light strip, photoluminescent structure, and reflector and positioned on vehicle panel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10532691-B2
Application number	US-201816052818-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2018
Priority date	Apr 6, 2016
Publication date	Jan 14, 2020
Grant date	Jan 14, 2020

Abstract

A vehicle light strip is provided herein. The vehicle light strip includes a light-producing assembly including a plurality of light sources arranged as a strip attached to a panel. The light-producing assembly is angled in a downward direction to illuminate a ground surface. A photoluminescent structure is disposed on the light-producing assembly and is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the plurality of light sources. One or more retroreflective beads is configured to reflect an incident light directed towards the light-producing assembly. An optic is operably coupled with the light-producing assembly and is disposed externally of the one or more retroreflective beads for distributing an excitation light in a predefined direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle light strip, comprising:
a light-producing assembly including:
a plurality of light sources arranged as a strip attached to a panel, the light-producing assembly angled in a downward direction to illuminate a ground surface;
a first electrode coupled with the panel; and
a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, wherein the plurality of light sources is operably coupled with one of the first and second electrodes, and further wherein the plurality of light sources is positioned between the first and second electrodes;

one or more retroreflective beads configured to reflect an incident light directed towards the light-producing assembly, wherein the light-producing assembly is positioned between the one or more retroreflective beads and the panel and is configured to illuminate through the one or more retroreflective beads;
a photoluminescent structure disposed on the light-producing assembly and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the plurality of light sources, wherein the photoluminescent structure is positioned between the one or more retroreflective beads and the light-producing assembly; and
an optic operably coupled with the light-producing assembly and disposed externally of the one or more retroreflective beads for distributing an excitation light in a predefined direction.

2. The vehicle light strip of claim 1 , further comprising:
an adhesive layer, wherein the one or more retroreflective beads may be embedded within the adhesive layer.

3. The vehicle light strip of claim 1 , wherein the one or more retroreflective beads are disposed within a reflective layer that is configured to reflect an incident light directed toward the reflective layer from a first side and allow converted light therethrough from a second, opposing side.

4. The vehicle light strip of claim 3 , further comprising:
a decorative layer disposed above the photoluminescent structure having opaque portions that are backlit to confer messages to an onlooker.

5. The vehicle light strip of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light sources comprises LED sources dispersed in a printed LED arrangement.

6. The vehicle light strip of claim 1 , wherein the photoluminescent structure includes at least one photoluminescent material therein configured to convert an excitation light received from the light-producing assembly into a visible converted light.

7. The vehicle light strip of claim 1 , wherein the light-producing assembly is configured to illuminate in a plurality of colors.

8. A vehicle light strip, comprising:
a light source disposed on a surface of a pedestrian guard and including a first printed LED oriented in a first direction and a second printed LED oriented in a second, opposing direction, wherein the first printed LED is coupled with a first electrode and the second printed LED is coupled with a second electrode, and further wherein the first printed LED is spaced apart from the second printed LED; and
a translucent reflective layer configured to reflect an incident light directed at a first side of the reflective layer and allow a converted light directed at a second, opposing side of the reflective layer to pass therethrough, wherein the first and second printed LEDs are positioned between the reflective layer and the surface of the pedestrian guard.

9. The vehicle light strip of claim 8 , further comprising:
a photoluminescent structure 21 disposed on the light source and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source.

10. The vehicle light strip of claim 9 , wherein the photoluminescent structure includes at least one photoluminescent material therein configured to convert an excitation light received from the light-producing assembly into a visible converted light.

11. The vehicle light strip of claim 9 , further comprising:
an adhesive layer, wherein one or more retroreflective beads may be embedded within the adhesive layer.

12. The vehicle light strip of claim 8 , wherein the reflective layer includes one or more retroreflective beads configured to reflect an incident light directed towards the light-producing assembly.

13. The vehicle light strip of claim 8 , wherein the pedestrian guard is movable between a retracted position and an extended position and light is emitted from the light source in a cross-car direction when the pedestrian guard is extended.

14. A vehicle light strip, comprising:
a first light source oriented in a first direction and a second light source oriented in a second, opposing direction, wherein the first light source is spaced apart from the second light source;
a photoluminescent structure disposed on the first light source; and
a translucent reflective layer positioned outwardly of the first light source and configured to reflect an incident light directed at a first side of the reflective layer and allow light from the first light source through a second, opposing side and out the first side, wherein the photoluminescent structure is positioned between the first light source and the reflective layer, and further wherein the photoluminescent structure abuts the second opposing side.

15. The vehicle light strip of claim 14 , wherein the first light source includes a first plurality of LED sources and the second light source includes a second plurality of LED sources, the second plurality of LED sources positioned to alternate with the first plurality of LED sources and further wherein a controller selectively activates one of the first and second pluralities of light sources.

16. The vehicle light strip of claim 14 , wherein one of the first and second light sources comprises LED sources dispersed in a printed LED arrangement that are each configured to emit an excitation light.

17. The vehicle light strip of claim 16 , wherein the reflective layer includes a retroreflective material therein.

18. The vehicle light strip of claim 16 , wherein the photoluminescent structure includes a long persistence phosphorescent material.

19. The vehicle light strip of claim 14 , wherein the photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material configured to perform an energy conversion on an excitation light received from at least a portion of one of the first and second light sources into a visible, converted light that is outputted to a viewable portion.

20. The vehicle light strip of claim 14 , wherein the photoluminescent structure includes a short persistence photoluminescent material therein that is configured to illuminate for 100 milliseconds or less once one of the first and second light sources returns to an unilluminated state.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Salter Stuart C
• Danowski Christopher Anthony
• Rogers Jason C
• Hoover Chad
• Randlett Doug H
• Hunt Christopher Charles

Classifications

• F21S43/16

  Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element · CPC title

• F21K9/64

  using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer · CPC title

• B60Q1/32

  for indicating vehicle sides {, e.g. clearance lights} · CPC title

• B60Q1/30

  for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces · CPC title

• F21S43/13

  characterised by the type of light source · CPC title