Vehicle illumination systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10696217-B2
Application number	US-201815862437-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2018
Priority date	Jan 4, 2017
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

Various implementations of illumination systems are described herein. For example, the illumination system includes a light guide having an outer surface and an inner surface that extend between a first end and a second end of the light guide, and at least one light source disposed adjacent the first end of the light guide. The light source emits infrared or visible light into the first end of the light guide. The light guide transmits the light from the light source through at least a portion of the outer surface of the light guide. In addition, the system may include a second light source disposed adjacent the second end of the light guide. The second light source emits infrared or visible light into the second end of the light guide.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An illumination system for a steering assembly of a vehicle, the illumination system comprising:
a base having first and second sidewalls, the first and second side walls being spaced apart from each other and defining a channel therebetween;
a housing having a ceiling and defining a window that faces an occupant of the vehicle;
a light guide having a first surface and a second surface that extend between a first end and a second end of the light guide, the light guide further comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface and outer surface being spaced apart from each other and extending between the first and second ends and the first and second surfaces; and
at least one light source disposed adjacent the first end of the light guide, the light source emitting light into the first end of the light guide,
wherein at least a first portion of the first surface of the light guide is disposed within the channel between the first and second sidewalls of the base, and the base is coupled to the housing such that the light guide is disposed within the housing and such that at least a portion of the outer surface of the light guide is adjacent the window and the light guide transmits light from the light source through the portion of the outer surface of the light guide and through the window.

2. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the first sidewall of the base extends between the outer surface of the light guide and the window, and at least a portion of said first sidewall is transparent or translucent,
wherein a width of the light guide corresponds to a width of the channel.

3. The illumination system of claim 1 , further comprising a lens disposed between the outer surface of the light guide and the window.

4. The illumination system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more light directing films disposed adjacent the outer surface of the light guide.

5. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the second sidewall of the base comprises a first surface and a second surface that is spaced apart from and opposite the first surface, the second sidewall defining at least one opening extending between the first and second surfaces of the second sidewall, and the housing defines at least one opening, wherein the openings in the second sidewall and the housing are alignable for receiving a fastener to couple the base and the housing.

6. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the light source is thermally coupled to a frame of the steering assembly such that the frame transfers heat from the light source toward the frame.

7. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the light guide transmits light through the entire outer surface of the light guide.

8. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a first light emitting diode, and the system further comprises a second light emitting diode adjacent the second end of the light guide, the second light emitting diode emitting light into the second end of the light guide.

9. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface and the outer surface of the light guide define generally parallel and planar surfaces,
wherein the first surface of the light guide is arcuate shaped between the first and second ends and has a radius of curvature, and the base comprises an arcuate shaped support surface disposed within the channel extending between the first and second side walls within the channel, wherein the arcuate shaped support surface has a radius of curvature that matches the radius of curvature of the first surface of the light guide.

10. The illumination system of claim 9 , wherein:
the second surface of the light guide is arcuate shaped, the housing further comprises an arcuate shaped ceiling, and
the second surface of the light guide is received by the arcuate shaped ceiling of the housing.

11. The illumination system of claim 10 , wherein the radius of curvature of the second surface and the radius of curvature of the first surface are the same.

12. The illumination system of claim 10 , wherein the radius of curvature of the second surface is the same as a radius of curvature of the arcuate shaped ceiling.

13. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the housing is integrally formed with a back cover for coupling to a hub portion of a frame of the steering assembly.

14. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the housing is separately formed and coupled to a hub portion of a frame of the steering assembly.

15. The illumination system of claim 14 , wherein the housing comprises one or more tabs that extend from an inner surface of the housing, and the base comprises a coupling plate that extends from the second sidewall, the coupling plate defining one or more openings for receiving the one or more tabs and coupling the housing with the base.

16. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the housing and the base are opaque.

17. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source is coupled to a printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board is coupled to one end of the base such that the at least one light source is adjacent the channel.

18. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the light guide comprises two or more light guide segments, the two or more light guide segments being separately formed, and wherein the at least one light source comprises two or more light sources, each light source being disposed adjacent an end of the respective light guide segment, the light sources being separately controllable for illuminating separately or simultaneously.

19. The illumination system of claim 18 , wherein adjacent surfaces of the light guide segments abut each other at an interface and the interface comprises a light blocking material for preventing light from the segments from being emitted into the adjacent segments.

20. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the base defines at least one opening for receiving a fastener.

Assignees

• Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition Llc
• Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition

Inventors

• Lisseman Jason
• Marc Adorian
• Staszak Erick
• Gardner Valerie

Classifications

• B60K35/50

  Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle (B60K35/231 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60K35/28

  characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver · CPC title

• B60K35/60

  Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title

• B60K35/20

  Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• B62D1/046

  Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches · CPC title