Steering grip light bar systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10780908-B2
Application number	US-201815876845-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2018
Priority date	Jul 23, 2014
Publication date	Sep 22, 2020
Grant date	Sep 22, 2020

Abstract

Various implementations include a light bar system for a steering wheel of a vehicle that includes a high intensity light source, a light diffusing layer, and an outer lens. For example, in certain implementations, the light diffusing layer is disposed between a plurality of high intensity light emitting diodes (LEDs) and an outer lens, and the light diffusing layer causes the light from the LEDs to appear as a continuous stream of light across a length of the lens and provides sufficiently bright lighting to warn or communicate with the driver in various ambient lighting conditions. In certain implementations, the outer lens is colored to blend in with the rest of the steering wheel when the LEDs are not activated.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A light bar system for a steering wheel comprising:
at least one light source disposed adjacent a portion of an armature of a steering wheel, the light source comprising at least one light emitting diode (LED);
an outer lens;
a carrier defining a light optimizing channel extending from the light source towards the outer lens;
a light diffusing layer disposed between a distal end of the light optimizing channel and the outer lens, the light diffusing layer being configured for diffusing light as it passes therethrough, the light diffusing layer comprising at least one light diffusing film disposed between the distal end of the light optimizing channel and an inner surface of the outer lens; and
a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the at least one LED is disposed, the PCB having an arcuate shape corresponding to an arcuate shape of a front surface of the steering wheel, the PCB located between the carrier and the armature of the steering wheel and secured to at least one of the carrier and the armature by at least one of a friction fit, a mechanical fastener, a chemical fastener, and heat staking.

2. The light bar system of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the outer lens is disposable in a flush relationship with an outer skin of the steering wheel, the outer surface of the outer lens defining an arcuate and or curved cross-sectional shape as taken through a plane that extends through a front and back surface of the steering wheel armature and a direction of rotation of the steering wheel.

3. The light bar system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the outer lens is at least one of opaque and translucent.

4. The light bar system of claim 3 , wherein the outer lens is translucent and black.

5. The light bar system of claim 1 , wherein the light optimizing channel comprises a proximal portion adjacent a proximal end of the channel, a distal portion adjacent the distal end of the channel, and a central portion disposed between the proximal and distal portions,
wherein the proximal and distal portions each have a substantially rectangular cross section as taken through a plane that is perpendicular to a front and rear surface of the steering wheel armature and a direction of rotation of the steering wheel, and the central portion has a substantially trapezoidal shaped cross section, and a width of the proximal portion is less than a width of the distal portion, and a distal end of the central portion channel is greater than a width of a proximal end of the central portion.

6. The light bar system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the light optimizing channel defined by the carrier has a substantially rectangular-shaped cross-sectional as taken through a plane that extends through a front and back surface of the steering wheel armature and a direction of rotation of the steering wheel, such that a width of a proximal end of the rectangular-shaped portion of the channel is substantially the same as a width of a distal end of the rectangular-shaped portion of the channel.

7. The light bar system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the light optimizing channel defined by the carrier has a substantially trapezoidal-shaped cross-sectional as taken through a plane that extends through a front and back surface of the steering wheel armature and a direction of rotation of the steering wheel, such that a width of a proximal end of the trapezoidal-shaped portion of the channel is less than a width of a distal end of the trapezoidal-shaped portion of the channel.

8. The light bar system of claim 1 , wherein the light optimizing channel defined by the carrier comprises walls that are substantially parallel along a portion of the light optimizing channel, and at least one of the walls of the channel comprises a bend having an angle greater than 0° between a proximal end and a distal end of the channel.

9. The light bar system of claim 1 , wherein the light optimizing channel is white,
wherein the light optimizing channel is coated with or molded from a white material.

10. The light bar system of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), and the LEDs are spaced between about 4 mm and about 13 mm on center from each other.

11. The light bar system of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), and the LEDs have an intensity of between about 50 nits and about 24,000 nits.

12. The light bar system of claim 11 , wherein light emitted from the light diffusing layer has an intensity of about 5 to about 550 nits.

13. The light bar system of claim 11 , wherein the light diffusing layer comprises a first portion and a second portion, the light emitted from the first portion having the intensity of at least about 500 nits, and the second portion being configured to block all visible light from being emitted therethrough.

14. The light bar system of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises one or more infrared light LEDs,
the system further including a light blocking mask to block all visible light from passing through at least a portion of the outer lens, the light blocking mask coupled to the outer lens and comprises at least one of a paint, a dye, and a film.

15. The light bar system of claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the PCB is black.

16. The light bar system of claim 1 , wherein the PCB comprises a first printed circuit board (PCB) on which one or more of a first set of LEDs are disposed and a second PCB on which one or more of a second set of LEDs are disposed, the first and second PCBs being disposed adjacent a proximal end of the light optimizing channel.

17. The light bar system of claim 1 , wherein the PCB comprises a first printed circuit board (PCB) on which one or more of a first set of LEDs are disposed and a second PCB on which one or more of a second set of LEDs are disposed, the first PCB being disposed adjacent a first portion of the steering wheel armature and the second PCB being disposed adjacent a second portion of the armature, the carrier defining a first light optimizing channel adjacent the first PCB and a second light optimizing channel adjacent the second PCB, the light diffusing layer comprising a first light diffusing layer adjacent the first light optimizing channel and a second light diffusing layer adjacent the second light optimizing channel, and the first and second portions of the armature being spaced apart from each other.

18. The light bar system of claim 17 , wherein the first portion of the armature is disposed adjacent the front surface of the steering wheel between about 9 and about 11 o'clock and the second portion of the armature is disposed adjacent the front surface of the steering wheel between about 1 and about 3 o'clock.

19. The light bar system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing including:
a base disposed adjacent a mounting surface of the armature of the steering wheel, the mounting surface facing a direction of the front surface of the steering wheel, and
two opposing side walls extending from the base toward the front surface of the steering wheel to form a substantially U-shaped channel, an outer surface of each of the side walls forming an arcuate shape to follow an outer contour of the front surface of the steering wheel,

wherein the carrier and the PCB are disposed within the U-shaped channel of the housing such that the PCB is disposed between the base of the housing and a lower surface of the carrier.

20. A light bar system for a ste

Assignees

• Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition Llc

Inventors

• Gardner Valerie D
• Lisseman Jason Carl
• Varcoe David Ryan

Classifications

• B60K35/00

  Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles · 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

• B62D1/06

  Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers (B62D1/11 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60Q9/00

  Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} · CPC title

• B62D1/046 Primary

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