Steering grip light bar systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12344303-B2
Application number	US-202318528267-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2023
Priority date	Jul 23, 2014
Publication date	Jul 1, 2025
Grant date	Jul 1, 2025

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 a steering wheel armature;
a light diffusing layer configured for diffusing light as it passes therethrough; and
a first surface forming an angle with a second surface;
wherein the light is emitted from the light source in a direction longitudinally along the first surface and light changes direction by reflecting off the second surface before it passes through the light diffusing layer;
wherein the angle is greater than zero.

2. The light bar system of claim 1 , further comprising a carrier that defines the first surface and the second surface.

3. The light bar system of claim 2 , wherein the carrier further defines a light optimizing channel having a first portion and a second portion, the second portion at least partially defined by the second surface.

4. The light bar system of claim 3 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are oriented at the angle with respect to each other.

5. The light bar system of claim 1 , wherein the light diffusing layer comprises a light diffusing film.

6. The light bar system of claim 1 , wherein the light diffusing layer comprises an outer lens.

7. The light bar system of claim 1 , further comprising an outer lens, an outer surface of the outer lens facing a driver and an inner surface of the outer lens facing the light diffusing layer.

8. The light bar system of claim 1 , wherein the light diffusing layer comprises at least one light diffusing film, and the system further comprises an outer lens, wherein the at least one light diffusing film is disposed between the at least one light source and an inner surface of the outer lens.

9. The light bar system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).

10. The light bar system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more LEDs comprises one or more visible light LEDs and one or more infrared light LEDs.

11. The light bar system of claim 1 , wherein the first surface extends from a first end adjacent the at least one light source to a second end positioned axially away from the at least one light source,
wherein the second surface comprises a reflective coating.

12. The light bar system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one light source comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED), and the system further comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the at least one LED is disposed.

13. The light bar system of claim 12 , wherein the PCB and the outer lens have an arcuate shape corresponding to an arcuate shape of a front surface of the steering wheel.

14. The light bar system of claim 12 , wherein the system comprises two or more PCBs and two or more outer lenses that are spaced apart from each other along a front surface of the steering wheel, wherein the two or more PCBs and the two or more outer lenses have an arcuate shape corresponding to an arcuate shape of the front surface of the steering wheel.

15. The light bar system of claim 6 , wherein a portion of the outer lens is at least one of opaque and translucent.

16. The light bar system of claim 15 , wherein the outer lens is translucent and black.

17. The light bar system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED), and the system further comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the at least one LED is disposed.

18. The light bar system of claim 17 , further comprising a heat transfer pad disposed between the PCB and the steering wheel armature, the heat transfer pad configured for dissipating heat from the PCB to the steering wheel armature.

19. The light bar system of claim 12 , further comprising a heat transfer pad disposed between the PCB and the steering wheel armature, the heat transfer pad configured for dissipating heat from the PCB to the steering wheel armature.

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

• B60K2360/782

  on the steering wheel · CPC title

• B60K2360/338

  Light strips · CPC title

• B60K2360/188

  Displaying information using colour changes · 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