Illuminated window assemblies and methods for making the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017232824-A1
Application number	US-201615041190-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 11, 2016
Priority date	Feb 11, 2016
Publication date	Aug 17, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An illuminated window assembly that includes a glass substrate; a light barrier over the substrate having a reflective interior-facing and a tinted exterior-facing surface; a light-diffusing element over the barrier having first and second opposed edges; and an LED source or spaced LED sources configured to direct incident light into the first opposed edge. Further, a thickness of the element at the first opposed edge is greater than a thickness at the second opposed edge. The LED sources can also be directed into both the first and second opposed edges, wherein a thickness of the element at the first and the second opposed edge is greater than a thickness between the opposed edges.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An illuminated window assembly, comprising:
a glass substrate; a light barrier over the substrate having a reflective interior-facing and a tinted exterior-facing surface; a light-diffusing element over the barrier having first and second opposed edges; and an LED source configured to direct incident light into the first opposed edge, wherein a thickness of the element at the first opposed edge is greater than a thickness at the second opposed edge.

2 . The window assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the light-diffusing element comprises an acrylic polymer matrix and light-diffusing particles.

3 . The window assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the assembly is configured as a roof window for a vehicle to selectively emanate a light pattern into the vehicle derived from the incident light directed into the first opposed edge of the light-diffusing element.

4 . The window assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the assembly is configured as a side window for a vehicle to selectively emanate a light pattern into the vehicle derived from the incident light directed into the first opposed edge of the light-diffusing element.

5 . The window assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an edge seal comprising a polymeric material that is configured to seal the edges of the glass substrate, light barrier and light-diffusing element.

6 . The window assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the light-diffusing element is tapered across the element between the first and second opposed edges.

7 . The window assembly according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a transparent, scratch-resistant film disposed over the light-diffusing element.

8 . An illuminated window assembly, comprising:
a glass substrate; a light barrier over the substrate having a reflective interior-facing and a tinted exterior-facing surface; a light-diffusing element over the barrier having first and second opposed edges; and a plurality of spaced LED sources configured to direct incident light into the first opposed edge, wherein a thickness of the element at the first opposed edge is greater than a thickness at the second opposed edge.

9 . The window assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the light-diffusing element comprises an acrylic polymer matrix and light-diffusing particles.

10 . The window assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the assembly is configured as a roof window for a vehicle to selectively emanate a light pattern into the vehicle derived from the incident light directed into the first opposed edge of the light-diffusing element.

11 . The window assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the assembly is configured as a side window for a vehicle to selectively emanate a light pattern into the vehicle derived from the incident light directed into the first opposed edge of the light-diffusing element.

12 . The window assembly according to claim 8 , further comprising:
an edge seal comprising a polymeric material that is configured to seal the edges of the glass substrate, light barrier and light-diffusing element.

13 . The window assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the thickness of the light-diffusing element is tapered across the element between the first and second opposed edges.

14 . The window assembly according to claim 12 , further comprising:
a transparent, scratch-resistant film disposed over the light-diffusing element.

15 . An illuminated window assembly, comprising:
a glass substrate; a light barrier over the substrate having a reflective interior-facing and a tinted exterior-facing surface; a light-diffusing element over the barrier having first and second opposed edges; and LED sources configured to direct incident light into the first and second opposed edges, wherein a thickness of the element at the first and the second opposed edge is greater than a thickness between the opposed edges.

16 . The window assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the light-diffusing element comprises an acrylic polymer matrix and light-diffusing particles.

17 . The window assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the assembly is configured as a roof window for a vehicle to selectively emanate a light pattern into the vehicle derived from the incident light directed into the first and second opposed edges of the light-diffusing element.

18 . The window assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the assembly is configured as a side window for a vehicle to selectively emanate a light pattern into the vehicle derived from the incident light directed into the first and second opposed edges of the light-diffusing element.

19 . The window assembly according to claim 15 , further comprising:
an edge seal comprising a polymeric material that is configured to seal the edges of the glass substrate, light barrier and light-diffusing element.

20 . The window assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the thickness of the light-diffusing element is tapered across the element from the first opposed edge to a central location between the opposed edges and across the element from the second opposed edge to the central location.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Tu Hongen
• Dunham Scott Holmes
• Dellock Paul Kenneth

Classifications

• F21V5/08 Primary

  producing an asymmetric light distribution · CPC title

• F21V3/00

  Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses (with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506) · CPC title

• B60Q3/208 Primary

  Sun roofs; Windows · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21W2106/00

  Interior vehicle lighting devices · CPC title