Vehicle light system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018257553-A1
Application number	US-201715453149-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 8, 2017
Priority date	Mar 8, 2017
Publication date	Sep 13, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle is provided herein. The vehicle includes a headliner including a cover. A first luminescent structure is disposed on the cover and is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by a light assembly. The light assembly is disposed below the headliner. A controller is configured to activate the light assembly. The light assembly independently illuminates various portions of the luminescent structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle, comprising:
a headliner including a cover; a first luminescent structure disposed on the cover and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by a light assembly, wherein the light assembly is disposed below the headliner; and a controller configured to activate the light assembly, wherein the light assembly independently illuminates various portions of the luminescent structure.

2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first luminescent structure defines a pattern on the cover, wherein the pattern is visible when the luminescent structure is in both luminescent and non-luminescent states.

3 . The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second luminescent structure disposed on the cover that is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by a light assembly.

4 . The vehicle of claim 3 , further comprising:
first and second light sources disposed within the light assembly, the first and second light sources configured to independently excite the first and second luminescent structures.

5 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the headliner includes a first section and a second section, the first section vertically disposed above the second section.

6 . The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the light assembly is configured to excite the first luminescent structure within the first section when the vehicle is in motion.

7 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the light assembly is disposed on a pillar within the vehicle.

8 . The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a light-detecting device, wherein an intensity of excitation light emitted from the light assembly is decreased when the light-detecting device senses night-like conditions.

9 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the headliner is formed from a non-woven textile and the pattern imitates a woven pattern.

10 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the first luminescent structure includes a short-persistence luminescent material and the second luminescent structure includes a long-persistence luminescent material.

11 . The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the second luminescent structure is configured in a starlight pattern.

12 . A headliner for a vehicle, comprising:
a backing panel, a foam panel, and a cover; a first material defining a first pattern on the cover including a first luminescent structure within the material, the first pattern visible in a luminescent and non-luminescent state; a second material defining a second pattern on the cover including a second luminescent structure; and a light assembly configured to excite the first and second luminescent structures.

13 . The headliner for a vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the light assembly includes a substrate and a lens, the substrate coupled to a pillar of a vehicle.

14 . The headliner for a vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising:
an opaque material disposed on a bottom portion of the lens; and a reflective material disposed on an inner surface of the lens, wherein the light assembly directs excitation light towards said headliner of a vehicle.

15 . The headliner for a vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the first luminescent structure includes a short-persistence luminescent material and the second luminescent structure includes a long-persistence luminescent material.

16 . A vehicle light assembly, comprising:
a substrate and a lens, the substrate coupled to a pillar of a vehicle; first and second light sources disposed between the substrate and the lens; and a decorative layer disposed on a surface of the lens, wherein the decorative layer blocks light from exiting a first portion of the lens while allowing light through a second portion of the lens and towards a headliner.

17 . The light assembly for a vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the first and second light sources are operably coupled with a luminescent structure disposed on the headliner of a vehicle.

18 . The light assembly for a vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the first and second light sources independently illuminate various portions of the headliner.

19 . The light assembly for a vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the headliner includes a first material defining a first pattern on the cover including a first luminescent structure within the material, the first pattern visible in a luminescent and non-luminescent state and a second material defining a second pattern on the cover including a second luminescent structure.

20 . The light assembly for a vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the first luminescent structure includes a short-persistence luminescent material and the second luminescent structure includes a long-persistence luminescent material.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Kordich Carol C
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Surman James J
• Lopacki Julian

Classifications

• B60Q3/74

  for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps (general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43) · CPC title

• B60R13/0212 Primary

  Roof or head liners (movable head-liners B60J7/0007) · CPC title

• B60Q3/20 Primary

  for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments (lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title

• B60Q2500/00

  Special features or arrangements of vehicle interior lamps · CPC title

• B60Q3/80

  Circuits; Control arrangements (for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47) · CPC title