Vehicle illumination systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023078866-A1
Application number	US-202217947808-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 19, 2022
Priority date	Mar 8, 2018
Publication date	Mar 16, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Various implementations of an illumination system include a light guide, a housing having a ceiling and defining a window, and a base coupled to the housing. The light guide is supported between the base and the ceiling. At least one light source is disposed adjacent a 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 and the window. One or more tabs extending from the base each define at least one opening, and the at least one opening defined by each tab is alignable with an opening in a spoke portion of a frame. The openings receive a fastener to couple the base to the spoke portion. The housing may be integrally formed with a trim cover coupled to the frame.

First claim

1 - 18 . (canceled)

19 . An illumination system within a vehicle, the illumination system comprising:
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; a visible light source disposed adjacent the first end of the light guide, the visible light source emitting visible light into the first end of the light guide; an infrared light source disposed adjacent the inner surface of the light guide, the infrared light source emitting infrared light into the inner surface of the light guide; and a lens having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the lens being disposed adjacent the outer surface of the light guide; wherein the light guide transmits visible light from the visible light source and infrared light from the infrared light source through at least a portion of the outer surface of the light guide, and the visible light and the infrared light from the outer surface of the light guide passes through the lens.

20 . The illumination system of claim 19 , wherein the illumination system is coupled to a rim of a steering assembly, and the light guide and the lens have an arcuate shape corresponding to a radius of curvature of the rim of the steering assembly.

21 . The illumination system of claim 19 , wherein the visible light source is a visible light emitting diode (LED).

22 . The illumination system of claim 19 , wherein the visible light source comprises a first visible light source adjacent the first end of the light guide and a second visible light source adjacent the second end of the light guide.

23 . The illumination system of claim 22 , wherein the first visible light source emits a first color of light and the second visible light source emits a second color of light.

24 . The illumination system of claim 23 , wherein the first color and the second color are the same.

25 . The illumination system of claim 23 , wherein the first color and the second color are different.

26 . The illumination system of claim 19 , wherein the outer surface and the inner surface of the light guide are arcuate-shaped between the first end and the second end of the light guide and are spaced apart and opposite each other relative to a plane that extends through the first end and the second end of the light guide and is parallel to the outer surface and the inner surface of the light guide.

27 . The illumination system of claim 19 , wherein the infrared light source is an infrared light emitting diode (LED).

28 . The illumination system of claim 19 , wherein the outer surface of the lens comprises an opaque cover defining a transparent and/or translucent portion.

29 . The illumination system of claim 28 , wherein the visible light from the visible light source passes through the transparent and/or translucent portion of the opaque cover.

30 . The illumination system of claim 29 , wherein the outer surface of the lens further comprises an infrared transmissive portion, wherein infrared light from the infrared light source passes through the infrared transmissive portion.

31 . The illumination system of claim 19 , wherein the infrared light source comprises a first infrared light source adjacent the inner surface of the light guide adjacent the first end of the light guide and a second infrared light source adjacent the inner surface of the light guide adjacent the second end of the light guide.

32 . The illumination system of claim 31 , wherein the outer surface of the lens further comprises a first infrared transmissive portion adjacent the first end of the light guide and a second infrared transmissive portion adjacent the second end of the light guide.

33 . The illumination system of claim 22 , wherein the infrared light source comprises a first infrared light source adjacent the inner surface of the light guide adjacent the first end of the light guide and a second infrared light source adjacent the inner surface of the light guide adjacent the second end of the light guide.

34 . The illumination system of claim 33 , wherein the outer surface of the lens comprises an opaque cover defining a transparent and/or translucent portion.

35 . The illumination system of claim 34 , wherein the visible light from the first visible light source and the second visible light source passes through the transparent and/or translucent portion of the opaque cover.

36 . The illumination system of claim 35 , wherein the outer surface of the lens further comprises a first infrared transmissive portion and a second infrared transmissive portion, wherein infrared light from the first infrared light source passes through the first infrared transmissive portion and infrared light from the second infrared light source passes through the second infrared transmissive portion.

37 . The illumination system of claim 19 , wherein the lens comprises micro-lenses.

38 . The illumination system of claim 37 , wherein a density of the micro-lenses increases as a distance from the visible light source increases.

Assignees

• Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B60Q3/283 Primary

  Steering wheels; Gear levers · CPC title

• B62D1/06 Primary

  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

• B60Q3/62

  using light guides · CPC title

• B62D1/046

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