Vehicle light system with illuminating exhaust

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9464776-B2
Application number	US-201414524085-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2014
Priority date	Nov 21, 2013
Publication date	Oct 11, 2016
Grant date	Oct 11, 2016

Abstract

An illumination apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The illumination apparatus comprises a photoluminescent portion disposed on a surface of a vehicle exhaust system component. The illumination apparatus further includes a light source located proximate the component. The light source is configured to emit light at a first wavelength directed toward the photoluminescent portion. The photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength to illuminate the exhaust system component and/or an area proximate the vehicle exhaust system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An illumination apparatus for a vehicle exhaust system comprising:
a photoluminescent portion disposed on a component of the vehicle exhaust system; and
a light source separately located proximate the component configured to emit light at a first wavelength directed toward the photoluminescent portion, wherein the photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to a second wavelength.

2. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the photoluminescent portion is disposed on a vehicle muffler.

3. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the photoluminescent portion illuminates an approach surface proximate a rear end of the vehicle.

4. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light source is disposed on a bumper of the vehicle.

5. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second photoluminescent portion disposed proximate the first photoluminescent portion.

6. The illumination apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the light source is further configured to direct the light at the first wavelength toward the second photoluminescent portion.

7. The illumination apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the second photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to a third wavelength having a different color than the second wavelength.

8. The illumination apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the second photoluminescent portion is disposed on a second exhaust system component.

9. An illumination system for a vehicle exhaust system comprising:
first and second photoluminescent portions disposed on an exhaust system component; and
a light source separately located proximate the first and second photoluminescent portions configured to emit light at a first wavelength, wherein the photoluminescent portions are configured to convert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength.

10. The illumination system according to claim 9 , wherein the first and second photoluminescent portions are configured to illuminate in varying colors based on a pre-defined event.

11. The illumination system according to claim 9 , wherein the light source is configured to direct the light at the first wavelength toward the first photoluminescent portion and the second photoluminescent portion when a vehicle door is oriented in an open position.

12. The illumination system according to claim 9 , wherein the exhaust system component is a vehicle muffler.

13. The illumination system according to claim 9 , wherein the exhaust system comprises first and second components each having the first and second photoluminescent portions disposed thereon.

14. The illumination system according to claim 9 , wherein the second photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to a third wavelength having a different color than the second wavelength.

15. A method for illuminating a surface beneath a vehicle comprising:
activating a light source;
directing light at a first wavelength from the light source toward a photoluminescent portion separately disposed on a portion of the exhaust system;
converting light at the first wavelength to a second wavelength with the photoluminescent portion; and
illuminating an area proximate the exhaust system with the light at the second wavelength.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the light source is activated in response to a pre-defined event.

17. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
emitting the light at the second wavelength from the photoluminescent portion toward an approach surface.

18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the pre-defined event is the opening of a vehicle door.

19. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
directing the light at the first wavelength toward a second photoluminescent portion.

20. The method according to claim 19 , further comprising:
converting the light at the first wavelength to a third wavelength with the second photoluminescent portion, the third wavelength corresponding to a different color than the second wavelength.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Surman James J

Classifications

• F01N2260/00

  Exhaust treating devices having provisions not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• F21S43/16

  Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element · CPC title

• F01N13/00

  Exhaust or silencing apparatus characterised by constructional features · CPC title

• F01N2510/00

  Surface coverings · CPC title

• B60Q1/2688 Primary

  on exhaust pipes · CPC title