Luminescent vehicle seal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9469244-B2
Application number	US-201514710014-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 12, 2015
Priority date	Nov 21, 2013
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

A lighting system for a vehicle opening is provided herein. The lighting system includes a seal disposed around a periphery of an opening in the body of a vehicle. A light source is disposed on a portion of the seal. The light source may implement a thin design, thereby helping to fit the light source into small package spaces of the vehicle. A first photoluminescent structure is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by at least a portion of the light sources.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lighting system for a vehicle opening, comprising:
a seal disposed at least partially around a periphery of an opening in a body of a vehicle;
a light source disposed on a portion of the seal between a body panel and a door contact member of the seal;
a first photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source; and
a reflective material disposed on an inner surface of the door contact member and configured to direct light towards the body panel.

2. The lighting system for a vehicle opening of claim 1 , wherein the light source is configured as a printed LED.

3. The lighting system for a vehicle opening of claim 2 , wherein the photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material configured to down convert an inputted light received from at least a portion of the light sources into a visible light that is outputted to a viewable portion.

4. The lighting system for a vehicle opening of claim 3 , wherein the inputted light comprises one of a blue light, violet light, and a UV light.

5. The lighting system for a vehicle opening of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second photoluminescent structure separated from and disposed proximate the seal.

6. The lighting system for a vehicle opening of claim 1 , further comprising a controller for controlling an activation state of the light source in response to at least one vehicle-related condition.

7. The lighting system for a vehicle opening of claim 6 , wherein the controller determines at least one of a light emission intensity and a light emission duration of the light source.

8. A seal for a vehicle, comprising:
a door contact member of the vehicle and a mounting member configured to engage the door contact member;
a light source disposed on the mounting member;
a luminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source;
a controller configured to control an activation state of the light source; and
a user interface operably coupled with the controller.

9. The seal for a vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the light source comprises a printed LED.

10. The seal for a vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the luminescent structure comprises at least one luminescent material configured to convert an inputted light received from the LED source into a visible light that is outputted to a viewable portion.

11. The seal for a vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the inputted light comprises one of a blue light, violet light, and a UV light.

12. The seal for a vehicle of claim 8 , wherein a plurality of luminescent structures are separated by a plurality of light transmissive portions such that a first portion of light emitted from the light source is converted to a second wavelength and a second portion of light emitted from the light source passes through a light transmissive portion.

13. The seal for a vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the controller determines at least one of a light emission intensity and a light emission duration of the light source.

14. A door opening for a vehicle, comprising:
a door seal having a door contact member and a mounting member attached to vehicle body panel;
a light source disposed on the door seal;
a first photoluminescent structure disposed on the light source; and
a second photoluminescent structure disposed on a component separated from the door seal, wherein the first and second photoluminescent structures are configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source.

15. The door opening for a vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the light sources comprise printed LEDs.

16. The door opening for a vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the first and second photoluminescent structures each comprise at least one photoluminescent material configured to down convert an inputted light received from at least a portion of the light source into a visible light that is outputted to a viewable portion.

17. The door opening for a vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the inputted light comprises one of a blue light, violet light, and a UV light.

18. The door opening for a vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the first photoluminescent structure illuminates in a first color and the second photoluminescent structure illuminates in a second color.

19. The door opening for a vehicle of claim 14 , further comprising a controller for controlling an activation state of the light source in response to at least one vehicle-related condition.

20. The door opening for a vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the controller determines at least one of a light emission intensity and a light emission duration of the light source.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Wade David Arthur

Classifications

• H05B47/105

  in response to determined parameters · CPC title

• H05B47/11

  by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light · CPC title

• B60Q3/217

  Doors, e.g. door sills; Steps · CPC title

• B60Q3/80

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

• B60Q3/68 Primary

  using ultraviolet light · CPC title