Spoiler using photoluminescent illumination

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9499090-B2
Application number	US-201514617177-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2015
Priority date	Nov 21, 2013
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

An illumination system for a vehicle includes a rear spoiler with first and second photoluminescent portions disposed on the spoiler and at least one light source configured to emit an emission at a first wavelength. The first and second photoluminescent portions are configured to convert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An illumination system for a vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle having a rear spoiler;
first and second photoluminescent portions disposed on the spoiler; and
at least one light source configured to emit an emission at a first wavelength,
wherein the first and second photoluminescent portions are configured to convert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength, wherein the first and second photoluminescent portions respectively illuminate different areas around the vehicle.

2. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein at least one light source is in physical contact with one of the first and second photoluminescent portions.

3. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source is a printed light emitting diode sheet.

4. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the first photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate a rear portion of the vehicle.

5. The illumination system of claim 4 , wherein the first photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate a surface beneath the vehicle.

6. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the second photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate an area under the spoiler.

7. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second photoluminescent portions are disposed on an underside of the spoiler.

8. An illumination system for a vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle having a rear spoiler;
a photoluminescent portion disposed on an underside of the rear spoiler; and
a light source located proximate the photoluminescent portion configured to emit light at a first wavelength, wherein the photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength to illuminate a rear portion of the vehicle.

9. The illumination system of claim 8 , wherein the light source is in physical contact with the photoluminescent portion.

10. The illumination system of claim 9 , wherein the light source is a printed light emitting diode sheet.

11. The illumination system of claim 8 , wherein the photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate a surface beneath the vehicle.

12. The illumination system of claim 8 , wherein the photoluminescent portion comprises first and second photoluminescent portions and a second photoluminescent portion is disposed on the body feature.

13. The illumination system of claim 12 , wherein the second photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate an area under the spoiler.

14. A method for illuminating an exterior of a vehicle comprising:
activating a light source in response to a pre-defined event;
directing light at a first wavelength from the light source toward a photoluminescent portion disposed on an underside of a rear spoiler; and
converting light at the first wavelength to a second longer wavelength with the photoluminescent portion to illuminate a rear portion of the vehicle.

15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising the step of:
illuminating an area underneath the spoiler with the light at the second wavelength.

16. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising the step of:
illuminating a surface located under the vehicle with the light at the second wavelength.

17. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the pre-defined event is the activation of a running light system of the vehicle.

18. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the pre-defined event is an electronic key fob of the vehicle entering within a predefined distance to the vehicle.

19. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the pre-defined event is an application of a braking system of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Whitens Michael James

Classifications

• F21S43/16

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

• B60Q1/2607 Primary

  comprising at least two indicating lamps · CPC title

• F21S41/16

  Laser light sources · CPC title

• B60Q2400/20

  Multi-color single source or LED matrix, e.g. yellow blinker and red brake lamp generated by single lamp · CPC title

• F21S43/145

  Surface emitters, e.g. organic light emitting diodes [OLED] · CPC title