Window lighting system of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9604569-B1
Application number	US-201615213921-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 19, 2016
Priority date	Jul 19, 2016
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle lighting system is provided herein and includes a window of a vehicle. A light-producing assembly is coupled to the window and includes a photoluminescent member configured to luminesce in response to excitation light provided by a light source and a decorative member for concealing the photoluminescent member, wherein the photoluminescent member luminesces to accentuate an indicium defined by the decorative member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle lighting system comprising:
a window of a vehicle;
a light-producing assembly coupled to the window and comprising:
a photoluminescent member configured to luminesce in response to excitation light provided by a light source located outside the vehicle; and
a decorative member for concealing the photoluminescent member, wherein the photoluminescent member luminesces to accentuate an indicium defined by the decorative member.

2. The vehicle lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the photoluminescent member comprises at least one long-persistence phosphor that continues to luminesce for a sustained period of time after the excitation light ceases to be provided.

3. The vehicle lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the decorative member comprises one of a metallized film and an ink having a metallized appearance.

4. The vehicle lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the light-producing assembly further comprises an overmold configured to seal the photoluminescent member and the decorative member and is adhered to a side of the window facing a vehicle interior such that the decorative member is most vehicle-inboard.

5. The vehicle lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the indicium comprises a source-identifying logo.

6. The vehicle lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises sunlight.

7. The vehicle lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the window comprises one of a moonroof, a sunroof, a windshield, and a side window of the vehicle.

8. A vehicle lighting system comprising:
a window of a vehicle; and
a light-producing assembly coupled to the window and comprising:
a light source;
a photoluminescent member arranged over the light source and configured to luminesce in response to excitation light provided by the light source and an additional light source located outside the vehicle; and
a decorative member for concealing the light source and the photoluminescent member, wherein the photoluminescent member luminesces to accentuate an indicium defined by the decorative member.

9. The vehicle lighting system of claim 8 , wherein the light source comprises a printed LED arrangement electrically coupled to a conductive strip provided at an edge of the window via a conductive coating coupled to the window.

10. The vehicle lighting system of claim 9 , wherein the conductive strip comprises one of a copper, an aluminum, a silver, a silver ink, and a graphene.

11. The vehicle lighting system of claim 9 , wherein the conductive coating comprises one of an indium tin oxide and an optically clear conductive ink.

12. The vehicle lighting system of claim 8 , wherein the additional light source comprises sunlight.

13. The vehicle lighting system of claim 8 , wherein the window comprises one of a moonroof, a sunroof, a windshield, and a side window of the vehicle.

14. A vehicle lighting system comprising:
a window of a vehicle roof;
a light-producing assembly coupled to the window and comprising:
a light source; and
a photoluminescent member configured to luminesce in response to excitation light provided by the light source; and

a power delivery system having a conductive strip provided at an edge of the window and electrically coupled to the light source via a substantially transparent conductive coating coupled to the window.

15. The vehicle lighting system of claim 14 , further comprising a controller for controlling an operational state of the light source.

16. The vehicle lighting system of claim 15 , wherein the controller operates the light source based on information provided by a light sensor.

17. The vehicle lighting system of claim 15 , wherein the controller operates the light source based on input provided by a user-input device.

18. The vehicle lighting system of claim 14 , wherein the conductive strip comprises one of a copper, an aluminum, a silver, a silver ink, and a graphene.

19. The vehicle lighting system of claim 14 , wherein the conductive coating comprises one of an indium tin oxide and an optically clear conductive ink.

20. The vehicle lighting system of claim 14 , wherein the light source comprises a printed LED arrangement.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Abdelnour Sleiman N

Classifications

• G09F21/04 Primary

  by land vehicles · CPC title

• G09F13/20

  with luminescent surfaces or parts (luminescent compositions C09K11/00; light sources using luminescence F21K2/00) · CPC title

• B60Q3/0293

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• G09F3/00

  Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means (medals or badges A44C3/00; making labels B31D1/02; sheets temporarily attached together B42F; labelling B65C; labels on record carriers G11B23/38, G11B23/40); Seals; Postage or like stamps · CPC title

• B60Q3/0213

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic