Illuminated exterior strip

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9821708-B2
Application number	US-201514795398-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 9, 2015
Priority date	Nov 21, 2013
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A lighting system for a vehicle panel is provided herein. The lighting system includes an outer panel mated to an inner panel. An aperture is disposed in the outer panel. A light-producing assembly is arranged as a strip and includes a plurality of light sources. A photoluminescent structure is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the plurality of light sources. A retention feature is coupled to the light-producing assembly and insertable through the aperture for disposing the light-producing assembly on the outer panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A body panel for a vehicle, comprising:
a panel having an aperture provided therein;
a light-producing assembly comprising a plurality of light sources arranged as a strip attached to a portion of the panel; and
a photoluminescent structure on the light-producing assembly configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the plurality of light sources, wherein the plurality of light sources is dispersed in a variable density along the strip such that portions of the photoluminescent structure located above occupant seating areas exhibit a greater degree of luminescence than portions of the photoluminescent structure located above non-occupant seating areas.

2. The body panel of claim 1 , further comprising:
a retention feature coupled to the light-producing assembly and insertable through the aperture for disposing the light-producing assembly on the panel.

3. The body panel of claim 1 , wherein the panel includes an outer panel and an inner panel and a cavity is formed therebetween.

4. The body panel of claim 3 , further comprising:
a set of conductive leads disposed through the aperture and into the cavity.

5. The body panel of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light sources comprises LEDs dispersed in a printed LED arrangement.

6. The body panel of claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the photoluminescent structure is located proximate a vehicle feature and exhibits a first intensity of luminescence and a second portion of the photoluminescent structure is located further from the vehicle feature and exhibits a second, lower intensity of luminescence while illuminated.

7. The body panel of claim 1 , wherein the light-producing assembly is configured to illuminate in a plurality of colors.

8. A lighting system for a vehicle, comprising:
a panel having a light-producing assembly disposed on a first surface and a second surface offset from the first surface;
a photoluminescent structure on the panel, wherein the light-producing assembly is configured to excite greater degrees of luminescence proximate an occupant seating area than portions located above non-occupant seating areas; and
an overmold material disposed over the light-producing assembly at an intersection of the first and second surfaces.

9. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 8 , further comprising:
a controller for selectively activating the plurality of light sources.

10. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of light sources comprises LEDs dispersed in a printed LED arrangement.

11. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the light-producing assembly illuminates indicia disposed over a portion of the light-producing assembly.

12. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the overmold material and a conductive lead are disposed in an indent in the panel at an intersection of the first and second surfaces of the panel.

13. A lighting system for a vehicle, comprising:
a first light-producing assembly disposed on a fender of said vehicle;
a second light-producing assembly disposed on a door of said vehicle, wherein the first and second light-producing assemblies are co-planar and each includes a plurality of light sources dispersed at variable densities; and
a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in greater degrees proximate a location relative to occupant seating areas than portions located above non-occupant seating areas.

14. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising a controller for selectively activating the plurality of light sources.

15. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the first and second light-producing assemblies appear as a single, continuous illuminated trim component.

16. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the first and second light-producing assemblies are disposed proximate to one another so as to appear as a single continuous strip.

17. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of light sources comprises LEDs dispersed in a printed LED arrangement.

18. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of light sources are dispersed such that portions of the photoluminescent structure proximate to a vehicle feature exhibit a greater degree of luminescence than portions of the photoluminescent structure located remotely from the feature.

19. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the first and second light-producing assemblies each illuminate in a first and a second color.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Gardner Cornel Lewis

Classifications

• H05B47/11

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

• H05B47/105

  in response to determined parameters · CPC title

• F21S43/14

  Light emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21S41/16

  Laser light sources · CPC title

• F21S43/26

  Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255 · CPC title