Photoluminescent printed LED molding

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9868387-B2
Application number	US-201514696960-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2015
Priority date	Nov 21, 2013
Publication date	Jan 16, 2018
Grant date	Jan 16, 2018

Abstract

An illumination apparatus configured to seal and substantially conform to a roof ditch of a vehicle is disclosed. The illumination apparatus comprises a first electrode in connection with a seam of the roof ditch via an adhesive. A plurality of printed LEDs configured to emit a first emission and suspended in a semiconductor ink is disposed on a surface of the first electrode, and a second electrode is conductively connected to the plurality of LEDs. A photoluminescent layer is disposed on the second electrode. The illumination apparatus may be in communication with a controller via the first and second electrodes such that the controller may selectively activate the illumination apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An illumination apparatus for a vehicle comprising:
a plurality of lighting portions disposed in an elongated trough formed by an intersection of a roof panel and a body side panel forming a seam, each comprising:
a first electrode;
a plurality of printed LEDs suspended in a semiconductor ink on a surface of the first electrode;
a second electrode in electrical connection with the plurality of LEDs; and
a photoluminescent layer disposed on the second electrode; and

a plurality of electrical conductors extending along the plurality of lighting portions and are in connection with at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode to supply power to each of the lighting portions.

2. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode forms a base portion of each lighting portion.

3. The illumination apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of electrical conductors are in communication with a controller configured to selectively illuminate each of the lighting portions.

4. The illumination apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of electrical conductors are disposed within the lighting portions and interconnect each of the lighting portions.

5. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the seam corresponds to an intersecting portion wherein a first panel of the vehicle and a second panel of the vehicle are joined.

6. The illumination apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the first panel corresponds to a body side panel and the second panel corresponds to a roof panel of the vehicle.

7. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the seam corresponds to a roof ditch forming an elongated trough along a longitudinal portion of the seam.

8. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is connected to the seam by an adhesive configured to seal the seam.

9. An illumination apparatus comprising:
a first electrode in connection with a seam of a roof ditch via an adhesive;
a plurality of printed LEDs configured to emit a first emission and suspended in a semiconductor ink disposed on a surface of the first electrode;
a second electrode in electrical connection with the plurality of LEDs;
a photoluminescent layer disposed on the second electrode; and
a retention detail connecting the apparatus to a roof ditch seam.

10. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein
the first emission corresponds to a first color of light having a wavelength less than 500 nm.

11. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of LEDs are configured to transmit the first emission into the photoluminescent layer wherein a photoluminescent material of the photoluminescent layer converts the first emission to a second emission having a second color, different from the first color.

12. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the photoluminescent layer corresponds to a molded cover portion disposed proximate the second electrode and configured to receive the first emission.

13. The illumination apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the photoluminescent layer comprises a first photoluminescent material and a second photoluminescent material.

14. The illumination apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the first photoluminescent material is disposed in an outer section of the molded cover portion and is configured to convert the first emission to a second emission directed substantially toward a body side panel of the vehicle.

15. The illumination apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the second photoluminescent material is disposed in an inner section of the molded cover portion and is configured to convert the first emission to a third emission directed substantially toward a roof panel of the vehicle.

16. The illumination apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein each of the first emission, the second emission, and the third emission correspond to substantially different colors of light.

17. An illumination apparatus comprising:
a plurality of lighting portions extending along and disposed in a trough formed by a roof panel and a body side panel of a vehicle comprising:
a first electrode in connection with a seam of the roof ditch via an adhesive;
a plurality of printed LEDs configured to emit a first emission and suspended in a semiconductor ink disposed on a surface of the first electrode;
a second electrode in electrical connection with the plurality of LEDs; and
a photoluminescent layer disposed on the second electrode; and

a controller in communication with the first and second electrodes and configured to selectively illuminate the plurality of lighting portions.

18. The illumination apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the plurality of lighting portions corresponds to a first photoluminescent portion configured to emit a first color of light and a second photoluminescent portion configured to emit a second color of light.

19. The illumination apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to selectively illuminate the illumination apparatus in the first color in response to a first vehicle status signal and the second color in response to a second vehicle status signal.

20. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the retention detail is configured to interlock between a roof panel and a body side panel forming the roof ditch seam.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Surman James J

Classifications

• H05B47/11

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

• H05B47/105

  in response to determined parameters · CPC title

• B60Q1/2611

  Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle · CPC title

• B60Q1/2696

  Mounting of devices using LEDs · CPC title

• F21S43/14

  Light emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title