Vehicle wheel illumination assembly using photoluminescent material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9963001-B2
Application number	US-201615079622-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2016
Priority date	Mar 24, 2016
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle wheel illumination assembly includes a light source located on the body of a vehicle near the wheel well and oriented to direct light onto a wheel assembly having a tire. A tire pressure indicator detects tire pressure of the tire. The light source illuminates the wheel assembly with a desired color to indicate a tire pressure status based on the detected tire pressure. A photoluminescent material is located on the wheel assembly and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle wheel illumination assembly comprising:
a light source located on a vehicle body and arranged to illuminate a wheel assembly having a tire;
a first photoluminescent material located on one of the tire and a wheel of the wheel assembly and configured to luminesce a first color in response to excitation by the light source indicative of tire pressure; and
a second photoluminescent material located on at least one of a valve stem and a valve stem cap of the wheel assembly on the wheel assembly and configured to luminescence a second color different from the first color in response to excitation by the light source.

2. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a controller for controlling the light source to illuminate the wheel assembly.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first photoluminescent material is located on the tire.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first photoluminescent material is located on the wheel of the wheel assembly.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second photoluminescent material comprises a rylene dye.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first photoluminescent material comprises phosphor.

7. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a tire pressure detector for detecting the tire air pressure, wherein the light source illuminates the wheel assembly to indicate the tire pressure status indicative of the detected tire air pressure.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the controller controls the light source to illuminate the wheel assembly with one color light to indicate low tire air pressure when the tire air pressure is below a pressure limit and to illuminate the wheel assembly with a different other color light to enable servicing of the tire.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light source is located on the vehicle body near a wheel well.

10. A vehicle wheel illumination assembly comprising:
a light source located on a body of a vehicle;
a tire pressure detector for detecting air inflation pressure of a tire on a wheel assembly of the vehicle;
first and second photoluminescent materials located on the wheel assembly configured to luminesce different colors in response to excitation by the light source, wherein the first photoluminescent material is located on one of the tire and a wheel and the second, photoluminescent material is located on at least one of a valve stem and a valve stem cap; and
a controller controlling the light source to illuminate the wheel assembly with a first color light indicative of a tire air pressure status.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the controller further illuminates the wheel assembly with a second color light to enable servicing of the tire.

12. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first photoluminescent material is located on an outer wall of the tire.

13. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the second photoluminescent material comprises a rylene dye.

14. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first photoluminescent material comprises phosphor.

15. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the light source is located on the vehicle body at or near a wheel well of the vehicle.

16. A method of illuminating a vehicle wheel assembly comprising:
arranging a light source on a vehicle body to illuminate a wheel assembly comprising a tire;
providing first and second photoluminescent materials on the wheel assembly, wherein the first photoluminescent material is located on one of the tire and a wheel and the second photoluminescent material is located on at least one of a valve stem and a valve stem cap; and
activating the light source to illuminate light on the wheel assembly and excite the first and second photoluminescent materials to luminesce different colors, wherein the first photoluminescent material luminesces a first color indicative of tire pressure.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of detecting a low tire pressure of the tire and activating the light source to indicate low tire pressure with one color light.

18. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the second photoluminescent material comprises a rylene dye.

19. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first photoluminescent material comprises phosphor.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Surman James J
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Gardner Cornel Lewis
• Ammar Ali

Classifications

• F21K9/64

  using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer · CPC title

• B60Q1/50

  for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking · CPC title

• B60C23/0405 Primary

  Mechanically generated visible signals, e.g. by using a gauge needle · CPC title

• B60Q2900/30

  Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions · CPC title

• B60Q1/2607

  comprising at least two indicating lamps · CPC title