IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,409,515
Granted Patent B2
US 9,409,515 · App. 14/719,042 · Granted Aug 9, 2016

Luminescent seating assembly

Inventors: Stuart C. Salter (White Lake, MI); James J. Surman (Clinton Township, MI); Cornel Lewis Gardner (Romulus, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60Q3/0223B60Q3/001B60Q3/008B60Q3/0243B60Q3/0293F21V9/16H05B37/0218H05B37/0227F21Y2101/02Y02B20/46
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,409,515
App. No.
14/719,042
Granted
Aug 9, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lighting system for a vehicle headrest is provided herein. The lighting system includes a support attached to a headrest on a first end and removably coupled to a seatback on the opposing end. A light source is disposed on the headrest. A first photoluminescent structure is disposed within the system and is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source. The light source may comprise a plurality of printed LEDs employing a thin configuration.

Claims (30)

1. A lighting system for a vehicle headrest, comprising:

a light source disposed on the headrest; and

a plurality of photoluminescent structures configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source, wherein the plurality of photoluminescent structures are separated by a plurality of light transmissive portions such that a first portion of light emitted from the light source is converted to a second wavelength and a second portion of light emitted from the light source passes through a light transmissive portion.

2. The lighting system for a vehicle headrest of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of printed LEDs.

3. The lighting system for a vehicle headrest of claim 2 , wherein the photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material configured to down convert an inputted light received from at least a portion of the light sources into a visible light that is outputted to a viewable portion.

4. The lighting system for a vehicle headrest of claim 3 , wherein the inputted light comprises one of blue light, violet light, and UV light.

5. The lighting system for a vehicle headrest of claim 1 ,

wherein at least one of the photoluminescent structures is separated from and disposed proximate the headrest.

6. The lighting system for a vehicle headrest of claim 1 , further comprising a controller for controlling an activation state of the light source in response to at least one vehicle-related condition.

7. The lighting system for a vehicle headrest of claim 6 , wherein the controller determines at least one of a light emission intensity and a light emission duration of each of the light source.

8. A headrest for a vehicle, comprising:

a body portion of the headrest defined by an exterior shell;

a light source having a portion thereof disposed within the shell;

a luminescent structure on a seatbelt configured to luminesce in response to excitation by at least a portion of the light source; and

a controller configured to control an activation state of the light source.

9. The headrest for a vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the light source comprises a printed LED.

10. The headrest for a vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the luminescent structure comprises at least one luminescent material configured to down convert an inputted light received from at least a portion of the printed LED into a visible light that is outputted to a viewable portion.

11. The headrest for a vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the inputted light comprises one of a blue light, violet light, and UV light.

12. The headrest for a vehicle of claim 8 , wherein a plurality of luminescent structures are separated by a plurality of light transmissive portions such that a first portion of light emitted from the light source is converted to a second wavelength and a second portion of light emitted from the light source passes through a light transmissive portion.

13. The headrest for a vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the controller determines at least one of a light emission intensity and a light emission duration of the light source.

14. A lighting system for a vehicle seating assembly, comprising:

a light source disposed within the headrest of the seating assembly;

a first photoluminescent structure disposed on the light source; and

a second photoluminescent structure disposed on a component separate from and disposed proximate the seating assembly, wherein the first and second photoluminescent structures are configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light output from at least a portion of the light source.

15. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the light sources comprise a plurality of printed LEDs.

16. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the first photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material configured to down convert an inputted light received from at least a portion of the light sources into a visible light that is outputted to a viewable portion.

17. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the inputted light comprises one of blue light, violet light, and UV light.

18. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the first photoluminescent structure illuminates in a first color and a second photoluminescent structure illuminates in a second color.

19. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 14 , further comprising a controller for controlling an activation state of the light source in response to at least one vehicle-related condition.

20. The lighting system for a vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the controller determines at least one of a light emission intensity and a light emission duration of the light source.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2015
From: SALTER, STUART C.; SURMAN, JAMES J.; GARDNER, CORNEL LEWIS
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 035693/0797 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 14603636 · Jan 23, 2015
Continuation In Part 14086442 · Nov 21, 2013
Related Publication 20150251596A1 · Sep 10, 2015