IP Library Granted Patent US 10,081,296
Granted Patent B2
US 10,081,296 · App. 15/092,160 · Granted Sep 25, 2018

Illuminated exterior strip with photoluminescent structure and retroreflective layer

Inventors: Paul Kenneth Dellock (Northville, MI); Stuart C. Salter (White Lake, MI); Christopher Anthony Danowski (Rochester, MI); Jason C. Rogers (Shelby Township, MI); Chad Hoover (Washington, MI); Doug H. Randlett (Metamora, MI); Christopher Charles Hunt (Livonia, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60Q1/2619B60Q1/30B60Q1/32B60Q1/50F21K9/64F21S43/13
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,081,296
App. No.
15/092,160
Granted
Sep 25, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A light strip for a vehicle panel is provided herein. The light strip includes a light-producing assembly. A photoluminescent structure is disposed on the light-producing assembly and is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by a light source of the light-producing assembly. An adhesive layer having one or more retroreflective beads embedded therein is disposed on the photoluminescent structure. An overmold material is disposed over a portion of the retroreflective beads.

Claims (17)

1. A light strip for a vehicle panel, comprising:

a photoluminescent structure disposed on a light-producing assembly and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light-producing assembly, the light-producing assembly including LED sources dispersed in a printed, variable concentration LED arrangement;

an adhesive layer having one or more retroreflective beads embedded therein and disposed on the photoluminescent structure; and

an overmold material disposed over a portion of the retroreflective beads.

2. The light strip for a vehicle panel of claim 1 , further comprising a controller for selectively activating one or more light sources disposed within the light-producing assembly.

3. The light strip for a vehicle panel of claim 1 , wherein the light-producing assembly illuminates one or more messages that are formed as opaque portions in a decorative layer disposed over a portion of the light-producing assembly.

4. The light strip for a vehicle panel of claim 1 , wherein the photoluminescent structure comprises at least one photoluminescent material configured to perform an energy conversion on an excitation light received from at least a portion of the light-producing assembly into a visible, converted light that is outputted through a viewable portion.

5. The light strip for a vehicle panel of claim 1 , wherein the light-producing assembly is operably coupled to a controller that deactivates the light-producing assembly once a door has been closed for a predetermined amount of time.

6. A light strip for a vehicle panel, comprising:

a photoluminescent structure disposed on a light-producing assembly and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light-producing assembly, the light-producing assembly including LED sources dispersed in a printed, variable concentration LED arrangement;

an adhesive layer having one or more retroreflective beads embedded therein and disposed on the photoluminescent structure;

an overmold material disposed over a portion of the retroreflective beads; and

a controller for selectively activating one or more light sources disposed within the light-producing assembly.

7. A light strip for a vehicle panel, comprising:

a photoluminescent structure disposed on a light-producing assembly and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light-producing assembly, the light-producing assembly including LED sources dispersed in a printed, variable concentration LED arrangement and operably coupled to a controller that deactivates the light-producing assembly once a door has been closed for a predetermined amount of time;

an adhesive layer having one or more retroreflective beads embedded therein and disposed on the photoluminescent structure; and

an overmold material disposed over a portion of the retroreflective beads.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2016
From: DELLOCK, PAUL KENNETH; SALTER, STUART C.; DANOWSKI, CHRISTOPHER; ROGERS, JASON C.; HOOVER, CHAD; RANDLETT, DOUG H.; HUNT, CHRISTOPHER CHARLES
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 038208/0883 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170291534A1 · Oct 12, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,494,142