Badge assemblies that emanate visible iridescent patterns
A badge assembly that includes a translucent, polymeric badge comprising an edge and an interior surface with a diffraction grating having a thickness from 250 nm to 1000 nm and a period from 50 nm to 5 microns; LED sources oriented toward the edge; and fascia configured to obscure the sources. Further, the grating diffracts light from the LED sources through the badge as a visible iridescent pattern.
1. A badge assembly, comprising:
a translucent, polymeric badge comprising an edge and an integral diffraction grating having a thickness from 500 nm to 750 nm and a period from 150 nm to 400 nm; and
LED sources oriented toward the edge,
wherein the grating diffracts light from the LED sources through the badge as a visible iridescent pattern, and
further wherein the badge comprises glass fillers in the range of 1 to 15% by volume.
2. The badge assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the badge comprises a plurality of edges and each of the LED sources is oriented toward at least one of the edges.
3. The badge assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the LED sources are coupled to a controller, the controller configured to individually control each of the LED sources.
4. The badge assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the badge further comprises an interior surface, the interior surface comprising the diffraction grating.
5. The badge assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the grating diffracts ambient light as a second visible iridescent pattern.
6. A badge assembly, comprising:
a translucent, polymeric badge comprising an edge and a film on an interior surface; and
LED sources oriented toward the edge,
wherein the film comprises a diffraction grating having a thickness from 500 nm to 750 nm and a period from 150 nm to 400 nm that diffracts light from the LED sources through the badge as a visible iridescent pattern, and
further wherein the badge comprises glass fillers in the range of 1 to 15% by volume.
7. The badge assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the badge comprises a plurality of edges and each of the LED sources is oriented toward at least one of the edges.
8. The badge assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the LED sources are coupled to a controller, the controller configured to individually control each of the LED sources.
9. The badge assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the badge has a composition selected from the group consisting of silicones, acrylics and polycarbonates.
10. The badge assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the film is formed by embossing, and the film is joined to the badge by insert molding.
11. The badge assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the film is formed by embossing, and the film is joined to the badge with an optical adhesive.
12. The badge assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the LED sources are located such that they are obscured by the badge.
13. The badge assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the grating diffracts ambient light as a second visible iridescent pattern.
14. A badge assembly, comprising:
a translucent, polymeric badge comprising an edge and an interior surface with an integral diffraction grating having a thickness from 500 nm to 750 nm and a period from 150 nm to 400 nm;
LED sources oriented toward the edge; and
fascia configured to obscure the sources,
wherein the diffraction grating diffracts light from the LED sources through the badge as a visible iridescent pattern, and
further wherein the badge comprises glass fillers in the range of 1 to 15% by volume.
15. The badge assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the badge comprises a plurality of edges and each of the LED sources is oriented toward at least one of the edges.
16. The badge assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the LED sources are coupled to a controller, the controller configured to individually control each of the LED sources.
17. The badge assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the badge has a composition selected from the group consisting of silicones, acrylics and polycarbonates.
18. The badge assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the grating diffracts ambient light as a second visible iridescent pattern.