IP Library Granted Patent US 9,440,583
Granted Patent B2
US 9,440,583 · App. 14/156,869 · Granted Sep 13, 2016

Vehicle dome lighting system with photoluminescent structure

Inventors: Stuart C. Salter (White Lake, MI); Jeffrey Singer (Canton, MI); Matthew Majkowski (Dearborn, MI); Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake (Bloomfield Hills, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60Q3/0209B60Q3/0279B60Q3/0283B60Q3/044B60Q2500/10
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 9,440,583
App. No.
14/156,869
Granted
Sep 13, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle dome lighting system is provided and includes a headliner and a photoluminescent structure coupled to the headliner. At least one excitation source is operable to emit at least one inputted electromagnetic radiation for exciting an associated area of the photoluminescent structure to produce at least one outputted electromagnetic radiation.

Claims (27)

1. A vehicle dome lighting system comprising:

a headliner coupled to a vehicle roof structure;

a photoluminescent structure contiguously coupled to the headliner; and

a plurality of excitation sources, each operably coupled to one of a headrest, a b-pillar, and the headliner, and operable to emit a primary emission to excite an associated area of the photoluminescent structure, wherein each associated area is formulated to convert the primary emission into a secondary emission and is located in one of a corner area, a side area, and a central area of the photoluminescent structure such that each associated area at least partially overlaps with at least one adjacent associated area.

2. The vehicle dome lighting system of claim 1 , wherein each excitation source comprises a first blue light emitting diode, a second blue light emitting diode, and a third blue light emitting diode, each operable to output a uniquely associated peak wavelength of blue light.

3. The vehicle dome lighting system of claim 2 , wherein the primary emission comprises at least one of a first inputted electromagnetic radiation emitted from the first blue light emitting diode, a second inputted electromagnetic radiation emitted from the second blue light emitting diode, and a third inputted electromagnetic radiation emitted from the third blue light emitting diode.

4. The vehicle dome lighting system of claim 3 , wherein the photoluminescent structure comprises an energy conversion layer having a red-emitting photoluminescent material that is primarily excited by the first inputted electromagnetic radiation, a green-emitting photoluminescent material that is primarily excited by the second inputted electromagnetic radiation, and a blue-emitting photoluminescent material that is primarily excited by the third blue light emitting diode.

5. The vehicle dome lighting system of claim 4 , wherein the secondary emission comprises at least one of a first outputted electromagnetic radiation, a second outputted electromagnetic radiation, and a third outputted electromagnetic radiation, each having a uniquely associated peak emission wavelength.

6. The vehicle dome lighting system of claim 5 , wherein the red-emitting photoluminescent material converts the first inputted electromagnetic radiation into the first outputted electromagnetic radiation, the green-emitting photoluminescent material converts the second inputted electromagnetic radiation into the second outputted electromagnetic radiation, and the blue-emitting photoluminescent material converts the third inputted electromagnetic radiation into the third outputted electromagnetic radiation.

7. A vehicle dome lighting system comprising:

a headliner coupled to a vehicle roof structure;

a photoluminescent structure coupled to the headliner; and

a plurality of excitation sources, each operable to emit at least one of a first inputted electromagnetic radiation, a second inputted electromagnetic radiation, and a third inputted electromagnetic radiation for exciting an associated area of the photoluminescent structure, wherein each associated area contains a red-emitting photoluminescent material formulated to convert the first inputted electromagnetic radiation into a first outputted electromagnetic radiation, a green-emitting photoluminescent material formulated to convert the second inputted electromagnetic radiation into a second outputted electromagnetic radiation, and a blue-emitting photoluminescent material formulated to convert the third inputted electromagnetic radiation into a third outputted electromagnetic radiation.

8. The vehicle dome lighting system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of excitation sources are each operably coupled to one of a headrest, a b-pillar, and the headliner.

9. The vehicle dome lighting system of claim 7 , wherein each associated area is located in one of a corner area, a side area, and a central area of the photoluminescent structure and at least partially overlaps with at least one adjacent associated area.

10. The vehicle dome lighting system of claim 7 , wherein the first, second, and third inputted electromagnetic radiations each have a uniquely associated peak wavelength.

11. The vehicle dome lighting system of claim 10 , wherein the first, second, and third inputted electromagnetic radiations are each expressed as blue light.

12. The vehicle dome lighting system of claim 7 , wherein the first, second, and third outputted electromagnetic radiations each have a uniquely associated peak emission wavelength.

13. A vehicle dome lighting system comprising:

a headliner coupled to a vehicle roof structure;

a photoluminescent structure coupled to the headliner; and

excitation sources operable to emit a plurality of inputted electromagnetic radiation, at least a portion of which have a uniquely associated peak wavelength, the photoluminescent structure configured to convert the plurality of inputted electromagnetic radiation into a plurality of outputted electromagnetic radiation, each having a uniquely associated peak emission wavelength outputted electromagnetic radiation.

14. The vehicle dome lighting system of claim 13 , wherein each of the excitation sources are operably coupled to one of a headrest, a b-pillar, and the headliner.

15. The vehicle dome lighting system of claim 13 , wherein each excitation source excites an associated area of the photoluminescent structure, wherein the associated area comprises one of a corner area, a side area, and a central area of the photoluminescent structure and overlaps with at least one adjacent associated area.

16. The vehicle dome lighting system of claim 13 , wherein the photoluminescent structure is configured to reflect at least one of the plurality of inputted electromagnetic radiation.

17. The vehicle dome lighting system of claim 13 , wherein the photoluminescent structure is configured to reflect a portion of at least one of the plurality of inputted electromagnetic radiation and convert a remainder of the at least one of the plurality of inputted electromagnetic radiation.

18. The vehicle dome lighting system of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of inputted electromagnetic radiation is emitted from one of a blue light emitting diode and an ultraviolet light emitting diode.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2014
From: SALTER, STUART C.; SINGER, JEFFREY; MAJKOWSKI, MATTHEW; DASSANAYAKE, MAHENDRA SOMASARA
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 031986/0405 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 14086442 · Nov 21, 2013
Related Publication 20150138790A1 · May 21, 2015