IP Library Granted Patent US 9,533,613
Granted Patent B2
US 9,533,613 · App. 14/540,625 · Granted Jan 3, 2017

Photoluminescent fuel filler door

Inventors: Stuart C. Salter (White Lake, MI); James J. Surman (Clinton Township, MI); Cornel Lewis Gardner (Romulus, MI); LaRon Michelle Brown (Birmingham, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60Q1/50B60Q1/2661B60K15/05B60Q2400/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,533,613
App. No.
14/540,625
Granted
Jan 3, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle illumination apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an access panel configured to conceal an access region of a fueling receptacle. A light source is disposed proximate the access region and is in communication with a controller. The illumination apparatus further comprises at least one photoluminescent portion disposed proximate the access region and configured to illuminate at least a portion of the access region.

Claims (29)

1. A vehicle illumination apparatus comprising:

an access panel disposed on a vehicle configured to conceal an access region of a fueling receptacle;

a light source disposed proximate the access region; and

at least one photoluminescent portion disposed proximate the access region and configured to illuminate at least a portion of the access region.

2. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light source is configured to emit a first emission configured to excite the at least one photoluminescent portion.

3. The illumination apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one photoluminescent portion comprises a first photoluminescent portion and a second photoluminescent portion.

4. The illumination apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the light source is configured to excite the first photoluminescent portion in a first position and the second photoluminescent portion in a second position.

5. The illumination apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the first position corresponds to the access panel oriented in an open position and the second position corresponds to the access panel oriented in a closed position.

6. The light apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the light source is in communication with a controller configured to illuminate the second photoluminescent portion in response to a low fuel level of the vehicle.

7. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate a portion of an interior surface of the access panel.

8. The illumination apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one photoluminescent portion disposed on the access panel comprises at least one of a warning and text corresponding to refueling instructions.

9. A vehicle illumination apparatus comprising:

an access panel disposed on a vehicle configured to conceal an access region of a fueling receptacle;

a light source configured to emit a first emission; and

at least one photoluminescent portion disposed proximate the access region and configured to illuminate a surface proximate the access panel in response to the controller activating the light source to emit the first emission.

10. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the light source is configured to emit the first emission in response to a low fuel level of the vehicle.

11. The illumination apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one photoluminescent portion becomes excited in response to receiving the first emission to emit a second emission having a different color than the first emission.

12. The illumination apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the access panel is configured to be oriented in an open position and a closed position.

13. The illumination apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the second emission is invisible from an exterior of the vehicle when the access panel is oriented in the closed position.

14. The illumination apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the light source is configured to activate the second emission in response to a low fuel level of the vehicle.

15. A vehicle illumination apparatus comprising:

an access panel disposed on a vehicle configured to conceal an access region of a fueling receptacle;

a light source configured to emit a first emission; and

at least one photoluminescent portion configured to illuminate in response to receiving the first emission, wherein at least one photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate an access region of the fueling receptacle in response to the access panel being oriented in an open configuration.

16. The illumination apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate an exterior portion of the vehicle in response to the access panel being oriented in the closed position.

17. The illumination apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one photoluminescent portion comprises a first photoluminescent portion configured to illuminate the access region and a second photoluminescent portion configured to illuminate the exterior portion.

18. The illumination apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the first photoluminescent portion is configured to emit a first color of light and the second photoluminescent portion is configured to emit a second color of light, different from the first color.

19. The illumination apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the second photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate the exterior portion in response to a low fuel level of the vehicle.

20. The illumination apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the second photo luminescent portion is configured to illuminate the exterior portion periodically in response to a low fuel level of the vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2014
From: SALTER, STUART C.; SURMAN, JAMES J.; GARDNER, CORNEL LEWIS; BROWN, LARON MICHELLE
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 034166/0337 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 14301635 · Jun 11, 2014
Continuation In Part 14156869 · Jan 16, 2014
Continuation In Part 14086442 · Nov 21, 2013
Related Publication 20150138811A1 · May 21, 2015