Automobile Patents (Class 362/487)
  • Patent number: 10317065
    Abstract: An outdoor area LED lighting system including: a housing containing a large array of LEDs mounted to an aluminum direct thermal path printed circuit board and a single lens. The large array of LEDs are capable of producing light rays directed through the single lens to produce a beam of light to illuminate the outdoor area. The single lens is preferably a Fresnel lens. The housing is preferably capable of being sealed in a weather-tight manner. A second housing may at least partially surround the first housing such that at least one air passage is provided between the first housing and the second housing. A heat sink including a heat block in thermal communication with a plurality of heat tubes and fin assemblies may be in partial thermal contact with the LED module and in fluid communication with the at least one air passage. At least one fan may be provided in or in fluid communication with said at least one air passage to cool the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Sportsbeams Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred H. Holmes, Kevin C. Baxter
  • Patent number: 10292221
    Abstract: A solid-state light source lighting device includes an adjuster configured to adjust an output current to be output through an output port, and a first switch to be electrically connected in parallel with a second LED of a plurality of solid-state light sources, and a controller configured to turn on and off the first switch. The controller is configured to keep the first switch off while the DC voltage (input voltage) received through the input port is higher than a threshold voltage, and keep the first switch on while the input voltage is lower than or equal to the threshold voltage. The threshold voltage is higher than or equal to a voltage necessary to turn on the plurality of solid-state light sources while the first switch is off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10232766
    Abstract: A door handle includes a case including a placement space therein, and a light guide disposed in the placement space and configured to guide light emitted from a light source, the light guide including a light exiting surface from which the light is irradiated toward the outside of the case. An irradiation passage hole through which the light irradiated from the light exiting surface passes is formed in the case. When a tangent line which passes through an outer surface of a door panel on a travelling direction side of the light passing through the irradiation passage hole and a wall surface for forming the irradiation passage hole is defined as a connecting line and an assembly of the connecting lines at the entire circumference of the irradiation passage hole is defined as a connecting line assembly, the light exiting surface is located on the outside of the connecting line assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignees: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuko Imai, Shigehiko Kazaoka, Masashi Hanazato, Nobukazu Araki, Masashi Tateishi
  • Patent number: 10195986
    Abstract: A vehicular illumination holding structure comprising: a bar-shaped light guide installed in an interior trim; a holding member that holds the light guide; and a transmitting portion of the interior trim, wherein an emission surface of the light guide extends along longitudinal direction thereof and faces the transmitting portion, the transmitting portion is disposed with a gap from the emission surface, the holding member extends from the interior trim, the holding members have, at leading end portions thereof, engagement bodies engaged with a first longitudinal side surface of the light guide, the interior trim further includes support portions and step portions, where the support portions extend over a second side surface of the light guide to reach the emission surface, the second side surface being a surface opposed to the first side surface, and the step portions connect the support portions and the transmitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: HAYASHI TELEMPU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 10190740
    Abstract: A light source unit includes a light source module, a heat sink including a light source arrangement portion on which the light source module is arranged and a plurality of heat dissipation fins that are plate-shaped and arranged in a first direction such that main surfaces thereof face each other, a drive circuit for controlling driving of the light source module, and a circuit cover configured to cover the drive circuit. The light source arrangement portion is provided on an anterior surface side of the heat sink, the plurality of heat dissipation fins are provided on a posterior surface side of the heat sink, and the circuit cover is attached to the heat sink such that at least two ventilation holes are present in a spatial region framed by a part of the heat sink that is on the posterior surface side and the circuit cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kosaku Arita
  • Patent number: 10137821
    Abstract: A low-beam-color-temperature-variable headlight unit includes a case, a condenser lens, a high-color-temperature light emitting diode, a low-color-temperature light emitting diode, and a low-beam-color-temperature control unit. The high-color-temperature light emitting diode emits high-color-temperature light. The high-color-temperature light emitting diode provides illumination of a first illuminated area. The low-color-temperature light emitting diode provides illumination of a second illuminated area that overlaps the first illuminated area at least partly. The low-color-temperature light emitting diode emits low-color-temperature light having a lower color temperature than the high-color-temperature light. The low-beam-color-temperature control unit is capable of adjusting the color temperature of the low beam by adjusting the quantity of light emitted from the high-color-temperature light emitting diode and the quantity of light emitted from the low-color-temperature light emitting diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takehiro Inoue, Yumi Kimura, Fang-yu Hsu
  • Patent number: 10139068
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device (20, 30) for a headlight, in particular a motor-vehicle headlight, comprising a plurality of light sources (200, 300), which are arranged adjacent to each other in rows (201, 202, 203, 301, 302, 303) and which form a lighting field (209, 309), and comprising a light-guiding device (204, 304) having a plurality of light-guiding elements (201a, 202a, 203a, 301a, 302a, 303a), wherein each light-guiding element (201a, 202a, 203a, 301a, 302a, 303a) is associated with one light source (200, 300), wherein each light-guiding element (201a, 202a, 203a, 301a, 302a, 303a) has a light incoupling surface (201b, 202b, 203b, 301b, 302b, 303b) for coupling in light emitted by the particular light source and a light outlet surface, wherein the light-guiding elements (201a, 202a, 203a, 301a, 302a, 303a) are arranged in at least two linear rows (211, 212, 213, 311, 312, 313) arranged one over the other, and wherein the light-guiding elements (203a, 303a) of the lowest row (213, 313) ar
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: ZKW Group GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Plank, Lukas Taudt
  • Patent number: 10125943
    Abstract: A motor vehicle headlamp including a housing in which at least one main light source is arranged, at least one further light-emitter, a heat sink for cooling the light-emitter, an at least partially transparent external lens that closes off the housing from the external environment of the motor vehicle headlamp and has an inner side facing the interior of the housing and an outer side facing the external environment, a front housing that is arranged in front of the outer side of the external lens. A light-guiding element is arranged in or on the front housing that at least partially fills the interior of the front housing or forms at least part of a wall of the front housing and guides light radiated inwards by the light-emitter. A motor vehicle is provided that includes a motor vehicle headlamp and a cooling grille having at least one cooling grille lamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alexander Thiel, Eduard Dordel
  • Patent number: 10128283
    Abstract: A method for managing light energy received from at least one light source by at least one light sensor in an access control system. The method comprises receiving light energy by the at least one light sensor, measuring the amount of light energy received by an energy harvesting manager interconnected with an access control device, and determining whether the measured amount of light energy is above a predetermined threshold. If the measured amount of light energy is above the predetermined threshold, the method comprises converting the light energy into harvested energy by at least one energy harvester. If the measured amount of light energy is not above the predetermined threshold, the method comprises adjusting the amount of light energy available to the at least one light sensor from the at least one light source until the predetermined threshold is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: SARGENT MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventor: Mark Bryla
  • Patent number: 10114279
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp device is disclosed that is capable of projecting driving information onto the road using a high beam and of improving visibility of an image containing the driving information projected onto the road. Specifically, as the result of adjusting the color of the image suitable for the driving information projected onto the road, the driver is capable of more easily perceiving the driving information due to the image having a specific color corresponding to the driving information. In addition, as the result of correcting an anamorphically-enlarged image using an anamorphic lens, the image containing the driving information is projected onto the road more clearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jung Wook Lim, Jik Soo Shin, Keon Soon Jin, Ki Hong Lee, Byoung Suk Ahn
  • Patent number: 10066806
    Abstract: A lighting fixture projects light sideward and has no restriction in design. The lighting fixture can include an LED; a primary lens disposed in an optical axis of the LED, the primary lens being configured to form a main light distribution; an auxiliary lens disposed on an outer peripheral side of the primary lens around the optical axis of the LED; and a reflecting portion configured to reflect part of light emitted from the LED to substantially an entire area of the auxiliary lens on an inner peripheral surface side thereof. The reflecting portion can be formed integrally with the primary lens and include an incident surface on which part of light emitted from the LED can be incident, a reflecting surface configured to reflect light having entered through the incident surface, and a light-exiting surface configured to allow the light reflected by the reflecting surface to exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Norifumi Imazeki
  • Patent number: 10047911
    Abstract: A vehicle emissions system is provided that includes a tail pipe configured to emit a first emission, a heat shield positioned proximate the tail pipe having a shield substrate. A semiconductor layer is positioned on the shield substrate and configured to convert the first emission into a second emission. An overmold is positioned over the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Talat Karmo
  • Patent number: 10036523
    Abstract: A light emitting module includes a reflector, a lens and a light source disposed in the reflector. The lens is disposed in front of the reflector to refract light forwards so that the illuminating area of the light emitting module is adjustable. The light emitting module is particularly suitable for head light of vehicles. The light emitting module has a high illuminating efficiency and prevent light from dazzling a driver's eyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN NETWORK COMPUTER & ELECTRONIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chia-Mei Peng, Hsieh-Chen Chuang, Ping-Han Chuang
  • Patent number: 10006603
    Abstract: A light reflector arrangement providing a light output having substantially uniform luminous intensity is disclosed. The light reflector arrangement includes at least one light emitting diode (LED) light source. For each light source, the light reflector arrangement includes a first reflector configured to receive light from the light source and reflect said light towards a second reflector such that light reflected from the second reflector has substantially uniform luminance observable from a single direction. For example, the second reflector has light scattering means for removing directionality of light reflected from the second reflector. The light reflector arrangement may further include a lens configured to receive the light reflected from the second reflector. The lens preferably has a light diffusing surface such that light output through the lens has a substantially uniform luminance observable from more than one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.á.r.l.
    Inventors: Gary De Kievit, Simon Timothy Belcher
  • Patent number: 9925917
    Abstract: A vehicle illumination apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an emitting layer comprising a plurality of printed light sources and configured to conform to an outer surface of a panel. The apparatus further comprises a reflective layer disposed on an interior surface of the emitting layer and a surface layer configured to seal an outer surface of the apparatus. A controller is configured to selectively activate the light sources to reveal a symbol defined by the emitting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Christopher Charles Hunt, Chad Hoover, Doug H. Randlett
  • Patent number: 9903550
    Abstract: Various embodiment may relate to a lighting device, including a light mixing element having a light entry surface and a light exit surface, multiple light sources, the primary light of which can be is radiated onto the light entry surface, a wavelength conversion unit having a carrier, on which a luminescent volume is arranged, which luminescent volume can be is illuminated by means of the primary light emitted by the light exit surface, and at least one decoupling optical unit for forming useful light emitted by the wavelength conversion unit, which has at least one non-imaging safety region. The multiple light sources radiate the primary light thereof at an angle onto the light entry surface. The at least one safety region occupies a position on the decoupling optical unit which corresponds to a region of high intensity of the primary light in the case of remote luminescent volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventors: Andre Nauen, Georg Forster, David Dussault
  • Patent number: 9855797
    Abstract: An illuminated system is provided herein. The illuminated system includes a badge that is movable between a first position and a second position. First and second light sources are disposed within the badge. The first light source is configured to direct light in a first direction. The second light source is configured to direct light in a second direction. A vehicle feature is operably coupled with the second light source. A first photoluminescent structure is disposed on the vehicle feature and is configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light from the light source. A controller is configured to selectively activate the first and second light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Pietro Buttolo, Paul Kenneth Dellock, James J. Surman
  • Patent number: 9849829
    Abstract: A light system for a vehicle is provided herein. The light system includes first and second light sources. A lens is configured to create a first illumination pattern when the first light source is activated and a second illumination pattern when the second light source is activated. A third light source is configured to create a third illumination pattern that extends vehicle outward of the first and second illumination patterns. A controller is configured to activate the first light source when a front door of the vehicle is opened and activate the second light source when a rear door of the vehicle is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Michael A. Musleh
  • Patent number: 9840188
    Abstract: A badge for a vehicle is provided herein. The badge includes a substrate attached to a housing. The housing has a viewable portion. A first light guide is operably coupled with a first light source. A second light guide is operably coupled with a plurality of second light sources. The geometric shape of the first light guide is varied from the second light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Pietro Buttolo, Michael A. Musleh
  • Patent number: 9840191
    Abstract: A lamp assembly is provided herein. The lamp assembly includes first and second light sources disposed in a housing. The first and second light sources emit light at varied wavelengths. A badge is disposed on a vehicle and is operably coupled with the first light source. A photoluminescent structure is disposed on the badge and is configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light emitted by the first light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Patent number: 9834132
    Abstract: In order to provide a vehicle in which a side road area of the vehicle to be watched by a side area watching camera is illuminated by a side area illumination lamp for illuminating a foot area of a man climbing into the vehicle when the vehicle is parked or driven carefully on an alley or a mountain road in the darkness, the vehicle is equipped with the side area illumination lamp for illuminating a side road area, a side area watching camera for watching the side road area, a navigation display and an electronic control unit, whereby the side area illumination lamp is put on when a man approaches the vehicle as well as when the vehicle is being driven at a vehicle speed less than a certain low threshold speed with the side area watching camera being made on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9821708
    Abstract: A lighting system for a vehicle panel is provided herein. The lighting system includes an outer panel mated to an inner panel. An aperture is disposed in the outer panel. A light-producing assembly is arranged as a strip and includes a plurality of light sources. A photoluminescent structure is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the plurality of light sources. A retention feature is coupled to the light-producing assembly and insertable through the aperture for disposing the light-producing assembly on the outer panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Cornel Lewis Gardner
  • Patent number: 9821710
    Abstract: A vehicle notification system is disclosed. The system comprises a light generating layer conforming to a surface of a decklid configured to enclose a storage compartment. The light generating layer comprises a plurality of LEDs in a semiconductor ink operable to emit a first emission. The system further comprises a controller configured to selectively activate the plurality of LEDs in response to a first signal from a decklid ajar indicator and a second signal from an emergency lighting module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Christopher Charles Hunt, Doug H. Randlett, Chad Hoover
  • Patent number: 9802531
    Abstract: A vehicle is presented that includes a lift gate operably connected to a body and operable between open and closed positions. A taillight is positioned at a rear end of the body. A cargo lamp is positioned on an inboard surface of the taillight such that the cargo lamp is concealed when the lift gate is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Annette Lynn Huebner, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
  • Patent number: 9796325
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting system is provided herein and includes light-producing assemblies, each coupled to a body portion of a vehicle. At least one light-sensing device is included for sensing ambient light levels. A controller is configured to selectively activate each of the light-producing assemblies at a variable intensity as a function of a sensed ambient light level and/or a determined direction of the ambient light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Pietro Buttolo, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Sleiman N. Abdelnour, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
  • Patent number: 9789810
    Abstract: A vehicle illumination apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least one aperture disposed in a panel of the vehicle. A light source is disposed proximate the aperture and configured to emit a first emission having a first wavelength. A first photoluminescent portion is disposed proximate the panel substantially within the aperture and configured to emit a second emission having a second wavelength in response to receiving the first emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Michael James Whitens, Cornel Lewis Gardner
  • Patent number: 9771019
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The illumination apparatus comprises at least one light source disposed in a portion of a side mirror assembly of the vehicle. The light source is configured to emit an excitation emission at a first wavelength substantially along a side portion of the vehicle. The illumination apparatus further comprises a photoluminescent portion disposed on a surface of the vehicle. The excitation emission is configured to excite the photoluminescent portion to emit an output emission corresponding to a different color of light than the first excitation emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Michael James Whitens, Paul Kenneth Dellock, James J. Surman
  • Patent number: 9694739
    Abstract: A vehicle handle assembly is provided that includes a light-producing-assembly with a first light source and a second light source. The first and second light sources are configured to emit light of different wavelengths. A photoluminescent structure is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted by the first light source and a phosphorescent structure is configured to phosphoresce in response to excitation by light emitted by the second light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, James J. Surman, Bhavani Thota
  • Patent number: 9688203
    Abstract: A casing of a turn signal lamp assembly includes a lamp housing and an outer lens, each of which includes a transparent member, being overlaid on each other and joined to each other at peripheral edges. The lamp housing includes a light entrance portion that receives incident light emitted from a light source, a light-guiding lens portion that guides the incident light, and a light exit portion that outputs the guided light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kota Iseki
  • Patent number: 9682651
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting system is provided herein. The system includes a substrate having alternating first and second portions. A first and second light source are each operable to emit light toward the substrate, wherein each of the first and second portions are configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from one of the first and second light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake
  • Patent number: 9664354
    Abstract: An illumination assembly for a vehicle is provided herein. The illumination assembly includes one or more decorative elements each having a substrate and a film attached thereto. A light source is configured to emit an excitation light. The light source is disposed within a tail-light assembly and the excitation light exits the tail-light assembly through a light transmissive portion towards the decorative element. A first photoluminescent structure is disposed within the decorative element and is configured to convert the excitation light emitted from the light source into a converted light of a different wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stuart C. Salter, Harry Lobo, Michael A. Musleh, Michael Henry Maj
  • Patent number: 9656598
    Abstract: A badge for a vehicle is provided herein. The badge includes a substrate attached to a housing having a viewable portion. A light directing member defining a first light tunnel and a second light tunnel is disposed rearwardly of the viewable portion. The first light tunnel has a different cross-sectional geometry than the second light tunnel. A first light source is operably coupled with the first light tunnel. A second light source is operably coupled with the second light tunnel. The viewable portion is configured to illuminate in a first color from the first light source and in a second color from the second light source on the viewable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Pietro Buttolo, Michael A. Musleh
  • Patent number: 9638389
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting device includes a case, a lens, a light guide, a waterproof member, hooks, and catches. The catches are elastically deformed outward to separate from an accommodation portion so that the hooks enter the catches from the side closer to the accommodation portion. Engaging surfaces of the hooks engage with catch surfaces of the catches so that the case and the lens are joined. The joining causes the waterproof member to be compressed. The engaging surfaces and the catch surfaces are inclined by an equal angle relative to an imaginary plane perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the case and the lens such that the catch surfaces are located inward of the engaging surfaces and close to the accommodation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hirotaka Fukui
  • Patent number: 9625115
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The illumination apparatus comprises a surface comprising a first photoluminescent graphic comprising a first absorption range and a second photoluminescent graphic comprising a second absorption range. The illumination apparatus further comprises at least one light source configured to emit a first emission at a first wavelength. The first wavelength is substantially aligned with the first absorption range to generate a higher level of fluorescence from the photoluminescent first graphic than the second photoluminescent graphic. In this way, the illumination apparatus is operable to selectively illuminate the first photoluminescent graphic and the second photoluminescent graphic substantially independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Patent number: 9623797
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least one luminescent portion disposed in a cavity formed by a handle portion of a closure of the vehicle. The apparatus further comprises a panel disposed in the cavity comprising a reflective surface. The panel is configured to receive light and reflect a first light portion of the environmental light toward the luminescent portion charging a persistent luminescent material of the luminescent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Sleiman N. Abdelnour, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
  • Patent number: 9616823
    Abstract: A badge is provided herein. The badge includes a housing defining a viewable portion having indicia. A first set of light sources is configured to emit light toward the viewable portion. A light guide extends between the viewable portion and the first set of light sources. A decorative layer and a diffusive layer are disposed between an upper surface of the light guide and viewable portion. A second set of light sources is configured to emit light toward the viewable portion. The first set of light sources illuminates a first region of the viewable portion and the second set of light sources illuminates a second region of the viewable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Michael A. Musleh
  • Patent number: 9613549
    Abstract: A badge mounted on a vehicle is provided herein. The badge includes a housing having a viewable portion. A first and a second light source are disposed inside the housing and are each configured to direct light toward the viewable portion. The viewable portion is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from the first light source. Light emitted from the second light source produces a sparkle on the viewable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Patent number: 9604569
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting system is provided herein and includes a window of a vehicle. A light-producing assembly is coupled to the window and includes a photoluminescent member configured to luminesce in response to excitation light provided by a light source and a decorative member for concealing the photoluminescent member, wherein the photoluminescent member luminesces to accentuate an indicium defined by the decorative member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Sleiman N. Abdelnour
  • Patent number: 9607534
    Abstract: A badge mounted on a vehicle is provided herein. The badge includes a housing having a viewable portion. A light source is disposed inside the housing and is configured to direct light toward the viewable portion. Light emitted from the light source illuminates in a plurality of colors which may create a prismatic appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stuart C. Salter, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Michael A. Musleh, Brian Siler
  • Patent number: 9593820
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided which includes a first panel defining a vent and a second panel positioned proximate the first panel. A lighting assembly is positioned within the vent including a first plurality and a second plurality of light sources. A heat sink is thermally coupled with the first and second plurality of light sources. An optical member is optically coupled to the first and second plurality of light sources. A photoluminescent structure is positioned on the second panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Patent number: 9586519
    Abstract: A vehicle is presented that includes a lift gate operably connected to a body, a cargo lamp configured to emit light positioned near a rear of the body, a first luminescent structure disposed on a lift gate sill of the body, and a second luminescent structure disposed on an interior side of the lift gate. The first and second luminescent structures are configured to interact with the light from the cargo lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Annette Lynn Huebner, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
  • Patent number: 9538073
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle camera may include: a wiper relay connected to a multi-function switch to operate a vehicle wiper at a predetermined cycle; a camera controller connected to the wiper relay, and synchronizing the operation cycle of the wiper with an imaging cycle of the vehicle camera such that the vehicle camera images the front of the vehicle according to the operation period of the wiper; and an image filter connected to the camera controller, estimating the position of the wiper from edge information of the images taken by the camera, and searching and removing the wiper in the taken images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kyong Won Kim
  • Patent number: 9500339
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for checking a lighting driving assistance system of vehicles. In this case, a vehicle is positioned in front of a body and a light of the vehicle is aimed at this body. Brightness distributions are obtained by adjusting the light in the horizontal and vertical directions in a plurality of angular positions and are recorded by an image capture unit. The recorded brightness distributions are used to calculate the distance and angular offset as well as the position of the body and actual values of the angular positions. These actual values are compared with preset desired values, and recommended settings for minimizing a difference between desired and actual values are output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Hella KGAA Hueck & Co.
    Inventors: Christian Schmidt, Ingo Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 9499090
    Abstract: An illumination system for a vehicle includes a rear spoiler with first and second photoluminescent portions disposed on the spoiler and at least one light source configured to emit an emission at a first wavelength. The first and second photoluminescent portions are configured to convert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Michael James Whitens
  • Patent number: 9487133
    Abstract: A turn lamp to be mounted on a door mirror of a vehicle, the turn lamp includes a housing; a light source; and a substrate having a feeder circuit for the light source, wherein: the substrate is placed in the housing such that a plane direction of the substrate faces a horizontal direction when the door mirror is mounted to a vehicle body, and the light source is placed on the substrate such that an irradiation direction of the light source is parallel to the plane direction of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasushi Kawaji, Akifumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9464776
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The illumination apparatus comprises a photoluminescent portion disposed on a surface of a vehicle exhaust system component. The illumination apparatus further includes a light source located proximate the component. The light source is configured to emit light at a first wavelength directed toward the photoluminescent portion. The photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength to illuminate the exhaust system component and/or an area proximate the vehicle exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman
  • Patent number: 9453638
    Abstract: A semiconductor light-emitting module includes a housing, at least one cooling body accommodated in the housing wherein the cooling body is thermally connected to at least one semiconductor light source, an active cooling device accommodated in the housing, and at least one electronics unit accommodated in the housing, at least for actuating the at least one semiconductor light source, wherein the housing has a leadthrough opening, and the at least one semiconductor light source is arranged in the region of the leadthrough opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: OSRAM GMBH
    Inventors: Roland Fiederling, Peter Frey, Harald Kaps, Jenny Trommer
  • Patent number: 9434304
    Abstract: An illuminated engine compartment disposed within a vehicle is provided herein. The illuminated engine compartment includes a light-producing assembly. A first luminescent portion is disposed on the light-producing assembly and is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light-producing assembly. A second luminescent portion is disposed on a feature within the vehicle engine compartment and is configured to luminesce in response to light emitted from the light-producing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Cornel Lewis Gardner, James J. Surman, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Patent number: 9421905
    Abstract: A method for controlling a matrix beam headlamp (M) with adaptive light functions in which using non-glare lighting and/or targeted lighting of objects (O) with segments (S1-Sn) of the light distribution of the matrix beam headlamp (M). Different switch-on and switch-off boundaries are defined for the individual segments (S1-Sn).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: HELLA KGAA HUECK & CO.
    Inventors: Christian Hüster, Jacek Roslak, Udo Venker, Carsten Wilks
  • Patent number: 9421718
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an optical lens element, in particular for illuminating purposes, in particular for producing a headlight lens for a vehicle headlight, in particular for a motor vehicle headlight. A preform made of a transparent plastic, which is amorphous in particular, is molded in an injection mold using an injection molding method. The preform is removed from the injection mold, in particular before the average temperature of the preform falls below the melting temperature of the plastic and/or the flow temperature of the plastic, and the preform is subsequently pressed into the lens element, in particular the blank, using a final contour mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Docter Optics SE
    Inventors: Peter Mühle, Volker Schöppner, Christian Leister