GB2333829A - Electroluminescent interior vehicle lighting - Google Patents

Electroluminescent interior vehicle lighting Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2333829A
GB2333829A GB9801985A GB9801985A GB2333829A GB 2333829 A GB2333829 A GB 2333829A GB 9801985 A GB9801985 A GB 9801985A GB 9801985 A GB9801985 A GB 9801985A GB 2333829 A GB2333829 A GB 2333829A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
motor vehicle
arrangement
illumination
electroluminescent
panel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9801985A
Other versions
GB9801985D0 (en
Inventor
Adrian Trevor Iles
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MG Rover Group Ltd
Original Assignee
MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MG Rover Group Ltd filed Critical MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority to GB9801985A priority Critical patent/GB2333829A/en
Publication of GB9801985D0 publication Critical patent/GB9801985D0/en
Publication of GB2333829A publication Critical patent/GB2333829A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60QARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q3/00Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
    • B60Q3/70Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors characterised by the purpose
    • B60Q3/74Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors characterised by the purpose for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps
    • B60Q3/745Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors characterised by the purpose for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps using lighting panels or mats, e.g. electro-luminescent panels, LED mats
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60QARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2500/00Special features or arrangements of vehicle interior lamps
    • B60Q2500/30Arrangements for illuminating different zones in the vehicle, e.g. front/rear, different seats

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Arrangements Of Lighting Devices For Vehicle Interiors, Mounting And Supporting Thereof, Circuits Therefore (AREA)

Abstract

Within a motor vehicle so-called "mood" or environmental light is provided by electroluminescent panels 9. These panels 9 are generally located above seating 6 within the motor vehicle in order to present diffuse illumination without significant reflection of said illumination against window 3, 4, 5 surfaces of the motor vehicle. The panel means 9 may comprise a plurality of individually operable elements which may create different colours and therefore different styling within the motor vehicle as required.

Description

AN INTERIOR LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT The present invention relates to an interior lighting arrangement and more particularly to a lighting arrangement for use within a motor vehicle.
There is an eternal requirement to stylise motor vehicles to make them more distinctive within the market place and to meet motorists' tastes.
Traditionally, interior lighting within a motor vehicle has comprised a relatively bright bulb located within a trim housing such that the bulb is illuminated upon opening the door and/or when specifically switched on.
Such illumination allows the driver to prepare to embark upon a journey, ie. insert the ignition key or, when parked, perform such acts as review a map, etc. Unfortunately, being a point source, a light bulb has a relatively high intensity and so precipitates too much reflective glare for use whilst driving the vehicle. It will be appreciated that glare can diminish the range of observation and provide distraction to the driver. Furthermore, generally it is not clear illumination that is required within a motor vehicle to provide the necessary styling for motorists tastes; a dull diffuse background illumination would provide the desired "mood".
It is an object of the present invention to provide an interior lighting arrangement for a motor vehicle which substantially allows provision of diffuse mood lighting within a motor vehicle without significant glare reflection from window surfaces of that vehicle.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an interior lighting arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising electroluminescent panel means distributed within the motor vehicle, said electroluminescent panel means being configured to present diffuse illumination within that motor vehicle without significant reflection of said illumination from any window surfaces of the vehicle and so raise ambient light intensity within the motor vehicle without glare distraction in use to any of the occupants thereof.
The panel means is preferably located above seating within the motor vehicle.
The panel means may comprise individual panel elements and furthermore these individual elements may be separately operable to achieve differential illumination for aesthetic or functional reasons.
The panel means may be able to present different coloured light within the motor vehicle The lighting arrangement may include shuttering to allow more controlled illumination within the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the panel means may be associated with a point light source or greater intensity element which is independently operable when required by an occupant of a motor vehicle.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which a schematic representation of a motor vehicle interior is depicted with an illumination arrangement.
Referring to the drawing illustrating a motor vehicle interior, it will be noted that the motor vehicle interior includes a roof 1, a side panel 2 and window/windscreen elements 3, 4, 5 along with seating 6. Such an arrangement for a motor vehicle interior is common. Typically, above a rear view mirror 7 there is located an interior light 8 which is operated when the doors of the vehicle are opened or upon specific switching by a motor vehicle occupant. As indicated above, the provision of such a intense light source able to provide sufficient illumination within the motor vehicle can create glare problems by reflection against the window/windscreen 3, 4, 5 glass.
Furthermore, "clarity" illumination may not be the objective where styling of a motor vehicle is required.
In the present invention, illumination panels 9 are located within the motor vehicle interior normally in the roof lining and adjacent seating 6.
Thus, the panels 9 present a diffuse rather than concentrated point light source with an evident reductidn in occupant distraction and glare. The panels 9 are made from an electroluminescent assembly. In such electroluminescent panels 9, a solid state phenomenon in which semiconductor crystals (phosphorous) is used to generate light from presented electrical energy. The conversion process has a relatively high efficiency and so there is little power drain within the motor vehicle and temperature elevation is generally insignificant. Such factors are important within a modern motor vehicle where there are already existing high demands upon the electrical system. A known supplier of electroluminescent panels is Danielson Limited of Aylesbury, England under their trade mark "Quantaflex Micro". These electroluminescent panels can be quite thin and in the order of 0.3 mm, thus, non-intrusive accommodation within a motor vehicle cabin is easily achieved.
The construction of the Quantaflex (TM) electroluminescent panel is described by Danielson as a distribution of phosphor pigments through a non-hydgroscopic layer of dielectric material. This layer of dielectric material is then sandwiched between two conductive layers or electrodes.
Typically, the upper electrode is manufactured from a clear polyester film which has a sputter coated indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode, whilst the lower polyester layer is printed with a conductive silver ink. When an alternating current of a predetermined voltage and frequency is connected across these electrodes in respective upper and lower polyester layers, a charge is induced within the dielectric layer exciting the phosphor particles to the point where they omit energy in the form of light. The colour of light is determined by appropriate doping of the phosphor particles with trace elements. An alternative title for an electroluminescent lamp or panel is a light-emitting capacitor (LEC). Normally the panel is completed by laminating a polyester layer onto the back of the electrode layers, however, and as indicated above, the total thickness of the panel may be less than 0.3 mm. For further information with regard to electroluminescent panels, the person skilled in the art is directed to appropriate text books and data sheets readily available from manufacturers.
Within the motor vehicle interior depicted in the drawing it will be noted that the panels 9 are generally located above seating 6 and present a diffuse light source to the occupants of the associated seating 6 therebelow.
However, it will be understood that a single panel could be provided for substantially the entire roof surface of the motor vehicle interior.
Alternatively, a large number of panels could be provided with individual colour responses through phosphor doping under electrical/frequency excitation in order to give differing interior styling/patterning. Thus, individual panels could be operable within the motor vehicle interior to adapt that vehicle interior roof and/or any other surfaces incorporating the electroluminescent panelling and as required by the occupant. Such an arrangement would allow the occupant to personalise his motor vehicle in comparison with others. Furthermore, a note or notice panel could be provided within the vehicle such that the occupant is reminded of some fact or requirement, eg. the note panel could include a clip to secure a sheet of paper such that when the occupant needed reminding the electroluminescent panel illuminated that sheet of paper and so the message thereon.
The roof lining or head liner within a motor vehicle will typically be made from a moulded laminate construction including cloth, foam and glass fibre along with adhesive to hold the laminate together. In accordance with the present invention in a preferred embodiment, the illumination panel would be located during assembly within this moulded head liner. Thus, the panel 9 will be secured behind the generally decorative material cover of the head liner and the more robust structural components of that liner.
Thus, the decorative cover which is normally a fabric should be sufficiently thin such that there is only a controllable degree of attenuation in the illumination from the panel 9. Normally, the decorative surface fabric adhered to a motor vehicle roof liner will have a denier of 55 Decitex.
Although electroluminescent panels have been used widely as signage devices, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the relatively low intensity does not lead to wide usage for general illumination purposes.
However, as indicated above, in accordance with the present invention, the objective is to provide so-called mood or background lighting within a motor vehicle in order to enhance the driving environment and styling of that motor vehicle. Electroluminescent panels achieve such diffuse illumination with low weight, thickness and power consumption quotients. Furthermore, it will be appreciated by appropriate stacking of several layers of electroluminescent panelling and in particular by using primary colours, it may be possible to create a wide range of colours within the motor vehicle interior. Furthermore, it may be possible to incorporate within one of these layers of electroluminescent panelling a sign, such as a seat belt reminder, which could be applicable to each seat within the motor vehicle and operated as required. Similarly, signalling to the driver could be indicated through a colour change that a door is open or a window has been left slightly ajar on leaving the vehicle.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it is also possible to arrange a multiplicity of panels 9 such that relative tilting between panels and with respect to the motor vehicle can be achieved in order to orient the light arrangement therein. Furthermore, such electroluminescent panels may be presented in a louvre style format or include shuttering or means for distinct panel operation and thus sectional illumination as required.
As indicated previously, typically the electroluminescent panel in accordance with the present invention will be covered with a fabric as part of the roof liner of the motor vehicle. This fabric may be stuck to the electroluminescent panel or stretched over it. However, it will be appreciated that the relatively low heat generation of electroluminescent panels should not present any detrimental heat or safety considerations in comparison with normal evacuated tungsten bulb illumination.
In order to provide enhanced illumination when required, it will be appreciated that more traditional, relatively high-intensity light illumination may be provided through a tungsten bulb arrangement associated with the electroluminescent panel. This high intensity light source would be independently operable when required. Thus, each panel 9 will typically be provided with a switch 10 at a convenient location for an occupant of the seat associated with a panel 9 to operate either the panel 9 alone or any associated high intensity light for reading or other activity.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the relatively flat illumine scent panels are bonded into the head liner panel prior to application of the fabric cover. Thus, care must be made to correctly orientate the panels 9 appropriately within that head liner panel assembly to achieve the necessary performance and power/control wiring for operation thereof.
As indicated above, it is necessary for operation of the electroluminescent panels 9 to provide preferably a sinusoidal alternating power source and so a DC to AC invertor unit is required. This invertor unit will normally be located within a parcel shelf or behind the facia panel of the motor vehicle. It will be appreciated that the panels being light and thin do not significantly alter the weight distribution within a motor vehicle and so considerations with regard to the centre of gravity for stability purposes.

Claims (7)

  1. CLAIMS 1. An interior lighting arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising electroluminescent panel means arranged about the interior of the motor vehicle, said electroluminescent panel means being configured to present diffused illumination within that vehicle without significant reflection of said illumination from any window surfaces of the vehicle and so raise ambient light intensity within the motor vehicle without glare distraction in use to any occupant thereof.
  2. 2. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the panel means is located adjacent and above seating within the motor vehicle.
  3. 3. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the panel means comprises a plurality of individual panel elements.
  4. 4. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said individual panel elements are separately operable.
  5. 5. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein said individual panel elements are arranged to provide different colours of illumination.
  6. 6. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said arrangement is associated with shutter means to allow a proportion of said electroluminescent panel means to be shuttered from illuminating said interior of said motor vehicle.
  7. 7. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said arrangement includes a separately operable relatively high-intensity illumination element which will present significant reflection from said window surfaces but allows greater clarity illumination within the motor vehicle.
GB9801985A 1998-01-31 1998-01-31 Electroluminescent interior vehicle lighting Withdrawn GB2333829A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9801985A GB2333829A (en) 1998-01-31 1998-01-31 Electroluminescent interior vehicle lighting

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9801985A GB2333829A (en) 1998-01-31 1998-01-31 Electroluminescent interior vehicle lighting

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9801985D0 GB9801985D0 (en) 1998-03-25
GB2333829A true GB2333829A (en) 1999-08-04

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9801985A Withdrawn GB2333829A (en) 1998-01-31 1998-01-31 Electroluminescent interior vehicle lighting

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2333829A (en)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000071386A1 (en) * 1999-05-04 2000-11-30 Electroluminescent Solutions Limited A lorry having a body for receiving goods
WO2001049525A1 (en) * 2000-01-07 2001-07-12 Renault Electroluminescent device for illuminating a vehicle passenger compartment
WO2001063172A1 (en) * 2000-02-26 2001-08-30 Federal-Mogul Corporation Vehicle interior lighting systems using electroluminescent panels
EP1234720A3 (en) * 2001-02-23 2002-12-18 Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH Vehicle roof with illumination element
EP1234721A3 (en) * 2001-02-21 2002-12-18 Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH Vehicle roof with flat illumination element
EP1053910A3 (en) * 1999-05-21 2004-01-02 Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG Interior lighting for vehicle
EP1304262A3 (en) * 2001-10-22 2004-04-28 Schefenacker Vision Systems Germany GmbH & Co. KG Interior light for vehicle
EP1577163A2 (en) 2004-03-17 2005-09-21 Siegfried Wiemers Lighting assembly to increase the level of alertness of the driver of a vehicle
WO2006102013A1 (en) * 2005-03-18 2006-09-28 Exatec, Llc Light emissive plastic glazing
DE102006009635A1 (en) * 2006-03-02 2007-09-06 GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit Automotive passenger interior has a flat cabin lining that incorporates an interior lighting system that is a luminescent foil
DE102008005621A1 (en) * 2008-01-23 2009-07-30 GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit Motor vehicle has source of light of interior lighting and different control elements, where source of light is connected with control device
US9913318B2 (en) 2014-11-25 2018-03-06 Sabic Global Technologies B.V. Method and device for heating a surface
US10107948B2 (en) 2014-11-25 2018-10-23 Sabic Global Technologies B.V. Method and article for emitting radiation from a surface
EP3168625B1 (en) * 2000-11-20 2020-01-08 Signify North America Corporation Vehicle lighting systems

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0334799A2 (en) * 1988-03-21 1989-09-27 Asc Incorporated Electroluminescent dome light for a convertible automobile

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0334799A2 (en) * 1988-03-21 1989-09-27 Asc Incorporated Electroluminescent dome light for a convertible automobile

Cited By (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000071386A1 (en) * 1999-05-04 2000-11-30 Electroluminescent Solutions Limited A lorry having a body for receiving goods
GB2363765A (en) * 1999-05-04 2002-01-09 Electroluminescent Solutions L A lorry having a body for receiving goods
EP1053910A3 (en) * 1999-05-21 2004-01-02 Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG Interior lighting for vehicle
WO2001049525A1 (en) * 2000-01-07 2001-07-12 Renault Electroluminescent device for illuminating a vehicle passenger compartment
FR2803569A1 (en) * 2000-01-07 2001-07-13 Renault ELECTROLUMINESCENT DEVICE FOR LIGHTING THE CABIN IN A VEHICLE
EP1257768A4 (en) * 2000-02-26 2005-03-16 Federal Mogul Corp Vehicle interior lighting systems using electroluminescent panels
USRE42340E1 (en) 2000-02-26 2011-05-10 Federal Mogul World Wide, Inc. Vehicle interior lighting systems using electroluminescent panels
JP2003523891A (en) * 2000-02-26 2003-08-12 フェデラル−モーガル コーポレイション Vehicle interior lighting system using electroluminescent panels
US6464381B2 (en) 2000-02-26 2002-10-15 Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc. Vehicle interior lighting systems using electroluminescent panels
WO2001063172A1 (en) * 2000-02-26 2001-08-30 Federal-Mogul Corporation Vehicle interior lighting systems using electroluminescent panels
EP1257768A1 (en) * 2000-02-26 2002-11-20 Federal-Mogul Corporation Vehicle interior lighting systems using electroluminescent panels
EP3168625B1 (en) * 2000-11-20 2020-01-08 Signify North America Corporation Vehicle lighting systems
EP1234721A3 (en) * 2001-02-21 2002-12-18 Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH Vehicle roof with flat illumination element
EP1234720A3 (en) * 2001-02-23 2002-12-18 Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH Vehicle roof with illumination element
EP1304262A3 (en) * 2001-10-22 2004-04-28 Schefenacker Vision Systems Germany GmbH & Co. KG Interior light for vehicle
DE102004012922A1 (en) * 2004-03-17 2005-10-06 Siegfried Wiemers irradiator
EP1577163A3 (en) * 2004-03-17 2008-02-27 Siegfried Wiemers Lighting assembly to increase the level of alertness of the driver of a vehicle
EP1577163A2 (en) 2004-03-17 2005-09-21 Siegfried Wiemers Lighting assembly to increase the level of alertness of the driver of a vehicle
WO2006102013A1 (en) * 2005-03-18 2006-09-28 Exatec, Llc Light emissive plastic glazing
US9315148B2 (en) 2005-03-18 2016-04-19 Exatec Llc Light emissive plastic glazing
US9871199B2 (en) 2005-03-18 2018-01-16 Sabic Global Technologies B.V. Light emissive plastic glazing having a multilayered configuration for illuminating passenger compartment
DE102006009635A1 (en) * 2006-03-02 2007-09-06 GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit Automotive passenger interior has a flat cabin lining that incorporates an interior lighting system that is a luminescent foil
DE102008005621A1 (en) * 2008-01-23 2009-07-30 GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit Motor vehicle has source of light of interior lighting and different control elements, where source of light is connected with control device
US9913318B2 (en) 2014-11-25 2018-03-06 Sabic Global Technologies B.V. Method and device for heating a surface
US10107948B2 (en) 2014-11-25 2018-10-23 Sabic Global Technologies B.V. Method and article for emitting radiation from a surface

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Publication number Publication date
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732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)