GB2517736A

GB2517736A - Vehicle illumination method

Info

Publication number: GB2517736A
Application number: GB1315433.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Prabjot Bambra
Original assignee: ITECH DESIGN Ltd
Current assignee: ITECH DESIGN Ltd
Priority date: 2013-08-30
Filing date: 2013-08-30
Publication date: 2015-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 2033-08-30
Also published as: GB2517736B; GB201315433D0

Abstract

An illumination method is disclosed which depicts a schematic representation of an LED 100, photometric lens 103 and outer plastic cover 104 secured to back moulding 102 by a connection means. LED 100 comprises a PCB designed on a flexible strip programmed to change pre-set colour settings via remote means or smart device app. connected to a vehicles electrical system. To control the level of illumination the LED is enveloped by photometric lens 103. The outer surface of plastic moulding 104 is treated to achieve a chrome-looking metallised light transparent coating from an embedded PVD vacuum-based coating process. The resulting external appearance does not leave any witness marks as a clear lens would, blends with the styling of the surface into which it is integrated and hides the illumination technology beneath when any illumination is deactivated. The interior surface of outer plastic moulding 104, which may take the form of a prism, or similar, is treated with an opaque paint, or laser-etched in order to mask out illumination for individual design requirements; such masking preventing the emanation of illumination and thus presenting whatever colour of lighting and silhouette configurations and patterns have been designed to be represented on the external surface when illumination is activated.

Description

Vehicle illumination method

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the illumination of portions of a vehicle, for safety, styling and marketing purposes. Front and rear illumination is required by law for safety purposes and has been in continuous development through various methods for over 100 years of vehicle manufacturing. Driven by the need to sell more vehicles manufacturers focus on buying considerations of concern to the consumer. Traditional market feedback has indicated these areas of buying considerations to be a mixture of safety, style, reliability, performance, price and now the environment. With intense competition among vehicle manufacturers to increase market shat, unique selling points are highly sought after to integrate into vehicle designs, which address several of these reasons for buying. For safety reasons Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) were initiated by Volvo decades ago and received mixed reception in countries other than in Scandinavia. They were often seen to be an irritant by UK purchasers who sometimes had the factory settings switched off for daytime running in the wake of being continually flashed by on-coming motorists for having their lights switched on.

Nevertheless there has since been a cultural shift towards acceptance of DRLs in the UK where the consumer has been introduced to them integrated into vehicle styling comprising of variously designed creative arrays of LEDs incorporated within headlamp lighting clusters and frontal mouldings, injecting instant character and distinctiveness at first impression.

Since February 2011 DRLs have become a mandatory requirement on all newly manufactured passenger cars in Europe. The DRLs fitted on the front of a vehicle produce a narrow intense beam of light to considerably increase brightness and vehicle visibility, reducing the risk of accidents when driving during daylight hours. The creative opportunity this new legislation presents has been seized upon by vehicle stylists and designers, who are introducing further distinctive character into vehicle styling through the use of numerous arrays of LEDs for front lighting in various configurations and patterns for ornamentation as well as safety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Firstly it is well known that parts of a vehicle need to be illuminated for visibility purposes and to illuminate the road for the motorist after dark; for example head lamps, number plates, door handles, vehicle badges, the interior, foot wells, sills, glove box, boot, dashboard instruments etc. Such illumination of particular parts of vehicles is commonplace. The manner in which the parts may be illuminated is often innovative.

Secondly, there are aftermarket kits which can be bought which illuminate other parts of vehicles hitherto not considered by mainstream manufacturers; bonnet-mounted jet mouldings of windscreen washers and narrow, under-chassis neon tubes to name Iwo.

Thirdly the features of current LED illumination assemblies for vehicles are well known and the public are accepting the benefits of a higher level of creativity and distinctive design this new styling opportunity offers.

One drawback and shortcoming in the prior art is, ironically, lack of design flexibility in vehicle illumination systems regarding material selection, shape, ornament, configuration, pattern and colours.

A second drawback and shortcoming in the prior art concerns current LED illumination assemblies for vehicles, which are located at the front and rear of vehicles and are applied only to DRLs.

A third drawback and shortcoming in the prior art which relates to the lack of design flexibility is the lack of creativity offered to appeal to a wide market and therefore offer strong distinctive design integrated into other portions of a vehicle's external structures in addition to the novelty of different shapes of LED illumination front and rear.

A fourth drawback and shortcoming in the prior art is the lack of opportunity to activate and deactivate such illumination remotely.

A fifth drawback and shortcoming in the prior art is the lack of establishment of a design fashion trend to extend LED illumination to other portions of vehicle exteriors to integrate with the styling of a vehicle.

A sixth drawback and shortcoming in the prior art is the lack of opportunity for illumination to be disguised and to revert to a normal visual element of a vehicle when deactivated, during the day for example, and not have any witness' marks to indicate an illumination area; for example, in the prior art there will always be a clear lens or a transparent surface, which identifies its function and gives away its location. These surfaces are unable to be intrinsically concealed.

A seventh drawback in the prior art is inaccurate signalling communicated by hazard warning lights fitted to vehicles when a portion of a vehicle is visible with a hazard warning light activated and another portion of the same vehicle containing the other activated hazard warning light is obstructed by whatever means; such dangerous miscommunication being given to road users of a vehicle intending to pull out with apparently one indicator light activated.

An eighth drawback and short coming in the prior art is lack of illumination of chrome trim after dark. Chrome trim is a design-assist feature which helps to define individual styling of many vehicles during the day time! but hitherto is invisible at night.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above drawbacks and shortcomings in the prior art by offering an adaptable innovation, broad in scope, which can be integrated into any part of an OEM vehicle's exterior or interior styling, or as a specific product offered in an aftermarket automotive accessory, which presents vehicle stylists the opportunity to create exciting and novel design solutions for a market ready for the introduction of distinctive illumination designs, which can be rendered invisible when deactivated, if so desired by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle illumination method comprising LEDs and I or fibre optics mounted on printed circuit boards designed on flexible strips, programmed to change pre-set colours via a direct or remote application, contained within a photometric lens for illumination control, housed within an outer plastic moulding. comprising a light transparent physical vapour deposition coating on one surface, and preferably with another surface, or the same surface, being masked to design requirements preferably using opaque paints, coatings, or laser etched, which form silhouettes of desired patterns and ornamentation when activated and back-lit; such patterns and ornamentation visually disappearing from the host vehicle and showing no witness lines', when illumination is de-activated; the aforementioned outer moulding affixed to a back moulding via connection means.

It is well-known that the use of a special form of embedded,' physical vapour deposition such as ePD © produced by Oeilikon Balzers AG, achieves tianslucent chiome-looking metallisation of plastic vehicle pails, wheieby the metallisation effect is sandwiched between two layers of UV lacquer and is a recyclable coating procedure compared to traditional electro plating technologies which use other heavy metals and haimful chemicals such as Cii-'-, Cr6-'-and nickel in the process. Therefore the application of problematic heavy metal compounds is eliminated with PVD, physical vapour deposition.

By using this special form of embedded physical vapour deposition process on the outer or inner surface of preferably a polycarbonate plastic moulded cover combined with selective masking of its outside or inside surface, there is opportunity to project illumination of high intensity LEDs and / or fibre optics positioned from within the plastic moulded translucent cover, which may be chrome plated, or coated in any colour, such that after dark, illumination may be activated, if so desired, to form a silhouette of the masked shapes produced by the inner or outer opaque painted, or etched surface of the plastic component and illumination emanating thiough its metallised outer surface creating a diamatic visual effect externally for safety and aesthetics.

In contiast during daylight with illumination deactivated there are preferably no external witness lines' to distract the eye trom the lines of, for example! a vehicle's styling; evidence of such internal illumination apparatus being concealed.

The outer plastic moulded cover may preferably have an innel faceted surface, or prism, to concentrate and increase the illumination intensity; such faceted surface, or prism, follows the outer styling shape of that parficular pad of design of body trim regardless of complexity.

Preferably such inner faceted face, or plism, is selectively masked to design requilements by opaque paint, or similar, which may be of any colour.

The photometric lens may be curved and faceted in varying portions, in various directions, at varying angles, to suit the required spread of light to control illumination. The curvature of the photometric lens may follow the configuration formed by an outer plastic moulding.

The light source of LED PCBs or fibre optics contained within an outer plastic moulding may flexibly follow the configuration of a photometric lens which may follow the configuration of an outer plastic moulding to ensure emanation of consistent levels of illumination.

The colour of illumination emanating from an outer plastic moulded cover may be changed to any pre-set colour or bespoke colour selected. A remote control or mobile application device may be integrated to control colour change.

In another embodiment of the present invention an outer plastic moulded cover may be produced by a two-shot injection moulded process in an opaque material and a desired illuminated area selectively moulded with a clear plastic material instead of intemal surfaces of an outer plastic moulded cover being masked by an opaque paint; the benefits of a two shot process such as mentioned being a weather-proof connection between a clear plastic portion and an opaque portion.

In a third embodiment of the present invention an outer plastic moulded cover may be moulded separately in two portions and welded together instead of its internal surfaces being masked by an opaque paint.

In a fourth embodiment of the present invention an outer plastic moulded cover may be subjected to chrome-looking metallisation on an inner or outer surface and a masking paint applied on top of chrome-looking rnetallisation which is selectively laser-etched to suit design requirements for see-through illumination.

In a fifth embodiment of the present invention LEDs and / or fibre optics may be activated repeatedly in a regular sequence which conforms to an appropriate section of the Road Traffic Act for vehicles, to enable the present invention to be adapted to vehicle signalling.

In a sixth embodiment of the present invention LEDs and / or fibre optics may be activated to provide irregular repeated illuminations to suit particular applications.

Practical examples of such usage on a vehicle are; illumination using LEDs and / 01 fibre optics running longitudinally the length of roof rail supports illuminating their edges or other portions of their surfaces; illumination of manufacturers' badges of origin and vehicle brand names wherever they may be situated; illumination of chrome vehicle radiator grills, illumination of body trim finishes in chrome or colours; illumination of door sills and other aesthetic elements of a vehicle's exterior and interior cladding of patterns as decided by designers; illumination in a regular repeating sequence for use as vehicle turning indicators and alternate repeat illumination using pairs of illumination clusters for use as hazard warning signals.

It will be appreciated that the above aspect of the present invention forms the basis of opportunity for the creation of limitless options for illuminated shapes for static, regular and irregular repeated illumination sequences for vehicle designers and engineering designers to incorporate into OEM designs, including customisation of existing vehicles by designing aftermarket automotive accessory products.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the automotive sector and can be incorporated into any portion of product or component; for example aircraft, motorcycles, domestic and commercial interiors of buildings and lifestyle consumer products where creative illumination could form an important part of product safety, product communication, product appearance, product style and overall product and component aesthetics, particularly where the above are subjected to an environment with diminished lighting, night-time use, or are needed for regular, or irregular repeated illumination sequences, which are consistent in intensity or varying in intensity.

In order that the nature of the present invention may be clearly understood an embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 depicts a cross section end elevation schematic view of a generic illumination assembly according to aspects of the present invention.

Figure 2 depicts a cross section end elevation schematic view in an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Figuie 3 depicts an isometlic projection of a cutaway section of a typical ioof rail integiated into a portion of a vehicle's roof panel as shown in figure 2 according to aspects of the present invention.

Figuie 4 depicts a cioss section end elevation schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Figuie 5 depicts a cioss section end elevation schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention Figure 6 depicts a three dimensional view showing a cutaway section of a typical door trim integrated into a portion of a typical vehicle's door panel as shown in figuie 5 accoiding to aspects of the present invention Figuie 7 depicts a night-time, or diminished lighting, indication of how an integrated grouping of various designs based upon the piesent invention may look fitted and illuminated on various portions of a vehicles exterior according to aspects of the present invention.

Figure 8 depicts the daytime absence of any sign of illumination means when illumination is deactivated accoiding to aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTON

Figuie 1 depicts a schematic representation of an LED 100, photometric lens 103 and outer plastic cover 104 which is secured to back moulding 102 by a connection means. LED 100 comprises a PCB designed on a flexible strip and programmed to change pre-set colour settings via remote means or smart device app. and connected to a vehicle's electrical power system. To control the level of illumination the LED is enveloped by photometric lens 103. The outel or innel surface of plastic moulded covei 104 is treated to achieve a chiome-looking metallised light transparent coating from an embedded PVD vacuum-based coating process. The resulting appearance does not leave any witness' marks as a clear lens would, blends with the styling of the surface into which it is integiated and hides potential for illumination from beneath when illumination is deactivated. The interior surface of outer plastic moulding 104, which may take the form of a prism 105, or similar, is treated with an opaque paint, or similar, in order to mask for individual design requirements; such masking preventing the escape of illumination and thus presenting whatever colour of lighting and silhouette configurations and patterns have been designed for the external surface when illumination is activated. To complete the assembly of figure 1 back moulding 102 is preferably ultra-sonic welded around its perimeter to outer plastic moulding 104 for weather proofing and security.

Figure 2 depicts a cross section end elevation schematic view of a portion of an alternative embodiment of the present invention integrated into a roof rail 106 and roof panel 114 of a typical vehicle. Such root rails are common to many passenger vehicles notably SUVs and estate cars. Preferably extending as an extrusion inside the length of a roof rail or a portion of it, runs an array of flexible LED PCB strips of one or more lengths of flexible transparent fibre made from extruded plastic 100. Functioning as a light pipe' the fibre transmits illumination between its two ends and may illuminate the entire length of roof rail 106, or a portion of it.

A PCB comprises a programme to change pre-set colour settings of LEDs and I or fibre optics via remote means or mobile application, within a covering of photometric lens 103 configured to control the level of illumination emanating from such LED POB strips or fibre optics and outer plastic cover 104 which are secured to back moulding 102 and to roof rail by attachment means such as ultra-sonic welding.

In figure 3 a cutaway section of a typical roof rail is shown featuring an alternative embodiment of the present invention featuring 100, 102, 103 and 104 from figure 2 fitted as an extrusion into roof rail 106 attached to roof panel 114 of a typical vehicle.

Figure 4 depicts a schematic representation of an LED PCB designed on a flexible strip 117 and programmed to change pre-set colour settings via remote means or mobile application.

connected to a vehicle's electrical power system, photometric lens 118 to control illumination and outer plastic cover 119, which comprises a two shot injection moulding 119 with a photometric prism 105, which is finished on the inside surface by a texture which covers an area which may be illuminated and is secured to back moulding 102 by a connection means, such as ultra-sonic welding. The outer surface of plastic moulding 119 is treated to achieve a chrome-looking metallised light transparent coating from an embedded PVD vacuum-based coating process, or an opaque coloured paint which could match the colour of the vehicle to which it is applied. The resulting appearance does not leave any witness' marks as a clear lens would, blends with the styling of the surface into which it is integrated and disguises the visual potential for illumination from beneath the photometric prism 105 when illumination is deactivated; the above assembly attached by means to a typical vehicle door panel 120.

Figure 5 depicts features identical to figure 4 with the exception of outer plastic moulding 121 which is formed from a single injection moulding, whereby the material is produced from a clear polycarbonate plastic treated with a metallised chrome-looking inner surface and masking paint subsequently laser-etched selectively over the chrome-looking metallisation on the inner surface to achieve design-led selective illumination externally visible, through means LED POB 117, and photometric lens 118; the above assembly attached by means to a typical vehicle door panel 120 In figure 6 a three dimensional view of figure 5 is shown depicting external representation of how illumination could be achieved for a fluidic shape 122 by selective masking of outer plastic moulding 121 whereby masking paint is applied on top of internal chrome plating and laser-etched to design requirements.

In figure 7 an overall view is shown whereby thick black lines depict after-dark indications of how separate installations and separate embodiments of the present invention may flexibly integrate into portions of a vehicle's exterior styling to enhance brand image, styling and safety through illumination. 106 represents typical roof rails; 108 represents a typical door foot plate; 109 represents a front styling trim; 110 represents typical edge lining detail following the contours of a front air dam; 111 represents typical edge lining detail which might be applied to the extremities of the front of a vehicle to complement DRLs; 112 represents a typical radiator grill; 113 represents a typical vehicle side flash or styling trim.

represents edge lining on a typical wing mirror; 116 represents a typical manufacturer's badge, or typical vehicle brand badge.

In figure 8 the same vehicle as depicted in figure 7 is shown during daylight with illumination deactivated, represented by the absence of thick black lines, preferably leaving no external witness lines' to distract the eye from the lines of the vehicle's styling; evidence of such internal illumination assemblies being rendered hidden and invisible from the outside by the application of a chrome-looking metallised light transparent coating from an embedded PVD vacuum-based coating process. According to European law, however, DRLs are activated automatically when ignition is activated and are distinguishable from the present invention by their visibility, being part of the overall aesthetic of a vehicle whether activated or deactivated.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any number of combinations of the aforementioned features and/or those shown in the appended drawings provide clear advantages over the prior art and are therefore within the scope of the invention described herein. The foregoing description details certain preferred embodiments of the present invention and describes the best mode contemplated. Therefore, the description provided herein is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined by the following claims and the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.

Claims

Claims: 1 A vehicle illumination method comprising LED5 and I or fibre optics mounted on printed circuit boards designed on flexible strips, programmed to change pre-set colours via a direct or remote application, contained within a photometric lens for illumination control, housed within an outer plastic moulded cover, comprising a light transparent physical vapour deposition coating on one surface, with another surface, or the same surface being masked to design requirements using opaque paints, or laser etched, which form silhouettes of desired patterns and ornamentation when activated and back-lit; such patterns and ornamentation visually disappearing from the surface and showing no witness lines when illumination is deactivated, either directly or remotely; the aforementioned outer plastic moulded cover preferably affixed to a back moulding via connection means.
2 A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1, in which the colour of illumination emanating from the outer plastic moulded cover may be changed to any pre-set colour or bespoke colour.
3 A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1, in which an outer plastic moulded cover may be produced by a two-shot injection moulded process in an opaque material and the desired illuminated area selectively moulded with a clear plastic material.
4 A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1, in which an outer plastic moulded cover may be moulded separately in two portions and welded together.
A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1, in which an outer plastic moulded cover may be treated by chrome-looking metallisation on the inner or outer surface and a masking paint applied on the external or internal surface to meet design requirements and selectively laser-etched to suit design and styling requirements for see-through illumination.
6 A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1, in which LED5 and fibre optics may be activated, to enable the present invention to be adapted to vehicle signalling.
7 A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1, in which LEDs and fibre optics may be activated in irregular, repeated illuminations at consistent and varying intensities.
8 A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1, in which embedded,' physical vapour deposition such as ePD ® produced by Cerlikon Balzers AG, may achieve a translucent chrome-looking metallisation effect sandwiched between two layers of UV lacquer when applied to the inside surface of an outer plastic moulded cover.
9 A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1 and claim 8, in which LEDs and fibre optics mounted inside an outer plastic moulded cover are invisible when illumination is deactivated.
A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1, in which external and internal vehicle body styling trim manufactured from a polymer and finished in chrome may be illuminated to define individual styling of vehicles preferably during the hours of darkness.
11 A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1, which may be applied to aircraft.
12 A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1, which may be applied to buildings.
13 A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1, which may be applied to motorcycles.
14 A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1, which may be applied to consumer products.
A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1, which is remotely controlled via a mobile phone application.
16 A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1, in which the inner surface of an outer plastic moulded cover is selectively masked by an opaque paint.
17 A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1, in which an embedded,' physical vapour deposition manufacturing technique may achieve a translucent chrome-looking metallisation effect sandwiched between two layers of UV lacquer when applied to an external surface of an outer plastic moulded cover.
18 A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1, in which a photometric prism may be fashioned on the inside surface of an outer plastic moulded cover in the form of a texture which covers an area to be illuminated.
19 A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1, in which LEDs and I or fibre optics are programmed to activate alternately using a plurality of illumination clusters for use as hazard warning signals, whereby illumination operating alternately on each side of a vehicle is able to be differentiated from turning indicators when a portion of a vehicle is visible thereby contributing to road safety.
A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1, in which the photometric lens may be curved and faceted in varying portions, in various directions, at varying angles, to suit the required spread of light to control illumination; the curvature of one or more photometric lenses following configurations formed by an outer plastic moulded cover.
21 A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 1, in which the light source of LED PCBs and for fibre optics contained within an outer plastic moulded cover may flexibly follow the configuration of a photometric lens which may follow the configuration of an outer plastic moulded cover to ensure emanation of consistent levels of illumination.
22 A vehicle illumination method as claimed in claim 17, which is a recyclable coating procedure.
23 A vehicle illumination method substantially described herein and / or in the accompanying figures.