RU2721451C2 - Component for determining hitch angle with backlight - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: vehicle lighting system.SUBSTANCE: trailer lighting system comprises a coupling angle determining component, a light source, first and second luminescent structures. Coupling angle determining component is located on the trailer. Light source is located in the determination component. First luminescent structure is placed on the light source and is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by a part of the light source. Second luminescent structure is separated from the light source, located on the trailer element and luminesces in response to light emitted from the light source.EFFECT: higher quality of vehicle lighting.20 cl, 8 dwg

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a partial continuation of US Patent Application No. 14 / 603,636, filed January 23, 2015, entitled "DOOR ILLUMINATION AND WARNING SYSTEM", which is a partial continuation of US Patent Application No. 14 / 086,442 filed November 21, 2013, entitled "VEHICLE LIGHTING SYSTEM WITH PHOTOLUMINESCENT STRUCTURE" ("VEHICLE LIGHTING SYSTEM WITH PHOTOLUMINESCENT STRUCTURE"). Thus, the aforementioned related applications are incorporated herein by reference, as if fully set forth herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to vehicle lighting systems, and more particularly, to vehicle lighting systems employing one or more photoluminescent structures.

BACKGROUND

The glow resulting from the use of photoluminescent structures offers a unique and unified lighting system. Therefore, it is desirable to implement such structures in automobile vehicles for various lighting applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a lighting system for a trailer is disclosed. The lighting system includes a hitch angle detection component located on the trailer. The light source is located within the definition component. The photoluminescent structure is located on the light source and is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a trailer system is disclosed. The trailer system includes a hitch angle determining component having a light source. The first luminescent structure is located on the light source and is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by at least a portion of the light source.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a lighting system for a trailer assembly is disclosed. The lighting system includes a coupling angle determination component having a predetermined pattern thereon. The light source is located within the component of determining the angle of coupling. The photoluminescent structure is located at the light source. The photoluminescent structure is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted from at least a portion of the light source.

These and other aspects, objects and features of the present invention will be understood and taken into account by those skilled in the art to study the following description of the invention, claims, and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a trailer attached to a vehicle equipped with a lighting system used in a coupling angle determination component, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a combination of a vehicle and a trailer, the vehicle is configured to perform a function of facilitating reverse movement with a trailer in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the front of the trailer, illustrating a component for determining the coupling angle in the form of a target assembly with illumination;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3 illustrating a light source according to one embodiment;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3 further illustrating a light source according to one embodiment;

FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3 illustrating an alternative light source according to one embodiment;

FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3 illustrating a light source having a luminescent structure separated by translucent parts located on a light source, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 4E is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3 illustrating an alternative light source having a luminescent structure disposed on a light source configured to convert a portion of the light emitted from the light source from a first wavelength to a second wavelength, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of a light generating unit according to one embodiment having varying types and concentrations of LED sources transversely across the light generating unit;

FIG. 6A is a schematic view of the front of a trailer having a target installation system mounted on it, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 6B is an exploded view of the target and trailer mounting systems shown in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary perspective view of a lighting system used on the vertical part of a covered trailer having an independent power source therein; and

FIG. 8 is a structural diagram of a vehicle and a lighting system.

The implementation of the invention

In this document, for purposes of description, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “rear”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal” and their derivatives will refer to the invention in connection with the orientation according to FIG. 1. However, it should be understood that the invention may allow various alternative orientations, unless explicitly stated otherwise. It should also be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the following description are merely exemplary embodiments of the concepts of the invention defined in the attached claims. Thus, the specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein should not be construed as limiting unless the claims expressly indicate otherwise.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the invention, which may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily intended for detailed design, and some schemes may be exaggerated or underestimated to show a general representation of the function. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein should not be interpreted as limiting, but only as representing the basis for training a person skilled in the art to make different use of the present invention.

In the context of this document, the term "and / or" when used in a list of two or more elements, means that any one of the listed elements can be used on its own, or any combination of two or more of the listed elements can be applied. For example, if a composition is described as containing components A, B and / or C, the composition may contain only A; exclusively B; exclusively C; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B and C in combination.

The following disclosure describes a lighting system configured as a coupling angle determining component that interacts with a vehicle to illuminate an area and / or glow with a predetermined pattern (image) for recognition by a vehicle. The lighting system can advantageously apply one or more photoluminescent structures for luminescence in response to predetermined events. One or more photoluminescent structures may be configured to convert light received from a coupled light source and re-emit light at a different wavelength, typically in the visible spectrum. In some embodiments, the light source can realize a thin structure, thereby helping to fit the light source in a small vehicle layout space in cases where traditional light sources may not be practicable.

With reference to FIG. 1, the lighting system 10 is made in the form of an angle determining component 12, such as image identification means, which can be made in the form of a trailer target assembly 14, which interacts with the vehicle 16 to illuminate the area and / or glow with a predetermined pattern, according to one of the embodiments. The illustrated vehicle 16 is shown towing a trailer 18. The target assembly 14 can be used for a variety of functions, such as assisting the trailer reverse assist system 44 (FIG. 3). Additionally or alternatively, the target assembly 14 can be used to control the trailer 18, while the trailer is towed by the vehicle 16 in the front or rear direction. Exemplary functions include, but are not limited to, trailer swing control, tire pressure monitoring, or any other desired function that may be recognized by vehicle 16. Vehicle 16 is in the form of a truck on a passenger car chassis having a cab 20 and a platform 22 trucks. A pivoting tail flap 24 is attached to the rear of the truck platform 22.

Vehicle 16 further includes a vehicle coupling device connector 28 in the form of a receiving coupling device 30 and a ball tip 32. The trailer 18 has a trailer coupling device 34 in the form of a coupling assembly 36 that can be coupled to the vehicle coupling device 30. The hitch assembly 36 is fixed to the ball tip 32 of the hitch to provide a swivel ball joint. The vehicle 16 is equipped with a video imaging device (for example, a camera 38) located in the tailgate 24 of the vehicle at the rear of the vehicle 16. The video imaging camera 38 has an imaging field of view and is positioned and oriented to capture one or more trailer images 18, including an area containing one or more desired target placement zones (s) 40. It should be understood that one or more cameras 38 may be located elsewhere on the vehicle 16 to obtain images of the trailer 18 and target areas (s) 40. The imaging field of the camera 38 may be configured to view the target workspace 42, which is determined by the full range of possible angles between the trailer 18 and the vehicle 16, while the trailer 18 is attached to the vehicle 16. For example, according to one embodiment, the trailer 18 can be located in the range from -90 degrees to 90 degrees from the axis extending the longitudinal center line of the vehicle 16.

In order to use the target assembly 14 on the trailer 18, which is not currently equipped with a suitable existing target assembly 14, the user can mount the target assembly 14 on the trailer 18 within the desired target placement zone 40 so that the camera 38 can capture one or more images of the target assembly 14 to determine trailer related information for the trailer reverse assist system 14, such as hitch angle information for the hitch angle determination device 52. It should be understood that the lighting system 10 described in the materials of this application can be used for any vehicle 16, such as, but not limited to, coupe cars, sedan cars, trucks, recreational vehicles, vans , and the like, and can interact with any type of towed unit that can be attached to the vehicle 16. In addition, it should be appreciated that any lighting system 10 detected elsewhere on the vehicle 16, can also be produced in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 2, an embodiment of a vehicle 16 is shown configured to implement reverse assist functionality with a trailer. The reverse assist system 44 with the trailer of the vehicle 16 controls the curvature of the trajectory of the trailer 18, which is connected to the vehicle 16. This control is accomplished through the interaction of the assist assist system 46 with the power steering of the vehicle 16 and the reverse assist system 44 with the trailer.

A trailer reverse assist system 44, according to one embodiment, includes a trailer reverse assist control module 48, a trailer reverse gear input device 50, and a hook angle determination device 52. The trailer reverse assist control module 48 is connected to the trailer reverse input device 50 for inputting the reverse gear and the hitch angle detecting device 52 to enable the transmission of information between them. The trailer reverse steering input device 50 may be connected to the trailer reverse assist control module 48 in a wired or wireless manner. The trailer reverse assist control system 48 is coupled to the power assist steering control module 138 of the power steering assist system 46 to provide information about the possibility of being transmitted between them. The steering angle determining device 140 of the power assisted steering assist system 46 is coupled to the power assist assist control module 138 to provide information thereto. A trailer reverse assist system 44 is also coupled to the brake system control module 54 and the power transmission system control module 56 to enable transmission of information between them. Together, the trailer reverse assist system 44, the power assisted steering system 46, the brake control module 54, the power train control module 56 and the gear selection device (PRNDL) define a trailer reverse assist architecture configured in accordance with an embodiment.

The reverse assist control unit 48 with the trailer is configured to implement logic (i.e., commands) for receiving information from the reverse gear input device 50 with the trailer, the angle coupling device 52, the power assist assist control unit 138, the module 54 brake system control and power train control module 56. The trailer reverse assistance control module 48 (e.g., its trailer rounding algorithm) generates steering information for the vehicle 16 as a function of all or part of the information received from the reverse gear steering input device 50 with the trailer, coupling angle determination device 52, power assist control module 138, brake system control module 54, and / or power train control module 56. After that, information about the steering of the vehicle 16 is provided to the power assist assist control module 138 to influence the steering of the vehicle 16 through the power assist assist system 46 to achieve the command path of the trailer 18.

The trailer reverse steering input device 50 supplies the trailer reverse assist control module 48 with the trailer information indicating the command path of the trailer 18 for the trailer reverse assist control module 48 (i.e., trailer steering information). The trailer steering information may include information related to a command change in the trajectory (e.g., a change in the radius of curvature of the trajectory) and information related to an indication that the trailer 18 should move along a path defined by the longitudinal center axis of the trailer 18 (i.e. , along a substantially straight path).

The hitch angle detecting device 52, which works in conjunction with the hitch angle determining component 12 of the trailer 18, provides the reverse assist control module 48 with the trailer with information regarding the angle between the vehicle 16 and the trailer 18 (i.e., the hitch angle information). In one embodiment, the hitch angle determining device 52 is a camera-based device, such as, for example, an existing vehicle rearview camera 38 that images (i.e. visually controls) the target assembly 14 (i.e., the determination component 12 hitch angle) attached to the trailer 18 as the trailer 18 is reversed by the vehicle 16. The hitch angle determination component 12 may be a special component (for example, an object attached to / integral with the surface of the trailer 18 for clear recognition target by the hitch angle detection device 52). The hitch angle determining device 52 may be configured to determine a hitch folding condition and / or related information (for example, when the threshold value of the hitch angle has been met).

The power assisted steering assist control module 138 provides the trailer reverse assist control module 48 with information regarding the angular position (e.g., angle) of the steering angle and / or the angular position (e.g., angle (s) of the steering wheels of the transport wheels means 16. In some embodiments, the trailer reverse assist control module 48 may be an integral component of the power assisted steering assistance system 46. For example, the power assisted steering assistance control module 138 may include a trailer assist algorithm for generating the reverse information of the vehicle 16 as a function of all or part of the information received from the trailer reverse gear input device 50 of the device 52 for determining the hitch angle, power assist steering control module 138, brake system control module 54, and power train control module 56.

The brake system control module 54 provides the reverse assist control module 48 with the trailer with information regarding vehicle speed. Such vehicle speed information may be determined by the rotational speeds of the individual wheels as controlled by the brake system control module 54 or may be provided by the engine control module with the likelihood of signals. Vehicle speed can also be determined from the engine control module. In some cases, the rotational speeds of the individual wheels can also be used to determine the angular yaw rate of the vehicle 16, and such an angular yaw rate can be provided to the trailer reverse assist control unit 48 for use in determining steering information of the vehicle 16. In some embodiments, the trailer reverse assistance control module 48 may provide braking information of the vehicle 16 to the brake system control module 54 to enable the trailer reverse assistance control module 48 to control the braking of the vehicle 16 while reversing the trailer 18. For example , the use of the trailer assist reverse control module 48 to control the speed of the vehicle 16 while reversing the trailer 18 may reduce the potential for unacceptable reverse conditions with the trailer. Examples of unacceptable reverse conditions with a trailer include, but are not limited to, an oversized vehicle speed condition, a high angular speed of the hitch, a dynamic instability of the trailer angle, a calculated theoretical condition for folding the trailer hitch (determined by the maximum angle of rotation of the vehicle, the length of the hitch timber, the wheelbase of the towing vehicle and the effective length of the trailer) or limiting folding the hitch to a physical contact (defined by the limit of angular displacement relative to the vehicle 16 and the trailer 18), and the like.

The power transmission system control module 56 interacts with the reverse assist control module 48 with the trailer to control the speed and acceleration of the vehicle 16 while the trailer 18 is backing up. Adjusting the speed of the vehicle 16 is necessary to limit the potential for unacceptable reverse conditions with the trailer, such as folding the hitch and dynamic instability of the trailer angle.

With reference to FIG. 3, the front of the trailer 18 is shown having a frame 142 including a longitudinally extending beam or trailer towing device 144. The upper horizontal surface 146 of the trailer towing device 144 is shown, comprising a target placement zone 40 for receiving the target assembly 14. It should be understood that the trailer 18 can be made in various shapes and sizes and may offer one or more other suitable target placement zones 40 for receiving the target assembly 14. The target placement zone 40 defines at least one desired location for the location of the target assembly 14.

The target assembly 14 may include an adhesive on the lower surface and a predetermined image pattern of a certain size and shape provided on the upper surface for capture by the video camera 38 and recognition by image processing. The target assembly 14 may be rectangular in accordance with one embodiment and may have a recognizable camera image pattern, such as the checker pattern 58 shown. Image processing may include known image pattern recognition procedures 194 (FIG. 8) to identify the target pattern 58 and its location on the trailer 18. However, it should be understood that other shapes, sizes, and patterns of the target assembly 14 may be used. In addition, it should be understood that the target assembly 14 may otherwise be attached to the trailer 18 using connectors, such as fasteners, which may be attached to the trailer 18 or to the mount to the trailer 18. Additionally, it should be understood that the target assembly 14 may be attached with a magnet, glued, applied with a colorful coating or any number of other suitable means.

The light source 26 may be located on and / or inside the coupling angle determining component 12 (for example, the target assembly 14). Light source 26 may comprise any form of light source. For example, fluorescent lighting, light emitting diodes (LEDs), organic LEDs (OLED), polymer LEDs (PLED), solid state lighting, or any other form of lighting configured to output the first radiation 38 can be used. As illustrated, the light source 26 is located on the trailer towbar 144 of the trailer 18 and is oriented to emit light up and / or forward to the vehicle 16. According to one embodiment, the light source 26 includes a flexible printed circuit board (e.g., a copper flexible circuit), which is attached to, attached to, or located under part of the checker pattern 58. In such an arrangement, the flexible circuit printed circuit board can be bent together with the trailer 18 to allow the lighting system 10 to be able to fit any desired trailer 18 and / or multiple target areas 40.

The photoluminescent structure 62 may be deposited or otherwise arranged on and / or adjacent to the light source 26. One or more light sources 26 may be located in the lighting system 10 and configured to emit light in place of the target assembly 14. More specifically, the light emitted from the light source 26 to the site of the target assembly 14 can be converted by a photoluminescent structure 62 and re-emitted as light having a different wavelength, typically in the visible spectrum. According to the illustrated embodiment, the location of the target assembly 14 is an area closer to the vehicle 16. It is contemplated that the lighting system 10 may have a wide range of locations for the target assembly 14 so that the lighting system 10 can be used for a variety of functions. Exemplary functions include using as a target, general lighting, and / or a lamp that provides lighting for the area closest to the trailer coupler connector 34.

The light source 26 may be molded or otherwise attached to the decorative layer 98, which may have a pattern 58 on it, which is a recognizable camera 38. According to one embodiment, the decorative layer 98 and the light source 26 are simultaneously placed in a mold and molded material 66 is placed over a combination of decorative layer 98 and light source 26. In embodiments where the molded material 66 is vulcanized under pressure, the molded material 66 may be applied to the decorative layer 98 in a partially vulcanized state. In one embodiment, the overmolding process includes applying the molded material 66 to at least a combination of the decorative layer 98 and the light source 26 by spraying, brushing, dipping, printing, laminating, or rolling, followed by polymerization of the molded material 66. Such the process results in bonding the decorative layer 98 and the light source 26 to each other. In some embodiments, the molded material 66 may include a polymeric material, silicone, urethane material, vinyl, and / or any other material that may be useful or structurally strong to fit within an area that is regularly exposed and exposed to dirt environment. Moreover, in some embodiments, the molded material 66 may be transparent or translucent and may provide light scattering and / or anti-glare characteristics. It should be understood that the molded material 66 can be located on top of any and / or all components of the lighting system 10, so that the molded material 66 can encapsulate all of the components in a single part that can be applied, attached or otherwise attached to the desired area 40 of the target.

With reference to FIG. 4A-4E, according to one embodiment, a cross-sectional view of a light source 40 having an external photoluminescent structure 62 is shown. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the light source 26 may have a stacked arrangement that includes a light generating unit 60, a photoluminescent structure 62, a visible portion 64, and molded material 66. It will be appreciated that the visible portion 64 and molded material 66 may be two separate components or may be formed as an integer part as a single component.

The light generating unit 60 may correspond to a unit of thin film or printed light emitting diodes (LEDs) and includes a base member 68 in the form of a lowermost layer. The base member 68 may include polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material, or any other material known in the art, of a thickness of the order of 0.005 to 0.060 inches and is arranged over the intended surface of the vehicle on which to a light source 26 (for example, a trailer hitch 144 of a trailer) is received.

The light generating unit 60 includes a positive electrode 70 arranged over the base member 68. Positive electrode 70 includes a conductive epoxy resin, such as, but not limited to, silver or copper-containing epoxy. The positive electrode 70 is electrically connected to at least a portion of the plurality of LED sources 72 arranged in a semiconductor paste 74 and deposited on top of the positive electrode 70. Similarly, the negative electrode 76 is also electrically connected to at least a portion of the LED sources 72. The negative electrode 76 is arranged on top of the semiconductor paste 74 and includes a transparent or translucent conductive material, such as, but not limited to, indium and tin oxide. Additionally, each of the positive and negative electrodes 70, 76 is electrically connected to the controller 78 and the power supply 80 through a respective conductive bus 82, 84 and conductive leads 86, 88. The conductive bus 82, 84 can be printed along opposite edges of the positive and negative electrodes 70 , 76, and the connection points between the conductive busbars 82, 84 and the conductive hoses 86, 88 may be in opposite corners of each conductive bus 82, 84, to facilitate uniform distribution of current across the conductive busbars 82, 84. It should be understood that, in alternative embodiments implementation, the orientation of the components within the light-generating unit 60 can be changed without leaving the concepts of the present invention. For example, the negative electrode 76 can be located under the semiconductor paste 74, and the positive electrode 70 can be arranged on top of the aforementioned semiconductor paste 74. Similarly, additional components, such as conductive busbars 82, 84, can also be placed in any orientation, so that the light generating unit 60 could emit input light 100 (FIG. 4B) to the desired location.

The LED sources 72 may be randomly or controllably dispersed within the semiconductor paste 74 and may be configured to emit focused or unfocused light onto a photoluminescent structure 62. The LED sources 72 may correspond to micro-LEDs or gallium nitride elements of about 5 to about approximately 400 microns in size, and the semiconductor paste 74 may include various binders and dielectric material, including, but not limited to, one or more of gallium, indium, silicon carbide, phosphorus, and / or translucent polymer binders substances.

Semiconductor paste 74 can be applied through various printing processes, including processes with ink nozzles and silk stencils, to selected part (s) of the positive electrode 70. More precisely, it is foreseen that the LED sources 72 are dispersed in the semiconductor paste 74 and endowed shape and size, so that a significant number of LED sources 72 align with the positive and negative electrodes 70, 76 during coating of the semiconductor paste 74. Some of the LED sources 72, which are ultimately electrically connected to the positive and negative electrodes 70, 76, can be illuminated by a combination of busbars 82, 84, controller 78, power supply 80 and conductive leads 86, 88. According to one embodiment, power supply 80 may correspond to a vehicle power supply 80 operating from 12 to 16 volts DC. Further information regarding the construction of the light generating units is disclosed in US Patent Publication No. 2014/0264396 A1 to Lowvental and others entitled “ULTRA-THIN PRINTED LED LAYER REMOVED FROM SUBSTRATE”, dated DATE filing March 12, 2014, the full disclosure of which is incorporated into the materials of this application by reference.

Still referring to FIG. 4A, a photoluminescent structure 62 is arranged over the negative electrode 76 in the form of a coating, layer, film or other suitable application. With reference to the presently illustrated embodiment, the photoluminescent structure 62 can be arranged as a multilayer structure including an energy conversion layer 90, an optional stabilizing layer 92, and an optional protective layer 94.

The energy conversion layer 90 includes at least one photoluminescent material 96 having energy conversion elements with phosphorescent or fluorescent particles. For example, photoluminescent material 96 may include organic or inorganic fluorescent dyes, including rylene, xanthenes, porphyrins and phthalocyanines. Additionally or alternatively, the photoluminescent material 96 may include phosphors from the group of cerium-activated garnets, such as YAG: Ce. An energy conversion layer 90 can be prepared by dispersing the photoluminescent material 96 in a polymer matrix to form a homogeneous mixture using a variety of methods. Such methods may include preparing an energy conversion layer 90 from the composition in a liquid carrier medium and coating the energy conversion layer 90 with a negative electrode 76 or other desired base element 68. The energy conversion layer 90 can be applied to the negative electrode 76 by coloring, screen printing, flexography, sputtering, slit coating, dipping, rolling, plating, and / or any other methods known in the art. Alternatively, the energy conversion layer 90 may be prepared by methods that do not use a liquid carrier medium. For example, the energy conversion layer 90 can be reproduced by dispersing the photoluminescent material 96 in solution in a solid state (a homogeneous mixture in a dry state), which can be enclosed in a polymer matrix formed by extrusion, injection compaction, extrusion, compression compaction, high temperature shaping, and etc.

To protect the photoluminescent material 96 contained in the energy conversion layer 90 from photolytic and thermal degradation, the photoluminescent structure 62 may include a stabilizing layer 92. The stabilizing layer 92 may be in the form of a layer optically bonded and glued to the energy conversion layer 90 or otherwise combined with him. The photoluminescent structure 62 may also include a protective layer 94 optically bonded and spliced with a stabilizing layer 92 or another layer (for example, an energy conversion layer 90 in the absence of a stabilizing layer 92) to protect the photoluminescent structure 62 from physical and chemical damage resulting from environmental factors. The stabilizing layer 92 and / or the protective layer 94 may be combined with the energy conversion layer 90 by successively coating or printing each layer, successively layering or embossing, or any other suitable means. Additional information regarding the structure of the photoluminescent structures disclosed in U.S. Patent № 8,232,533 on Kingsley and the other entitled "Sustainable photolytic AND IN RELATION TO THE ENVIRONMENT multilayer structure for high efficiency conversion of electromagnetic energy and duration of the emission of secondary radiation» ( «PHOTOLYTICALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY STABLE MULTILAYER STRUCTURE FOR HIGH EFFICIENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY CONVERSION AND SUSTAINED SECONDARY EMISSION ”), filed November 8, 2012, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In action, the photoluminescent material 96 is constituted to become excited when receiving the input light 100 (FIG. 4B) of a specific wavelength from at least a portion of the sources 72 on the LED of the light generating unit 60. As a result, the input light 100 is subjected to an energy conversion process and is re-emitted at a different wavelength. According to one embodiment, the photoluminescent material 96 may be constituted to convert the input light 100 to light with a longer wavelength, which is otherwise known as down-conversion. Alternatively, a photoluminescent material 96 may be constituted to convert the input light 100 to light with a shorter wavelength, which is otherwise known as up-conversion. According to any approach, the light converted by the photoluminescent material 96 can be immediately removed 102 (FIG. 4B) from the photoluminescent structure 62 or otherwise used in the energy cascade, while the converted light serves as input light to excite another composition of the photoluminescent material 96. located in the energy conversion layer 90, whereby, the next converted light can then be outputted from the photoluminescent structure 62 or used as input light, and so on. Regarding the energy conversion processes described in the materials of this application, the wavelength difference between the input light 100 and the converted output light 102, is known as the Stokes shift and serves as the principal driving mechanism for the energy conversion process corresponding to the change in the wavelength of light.

With continued reference to FIG. 4A, the visible portion 64 is arranged over the photoluminescent structure 62. In some embodiments, the visible portion 64 may include plastic, silicone, or urethane material and molded onto the photoluminescent structure 62 and the light generating unit 60. Preferably, the visible portion 64 should be at least least partially translucent. Thus, the visible portion 64 will be highlighted with a photoluminescent structure 62 whenever an energy conversion process is carried out. Additionally, by means of a patch seal of the visible portion 64, it can also function to protect the photoluminescent structure 62 and the light generating unit 60. The visible portion 64 may be arranged in a flat shape and / or in an arc shape to enhance its visibility when in the luminescent state. Like the photoluminescent structure 62 and the light generating unit 60, the visible portion 64 can also benefit from the thin structure, thereby helping to fit the light source 26 in the small arrangement spaces of the vehicle 16.

In some embodiments, the decorative layer 98 may be located between the visible portion 64 and the photoluminescent structure 62. The decorative layer 98 may include a polymeric material or other suitable material and is configured to control or modify the appearance of the visible portion 64 of the light source 26. For example, the decorative layer 98 may be configured to produce a checker pattern 58 so that the target assembly 14 is easily identified by the camera 38. In other embodiments, the decorative layer 98 may be tinted in any color to complement the design on which the source 26 is to be received. light, or may contain any other signs on it and / or in it, so that the camera 38 can identify the signs during the reverse assist function with the trailer.

Molded material 66 is located around the light generating unit 60 and the photoluminescent structure 62 and can be formed as a whole with the visible portion 64. Molded material 66 can protect the light generating unit 60 from physical and chemical damage resulting from environmental influences. Molded material 66 may have viscoelasticity (that is, has both viscosity and elasticity), low Young's modulus and / or high fracture strain compared to other materials, so that molded material 66 can protect the light generating unit 60 when it is carried out contact. For example, molded material 66 may protect the light generating unit 60 from repeated contact, which may occur when occupying people use the lighting system 10 described in the materials of this application.

In some embodiments, the photoluminescent structure 62 may be used separately and away from the light generating unit 60. For example, the photoluminescent structure 62 may be located on a vehicle component 16 and / or the trailer or the surface closest to them, but not in physical contact with the light generating unit 60, as will be described in more detail below. It should be understood that in embodiments where the photoluminescent structure 62 is included in separate components separated from the light source 26, the light source 26 may still have a design identical or similar to the light source 26 described with reference to FIG. 4A.

With reference to FIG. 4B, an energy conversion process 104 for generating single-color luminescence according to one embodiment is illustrated. For purposes of illustration, the energy conversion process 104 using the light source 26 of FIG. 4A. In this embodiment, the energy conversion layer 90 of the photoluminescent structure 62 includes a single photoluminescent material 96, which is configured to convert the input light 100 received from the LED sources 72 to the output light 102 having a wavelength other than that associated with the input light 100. More specifically, the photoluminescent material 96 is constituted to have an absorption spectrum that includes a wavelength of radiation of the input light 100 supplied from the LED sources 72. The photoluminescent material 96 is also constituted to have a Stokes shift, resulting in a converted visible output light 102 having a radiation spectrum expressed in a desired color that can vary according to lighting application. The converted visible light output 102 is emitted from the light source 26 through the visible portion 64, thereby causing the visible portion 64 to glow in the desired color. In one embodiment, the energy conversion process 104 is performed by down-converting, whereby the input light 100 includes light at the lower edge of the visibility spectrum, such as blue, violet or ultraviolet (UV) light. The action thus allows blue, violet or ultraviolet LEDs to be used as sources 72 for LEDs, which can offer a relative cost advantage over simply using LEDs of the desired color and the above energy conversion process together. Moreover, the backlight provided by the visible portion 64 may offer a unique, substantially uniform and / or attractive viewing experience, which may be difficult to repeat using a non-photoluminescent means.

With reference to FIG. 4C, an energy conversion process 106 for generating multiple colors of light according to one embodiment is illustrated. For the sake of connectivity, the second energy conversion process 106 is also described below also using the light source 26 of FIG. 4A. In this embodiment, the energy conversion layer 90 includes first and second photoluminescent materials 96, 108 that are scattered within the energy conversion layer 90. Alternatively, the photoluminescent materials 96, 108 may be isolated from each other, if desired. In addition, it should be understood that the energy conversion layer 90 may include more than two different photoluminescent materials 96, 108, in which case, the concepts given in the materials of this application are applied in a similar manner. In one embodiment, the second energy conversion process 106 occurs by down-converting using blue, violet and / or ultraviolet light as an excitation source.

With reference to the currently illustrated embodiment, the excitation of the photoluminescent materials 96, 108 is mutually exclusive. That is, the photoluminescent materials 96, 108 are composed to have non-overlapping absorption spectra and Stokes shifts that give different emission spectra. In addition, when compiling photoluminescent materials 96, 108, consideration should be given to the selection of coupled Stokes shifts so that the converted output light 102 emitted from one of the photoluminescent materials 96, 108 does not excite the other, if this is not desired. According to one exemplary embodiment, the first part of the LED sources 72, illustratively shown as LED sources 72a, is configured to emit an input light 100 having an emission wavelength that excites only the photoluminescent material 96 and converts the input light 100 to visible output light 102 of a first color (e.g., white). Similarly, the second part of the LED sources 72, illustratively shown as LED sources 72b, is configured to emit an input light 100 having an emission wavelength that excites only the second photoluminescent material 108 and converts the input light 100 into visible output light 102 of a second color (e.g., red). Preferably, the first and second colors are visually distinguishable from each other. Thus, the LED sources 72a and 72b can be selectively activated using the controller 78 to induce the photoluminescent structure 62 to luminesce with a variety of colors. For example, the controller 78 can only activate LED sources 72a to excite exclusively photoluminescent material 96, causing the visible portion 64 to glow with a first color. Alternatively, the controller 78 may only activate LED sources 72b to excite exclusively the second photoluminescent material 108, causing the visible portion 64 to glow with a second color.

Alternatively, however, the controller 78 can drive the LED sources 72a and 72b together, causing both photoluminescent materials 96, 108 to become excited, resulting in a visible portion 64 glowing with a third color, which is a mixture of colors of the first and second colors (e.g. pinkish color). The intensities of the input light 100 emitted from each of the LED sources 72a, 72d may also vary proportionally to each other so that additional colors can be obtained. As for the energy conversion layers 90 containing more than two separate photoluminescent materials 96, 108, a greater variety of colors can be achieved. Estimated colors include red, green, blue, and combinations thereof, including white, all of which can be achieved by selecting the proper photoluminescent materials and properly manipulating their respective LED sources 72.

With reference to FIG. 4D, a third energy conversion process 1 is illustrated, which includes a light generating unit 60, such as described, referring to FIG. 4A, and a photoluminescent structure 62 disposed thereon according to an alternative embodiment. The photoluminescent structure 62 is configured to convert the input light 100 received from the LED sources 72 into a visible output light 102 having a wavelength other than that associated with the input light 100. More specifically, the photoluminescent structure 62 is composed to have an absorption spectrum that includes the radiation wavelength of the input light 100 supplied from the LED sources 72. The photoluminescent material 96 is also constituted to have a Stokes shift, resulting in a converted visible output light 102 having a radiation spectrum expressed in a desired color that can vary according to lighting application.

The photoluminescent structure 62 can only be applied to a portion of the light generating unit 60, for example, in stripes. Between the photoluminescent structures 62, there may be translucent portions 112 that allow the input light 100 emitted from the LED sources 72 to pass through them at the first wavelength. The translucent portions 112 may be open space or may be transparent or translucent material. The input light 100 emitted through the translucent parts 112 may be directed from the light generating unit 60 to a second photoluminescent structure 132 (FIG. 5) located closer to the light generating unit 60. The second photoluminescent structure 132 may be luminescent in response to the input light 100, which is directed through the translucent parts 112.

With reference to FIG. 4E, a fourth energy conversion process 114 is illustrated for generating multiple colors of light using a light generating unit 60, such as described with reference to FIG. 4A, and a photoluminescent structure 62 located thereon. In this embodiment, the photoluminescent structure 62 is located on the upper part of the light-generating unit 60. The excitation of the photoluminescent material 96 is arranged so that part of the input light 100 emitted from the LED sources 72 passes through the photoluminescent structure 62 at the first wavelength (i.e., the input light 100 emitted from the LED source 72 is not converted by the photoluminescent structure 62). The intensity of the emitted input light 100 may be modified by pulse width modulation or current control to change the amount of output light 100 emitted from the LED sources 72 that passes through the photoluminescent structure 62 without being converted to a second output wavelength 102. For example, if the light source 26 is configured to emit the input light 100 at a low level, essentially all of the input light 100 can be converted to a second wavelength of the output light 102. In this configuration, the color of the output light 102 corresponding to the photoluminescent structure 62 can be emitted from generating the light assembly 60. If the light source 26 is configured to emit the input light 100 at a high level, only part of the first wavelength can be converted by a photoluminescent structure 62. In this configuration, the first part of the output light 100 can be converted by a photoluminescent structure 62, and the second part of the input light 100 may be emitted from the light generating unit 60 at a first wavelength to additional photoluminescent structures 132 located in close proximity to the light source 26. Additional photoluminescent structures 132 may luminesce in response to the input light 100 emitted from the light source 26.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the first part of the LED sources 72a is configured to emit an input light 100 having a wavelength that excites the photoluminescent material 96 in the photoluminescent structure 62 and converts the input light 100 into a visible output light 102 of the first color (e.g. , white). Similarly, the second part of the LED sources 72c is configured to emit an input light 100 having a wavelength that passes through the photoluminescent structure 62 and excites additional photoluminescent structures 132 located in close proximity to the lighting system 10, thereby glowing with a second color. The first and second colors can be visually distinguishable from each other. Thus, the LED sources 72a and 72c can be selectively activated using the controller 78 to cause the lighting system 10 to luminesce in a variety of colors.

The light generating unit 60 may also include optics 116, which is configured to direct the input light 100 emitted from the sources 72a, 72c to the LEDs, and the output light 102 emitted from the photoluminescent structure 62, at predetermined locations. For example, the input light 100 emitted from the LED sources 72a, 72c and the photoluminescent structure 62 may be directed and / or focused on the desired feature 178 (FIG. 7) and / or the location closest to the light source 26.

With reference to FIG. 5, a top view illustrates a light generating unit 60 according to one embodiment having various types and concentrations of LED sources 72a, 72d transversely along the light generating unit 60. As illustrated, the first part 118 of the light generating unit 60 includes 72a sources LEDs that are configured to emit input light 100 having a radiation wavelength in a first color spectrum (eg, white). Similarly, the second part 120 of the light generating unit 60 includes LED sources 72d that are configured to emit an input light 100 having a radiation wavelength in a second color spectrum (e.g., red). However, it should be understood that each part 118, 120 may glow with the same uniform color in alternative embodiments. The first and second parts 118, 120 of the light-generating unit 60 can be separated by insulating or non-conductive barriers 122 from adjacent parts 118, 120 by any means known in the art, so that each part 118, 120 can be illuminated independently of any another part 118, 120. In addition, each part 118, 120 located in the light-generating unit 60 may include a corresponding conductive bus 82, 84, 124, 126, 128, 130 connected to the controller 78 and configured to illuminate corresponding portion 118, 120. It should be understood that the conductive busbars 82, 84, 124, 126, 128, 130 can be connected to each part 118, 120 of the light generating unit 60 on opposite sides in alternative embodiments, as described above.

According to one embodiment, the first and second colors are visually distinguishable from each other. Thus, the LED sources 72a and 72d can be selectively activated using the controller 78 to cause the LED sources 72a, 72d to glow in a variety of colors. For example, the controller 78 can only activate LED sources 72a to illuminate only part 118 of the light generating unit 60 in a first color. Alternatively, the controller 78 can only activate LED sources 72d to illuminate only part 120 of the light generating unit 60 in a second color. It should be understood that the light generating unit 60 may include any number of parts 118, 120 having various LED sources 72a, 72d that can be lit with any desired color. Moreover, it should be understood that parts having different LED sources 72a, 72d can be oriented in any practical manner and are not necessarily located side by side. Through the use of different colors and predefined patterns, the camera 38 can determine the location and follow the node 14 of the target located on the trailer 18.

The semiconductor paste 74 may also contain various concentrations of LED sources 72a, 72d, so that the density of LED sources 72a, 72d or the number of LED sources 72a, 72d per unit area can be adjusted for various lighting applications. In some embodiments, the density of the LED sources 72a, 72d may vary along the length of the light source 26. For example, the center portion 120 of the light generating unit 60 may have a higher density of LED sources 72 than the peripheral portions 118, or vice versa. In such embodiments, the light source 26 may appear brighter or have greater luminosity in order to preferably illuminate predetermined locations. In other embodiments, the density of LED sources 72a, 72d may increase or decrease with increasing distance from a preselected point.

Still referring to FIG. 5, the target assembly 14 can be made in checker pattern 58, as described above. In one arrangement, the first color is green, and the second color is red. In yet another arrangement, the first color is white and the second color is green. However, it should be understood that other shapes, sizes, patterns, and color schemes of the target assembly 14 may be used. The target assembly 14 may alternatively include a predetermined pattern of parts that have LED sources 72a, 72d located on them, meanwhile, having non-luminous parts 136 located next to them. The non-luminous portions 136 can form any pattern and can be made of any material and in any color. In alternative embodiments, the non-luminous portions 136 may include LED sources 72a, 72d in them, which can be controlled by the controller 78 to illuminate while the first function is being performed, and to maintain a non-luminous state while the second function is being performed. For example, the target assembly 14 may glow with the first pattern (for example, a substantial portion of the target assembly 14 is highlighted) when the trailer 18 is stationary, and may glow with the second pattern (for example, the checker pattern 58) when the trailer 18 begins to move backward. It should be understood that the first and / or second pattern may be any desired symbol or sign.

With reference to FIG. 6A-6B, the location of the target assembly 14 can be added to the original trailer 18 by using the target installation system 148 according to one embodiment. The target installation system 148 is shown mounted on the trailer 18 to be a target assembly 14 that is visible by the camera 38 within the desired target placement zone 40. Target mounting system 148 includes a vertical mounting bracket 150 having a plurality of bolted receiving holes 152 extending vertically to allow for the desired vertical height adjustment. The bracket 150 can be mounted on the trailer 18 through holes using bolts 154, washers 156 and nuts 158. The height of the bracket 150 can be adjusted depending on which holes are aligned with the holes 160 of the trailer. A target plate 162 is installed on the upper part of the bracket 150, having an upper target placement zone 40 in which the target assembly 14 is located. The plate 162 likewise has a plurality of holes 164 that align horizontally with the holes in the bracket 150, and can be mounted on it using bolts 166, washers 168 and nuts 170. Accordingly, the plate 162 can be adjusted either vertically or horizontally to the desired position, so as to accommodate the target assembly 14 with the possibility of adjustment in the desired location, so that the target assembly 14 is easily captured by the camera 38 and processed by image processing. It should be understood that supporting the installation of the target setting system 148 along with the target assembly 14 and verifying the proper location of the target installation system 148 and the target assembly 14 can be achieved by using the method of facilitating the placement of the target assembly 14 and the target monitoring method discussed above.

It is contemplated that the light source 26 may be electrically connected to a flexible or molded wire that is routed through the target assembly 14 and the trailer 18 to have power supplied to it by a power source 80 located in the vehicle 16. Alternatively, the source 26 of the light may be powered by a rechargeable battery and / or any other separate power source 172 that may be located within the target assembly 14.

Moreover, the solar battery 174 may be attached to a portion of the target assembly 14. A separate power source 172 located at the target assembly 14 may be electrically connected to the solar battery 174. The target assembly 14 may include a photoelectric conversion circuit (not shown) that is connected between the batteries and the solar battery 174 so that solar energy is absorbed solar battery 174 and turned into electricity, which should be stored in a separate power source 172, which can be made in the form of batteries. Batteries can be powered indirectly by solar energy so that batteries do not need to be replaced frequently. Moreover, the photoelectric conversion circuit or controller 78 may control the activation of the light source 26 and the charging modes of the solar battery 174, or it must control whether the power source 26 is powered by rechargeable batteries and / or the solar battery 174.

With reference to FIG. 7, the lighting system 10 is configured to attach to a portion of the trailer 18. According to the illustrated embodiment, the target assembly 14 is attached to the front vertical surface 176 of the covered trailer 18. As illustrated, the light generating unit 60 that emits a substantial portion of the input light 100 and the output light 102 to the vehicle 16 may be attached to the front of the trailer 18. However, it is contemplated that the input light 100 may be directed in any desired direction depending on the design and layout of the lighting unit.

As illustrated, the second photoluminescent structure 132 is located on the sign 178 of the trailer 18, such as part of the jack 180 attached to the trailer 18. As described above, the part of the light generating unit 60 having the photoluminescent structure 62 on it converts the input light 100 to the output light 102 different wavelength. The second part of the light generating unit 60 emits input light, which is then converted by the second photoluminescent structure 132 on the jack 180 into the output light 102 of a different wavelength. The output light 102 may be used as a welcome / farewell light, ambient light, backlight for any sign 178 of the vehicle 16 or trailer 18 and / or warning indicator.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the light generating unit 60 may be attached, attached and / or molded onto the vertical surface 176 of the trailer 18. According to one embodiment, the light generating unit 60 is flush with the upper surface of the trailer 18, thereby partially hiding from the view in a non-luminous state . Additionally, the lighting system 10 and / or one or more of its components have a soft pliable shell to both protect the lighting system 10 and limit the bending of parts of the lighting system 10. Exemplary materials that may be used include, but are not limited to, polyvinyl chloride, a vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer, and a polyester elastomer.

It is contemplated that the use of the second photoluminescent structure 132 closest to the lighting system 10 may be located at any desired location and not limited to the jack 180. For example, the second photoluminescent structure 132 may be located on a portion of the rear flap 24 of the vehicle to better illuminate the area closest to it in dim lighting conditions.

The lighting system 10 may further include a user interface 134 located in close proximity to the lighting system 10 or any other desired location in the vehicle 16. The user interface 134 may be configured so that the user can control the wavelength of light that is emitted by the sources 26 light and / or portions of the light source 26 that are illuminated. Alternatively, user interface 134 may be used to switch the lighting system 10 over a variety of modes and / or functions. User interface 134 may use any type of control known in the art to control the light source 26, such as, but not limited to, switches (e.g., proximity or proximity sensors, push buttons), and may be located in any convenient place. For example, user interface 134 may be located on a portion of target node 14.

Still referring to FIG. 7, the motion detecting unit 182 is located on the target assembly 14 and can detect a change in the position of the trailer 18 by any of a mechanical or electronic method. Exemplary methods include, but are not limited to, infrared (passive and active) sensors, optics (video systems with cameras), radio frequency energy sensors (radar, microwave and tomographic motion detection), sound sensors (microphones and acoustics), vibration sensors (triboelectric, seismic and with inertial switch), magnetism sensors (magnetic sensors and magnetometers) and / or acceleration meters.

As soon as the motion detection unit 182 located in the target assembly 14, the trailer 18 and / or the vehicle 16 recognizes the movement of the trailer 18, the light source 26 may become luminous. According to one embodiment, the lighting system 10 includes a function within the controller 78 so that the light source 26 can return to a non-luminous state after no further movement of the trailer 18 is detected for a predetermined time, such as five minutes . According to an alternative embodiment, the light source 26 can interact with the rear lights or the reverse lights of the vehicle so that the light source 26 is illuminated each time the transmission of the vehicle is reversed by its occupying person.

Still referring to FIG. 7, a photosensor 184, such as a photodiode, can be used to measure light intensity while using trailer 18. For example, the light intensity in Florida on a clear summer day will generally be higher than the light intensity in Michigan on a cloudy summer morning. Thus, by becoming this type of information known to the controller 78, the controller 78 can adjust the output light 102 from the light source 26 so that a constant intensity can be emitted from the target assembly 14. Such a configuration can be easily recognized for the camera 38 to make better use of a vehicle function, such as a trailer reverse assist function. It should be understood that the photosensor 184 can change the intensity of the light source 26 for any desired reason, such as, but not limited to, compensating for weather, time and / or dirt, which may be located on the node 14 of the target.

With reference to FIG. 8, an image forming system 186 according to one embodiment is shown and is intended for use with a trailer reverse assist system 44. The imaging system 186 includes a camera 38 having an image sensor 188 that captures light and converts it into image data. The camera 38 can be mounted on the rear of the towing vehicle 16 and is positioned to form an image of the target assembly 14 located on the trailer 18, which is attached to the vehicle 16. The target assembly 14 can be made in a rectangular configuration having a checker pattern 58, which is a recognizable camera 38. In one embodiment, the checker pattern 58 changes between a first color and a second color that is different than the first color, as described above.

The imaging system 186 further includes a controller 78 that can be integrated with or located outside the camera 38. Controller 78 may include circuits such as processor 190 and memory 192. Procedure 194 for adjusting image capture adjustment may be stored in memory 192 and executed by processor 190. In one embodiment, controller 78 is configured to establish a control point, corresponding to the area of the node 14 of the target or trailer 18, which has a known color and a known intensity. Knowing how the control point should appear in the captured image, the controller 78 can analyze the image data received from the camera 38 and adjust the white balance and exposure of the camera 38 to compensate for changes in lighting conditions, such as when the vehicle 16 and the trailer 18 are moving from the sun into the shaded area. Alternatively, the target assembly 14 and the light source 26 may vary in illumination intensity to compensate for environmental factors, thereby ensuring uniform intensity of the emitted light 100, 102 from the target assembly 14.

As for the illustrated embodiment, the controller 78 can also communicate with a location device 196, known as a GPS-enabled device, to receive input related to the geographical location of the vehicle 16 and the trailer 18. The GPS-enabled device may be any suitable device capable of communicate with controller 78. In one embodiment, the GPS-enabled device is an on-board device, such as, but not limited to, a human-machine interface (HMI). In yet another embodiment, the GPS-enabled device is a portable electronic device, such as, but not limited to, a portable GPS device or a GPS-enabled device with advanced logic, both of which are capable of wirelessly communicating with the 78 controller via Bluetooth®, WIFI , the like, or a combination thereof. Since the lighting conditions may vary depending on geographic location, the controller 78 may pay attention to the location input provided by the GPS-enabled device when deciding whether to adjust for the camera 38 and / or the intensity of the light emitted from the light source 26.

Since the lighting conditions can also vary depending on the current time, date and weather conditions, the controller 78 can additionally receive information about the time and date through the input 198 and weather information through the input 200, either or both of which can be taken into account by the controller 78 when making a decision whether the setting of the light source 26 is needed. For example, the light intensity in Florida on a clear summer day will generally be higher than the light intensity in Michigan on a cloudy summer morning. Thus, by becoming this type of information known to the controller 78, the controller 78 can predict certain characteristics associated with the light captured by the image sensor 188 of the camera 38 and adjust the image capture adjustments of the camera 38 and / or the light source 26 accordingly. According to the previous example, if the vehicle 16 and the trailer 18 are located in Florida, the controller 78 may prefer to lower the intensity of the light emitted from the light source 26, while the controller 78 may prefer to increase the intensity of the light emitted from the light source 26 if the vehicle 16 and trailer 18 are located in Michigan. It is contemplated that controller 78 may receive time and date information through a GPS-enabled device, a portable electronic device, an electronic control module (ECM) of a vehicle 16, or any other suitable means. Weather information may be provided to the controller 78 through an application running on a portable electronic device or an on-board HMI device), or any other suitable means.

In addition to the aforementioned input signals 198, 200, the controller 78 may receive an input signal from one or more equipment 202 located on the vehicle and / or trailer 18, which includes, but is not limited to, light sensors, speed sensors, inertial sensors, directional compasses and / or other cameras 38, which can be provided in forward, backward and sideward configurations. By using some or all of the equipment 202 with other devices and input signals described previously, the controller 78 can determine the orientation of the vehicle 16 and the trailer 18 relative to the light source 26, such as the sun.

According to one embodiment, the imaging system 186 is configured to compensate for changing lighting conditions caused when the taillights of the vehicle at the vehicle 16 are activated. The taillights may include taillights, brake lights, additional lights and other shapes back lighting. When activated, the taillights can project light onto the scene shown, thereby causing a sharp change in lighting conditions. If not taken into account, the imaging system 186 may have difficulty tracking the target assembly 14, so that the intensity of the light source 26 can be adjusted to compensate for such conditions.

According to one embodiment, also the controller 78 can supply power to the lighting system 10 using a power source 80 located on board the vehicle 16. In addition, the controller 78 can be configured to control the input light 100 emitted from each light source 26 based on feedback received from one or more vehicle control modules 204, such as, but not limited to, a body control module, an engine control module, a steering module, a brake control module 54, the like, or a combination thereof. By controlling the input light 100 emitted from the light source 26, the lighting system 10 may be lit with a variety of colors and / or configurations to provide an aesthetic appearance, or may provide vehicle information to a targeted observer. For example, when the lighting system 10 is illuminated, the lighting system 10 can notify the occupying person of the vehicle 16 about the specific state of the vehicle 16. However, it should be understood that the target assembly 14 may include an independent controller 78 therein to implement the functions described in materials of this application.

In action, the photoluminescent structure 62 may exhibit periodic single-color or multi-color glow. For example, the controller 78 may cause the light source 26 to periodically emit only the first wavelength of the input light 100 by the LED sources 72 to cause the photoluminescent structure 62 to periodically glow with the first color. Alternatively, the controller 78 may cause the light source 26 to periodically emit only the second wavelength of the input light 100 by the LED source 72 to cause the photoluminescent portion to periodically glow with a second color. Alternatively, the controller 78 may cause the light source 26 to simultaneously and periodically emit the first and second wavelengths of the input light 100 to cause the photoluminescent structure 62 to periodically glow with a third color defined by an additive mixture of light of the first and second colors. Alternatively, in addition, the controller 78 may cause the light source 26 to alternate between periodically emitting the first and second wavelengths of the input light 100 to cause the photoluminescent structure 62 to periodically glow alternating between the first and second colors. The controller 78 may cause the light source 26 to periodically emit the first and / or second wavelengths of the input light 100 at equal time intervals and / or unequal time intervals.

In yet another embodiment, the lighting system 10 may include a user interface 134. The user interface 134 may be configured so that the user can control the wavelength of the input light 100 that is emitted by the LED sources 72 and / or the LED sources 72, which are highlighted. Such a configuration may provide the user with the ability to control which features 178 (FIG. 7) are highlighted.

As for the above examples, the controller 78 may modify the intensity of the emitted first and second wavelengths of the input light 100 by pulse width modulation or current regulation. In some embodiments, the controller 78 may be configured to adjust the color of the emitted input light 100 by sending control signals to adjust the output level of intensity or energy of the light source 26. For example, if the light source 26 is configured to output the first radiation at a low level, essentially all of the first radiation can be converted to the second radiation. In this configuration, the color of the light corresponding to the second radiation may correspond to the color of the light emitted from the lighting system 10. If the light source 26 is configured to output the first radiation at a high level, only a portion of the first radiation can be converted to the second radiation. In this configuration, the color of the light corresponding to the mixture of the first radiation and the second radiation can be output in the form of emitted light. Thus, each of the controllers 78 can control the output color of the emitted light.

Although a low level and a high level of intensity are discussed with respect to the first radiation of the input light 100, it will be understood that the intensity of the first radiation of the input light 100 can vary among a variety of intensity levels to adjust the hue of the color corresponding to the emitted light from the lighting system 10. The intensity deviation can be manually changed or changed automatically by the controller 78 based on predetermined conditions. According to one embodiment, the first intensity may be released from the lighting system 10 when the light sensor detects daylight conditions. The second intensity may be output from the lighting system 10 when the light sensor determines that the vehicle 16 is operating in a dim environment.

As described herein, the color of the output light 102 may be highly dependent on the particular photoluminescent materials 96 used in the photoluminescent structure 62. Additionally, the conversion ability of the photoluminescent structure 62 may be highly dependent on the concentration of the photoluminescent material 96 used in the photoluminescent structure 62. By adjusting the range of intensities that can be output from the light source 26, the concentration, types and proportions of the photoluminescent materials in the photoluminescent structure 62 discussed in the materials of this application may be suitable for operation to produce a range of color shades of the emitted light by mixing a first, input light 100 with a second, output radiation 102.

Accordingly, the lighting system, made in the form of a component for determining the angle of the hitch of the trailer, which interacts with the vehicle, which is configured to illuminate the area and / or glow in a predetermined manner for recognition by the vehicle, was mainly provided in the materials of this application. The lighting system retains its structural properties, meanwhile emitting fluorescent light having both functional and decorative characteristics. In some embodiments, the light source 26 may implement a thin structure, thereby helping to fit the light source 26 in a small vehicle layout space in cases where traditional light sources may not be practicable.

One skilled in the art will understand that the construction of the described invention and other components is not limited to any particular material. Other exemplary embodiments of the invention disclosed in the materials of this application can be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless otherwise described in the materials of this application.

In the context of the present invention, the term “connected” (in all its forms, connect, connecting, connected, etc.) generally means the articulation of two components (electrical or mechanical) with each other directly or indirectly. Such an articulation may be essentially immovable or essentially movable. Such an articulation can be achieved by two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate elements that are formed as a whole part in the form of a single monolithic body with each other or with two components. Such an articulation may be constant in essence or may be removable or detachable in essence, unless otherwise specified.

In addition, it is important to note that the design and layout of the elements of the invention, as shown in exemplary embodiments, is only illustrative. Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail in this invention, those skilled in the art who analyze this invention will easily recognize that many modifications are possible (for example, deviations in size, dimensions, designs and proportions of various elements, values parameters, mounting arrangements, the use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.), without actually departing from the innovative ideas and advantages of the stated object of the invention. For example, the elements shown as being formed as an integer part can be constructed from multiple parts, or the elements shown as numerous parts can be formed as an integral part, the operation of the couplers can be reversed or otherwise changed, the length can be changed or the width of structures and / or structural elements or connectors or other elements of systems, the nature or number of tuning provisions provided between elements may be changed. It should be noted that the elements and / or components of the system can be constructed from any wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. Other replacements, modifications, changes and exceptions may be made in the design, operating conditions and layout of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It will be understood that any described processes or steps within the described processes can be combined with other described processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present invention. The exemplary designs and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting.

It should also be understood that variations and modifications can be made to the above constructions and methods without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and it should also be understood that such concepts are intended to be embraced by the following claims, unless the claims are explicitly indicates otherwise by its wording.

Claims (35)

1. A lighting system for a trailer, comprising: hitch angle detection component located on the trailer; a light source located in said definition component; a first photoluminescent structure located on the light source and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source; and a second photoluminescent structure separated from the light source and located on the trailer element, while the second photoluminescent structure luminesces in response to light emitted from the light source. 2. The trailer lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of printed LEDs. 3. The lighting system for the trailer according to claim 2, in which the photoluminescent structure contains at least one photoluminescent material, configured to convert the input light received from at least part of the light source into visible light, which is displayed in the visible part. 4. The lighting system for the trailer according to claim 3, wherein the input light comprises one of blue light, violet light and ultraviolet light. 5. The lighting system for the trailer according to claim 1, in which the component for determining the coupling angle is made in the form of a target. 6. The lighting system for the trailer according to claim 5, wherein the target interacts with the reverse assist function with the vehicle trailer. 7. The lighting system for the trailer according to claim 1, wherein the coupling angle determination component includes a predetermined image pattern of a certain size and shape provided on the upper surface for capturing by a video camera and recognition by an image processing unit. 8. A lighting system for a trailer, comprising: a hitch angle determining component having a light source; and the first luminescent structure located on the light source and configured to luminesce in the first color in response to the excitation of the light source when the motion detection unit recognizes the movement of the trailer, and in a second different color when the motion detection unit recognizes that the trailer is stationary. 9. The trailer lighting system of claim 8, wherein the light source comprises a printed LED. 10. The lighting system for the trailer according to claim 8, in which the light source is powered by a power source located in the vehicle, and is configured to glow when the vehicle is in reverse mode. 11. The trailer lighting system of claim 9, wherein the first luminescent structure comprises at least one luminescent material configured to convert the input light received from at least a portion of the printed LED into visible light that is output to the visible part. 12. The lighting system for the trailer according to claim 8, further comprising: a second luminescent structure separated from the light source. 13. The lighting system for the trailer according to claim 12, in which the first luminescent structure glows in the first color and the second luminescent structure glows in the second color. 14. The lighting system for the trailer according to claim 8, wherein the light source is supplied by a power source in the coupling angle detection component. 15. A lighting system for a trailer, comprising: a hitch angle determining component having a drawing on a trailer component; a light source located in the coupling angle determination component; and a photoluminescent structure located on the light source, while the photoluminescent structure is made with the ability to luminesce in response to excitation by the light emitted from the light source; and molded material located on top of the photoluminescent structure, configured to encapsulate a light source and a photoluminescent structure between the molded material and the trailer component. 16. The trailer lighting system of claim 15, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of printed LEDs. 17. A lighting system for a trailer according to claim 15, further comprising: a photosensor configured to measure incident light; and a controller configured to maintain a constant light intensity emitted from said determination component based on lighting conditions of the coupling angle determination component. 18. A lighting system for a trailer according to claim 17, further comprising: a solar battery connected to a power source located in the coupling angle detection component. 19. A lighting system for a trailer according to claim 15, further comprising: a motion detecting unit located on a hitch angle detecting component configured to detect a change in trailer position. 20. The lighting system for the trailer according to claim 19, wherein the light source is illuminated when the motion detecting unit recognizes the movement of the trailer, and returns to a non-luminous state if the movement is not detected within a predetermined time thereafter.

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