具体实施方式：
[0017]As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to a detailed design and some schematics may be exaggerated or minimized to show function overview. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.
[0018]As used herein, the term “and/or,” when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself, or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed. For example, if a composition is described as containing components A, B, and/or C, the composition can contain A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.
[0019]Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the disclosure describes an illumination apparatus 10. The illumination apparatus 10 may be configured to illuminate a portion of a vehicle and in some embodiments may be configured to illuminate at least one running light, headlight, and/or break light. FIG. 1A illustrates a side schematic view of the illumination apparatus 10 demonstrating at least one heat-dispersing electrode 12 forming a base layer 14. The heat-dispersing electrode 12 may correspond to an integral heat sink 16. The heat sink 16 may be configured to transmit heat away from a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) light sources to an environment 18 proximate the illumination apparatus 10. In this way, the LED light sources may be controlled by a controller 20 to emit a high intensity output emission 22 while preserving the longevity of the LED light sources.
[0020]FIGS. 1A and 1B demonstrate a side schematic view and a top schematic view of the illumination apparatus, respectively. The LED sources may be disposed in a light producing layer 24 printed on the heat-dispersing electrode 12. In this configuration, the heat-dispersing electrode 12 may correspond to a first electrode 26 configured to form a circuit with a second electrode 28 such that the controller 20 may selectively activate the LED light sources. The first electrode 26 may be in communication with the controller 20 via a first terminal connection, which may correspond to a first bus bar 30. The second electrode 28 may be in communication with a second terminal connection, which may be in communication with the second electrode via a second bus bar 32 of the illumination apparatus 10. The first bus bar 30 and the second bus bar 32 may each be disposed along a portion of a perimeter 34 of the illumination apparatus 10. The second electrode 28 is shown as a portion of the light producing layer 24 in FIG. 1A. Further discussion of the light producing layer 24 and other elements of the light producing assembly are discussed in reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0021]The first bus bar 30 may be disposed substantially along a first portion of the perimeter 34. The second bus bar 32 may be disposed substantially along a second portion of the perimeter 34. The first portion corresponding to the first bus bar 30 and the second portion corresponding to the second bus bar 32 may be disposed on opposing side of the perimeter 34 and/or substantially spaced from each other along the perimeter 34. Though the bus bars 32 and 34 are discussed in this particular embodiment as being separately located along the perimeter 34, in some embodiments, a terminal connector may be centrally disposed in the illumination apparatus 10 and correspond to a crimped connector 31.
[0022]In some implementations, the crimped connector 31 may correspond to a plurality of terminal connections, each in communication with a power supply via the controller 20. In this configuration, the plurality of terminal connections may be distributed substantially evenly across a surface area A of the illumination apparatus 10. The terminal connections may be conductively connected to the first electrode 26 and formed by a stamping process that may correspond to the stamping process discussed in reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B. Additionally, the second bus bar 32 may extend substantially along the perimeter 34. In this configuration, the plurality of terminal connections (e.g. the crimped connector 31) may supply current to the heat-dispersing electrode 12 substantially uniformly across the surface area A and outward to the second bus bar 32.
[0023]The illumination apparatus 10 may further comprise at least one protective layer, for example the first protective layer 36, which may be molded, thermal formed, or otherwise applied to the light producing layer 24. During a manufacturing method that may be utilized to produce the illumination apparatus 10, each of the first electrode 26, the light producing layer 24, the second electrode 28, and the first protective layer 36 may be stamped together forming a locking interconnection having a locking profile 37. In this configuration, each of the first electrode 26, the light producing layer 24, the second electrode 28, and the first protective layer 36 may be combined as integral layers of the illumination apparatus 10.
[0024]The illumination apparatus 10 may further comprise a second protective layer 38 corresponding to the at least one protective layer. The second protective layer 38 may correspond to an over-molded polymeric material configured to substantially seal the illumination apparatus forming an enclosed or sealed assembly 40. The second protective layer 38 may correspond to a substantially light transmissive or transparent polymeric material molded over the illumination apparatus. The transparent polymeric material may correspond to a thermally conductive polymer, such as a thermally conductive injection molding grade thermoplastic. In this configuration, the light producing layer 24 is protected in a sealed configuration and the heat-dispersing electrode 12 may provide for the LED light sources of the light producing layer 24 to disperse heat for efficient operation when implemented in the sealed assembly.
[0025]As discussed previously, in an exemplary embodiment, the illumination apparatus 10 may be in communication with the controller 20. The controller 20 may further be in communication with various control modules and systems of the vehicle. In this configuration, the controller 20 may selectively illuminate the illumination apparatus 10 to correspond to one or more states of the vehicle. A state of the vehicle may correspond to at least one of a locked/unlocked condition, a lighting condition, a driving condition, a drive gear selection, a door ajar condition, or any other condition that may be sensed by various control modules and systems of the vehicle. The various configurations of the illumination apparatus may provide for beneficial lighting configured to illuminate at least a portion of the vehicle.
[0026]Referring to FIG. 2, the illumination apparatus 10 may correspond to a substantially thin, printed LED assembly. The illumination apparatus comprises the heat-dispersing electrode 12 forming the base layer 14. The heat-dispersing electrode 12 may correspond to the integral heat sink 16 configured to transmit heat away from the plurality of LED light sources 42 to an environment 18 proximate the illumination apparatus 10. In this way, the LED light sources 42 may be controlled by the controller 20 to emit a high intensity output emission 22 while preserving the longevity of the LED light sources 42.
[0027]The controller 20 may be in communication with the heat-dispersing electrode via the first bus bar 30, which may extend along the first portion of the perimeter 34 of the illumination apparatus 10. The bus bars 30 and 32 conductive connections and/or conduits discussed herein may be of metallic and/or conductive materials. The conductive materials may be printed or otherwise affixed to the electrodes (e.g. the first electrode 26 and the second electrode 28) or conductive layers. The bus bars 30 and 32 may be utilized in the illumination apparatus 10 to conductively connect a plurality of LED sources 42 to a power source via the controller 20. In this way, the first bus bar 30, the second bus bar 32, and other connections in the light producing assembly, may be configured to uniformly deliver current along and/or across a surface of the illumination apparatus 10.
[0028]The LED sources 42 may be disposed in the light producing layer 24 printed on the heat-dispersing electrode 12. In this configuration, the heat-dispersing electrode 12 may correspond to a first electrode 26 configured to form a circuit with the second electrode 28 such that the controller 20 may selectively activate the LED light sources 42. In order to accommodate for the heat energy to be transmitted away from the LED light sources, the heat-dispersing electrode 12 may be approximately 0.05 mm to 1 mm in thickness. In some embodiments, the heat-dispersing electrode 12 may be approximately 0.07 mm to 0.25 mm thick. In an exemplary embodiment, the heat-dispersing electrode 12 may be approximately 0.08 mm to 1.2 mm in thickness. For example, the heat-dispersing electrode 12 may be of aluminum or an alloy thereof having a thickness of approximately 0.1 mm.
[0029]The LED sources 42 may be printed, dispersed or otherwise applied to the heat-dispersing electrode 12 (e.g. the first electrode 26) via a semiconductor ink 44. The semiconductor ink may correspond to a liquid suspension comprising a concentration of LED sources 42 dispersed therein. The concentration of the LED sources may vary based on a desired emission intensity of the illumination apparatus 10. The LED sources 42 may be dispersed in a random or controlled fashion within the semiconductor ink 44. The LED sources 42 may correspond to micro-LEDs of gallium nitride elements, which may be approximately 5 microns to 400 microns across a width substantially aligned with the surface of the first electrode. The semiconductor ink 44 may include various binding and dielectric materials including but not limited to one or more of gallium, indium, silicon carbide, phosphorous and/or translucent polymeric binders. In this configuration, the semiconductor ink 44 may contain various concentrations of LED sources 42 such that a surface density of the LED sources 42 may be adjusted for various applications.
[0030]In some embodiments, the LED sources 42 and semiconductor ink 44 may be sourced from Nth Degree Technologies Worldwide Inc. The semiconductor ink 44 can be applied through various printing processes, including ink jet and silk screen processes to selected portion(s) of the heat-dispersing electrode 12. More specifically, it is envisioned that the LED sources 42 are dispersed within the semiconductor ink 44, and shaped and sized such that a substantial quantity of them preferentially align with the first electrode 26 and a second electrode 28 during deposition of the semiconductor ink 44. The portion of the LED sources 42 that ultimately are electrically connected to the electrodes 26 and 28 may be illuminated by a voltage source applied across the first electrode 26 and the second electrode 28. In some embodiments, a power source operating at 12 to 16 VDC from a vehicular power source may be employed as a power source to supply current to the LED sources 42. Additional information regarding the construction of a light producing assembly similar to the illumination apparatus 10 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,299,887 to Lowenthal et al., entitled “ULTRA-THIN PRINTED LED LAYER REMOVED FROM SUBSTRATE,” filed Mar. 12, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0031]At least one dielectric layer 46 may be printed over the LED sources 42 to encapsulate and/or secure the LED sources 42 in position. The at least one dielectric layer 46 may correspond to a first dielectric layer 46a and a second dielectric layer 46b, which may be of a substantially transparent material. The second electrode 28 may correspond to a top transparent conductor layer printed over the dielectric layer 46 to electrically connect the electrodes 26 and 28. The second electrode 28 may be conductively connected to a second bus bar 32. The bus bars 30 and 32 may be utilized in the illumination apparatus 10 to conductively connect a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) sources 42 to the power source via the controller 20. Though the plurality of LED are discussed in connected to the controller 20 via the bus bars 30 and 32, in some embodiments, the controller 20 may supply current to the LED sources 42 via various forms of conductive leads or traces configured to conductively connect the controller 20 to the first electrode 26 and the second electrode 28.
[0032]The second electrode 28 may be of a conductive epoxy, such as a silver-containing or copper-containing epoxy. The second electrode 28 may be conductively connected to the second bus bar 30. In some embodiments, the first electrode 26 and the second electrode 28 may correspond to an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, respectively. In this configuration a directional flow of current through the LED light sources 42 is established. Points of connection between the bus bars 30 and 32 and the power source may be connected proximate the perimeter 34 of the illumination apparatus and the perimeter, respectively to provide for uniform current distribution among the plurality of LED light sources 42.
[0033]Still referring to FIG. 2, in some embodiments, a photoluminescent layer 50 may be applied to the second electrode 28 to form a backlit configuration of the illumination apparatus 10. In some embodiments, the photoluminescent layer may alternatively or additionally be configured in a front-lit configuration. The photoluminescent layer 50 may be applied as a coating, layer, film, and/or photoluminescent substrate to the second electrode or any surface of the illumination apparatus 10 configured to emit the output emission 22 therethrough.
[0034]In various implementations, the LED sources 42 may be configured to emit an excitation emission comprising a first wavelength corresponding to blue light. The LED sources 42 may be configured to emit the excitation emission into the photoluminescent layer 50 such that the photoluminescent material becomes excited. In response to the receipt of the excitation emission, the photoluminescent material converts the excitation emission from the first wavelength to an output emission 22 comprising at least a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength. Additionally, one or more coatings 51 or sealing layers (the first protective layer 36) may be applied to an exterior surface of the illumination apparatus 10 to protect the photoluminescent layer 50 and various other portions of the illumination apparatus 10 from damage and wear.
[0035]Referring now to FIG. 3, a detailed view of photoluminescent layer 50 of the illumination apparatus 10 in a backlit configuration is shown. The illumination apparatus 10 is configured similar to the illumination apparatus 10 demonstrated in FIG. 2, with like-numbered elements having the same or comparable function and structure. Though not shown in FIG. 3, the LED sources 42 are in electrical communication with the electrodes 26 and 28 and a power source via the controller 20 such that an excitation emission may be output from LED sources 42.
[0036]In an exemplary implementation, the excitation emission 52 may correspond to an excitation emission having a first wavelength corresponding to a blue, violet, and/or ultra-violet spectral color range. The blue spectral color range comprises a range of wavelengths generally expressed as blue light (˜440-500 nm). In some implementations, the first wavelength λ1 may comprise a wavelength in the ultraviolet and near ultraviolet color range (˜100-450 nm). In an exemplary implementation, the first wavelength may be approximately equal to 470 nm. Though particular wavelengths and ranges of wavelengths are discussed in reference to the first wavelength, the first wavelength may generally be configured to excite any photoluminescent material.
[0037]In operation, the excitation emission 52 is transmitted into an at least partially light transmissive material of the photoluminescent layer 50. The excitation emission 52 is emitted from the LED sources 42 and may be configured such that the first wavelength corresponds to at least one absorption wavelength of one or more photoluminescent materials disposed in the photoluminescent layer 50. For example, the photoluminescent layer 50 may comprise an energy conversion layer 54 configured to convert the excitation emission 52 at the first wavelength to an output emission 22 having a second wavelength, different from the first wavelength. The output emission 22 may comprise one or more wavelengths, one of which may be longer than the first wavelength. The conversion of the excitation emission 52 to the output emission 22 by the energy conversion layer 54 is referred to as a Stokes shift.
[0038]In some embodiments, the output emission 22 may correspond to a plurality of wavelengths. Each of the plurality of wavelengths may correspond to significantly different spectral color ranges. For example, the at least second wavelength of the output emission 22 may correspond to a plurality of wavelengths (e.g. second, third, etc.). In some implementations, the plurality of wavelengths may be combined in the output emission 22 to appear as substantially white light. The plurality of wavelengths may be generated by a red-emitting photoluminescent material having a wavelength of approximately 620-750 nm, a green emitting photoluminescent material having a wavelength of approximately 526-606 nm, and a blue or blue green emitting photoluminescent material having a wavelength longer than the first wavelength λ1 and approximately 430-525 nm.
[0039]In some implementations, a blue or blue green wavelength may correspond to the excitation emission being combined with the output emission 22. As discussed herein, a concentration of the photoluminescent material may be configured to allow at least a portion of the excitation emission to be emitted with the output emission 22 to add a blue hue to the output emission 22. The plurality of wavelengths may be utilized to generate a wide variety of colors of light from the each of the photoluminescent portions converted from the first wavelength. Though the particular colors of red, green, and blue are referred to herein, various photoluminescent materials may be utilized to generate a wide variety of colors and combinations to control the appearance of the output emission 22.
[0040]The photoluminescent materials, corresponding to the photoluminescent layer 50 or the energy conversion layer 54, may comprise organic or inorganic fluorescent dyes configured to convert the excitation emission 52 to the output emission 22. For example, the photoluminescent layer 50 may comprise a photoluminescent structure of rylenes, xanthenes, porphyrins, phthalocyanines, or other materials suited to a particular Stokes shift defined by an absorption range and an emission fluorescence. In some embodiments, the photoluminescent layer 50 may be of at least one inorganic luminescent material selected from the group of phosphors. The inorganic luminescent material may more particularly be from the group of Ce-doped garnets, such as YAG:Ce. As such, each of the photoluminescent portions may be selectively activated by a wide range of wavelengths received from the excitation emission 52 configured to excite one or more photoluminescent materials to emit an output emission having a desired color.
[0041]Still referring to FIG. 3, the illumination apparatus 10 may further include the coating 51 as at least one stability layer 58 configured to protect the photoluminescent material contained within the energy conversion layer 54 from photolytic and/or thermal degradation. The stability layer 58 may be configured as a separate layer optically coupled and adhered to the energy conversion layer 54. The stability layer 58 may also be integrated with the energy conversion layer 54. The photoluminescent layer 50 may also include the protective layer 36 optically coupled and adhered to the stability layer 58 or any layer or coating to protect the photoluminescent layer 50 from physical and chemical damage arising from environmental exposure.
[0042]The stability layer 58 and/or the protective layer 36 may be combined with the energy conversion layer 54 to form an integrated photoluminescent structure 60 through sequential coating, thermal-forming, or printing of each layer; or by sequential lamination or embossing. Additionally, several layers may be combined by sequential coating, lamination, or embossing to form a substructure. The substructure may then be laminated or embossed to form an integrated photoluminescent structure 60. Once formed, the photoluminescent structure 60 may be applied to a surface of at least one of the electrodes 26 and 28 such that the excitation emission 52 received from the LED sources 42 and converted to the output emission 22. Additional information regarding the construction of photoluminescent structures to be utilized in at least one photoluminescent portion of a vehicle is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,232,533 to Kingsley et al., entitled “PHOTOLYTICALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY STABLE MULTILAYER STRUCTURE FOR HIGH EFFICIENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY CONVERSION AND SUSTAINED SECONDARY EMISSION,” filed Jul. 31, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0043]Referring now to FIGS. 2, 4A, 4B, and 4C, schematic diagrams of a method of manufacturing an illumination apparatus comprising the heat-dispersing electrode 12 in the sealed assembly 40 are shown. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the method may begin by printing the light producing layer 24 on the heat-dispersing electrode 12. As previously discussed, the light producing layer may correspond to a plurality of layers that may be printed on the heat-dispersing electrode 12 in a plurality of steps. For example, the semiconductor ink 44 may be applied through various printing processes, including ink jet and silk screen processes to selected portion(s) of the heat-dispersing electrode 12. Additionally, the at least one dielectric layer 46 may be printed over the LED sources 42 to encapsulate and/or secure the LED sources 42 in position. In this way, the method provides for the light producing layer 24 to be applied to the heat-dispersing electrode 12 (e.g. the first electrode 26).
[0044]The method may continue by printing or otherwise affixing the top transparent conductor layer on the light producing layer 24 to form the second electrode 28. For example, the method may continue by printing a transparent conductor layer as a silver-containing or copper-containing epoxy, the method may provide for the first electrode 26 and the second electrode 28 to be in electrical connection with the bus bars 30 and 32. In this configuration, the controller 20 may supply current to the LED sources 42 via the bus bars 30 and 32. The light producing layer 24 may be printed to a region 70 configured to border a stamped portion 72 discussed further in reference to FIG. 4B.
[0045]A diagram of a stamp 73 configured to produce the stamped portion 72 is shown as a reference to demonstrate the method step of stamping the sealed assembly 40 of the illumination apparatus 10. The stamp 73 may have a depth D and a width W configured to produce the stamped portion 72. The depth D may be less than 2 mm and the width W may be less than 4 mm. The depth D may range from approximately 0.5 mm to 2 mm, and the width W may range from approximately 1 mm to 4 mm. As such, the stamp 73 may be configured to produce a corresponding dimension of depth and width as the stamped portion 72. In an exemplary embodiment, the illumination apparatus 10 may have a thickness T of less than 3 mm and in some embodiments a thickness T less than 2 mm.
[0046]Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the method may continue by thermal-forming the first protective layer 36 to create a first seal configured to protect the light producing layer 24, the second electrode 28, the first bus bar, and the second bus bar 32 along the perimeter 34 of the illumination apparatus 10. Following the thermal-forming of the first protective layer 36, each of the first electrode 26, the light producing layer 24, the second electrode 28, and the first protective layer 36 may be stamped together forming a locking interconnection having a locking profile 37. In this configuration, each of the first electrode 26, the light producing layer 24, the second electrode 28, and the first protective layer 36 may be combined as integral layers of the illumination apparatus 10.
[0047]In an exemplary implementation, the locking profile 37 may comprise a plurality of intersecting angled portions 74 formed by segments 76 in the stamped portion 72. The intersecting angled portions 74 may serve to lock the first electrode 26 and the first protective layer 36 together with the light producing layer 24 and the second electrode 28 as a plurality of integral layers. In an exemplary embodiment, the intersecting angled portions 74 may correspond to a plurality of perpendicular intersections configured to retain the first protective layer 36 with the heat sink 16 (e.g. the first electrode 26). As demonstrated in FIG. 4B the illumination apparatus 10 may correspond to a stamped and integrated assembly comprising at least the first electrode 26, the light producing layer 24, the second electrode 28, and the first protective layer 36.
[0048]Referring now to FIG. 4C, the method may continue by riveting or otherwise connecting the crimped connector 31 to the first electrode 26. The crimped connector 31 may correspond to a variety of connectors in configured to bind and secure the first electrode 26 to the first protective layer 36. In this configuration, the first electrode 26 may form a locking interconnection with the first protective layer 36 and the crimped connector 31.
[0049]The first bus bar 30 and the second bus bar 32 may be soldered or otherwise conductively connected to the first electrode 26 and the second electrode 28. As discussed previously, each of the bus bars 30 and 32 may be printed or otherwise conductively connected to the electrodes 26 and 28 such the current may flow uniformly from the first bus bar 30 and through first electrode 26. From the first electrode 26, the current may be conducted into the light producing layer 24 and into the second electrode 28. From the second electrode, the current passes outward through the second bus bar 32 of the illumination apparatus 10. In this configuration, the illumination apparatus 10 may be connected to a power supply via the controller 20 to selectively activate the light producing layer 24 to emit the output emission 22.
[0050]Finally, the method may continue by applying the second protective layer 38. The second protective layer 38 may correspond to an over-molded polymeric material configured to substantially seal the illumination apparatus 10 forming the enclosed or sealed assembly 40. The second protective layer 38 may correspond to a substantially light transmissive or transparent polymeric material molded over the illumination apparatus. The transparent polymeric material may correspond to a thermally conductive polymer, such as a thermally conductive injection molding grade thermoplastic. In this configuration, the light producing layer 24 is protected in a sealed configuration and the heat-dispersing electrode 12 may provide for the LED light sources of the light producing layer 24 to disperse heat for efficient operation when implemented in the sealed assembly.
[0051]Referring to FIG. 5, a block diagram corresponding to the illumination apparatus 10 is shown. The controller 20 is in communication with the illumination apparatus 10 via the electrical supply busses discussed herein. The controller 20 may be in communication with the vehicle control module 84 via a communication bus 86 of the vehicle. The communication bus 86 may be configured to deliver signals to the controller 20 identifying various vehicle states. For example, the communication bus 86 may be configured to communicate to the controller 20 a drive selection of the vehicle, an ignition state, a door open or ajar status, a remote activation of the illumination apparatus 10, or any other information or control signals that may be utilized to activate or adjust the output emission 22. Though the controller 20 is discussed herein, in some embodiments, the illumination apparatus 10 may be activated in response to an electrical or electro-mechanical switch in response to a position of a closure (e.g. a door, hood, truck lid, etc.) of the vehicle.
[0052]The controller 20 may comprise a processor 88 comprising one or more circuits configured to receive the signals from the communication bus 86 and output signals to control the illumination apparatus 10 to control the output emission 22. The processor 88 may be in communication with a memory 90 configured to store instructions to control the activation of the illumination apparatus 10. The controller 20 may further be in communication with an ambient light sensor 92. The ambient light sensor 92 may be operable to communicate a light condition, for example a level brightness or intensity of the ambient light proximate the vehicle. In response to the level of the ambient light, the controller 20 may be configured to adjust a light intensity output from the illumination apparatus 10. The intensity of the light output from the illumination apparatus 10 may be adjusted by the controller 20 by controlling a duty cycle, current, or voltage supplied to the illumination apparatus 10.
[0053]For the purposes of describing and defining the present teachings, it is noted that the terms “substantially” and “approximately” are utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. The term “substantially” and “approximately” are also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.
[0054]It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.