# US 10,246,005 B2 · Illuminated vehicular assembly for day and night use

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- Number: US 10,246,005 B2
- Document ID: US10246005B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/185,951
- Filed: 2018-11-09
- Published: 2019-03-07
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2011-03-04
- Applicants: Michael Shipman
- Inventors: Michael Shipman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246005B2

## CPC

- G09F 21/042: {the advertising matter being fixed on the roof of the vehicles}
- B60Q 1/2611: {Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle}
- B60Q 1/2696: {Mounting of devices using LEDs}
- B60Q 1/5035: {electronic displays}
- B60Q 1/544: {for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants}
- F21K 9/64: using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
- F21S 43/10: characterised by the light source
- F21S 43/14: Light emitting diodes [LED]
- F21S 43/145: Surface emitters, e.g. organic light emitting diodes [OLED]
- F21S 43/15: Strips of light sources
- F21S 43/235: Light guides
- F21S 43/239: plate-shaped
- F21S 43/245: emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
- F21S 43/249: with two or more light sources being coupled into the light guide
- F21V 9/06: for filtering out ultraviolet radiation
- G02B 5/208: {for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation}
- G09F 13/0404: {the light source being enclosed in a box forming the character of the sign}
- G09F 13/18: Edge-illuminated signs
- G09F 13/20: with luminescent surfaces or parts (luminescent compositions C09K11/00; light sources using luminescence F21K2/00)
- G09F 13/22: electroluminescent (electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00)
- G09F 21/04: by land vehicles
- G09F 2013/222: {with LEDs}
- G09F 2013/225: {with electroluminescent lamps}
- G09F 2013/227: {Electroluminescent displays for vehicles}
- G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- F21K: NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

A vehicle lighting system is provided primarily for use with emergency response vehicles. The vehicle lighting system includes at least one luminescent planar sheet affixed to a vehicle's mounting surface. The luminescent planar sheet includes a non-luminescent printed circuit board in the shape of a letter or number which has a top surface of a color which contrasts with the mounting surface's color. The luminescent planar sheet includes a plurality of light emitting LEDs which are surface mounted upon the printed circuit board so as to be arranged in the shape of the desired letter or number with the LEDs covering no more than 20% of the printed circuit board's top surface. Preferably, the LEDs cover no more than 7% the printed circuit board's top surface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A luminescent indicia assembly comprising:
a mounting surface displaying a first color;
a luminescent planar sheet affixed to said mounting surface and constructed to provide a non-luminescent and a luminescent indicia in the form of a letter or number, said luminescent planar sheet including a non-luminescent printed circuit board in the shape of said letter or number, said printed circuit board having one or more layers of non-electrically conducting substrates and a plurality of electrically conducting pathways; said printed circuit board having a top surface displaying a second color which contrasts with said mounting surface's first color, said luminescent planar sheet including a plurality of light sources surface mounted upon said printed circuit board which are electrically connected to said electrically conducting pathways, said light sources mounted substantially uniformly upon said printed circuit board so as to be arranged in the shape of said letter or number so that upon illumination of said light sources an illuminated letter or number is produced, and said light sources covering no more than 20% of the surface area of said printed circuit board's top surface so that at least 80% of said printed circuit board top surface can be seen; and
a power source for providing power to said one or more luminescent planar sheets.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein the first color is selected from the group consisting of white, yellow and light green, and said second color is selected from the group consisting of black, brown, red, blue and dark green.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein the first color is selected from the group consisting of black, brown, red, blue and dark green, and said second color is selected from the group consisting of white, yellow and light green.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said luminescent planar sheet includes an upper layer of substantially transparent plastic which encapsulates and covers said printed circuit board and light sources to provide a substantially smooth upper surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said light sources include light emitting diodes (LEDs) each having a surface area of 25 mm2 or less.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said light sources include light emitting diodes (LEDs) each having a surface area of 10 mm2 or less.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said light sources include a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) which produce light at a peak wavelength that is not visible to the human eye.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said light sources include a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) which produce light at a peak wavelength of about 850 nm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said light sources include a first set of light emitting diodes which produce light that is visible to the human eye and a second set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) which produce light at a peak wavelength that is not visible to the human eye.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said light sources include a plurality of infrared light emitting diodes (LEDs) which produce infrared light at a peak wavelength that is not visible to the human eye, said plurality of infrared light emitting diodes (LEDs) located substantially uniformly at the periphery of said letter or number so that upon illumination of said infrared light emitting diodes (LEDs) an illuminated infrared letter or number is produced.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said light sources include a first set of light emitting diodes which produce light at a peak wavelength below 760 nm that is visible to the human eye and a second set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) which produce infrared light at a peak wavelength of about 850 nm, and said second set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are located substantially uniformly at the periphery of said letter or number so that upon illumination of said second set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) an illuminated infrared letter or number is produced.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said light sources cover no more than 10% of the surface area of said printed circuit board so that at least 90% of said printed circuit board can be seen.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said light sources cover no more than 7% of the surface area of said printed circuit board so that at least 93% of said printed circuit board can be seen.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said mounting surface is the planar surface of a mobile vehicle.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The luminescent indicia assembly of claim 1 wherein said mounting surface is the planar surface of an emergency response vehicle.