# US 10,308,175 B2 · Illumination apparatus for vehicle accessory > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,175 B2 - Document ID: US10308175B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/259,569 - Filed: 2016-09-08 - Published: 2018-03-08 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-08 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Stuart C. Salter; Anthony Dwayne Cooprider - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308175B2 ## CPC - B60Q 3/14: lighting through the surface to be illuminated - B60Q 3/16: Circuits; Control arrangements - B60Q 3/80: Circuits; Control arrangements (for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47) - F21V 7/00: Reflectors for light sources (characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/505) - F21V 9/30: Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source (shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40) - H05B 45/10: Controlling the intensity of the light - H05B 47/11: by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light - H05B 47/115: by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings - H05B 47/19: via wireless transmission - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - H05B 47/1965: {using handheld communication devices} - Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract An illumination apparatus for a vehicle accessory is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a lighting device disposed proximate the vehicle accessory comprising a persistent luminescent portion. The persistent luminescent portion is configured to charge in response to an excitation emission from a light source. The apparatus further comprises a detection sensor configured to detect a device proximate the vehicle and a controller configured to activate the light source in response to the detection. The light source is configured to charge the persistent luminescent portion to emit an output emission. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An illumination apparatus for a vehicle comprising: a light producing assembly of an accessory port of the vehicle comprising a persistent luminescent portion configured to charge in response to receiving an excitation emission comprising a first wavelength from a light source; a detection sensor configured to detect a mobile device proximate the vehicle; and a controller configured to activate the light source in response to the detection of the mobile device to charge the persistent luminescent portion to emit an output emission comprising a second wavelength. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection sensor corresponds to a wireless radio transceiver in communication with the controller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The illumination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the detection sensor is configured to detect an approaching occupant by detecting a communication of the device via the wireless radio transceiver. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The illumination apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to identify that the occupant is approaching the vehicle based on a proximity profile of the device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The illumination apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to charge the persistent luminescent portion in response to the detection of the approaching occupant. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a global positioning device configured to identify a position of the vehicle in communication with the controller. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The illumination apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to identify a location where the vehicle is parked for a predetermined period of time based on the location from the global positioning device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a door sensor in communication with the controller, wherein the door sensor is configured to identify an ajar status of a door of the vehicle. ### Claim 9 An illumination apparatus for a vehicle comprising: a lighting assembly disposed proximate an electronic accessory port, the electronic accessory port comprising a persistent luminescent portion configured to charge in response to receiving an excitation emission from a light source; a location detection device configured to detect a location of the vehicle; and a controller configured to activate the light source to emit the excitation emission in response to the location of the vehicle matching a predetermined parking location. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to identify the predetermined parking location in response to the location detection device identifying that the vehicle is parked in the predetermined parking location for a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the controller is operable to identify that the vehicle is approaching the parking location in response to the location of the vehicle being within a predetermined distance of the parking location. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The illumination apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to charge the persistent luminescent portion to emit an output emission of light sustained by the charge after the excitation emission is deactivated in response to the identification that the vehicle is approaching the parking location. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to activate the excitation emission from a time period when the vehicle is within the predetermined distance to a time when the vehicle is parked proximate the parking location thereby charging the persistent luminescent portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the excitation emission corresponds to a first color of light and the output emission corresponds to a second color of light different from the first color. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the lighting assembly comprises a first light generating layer printed in a first liquid suspension configured to emit the excitation emission. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a light sensor in communication with the controller configured to communicate an ambient light signal to the controller to control the intensity of the at least one of the excitation emission. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the lighting assembly forms a portion of the electronic accessory port configured to illuminate the electronic accessory port. ### Claim 18 An illumination apparatus for a vehicle comprising: a light producing assembly forming a portion of an electronic accessory of the vehicle, the light producing assembly comprising a persistent luminescent portion configured to: charge in response to an excitation emission from a light source; and emit an output emission comprising a second wavelength of light sustained by the charge after the excitation emission is deactivated; a wireless radio transceiver configured to detect a mobile device proximate the vehicle; and a controller configured to activate the light source in response to the detection of the mobile device proximate to the vehicle thereby charging the persistent luminescent portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The illumination apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the excitation emission corresponds to a first color of light and the output emission corresponds to a second color of light different from the first color output in response to the persistent luminescent portion receiving the excitation emission.