# US 10,767,834 B2 · Concealed vehicle indicia > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,834 B2 - Document ID: US10767834B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/200,753 - Filed: 2018-11-27 - Published: 2020-05-28 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-27 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Linsheng Chen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767834B2 ## CPC - F21V 5/003: {using holograms} - B60K 35/213: {Virtual instruments} - B60K 35/60: Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) - B60K 35/80: Arrangements for controlling instruments - B60Q 3/12: lighting onto the surface to be illuminated - B60Q 3/60: characterised by optical aspects - B60K 2360/29: Holographic features - B60Q 3/20: for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments (lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10) - B60Q 3/217: Doors, e.g. door sills; Steps - F21Y 2115/30: Semiconductor lasers - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES 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 ## Abstract A vehicle includes a light source configured to emit light. A substrate defines a surface. The surface integrally defines an optical grating. A light transmissive layer is positioned over the optical grating. The light source is configured to direct the light through the light transmissive layer to the optical grating. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle, comprising: A plurality of light sources configured to emit light, the plurality of light sources spaced across an interior of the vehicle; a vehicle trim component spaced from the plurality of light sources, the vehicle trim component including a substrate defining a surface, wherein the surface integrally defines an optical grating; and a light transmissive layer positioned over the optical grating, the light transmissive layer configured to conceal the optical grating such that the optical grating is not apparent, wherein the plurality of light sources are configured to direct the light across the interior and through the light transmissive layer to the optical grating. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light transmissive layer comprises a polymeric material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light transmissive layer comprises a metallized layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources comprise a laser diode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources comprise a collimating lens configured to collimate the light into a collimated light beam. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the optical grating comprises a holographic grating. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the optical grating comprises a diffraction grating. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the optical grating defines an indicium. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the substrate defines a plurality of optical gratings. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the substrate is positioned on a center console of a vehicle and the light transmissive layer includes at least one of a same color, texture, or appearance as a portion of the center console free of the optical grating. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the substrate is positioned within an instrument panel of the vehicle. ### Claim 12 A vehicle, comprising: a cabin defining an interior; a vehicle trim component including a substrate, the substrate integrally defining an optical grating in a vehicle interior surface of the substrate, wherein the optical grating defines at least one of a holographic grating and a diffraction grating; a light transmissive layer positioned over the holographic grating of the vehicle interior surface of the substrate, the light transmissive layer configured to conceal the optical grating such that the optical grating is inconspicuous; and a plurality of light sources spaced across the interior of the vehicle from the vehicle trim component, the plurality of light sources configured to direct collimated beams of light across the interior and through the light transmissive layer to the holographic grating. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the light transmissive layer comprises a polymeric material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the light transmissive layer is configured to provide a same appearance as a portion of the vehicle interior surface free of the optical grating. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the holographic grating defines an indicium. ### Claim 16 A vehicle, comprising: a cabin defining an interior; a vehicle trim component including a polymeric substrate integrally defining a holographic grating in a vehicle interior surface of the substrate; a light transmissive layer positioned over the holographic grating of the vehicle interior surface, wherein the light transmissive layer comprises a polymeric material configured to conceal the holographic grating such that vehicle interior surface includes an unbroken appearance; and a light source spaced across the interior of the vehicle from the vehicle trim component, the light source configured to direct a light across the interior and through the light transmissive layer to the holographic grating. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the substrate defines a plurality of holographic gratings. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the light source comprises a laser diode. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the light source comprises a collimating lens configured to collimate the light into a collimated light beam. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the substrate is positioned on a center console of a vehicle and the light transmissive layer includes at least one of a same color or texture as the vehicle interior surface of the substrate.