Photoluminescent cupholder illumination
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsStuart C. Salter, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Chad M. Bross
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for illuminating a vehicle cupholder is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a cavity formed by a console. The cavity is configured to receive a container and has a base portion. The base portion comprises a light-transmissive portion configured to transmit electromagnetic energy. A light source is configured to emit a first emission proximate the light-transmissive portion. The apparatus further comprises a photoluminescent portion proximate the light-transmissive portion. The photoluminescent portion is configured to be excited in response to the first emission to generate a second emission configured to illuminate the cavity.
Claims16
An apparatus for illuminating a vehicle cupholder comprising:
- a cavity formed by a console having a base portion configured to receive a container, the base portion comprising a light-transmissive portion configured to transmit electromagnetic energy;
- a light source configured to emit a first emission proximate the light-transmissive portion;
- a photoluminescent portion proximate the light-transmissive portion, configured to be excited in response to the first emission, the excitation generating a second emission configured to illuminate the cavity;
- and
- a feature disposed on a wall of the cavity, the feature comprising a second photoluminescent portion excited in response to the first emission transmitted through the light-transmissive portion.
A console configured to illuminate a vehicle container holder comprising:
- a semi-cylindrical cavity configured to receive a container formed by a sidewall of the console;
- a base portion abutting the sidewall and configured to transmit light energy;
- a light source disposed proximate the base portion configured to emit a first emission;
- a feature located proximate the sidewall, wherein the first emission is transmitted through the base portion and configured to excite the feature to emit a second emission, wherein the base portion comprises a photoluminescent portion configured to convert a first portion of the first emission to a third emission and transmit a second portion of the first emission to the feature.
A vehicle console assembly configured to hold beverage containers comprising:
- a first cavity having a first base portion and configured to hold a beverage;
- a second cavity having a second base portion and configured to hold a beverage;
- a light source configured to emit a first emission proximate the first and second base portions, wherein the first and second base portions comprise a photoluminescent material configured to convert the first emission to a second emission in response to an excitation of the photoluminescent material, wherein the first and second base portions are configured to transmit a portion of the first emission to a feature located in at least one of the first cavity and the second cavity, the feature comprising a second photoluminescent material configured to emit a third emission in response to receiving the portion of the first emission.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.