Vehicle interior lighting systems using electroluminescent panels

Abstract

A vehicle interior component and lighting assembly that includes a vehicle interior component having a fabric disposed over a substrate or foam layer, or both. An electroluminescent panel is located between the fabric and substrate/foam layer and directs light from the panel through the fabric. In this way, the light source can be effectively hidden when not in use and can be incorporated into the interior component in a manner that requires little space. The vehicle interior component can be any of a number of different interior articles, including, for example, a headliner, door panel, vehicle seat, rear deck, sun visor, and trunk panel. Also disclosed are vehicle interior illumination systems using touch switches and electroluminescent panels to provide back lighting of the switch and/or vehicle interior illumination through the switch.

1. A vehicle interior component assembly for providing interior vehicle illumination, comprising:
 a vehicle interior component having a substrate and a  fabric disposed over said substrate  covering; and  
 an electroluminescent panel disposed between said fabric and substrate  covering, with said electroluminescent panel being configured to direct light from said panel through said fabric covering.  
 
     
     
       2. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said interior component includes a foam layer disposed between said fabric and said  a substrate of said interior component. 
     
     
       3. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said electroluminescent panel is disposed between said foam layer and said substrate. 
     
     
       4. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said electroluminescent panel is disposed in an opening in said foam layer. 
     
     
       5. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle interior component includes a substrate includes  having a recessed portion facing said fabric and wherein said electroluminescent panel is disposed in said recessed portion. 
     
     
       6. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical circuit for energizing said electroluminescent panel, where said circuit includes a manually-operated switch. 
     
     
       7. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 2 , further comprising an electrical circuit for energizing said electroluminescent panel, where said circuit includes a timer circuit for controlling the length of energization of said electroluminescent panel. 
     
     
       8. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle interior component comprises a vehicle headliner. 
     
     
       9. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said electroluminescent panel comprises one of a plurality of electroluminescent panels located in said headliner at spaced locations from each other. 
     
     
       10. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle interior component comprises a door panel. 
     
     
       11. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle interior component comprises a vehicle seat. 
     
     
       12. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle interior component comprises a rear deck. 
     
     
       13. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle interior component comprises a sun visor. 
     
     
       14. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle interior component comprises a trunk panel. 
     
     
       15. A vehicle interior component assembly for providing interior vehicle illumination, comprising:
 a vehicle interior component having a foam layer and a fabric disposed over said foam layer; and  
 an electroluminescent panel disposed between said fabric and foam layer, with said electroluminescent panel being configured to direct light from said panel through said fabric.  
 
     
     
       16. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said vehicle interior component includes a foam substrate with said foam layer being disposed between said fabric and said substrate. 
     
     
       17. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 15 , further comprising an electrical circuit for energizing said electroluminescent panel, where said circuit includes a manually-operated switch. 
     
     
       18. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 15 , further comprising an electrical circuit for energizing said electroluminescent panel, where said circuit includes a timer circuit for controlling the length of energization of said electroluminescent panel. 
     
     
       19. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said vehicle interior component comprises a vehicle headliner. 
     
     
       20. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said electroluminescent panel comprises one of a plurality of electroluminescent panels located in said headliner at spaced locations from each other. 
     
     
       21. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said vehicle interior component comprises a door panel. 
     
     
       22. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said vehicle interior component comprises a vehicle seat. 
     
     
       23. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said vehicle interior component comprises a seat back. 
     
     
       24. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said vehicle interior component comprises a sun visor. 
     
     
       25. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said vehicle interior component comprises a rear deck. 
     
     
       26. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said vehicle interior component comprises a trunk panel. 
     
     
       27. A vehicle carpet, comprising:
 a substrate;  
 a carpet pile attached to said substrate; and  
 an electroluminescent panel mounted underneath said carpet pile, with said electroluminescent panel being configured to direct light from said panel through said carpet pile.  
 
     
     
       28. A vehicle carpet as defined in  claim 27 , wherein said substrate and attached carpet pile together comprise a floor mat. 
     
     
       29. A instrument panel assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
 an instrument panel having a lower surface that faces towards a floor area of the vehicle when installed within the vehicle, said lower surface having a light-transmitting region; and    an electroluminescent panel mounted within said instrument panel behind said lower surface at said light-transmitting region, with said electroluminescent panel being configured to direct light from said panel through said light-transmitting region of said lower surface.    
     
     
       30. A vehicle interior component assembly for providing interior vehicle illumination, comprising:
   a vehicle interior component having a substrate and a foam layer disposed over said substrate wherein said substrate includes a recessed portion facing said foam layer; and        an electroluminescent panel disposed in said recessed portion with said electroluminescent panel being configured to direct light through said foam layer.     
     
     
       31. A headliner for providing illumination to an interior of a vehicle, comprising:
   a laminate having an interior surface for facing the interior of the vehicle;        an electroluminescent illumination source immovably fixed to said laminate below said interior surface, the electroluminescent illumination source comprising a plurality of electroluminescent panels in spaced relation to one another; and        a controller coupled to each of said plurality of electroluminescent panels and operative to operate said plurality of electroluminescent panels.     
     
     
       32. A headliner as defined in  claim 31 , further comprising separate switches coupled to said controller and corresponding to each of said plurality of electroluminescent panels for individually operating each of said plurality of electroluminescent panels. 
     
     
       33. A headliner as defined in  claim 32 , wherein each of said switches is configured to individually control a light intensity of each of said plurality of electroluminescent panels. 
     
     
       34. A headliner as defined in  claim 31  wherein said laminate comprises a substrate and a lining disposed over said substrate. 
     
     
       35. A vehicle, comprising:
   a vehicle body defining an interior and including a headliner comprising a laminate having an interior surface facing said interior;        an electroluminescent illumination source immovably fixed to said laminate below said interior surface, the electroluminescent illumination source comprising a plurality of electroluminescent panels in spaced relation to one another; and        a controller coupled to each of said plurality of electroluminescent panels and operative to operate said plurality of electroluminescent panels.     
     
     
       36. A vehicle, comprising:
   a vehicle body defining an interior having a plurality of seating positions;        a headliner disposed above said plurality of seating positions;        an electroluminescent illumination source incorporated into said headliner and extending across said plurality of seating positions to illuminate each of said plurality of seating positions, the electroluminescent illumination source comprising a plurality of electroluminescent panels in spaced relation to one another; and        a controller coupled to each of said plurality of electroluminescent panels and operative to operate said plurality of electroluminescent panels.     
     
     
       37. A vehicle as defined in  claim 36 , further comprising separate switches coupled to said controller and corresponding to each of said plurality of electroluminescent panels for individually operating each of said plurality of electroluminescent panels. 
     
     
       38. A vehicle as defined in  claim 37 , wherein each of said switches is configured to individually control a light intensity of each of said plurality of electroluminescent panels. 
     
     
       39. A vehicle as defined in  claim 36 , wherein said headliner comprises a laminate having an interior surface for facing said interior of said vehicle, said laminate having a recessed portion extending beneath said interior surface. 
     
     
       40. A vehicle as defined in  claim 39 , wherein said electroluminescent illumination source is secured to said laminate and disposed in said recessed portion below said interior surface such that said electroluminescent illumination source does not protrude into said interior. 
     
     
       41. A vehicle interior component assembly for providing illumination to an interior of a vehicle, comprising:
   a vehicle interior component having a substrate and a lining disposed over said substrate wherein said vehicle interior component includes a recessed portion for facing the interior of the vehicle;        a plurality of electroluminescent panels disposed in said recessed portion; and        controller coupled to each of said plurality of electroluminescent panels and operative to operate said plurality of electroluminescent panels.     
     
     
       42. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 41 , wherein said controller is programmed for individually operating each of said plurality of electroluminescent panels. 
     
     
       43. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 42 , further comprising separate switches coupled to said controller and corresponding to each of said plurality of electroluminescent panels for individually operating each of said plurality of electroluminescent panels. 
     
     
       44. A vehicle interior component assembly as defined in  claim 43 , wherein each of said switches is configured to individually control a light intensity of each of said plurality of electroluminescent panels.