Lighting sytems for windows having plastic glazing

Abstract

A plastic glazing of a window of a vehicle having a light feature includes a first vehicle window glazing component, a second vehicle window glazing component molded onto the first vehicle window glazing component, and a light unit configured to produce light for the light feature. The light unit being integrated with at least one of the following: the first vehicle window glazing component and the second vehicle window glazing component. The light unit further configured to direct the light for the light feature through or from at least one of the following: the first vehicle window glazing component and the second vehicle window glazing component. The plastic glazing is a one-piece molded plastic construction. At least one of the first vehicle window glazing component and the second vehicle window glazing component is translucent or transparent

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A plastic glazing of a window of a vehicle having a light feature, the plastic glazing comprising:
 a first vehicle window glazing component;   a second vehicle window glazing component molded onto the first vehicle window glazing component;   a light unit configured to produce light for the light feature, the light unit being integrated with at least one of the following: the first vehicle window glazing component and the second vehicle window glazing component; and   the light unit further configured to direct the light for the light feature through or from at least one of the following: the first vehicle window glazing component and the second vehicle window glazing component,   wherein the plastic glazing is of one-piece molded plastic construction; and   wherein at least one of the first vehicle window glazing component and the second vehicle window glazing component is translucent or transparent.   
     
     
         2 . The plastic glazing of  claim 1 , wherein the light unit is supported on at least one of the following: the first vehicle window glazing component and the second vehicle window glazing component,
 wherein the window comprises at least one of the following: a front window, a side window, a rear quarter window, a rear window, a front quarter window, and a panoramic window.   
     
     
         3 . The plastic glazing of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic glazing is attached to a housing unit that is configured to support the light unit,
 wherein the housing unit comprises a fiber-reinforced polymer.   
     
     
         4 . The plastic glazing of  claim 1 , further comprising a light guide configured to receive the light from the light unit,
 wherein the light guide is configured to one of the following: emit the received light along a length thereof to provide the light feature, deliver the light to an end thereof to provide the light feature internally within the vehicle, and deliver the light to an end thereof to provide the light feature externally from the vehicle.   
     
     
         5 . The plastic glazing of  claim 4 , further comprising molded components configured to hold the light guide,
 wherein the molded components are molded in at least one of the following: the first vehicle window glazing component and the second vehicle window glazing component.   
     
     
         6 . The plastic glazing of  claim 4 , further comprising a light blocking mechanism configured to block light emitted from the light guide in a first position and allow light to be emitted from the light guide in a second position. 
     
     
         7 . The plastic glazing of  claim 4 , wherein a portion of one or more of the first vehicle window glazing component and the second vehicle window glazing component forms a lens and the light unit is configured to emit light through the lens and also emit light through the light guide for the light feature. 
     
     
         8 . The plastic glazing of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first vehicle window glazing component and the second vehicle window glazing component comprises a surface configured to diffuse, scatter, or reflect light received from the light unit,
 wherein the surface comprises at least one of the following: a textured surface and a laser marked surface.   
     
     
         9 . The plastic glazing of  claim 1 , wherein the light unit comprises light emitting diodes (LEDs) and the LEDs are molded in at least one of the following: the first vehicle window glazing component and the second vehicle window glazing component. 
     
     
         10 . The plastic glazing of  claim 1 , wherein the light feature comprises at least one of the following: a side signature light, an outside light, a side marker light, a park mode light, a roof pillar light, a rear quarter window light, a welcome light, an interior reading light, an individual customizable light, an ambient light, a cargo light, a panoramic roof light, a brake light, a turn signal light, a running light, a reverse light, a fog light, and a security light. 
     
     
         11 . A process of manufacturing a plastic glazing of a window of a vehicle having a light feature, the process comprising:
 molding a first vehicle window glazing component;   molding a second vehicle window glazing component molded onto the first vehicle window glazing component;   integrating a light unit configured to produce light for the light feature with at least one of the following: the first vehicle window glazing component and the second vehicle window glazing component; and   arranging the light unit to direct the light for the light feature through or from at least one of the following: the first vehicle window glazing component and the second vehicle window glazing component,   wherein at least one of the first vehicle window glazing component and the second vehicle window glazing component is translucent or transparent.   
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein the light unit is supported on at least one of the following: the first vehicle window glazing component and the second vehicle window glazing component,
 wherein the window comprises at least one of the following: a front window, a side window, a rear quarter window, a rear window, a front quarter window, and a panoramic window.   
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein the plastic glazing is attached to a housing unit that is configured to support the light unit,
 wherein the housing unit comprises a fiber-reinforced polymer.   
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 11 , further comprising providing a light guide configured to receive light from the light unit,
 wherein the light guide is configured to one of the following: emit the received light along a length thereof to provide the light feature, deliver the light to an end thereof to provide the light feature internally within the vehicle, and deliver the light to an end thereof to provide the light feature externally from the vehicle.   
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14 , further comprising molding components configured to hold the light guide,
 wherein the components are molded in at least one of the following: the first vehicle window glazing component and the second vehicle window glazing component.   
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 14 , further comprising arranging a light blocking mechanism configured to block light emitted from the light guide in a first position and allow light to be emitted from the light guide in a second position. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein a portion of one or more of the first vehicle window glazing component and the second vehicle window glazing component forms a lens and the light unit is configured to emit light through the lens and also emit light through the light guide for the light feature. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first vehicle window glazing component and the second vehicle window glazing component comprises a surface configured to diffuse, scatter, or reflect light received from the light unit,
 wherein the surface comprises at least one of the following: a textured surface and a laser marked surface.   
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein the light unit comprises light emitting diodes (LEDs) and the process further includes molding the LEDs into at least one of the following: the first vehicle window glazing component and the second vehicle window glazing component. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein the light feature comprises at least one of the following: a side signature light, an outside light, a side marker light, a park mode light, a roof pillar light, a rear quarter window light, a welcome light, an interior reading light, an individual customizable light, an ambient light, a cargo light, a panoramic roof light, a brake light, a turn signal light, a running light, a reverse light, a fog light, and a security light.