Selective lighting for indicia
AssigneeVisteon Global Technologies, Inc.
InventorsAlexander Van Laack, Andreas Rode, Ruddy Cittadini, Frederik Belzl, Manuel Pereira
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Abstract
A method, system, and devices for implementing a selectively lighted instrument cluster are disclosed herein. The aspects employ a light house layer (or collection of light house layers) using a combination of light and dark materials to provide individually lit indicia on a cover layer (i.e. applique layer) of an instrument cluster. The combination of light and dark layers selectively applied prevents light leakage into other non-intended portions on the viewable surface of the instrument cluster.
Claims20
An instrument cluster, comprising:
- a cover layer with a plurality of indicia;
- a gauge cooperating with the cover layer, the gauge including a pointer device rotatable around an axis, the pointer extending from a center of the gauge to a portion of the the cover layer with the plurality of indicia;
- at least one light house layer cooperating with the cover layer, wherein the at least one light house layer includes a plurality of light boxes corresponding to each of the plurality of indicia on the cover layer, wherein each of the plurality of light boxes of the at least one light house layer is defined by:
- an outer layer formed with dark material to reduce light leakage to adjacent light boxes,
- an inner layer defined by one or more outer layers of each of the adjacent plurality of light boxes, the inner layer formed with light material to increase reflectivity of each of the light boxes, and
- an opening cooperating with the inner light layer to allow light to be propagated through the inner light layer for each of the plurality of light boxes;
- and
- a cluster of light emitting diodes (LEDs) provided on an electronic board layer cooperating with the at least one light house layer,
- wherein each LED corresponds with the opening cooperating with the inner light layer of one of the plurality of light boxes on the at least one light house layer and one of the plurality of indicia on the cover layer.
A light house layer for insertion into and cooperation with a plurality of indicia of a cover layer of an instrument cluster, the light house layer comprising:
- a plurality of light boxes corresponding to each of the plurality of indicia on the cover layer, wherein each of the plurality of light boxes is defined by:
- an outer layer of dark material for each of the plurality of light boxes to reduce light leakage to adjacent light boxes;
- an inner layer defined by one or more outer layers of each of the adjacent plurality of light boxes, the inner layer formed with light material to increase reflectivity of each of the plurality of light boxes;
- and
- an opening cooperating with the inner light layer to allow light to be propagated through the inner light layer for each of the plurality of light boxes.
An instrument cluster, comprising:
- a cover layer with a plurality of indicia;
- at least one light house layer cooperating with the cover layer, wherein the at least one light house layer includes a plurality of light boxes corresponding to each of the plurality of graphical indicia on the cover layer, wherein each of the plurality of light boxes of the at least one light house layer is defined by:
- an outer layer formed with dark material to reduce light leakage to adjacent light boxes,
- an inner layer defined by one or more outer layers of each of the adjacent plurality of light boxes, the inner layer formed with light material to increase reflectivity of each of the light boxes, and
- an opening cooperating with the inner light layer to allow light to be propagated through the inner light layer for each of the plurality of light boxes;
- and
- a cluster of light emitting diodes (LEDs) provided on an electronic board layer cooperating with the at least one light house layer,
- wherein each LED corresponds with the opening cooperating with the inner light layer of one of the plurality of light boxes on the at least one light house layer and one of the plurality of indicia on the cover layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.