Instrument cluster including telltale illumination
AssigneeContinental Automotive Systems, Inc.
InventorsVyacheslav Birman, Daniel Pasquale Tollis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An instrumentation gauge for a vehicle includes a single piece light guide divided into multiple sections by an opaque light guide insert. The single piece light guide includes at least one telltale graphic printed on a surface of the light guide in each of the light guide sections. When light is communicated into a given section of the light guide, the light scatters on the telltale graphic causing the graphic to be illuminated and distinguishable from a same or similar colored background.
Claims20
An instrumentation gauge for a vehicle comprising:
- a light guide comprising a plurality of light guide connections, wherein each of said light guide connections is in communication with at least one of a plurality of first light sources, and wherein the light guide comprises a single piece;
- a dial disposed adjacent a first surface of said light guide, wherein said dial comprises an opaque portion, and at least one translucent portion;
- at least one telltale printed on a first surface of said light guide, wherein said telltale is printed in a color at least approximately matching a color of said dial;
- and
- a lighthousing for communicating light from at least one second light source to said at least one translucent portion of said dial.
A method of for illuminating a telltale in an instrument cluster comprising:
- providing a single piece light guide having a plurality of sections;
- communicating light from a light source to one of said plurality of sections through a light guide leg;
- and
- scattering light in all directions at a telltale graphic, wherein the telltale graphic is printed on a surface of said light guide, thereby illuminating said telltale graphic.
A light guide for an instrumentation gauge comprising;
- a first surface facing a first direction, a second surface facing a second direction opposite said first direction;
- an opaque light guide insert dividing said first surface and said second surface into a plurality of light guide sections;
- at least one light guide leg extending from each of said light guide sections, wherein said light guide leg is operable to couple said light section with a light source disposed adjacent said light guide leg;
- and
- wherein each of said sections comprises a telltale graphic printed on said second surface within said section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.