US 7,216,997 B2 · Phosphor reactive instrument panel and gauges

Abstract

An instrument panel assembly (10) having a transparent intermediate substrate (42) inside its housing (16) on which is applied a phosphor coated indicia (40) for giving the appearance of a depth dimension when energized by a UV light source (36). Multiple intermediate substrates (42, 48) can be positioned at different level within the interior region of the housing (16), each containing various indicia (40, 46, 56, 58) which emits luminescent light when irradiated by the UV light source (36). Multiple UV light sources (36, 52) can be set to project UV radiation of different wavelengths into the housing (16) with each of the phosphor coated indicia (40, 46, 56, 58) being selected from material types which are responsive to only one of the various UV wavelengths, so that each indicia (40, 46, 56, 58) can be selectively energized to display warnings, information messages, or the like.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An instrument panel assembly comprising:

a housing having a generally transparent front viewing screen, a backfield, and sidewalls together bounding an interior region;
at least one gauge fixed to said backfield within said interior region operative to communicate information to an observer through said front viewing screen;
phosphor coated indicia disposed in said interior region operative to convert UV radiation into emitted luminescent light;
a UV light source operative to project UV light into said interior region of said housing and irradiate said phosphor coated indicia so as to emit luminescent light;
and
an intermediate substrate holding said phosphor coated indicia in spaced relation to said gauge and suspended between said backfield and said viewing screen.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Phosphor reactive instrument panel and gauges

Life of this patent

Phosphor reactive instrument panel and gauges

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14