Back to results
US 7,246,911 B2Granted
Instrument cluster with hidden telltale indicators
AssigneeYazaki North America, Inc.
InventorChing Fong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A display device having a display background and a light. The display background has a decorative field into which an indicator is disposed. The light is disposed rearwardly of the display background such that illumination of the light illuminates the indicator to permit a viewer to distinguish between the indicator and a remainder of the decorative field. The indicator forms a portion of the decorative field and is indistinguishable from the remainder of the decorative field when the light is not illuminated. A method for forming a display device is also provided.
Claims11
A display device comprising:
- a display background having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being formed of a semi-transparent material and forming a decorative field, the second portion being formed of an opaque material, the second portion being coupled to a rearward side of the first portion and covering all but a predetermined area;
- and
- a selectively operable light source disposed rearwardly of the second portion of the display background;
- wherein from a front side of the display device the predetermined area is indistinguishable from the decorative field when the light source is not illuminated, wherein from a front side of the display device the predetermined area is illuminated when the light source is illuminated, wherein the opague material includes a metal, and wherein the metal is a metal foil or a metal coating.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- forming multi-layer member having a carrier film, a semi-transparent material and an opaque material, the semi-transparent material and the opaque material being deposited onto the carrier film, the semi-transparent material defining a decorative field that is viewed from a first side of the member, the opaque material being disposed on a side of the member opposite the semi-transparent material, the opaque material not covering a portion of the semi-transparent material that defines an indicator;
- coupling the multi-layer member to a lens;
- removing the carrier film after the multi-layer member is coupled to the lens;
- and
- placing a light rearwardly of the opaque material, the light being configured to selectively illuminate the indicator, the indicator forming a portion of the decorative field and being Indistinguishable from a remainder of the decorative field when the light is not illuminated.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.