Silhouette lightpipe illumination for vehicle instrumentation
US4991064A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 5, 1989 |
| Grant date | Feb 5, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 5, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60Q3/64
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An improved vehicle display apparatus in which both the display and pointer are illuminated for low ambient driver viewing by a common lightpipe apparatus positioned on the rear face of the display. The display comprises a generally opaque applique having a translucent region in registry with an emissive region of the lightpipe apparatus, and bright opaque graphic symbols painted or deposited onto a surface of the applique within the translucent region. A pointer disposed in proximity to the front surface of the applique is provided with juxtaposed bright opaque and transparent regions. In high ambient lighting conditions when the lightpipe apparatus is not lit, a viewer of the display perceives the bright opaque graphic symbols and pointer stripes against the relatively dark translucent background regions of the applique. In low ambient lighting conditions when the lightpipe apparatus is lit, the viewer perceives the opaque graphic symbols and pointer strips in silhouette against the relatively bright translucent regions of the applique and pointer, respectively.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.