Abstract: A head up display (HUD) with improved resistance to sunload for use in a vehicle comprising an image generating device, an LCD assembly, an optical bonding assembly, and a fold mirror, with specific design countermeasures to combat damage caused to an LCD by heat from sunlight. These include an OB glass and cold mirror film (CMF) as components of the optical bonding assembly, a hot mirror coating and a polarized film as components of the LCD assembly, and a cold mirror coating on the fold mirror. When sunlight enters the HUD, the cold mirror coating reflects only visible light towards the LCD. The hot mirror coating reflects infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths of light away from the LCD. The polarized film cuts p-polarized light. The OB glass and CMF increase the specific heat of the HUD. The HUD thereby reduces sunload that would otherwise damage the LCD due to heat stress.

Abstract: A local dimming system for a head up display (HUD) according to the present invention comprises a light array, a Fresnel lens array, a lenticular lens system, and a liquid crystal display (LCD). The Fresnel lens array is operatively associated with the light array to provide a collimated backlight output to produce an image on the LCD. The Fresnel lens array focuses light from the light array while reflecting stray light, eliminating light bleed and reducing or eliminating a display-boundary or “postcard effect.” The Fresnel lens array is compact to enable HUD packaging necessary to configure the HUD for use in vehicles, while also removing the need for reflectors which create shadows on the LCD.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to reducing shake and vibration in Head-Up Displays (HUDs) under dynamic operating conditions. The apparatus includes a curved mirror for projecting an image from a display unit on a windshield of a vehicle. The curved mirror has damping tape on its nonreflective side to absorb vibrational energy and shift the first natural frequency of the curved mirror to a higher frequency. The damping tape includes at least a viscoelastic adhesive layer and a constraining layer. The method for stabilizing the HUD includes applying damping tape selected and positioned to reduce vibrational amplitude and shift the first natural frequency of the curved mirror to a higher frequency.

Abstract: The invention is a robust lensless instrument cluster configured for installation in a vehicle. The instrument cluster comprises an outer case, a PCB and lighting structure, an inner frame, an optical bonding assembly, halo lighting portions, a seamless display comprising tell-tale indicators and gauges, and an outer visor. The instrument cluster further comprises a plurality of LEDs for compartmentalized and indirect lighting of the tell-tale indicators on the seamless display and the halo lighting portions around the edges of the seamless display. Because the instrument cluster is lensless and otherwise exposed to the environment, it comprises a seal system to prevent the ingress of water and dust into the interior components. The seal system can also eliminate the risk of mura in the optical bonding assembly.

Abstract: The invention is a robust lensless instrument cluster configured for installation in a vehicle. The instrument cluster comprises an outer case, a PCB and lighting structure, an inner frame, an optical bonding assembly, halo lighting portions, a seamless display comprising tell-tale indicators and gauges, and an outer visor. The instrument cluster further comprises a plurality of LEDs for compartmentalized and indirect lighting of the tell-tale indicators on the seamless display and the halo lighting portions around the edges of the seamless display. Because the instrument cluster is lensless and otherwise exposed to the environment, it comprises a seal system to prevent the ingress of water and dust into the interior components. The seal system can also eliminate the risk of mura in the optical bonding assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to reducing shake and vibration in Head-Up Displays (HUDs) under dynamic operating conditions. The apparatus includes a curved mirror for projecting an image from a display unit on a windshield of a vehicle. The curved mirror has damping tape on its nonreflective side to absorb vibrational energy and shift the first natural frequency of the curved mirror to a higher frequency. The damping tape includes at least a viscoelastic adhesive layer and a constraining layer. The method for stabilizing the HUD includes applying damping tape selected and positioned to reduce vibrational amplitude and shift the first natural frequency of the curved mirror to a higher frequency.

Abstract: The invention is a robust lensless instrument cluster configured for installation in a vehicle. The instrument cluster comprises an outer case, a PCB and lighting structure, an inner frame, an optical bonding assembly, halo lighting portions, a seamless display comprising tell-tale indicators and gauges, and an outer visor. The instrument cluster further comprises a plurality of LEDs for compartmentalized and indirect lighting of the tell-tale indicators on the seamless display and the halo lighting portions around the edges of the seamless display. Because the instrument cluster is lensless and otherwise exposed to the environment, it comprises a seal system to prevent the ingress of water and dust into the interior components. The seal system can also eliminate the risk of mura in the optical bonding assembly.

Abstract: The invention is a robust lensless instrument cluster configured for installation in a vehicle. The instrument cluster comprises an outer case, a PCB and lighting structure, an inner frame, an optical bonding assembly, halo lighting portions, a seamless display comprising tell-tale indicators and gauges, and an outer visor. The instrument cluster further comprises a plurality of LEDs for compartmentalized and indirect lighting of the tell-tale indicators on the seamless display and the halo lighting portions around the edges of the seamless display. Because the instrument cluster is lensless and otherwise exposed to the environment, it comprises a seal system to prevent the ingress of water and dust into the interior components.

Abstract: An illuminable pointer assembly for an instrument panel includes a transparent or translucent base, a transparent or translucent pointer blade, and a hub mounted on the base and supporting the pointer blade. The assembly is miniaturized or capable of being miniaturized by integrating reflectors into a lower surface of the pointer blade to internally reflect light propagated upwardly through the base in a lateral direction to uniformly illuminate the pointer blade.

Abstract: An illuminable pointer assembly for an instrument panel includes a transparent or translucent base, a transparent or translucent pointer blade, and a hub mounted on the base and supporting the pointer blade. The assembly is miniaturized or capable of being miniaturized by integrating reflectors into a lower surface of the pointer blade to internally reflect light propagated upwardly through the base in a lateral direction to uniformly illuminate the pointer blade.

Abstract: A composite instrument panel having both an electronic display and an opaque dial plate is provided with features that mimic a seamless electronic display. The instant panel includes an electronic display and an applique having a translucent or transparent window through which the electronic display is viewable, and an opaque area adjacent the window defining a dial plate upon which indicia can be printed, the transparent or translucent window having a peripheral border area that transitions from transparent or translucent at an inner edge of the border nearer a center of the window to opaque or nearly opaque at an outer edge of the border farther from the center of the window.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an improved instrument panel design with reduced buzz, squeak and rattle as well as reduced light leakage to instrument panel telltales.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an improved instrument panel design with reduced buzz, squeak and rattle as well as reduced light leakage to instrument panel telltales.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a light emitting assembly for an instrument panel, which includes a light guide assembly a light guide assembly body and at least one light transmissive leg extending from the light guide assembly body. The leg has a light input surface along an edge in close proximity to a light emitting diode. The leg may be integral with the body at an intersection that forms a prismatic Y shaped light reflective structure at the body. The prismatic Y shaped light reflective structure forms an angle of reflection surface at the intersection with the body of a predetermined angle of reflection to reflect light from the leg to the light guide assembly body. The reflected light ray is refracted substantially uniformly through the light guide assembly body to produce substantially uniform illumination of the light guide assembly.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a light emitting assembly for an instrument panel, which includes a light guide assembly a light guide assembly body and at least one light transmissive leg extending from the light guide assembly body. The leg has a light input surface along an edge in close proximity to a light emitting diode. The leg may be integral with the body at an intersection that forms a prismatic Y shaped light reflective structure at the body. The prismatic Y shaped light reflective structure forms an angle of reflection surface at the intersection with the body of a predetermined angle of reflection to reflect light from the leg to the light guide assembly body. The reflected light ray is refracted substantially uniformly through the light guide assembly body to produce substantially uniform illumination of the light guide assembly.