Abstract: A low-profile, backlit panel assembly and a controller for displaying images and/or data within a passenger compartment of a vehicle are provided. The assembly includes a substrate panel perforated with a two-dimensional array of closely-spaced holes. The panel is configured to be attached to a support structure of the vehicle. The assembly further includes a plurality of semiconductor-based, lighting devices supported at a back surface of the panel. Each of the lighting devices includes at least one lighting element. Each of the lighting elements is individually addressable by the controller to control luminous intensity of the light emitted by the at least one lighting element. Each of the lighting devices is aligned with one of the holes so that light emitted by each of the lighting devices travels through its hole to the passenger compartment in the form of a pixel of a two-dimensional image.

Abstract: A low-profile, backlit panel assembly and a controller for displaying images and/or data within a passenger compartment of a vehicle are provided. The assembly includes a substrate panel perforated with a two-dimensional array of closely-spaced holes. The panel is configured to be attached to a support structure of the vehicle. The assembly further includes a plurality of semiconductor-based, lighting devices supported at a back surface of the panel. Each of the lighting devices includes at least one lighting element. Each of the lighting elements is individually addressable by the controller to control luminous intensity of the light emitted by the at least one lighting element. Each of the lighting devices is aligned with one of the holes so that light emitted by each of the lighting devices travels through its hole to the passenger compartment in the form of a pixel of a two-dimensional image.

Abstract: A controller to control semiconductor-based lighting devices of a display assembly in a vehicle so that the display assembly displays computer-generated images within a passenger compartment of the vehicle is provided. The controller includes a power inlet terminal adapted to receive electrical power from a vehicle power source and a command input terminal adapted to receive display command signals from a remote electronic control unit through a vehicle-based bus. The controller also includes electronic circuitry including a computer coupled to the terminals to receive the command signals and the electrical power and supplies the electrical power and control data signals generated by the circuitry over an internal bus to a control circuit of each lighting device to individually control multi-colored lighting elements of the lighting devices based on the command signals to display the images in the form of pixels at the front the assembly.

Abstract: A low-profile display assembly for a vehicle is provided. The assembly includes a substrate having a plurality of holes extending completely therethrough. The assembly further includes at least one lighting display panel and a plurality of semiconductor-based, lighting devices supported and mounted thereon. Each of the lighting devices includes multicolored lighting elements. Each of the lighting elements is individually addressable to control the luminous intensity of the lighting elements. Each of the lighting devices is aligned with one of the holes so that light emitted by each of the lighting devices travels through its hole to the front of the assembly in the form of a pixel of a computer-generated image. Color of light emitted by each of the lighting devices is controlled by controlling the luminous intensity of light emitted by its lighting elements.