Abstract: A method security monitors a parked vehicle's surroundings. The vehicle has a plurality of motion activated sensors mounted on the vehicle to obtain data regarding an area near the vehicle. The vehicle includes a controller. mounted on the vehicle, electrically connected with the plurality of sensors to receive the data from the sensors and to process the data to identify activity in the area near the vehicle. With the vehicle parked and the ignition off, at least one of the plurality of sensors senses activity occurring in the area near the vehicle. When activity is determined to be occurring in the sensed area near the vehicle, certain ones of the plurality of sensors monitors the area near the vehicle and provides data to the controller indicative of the activity occurring in the area near the vehicle. A system is also provided.

Abstract: A vehicle instrument cluster having a viewing area that is a planar non-glossy reflective surface. In one embodiment of the invention the viewing area is a black color. The vehicle instrument cluster further includes two or more light emitting diodes each having a light emission surface positioned to selectively project a light beam pattern onto the reflective surface visible on the viewing area. The light beam pattern creates a character or icon on the viewing surface, or the light beam pattern is combined with other light beam patterns from the other two or more light emitting diodes to create a character or icon on the viewing surface. The light beam pattern can be selectively changed between two or more colors projected from the light emission surface.

Abstract: An instrument cluster assembly includes a dial face having a plurality of first indicia disposed thereon. A pointer is configured to selectively point to the plurality of first indicia disposed on the dial face. A selectable light blocker is disposed over the dial face and the pointer. The selectable light blocker is configured to be reconfigured between a see-through mode and a blocking mode. In the see-through mode, a user can see the dial face and the pointer through the selectable light blocker. In the blocking mode, the user is substantially blocked from seeing the dial face and the pointer. A see-through digital electronic display is disposed over the dial face. The selectable light blocker is disposed between the pointer and the see-through digital electronic display. The see-through digital electronic display is configured to electronically generate a plurality of second indicia.

Abstract: A flexible lighting system includes a printed circuit board, a flexible multiple electrical conductor strip, a light source, and a flexible light conductor. The light source is mounted on the flexible multiple electrical conductor strip and is electrically connected to the printed circuit board by the flexible multiple electrical conductor strip. The flexible light conductor is mounted on the flexible multiple electrical conductor strip to conduct light from the light source. A component, such as, a gauge can have a display with a graphical element that is illuminated or backlit by the flexible light conductor.

Abstract: A vehicle display assembly including at least one flexible light guide in a path of illumination to illuminate predetermined different shapes, contours, areas and/or surfaces of the vehicle display assembly. The flexible light guide is silicon or other material suitable to provide flexibility to allow use of the same flexible light guide in different vehicle display assembly shapes and to be a light guide conductor. The flexible light guide is mountable adjacent to at least one light source within the vehicle display assembly to illuminate the predetermined shapes, contours, areas and/or surfaces of the vehicle display assembly visible to vehicle occupants.

Abstract: An instrument cluster is provided that includes a light conductor or light guide mounted directly to a printed circuit board having a light source. Such a light conductor can be attached to the printed circuit board near the light source using an adhesive, so as to eliminate the need for a separate frame or light housing to support the light conductor relative to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A vehicle display assembly including at least one flexible light guide in a path of illumination to illuminate predetermined different shapes, contours, areas and/or surfaces of the vehicle display assembly. The flexible light guide is silicon or other material suitable to provide flexibility to allow use of the same flexible light guide in different vehicle display assembly shapes and to be a light guide conductor. The flexible light guide is mountable adjacent to at least one light source within the vehicle display assembly to illuminate the predetermined shapes, contours, areas and/or surfaces of the vehicle display assembly visible to vehicle occupants.

Abstract: A flexible lighting system includes a printed circuit board, a flexible multiple electrical conductor strip, a light source, and a flexible light conductor. The light source is mounted on the flexible multiple electrical conductor strip and is electrically connected to the printed circuit board by the flexible multiple electrical conductor strip. The flexible light conductor is mounted on the flexible multiple electrical conductor strip to conduct light from the light source. A component, such as, a gauge can have a display with a graphical element that is illuminated or backlit by the flexible light conductor.

Abstract: A vehicle instrument cluster having a viewing area that is a planar non-glossy reflective surface. In one embodiment of the invention the viewing area is a black color. The vehicle instrument cluster further includes two or more light emitting diodes each having a light emission surface positioned to selectively project a light beam pattern onto the reflective surface visible on the viewing area. The light beam pattern creates a character or icon on the viewing surface, or the light beam pattern is combined with other light beam patterns from the other two or more light emitting diodes to create a character or icon on the viewing surface. The light beam pattern can be selectively changed between two or more colors projected from the light emission surface.

Abstract: An instrument cluster assembly is disclosed and includes at least one gauge. The gauge includes a dial surface having a primary scale and a secondary scale. A needle indicator assembly comprising a primary needle and a secondary needle is rotatable about an axis and spaced from the dial surface. The tip of the primary needle is positioned to indicate on the primary scale, and the tip of the secondary needle is positioned to indicate on the secondary scale. The gauge further includes a primary light source for illuminating the primary needle and a secondary light source for illuminating the secondary needle. The primary light source and the secondary light source are independently illuminable.

Abstract: An instrument cluster assembly is disclosed and includes at least one gauge. The gauge includes a dial surface having a primary scale and a secondary scale. A needle indicator assembly comprising a primary needle and a secondary needle is rotatable about an axis and spaced from the dial surface. The tip of the primary needle is positioned to indicate on the primary scale, and the tip of the secondary needle is positioned to indicate on the secondary scale. The gauge further includes a primary light source for illuminating the primary needle and a secondary light source for illuminating the secondary needle. The primary light source and the secondary light source are independently illuminable.