Abstract: A display assembly includes a light pipe having re-directing channels defined therein. When a light source is provided in a compartment of the light pipe, light admitted from the light source to the light pipe emits from a front face of the light pipe. In addition, light emitted from reflective surfaces spaced apart from external surfaces of the light pipe combine with light emitted through the front face to provide glow regions of light resulting in symmetric uniform illumination of the display.

Abstract: A display assembly includes a light pipe that has a front face adapted for emitting light to illuminate a display. The light pipe defines a compartment for receiving a light source. A light shield is disposed overlying the compartment. Channel segments are formed in the rear face and are symmetrical about the compartment. Light from the light source is extracted through the front face to create glow regions about the light shield, over the channel segments, and adjacent the edges of the light pipe. This results in symmetrically uniform illumination of the display while utilizing a single central light source.

Abstract: An holder or support for a backlit component is disclosed which provides display lighting for the backlit component. The holder may be a one-piece holder and may be made from a polymeric material including one or more fluorescing materials and/or diffusing substances. A trim plate for a backlit display is disclosed. The trim plate may have a front face which provides both a solid support for graphic indicia and display lighting for the graphic indicia.

Abstract: An illuminated display system is disclosed. The illuminated display system includes a circuit board with a front surface and a rear surface, and a plurality of light-passing holes. At least one light pipe is arranged on the rear surface of the circuit board. The at least one light pipe includes at least one entrance port and a plurality of corresponding facets and exit ports. Each of the plurality of facets, exit ports, and light passing holes are aligned in a corresponding relationship to the location of individual components of a display surface positioned over the front surface of the circuit board.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display is disclosed. The liquid crystal display comprises a first plurality of light sources including a first group of light sources and a second group of light sources. The first group of light sources illuminates segments of a first plurality of graphics in a first color. A second plurality of light sources illuminates on segments of a second plurality of graphics in a second color. A prism structure is located over the second plurality of light sources and the second group of light sources to localize and maintain the illumination of the on segments of the second plurality of graphics in the second color when the first plurality of graphics are illuminated in the first color by the first group of light sources.

Abstract: An holder or support for a backlit component is disclosed which provides display lighting for the backlit component. The holder may be a one-piece holder and may be made from a polymeric material including one or more fluorescing materials and/or diffusing substances. A trim plate for a backlit display is disclosed. The trim plate may have a front face which provides both a solid support for graphic indicia and display lighting for the graphic indicia.

Abstract: An illuminated display system is disclosed. The illuminated display system includes a circuit board with a front surface and a rear surface, and a plurality of light-passing holes. At least one light pipe is arranged on the rear surface of the circuit board. The at least one light pipe includes at least one entrance port and a plurality of corresponding facets and exit ports. Each of the plurality of facets, exit ports, and light passing holes are aligned in a corresponding relationship to the location of individual components of a display surface positioned over the front surface of the circuit board.

Abstract: A light distribution apparatus includes a light distribution hub and at least one light source a reference light wavelength emission. The light distribution hub includes color converter that is enclosed in a light house and converts the reference light wavelength emission to a converted light emission. The color converter is distributed through an aperture in the light house.

Abstract: A light distribution apparatus is disclosed. The light distribution apparatus includes a light distribution hub and at least one light source. The light distribution hub includes a light house and a color converter. The light source provides reference color light emission. The light house is positioned over the light source to control and distribute the light emission from at least one aperture located about an outer perimeter of the light house. A method of providing a low-loss distribution of light is also disclosed. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: A backlit display is disclosed. The backlit display comprises at least one light source, a backlit component, and a light-passing substrate. The light-passing substrate includes at least one fluorescing material. The light-passing substrate is intermediately located between the light source and the backlit component such that the backlit component passes light through at least one selected portion of said substrate. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: An apparatus and method sensing the absolute position of a gauge. A pointer having a predefined rotation with a circular travel pattern. At least one light emitting diode that generates an optical signal. An optical sensor placed in a fixed position along the circular travel pattern of the pointer. A pointer driver for driving the pointer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display comprises a liquid crystal cell and an optical plate coupled to the liquid crystal cell for improving contrast at wide viewing angles.

Abstract: An apparatus for minimizing angular rotor position errors in an air core gauge includes an air core gauge (105) having a magnetic rotor (108) and at least three coils (102, 104 and 106) wound around the rotor (108). A probe signal is applied to the first coil (102), and output signals are developed and detected across the second and the third coils (104, 106) in response to the probe signal and low-frequency signals applied to one or more of the coils (102, 104 and 106). The output signals are processed by a demodulation circuit (110) and a number of DC voltage signals are produced therefrom. A control circuit (304) is responsive to the number of DC voltage signals to determine an actual angular position of the rotor (108), and to suitably adjust the low-frequency signals to thereby correct for errors between the actual angular position of the rotor (108) and the desired angular position thereof.

Abstract: A backlighting system for a liquid crystal display (LCD) unit includes a first number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to produce saturated radiation and a second number of LEDs configured to produce desaturated radiation, wherein the saturated and desaturated radiation is combined to form a resultant desaturated radiation of a target color. In a preferred embodiment, the colors and intensities of the first and second numbers of LEDs are chosen to produce a blue-green color of a typical vacuum fluorescent (VF) display unit, whereby the LCD unit may be used to simulated a typical VF display. By utilizing the concepts of the present invention, known dispersive effects associated with the LCD unit are minimized, and a substantially uniform light output from the LCD unit results regardless of a viewing angle relative to the normal of the viewing side of the LCD unit.

Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit having a series device external to an integrated circuit voltage regulator. The external series device provides a voltage drop prior to the voltage being input to the voltage regulator during high power applications. Depending on the power level, low or high, one of two transistors will be activated. For low power applications, a transistor attached directly to the input voltage is active and the external series device is bypassed. For high power applications, the external series device provides a voltage drop prior to the input voltage reaching the second transistor thereby lowering the power to be dissipated by the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A circuit board has an arcuate array of conductor segments each subject to a digital waveform differing in phase for the various segments, and a concentric pickup conductor. A rotary encoder disk has a conductive pattern which sums and couples the waveforms from selected segments, depending on rotary position, to the pickup conductor. A synchronous phase detector generates a phase signal from the summed waveforms and the zero crossing of the phase signal is detected. A counter develops count signals used to generate the digital waveforms. The count signals are input to a latch which is clocked at the zero crossing point to latch the count value which is a digital measure of the encoder angle.

Abstract: An IC driver mounted on a LCD display package contains a sensor for determining temperature of the LCD cell, and a digital value of the temperature is serially transmitted to a remote microprocessor which determines compensated voltage and sends voltage command data back to the IC driver which produces a drive voltage by a charge pump. A digital code on the LCD cell identifies cell response characteristics and the code is used by the microprocessor to calculate the desired voltage. A ROM in the IC driver stores many bit-mapped images which are selected by the microprocessor for display.

Abstract: A high frequency AC probe signal is applied to one coil of a stepper motor to induce a signal on the other coil. The induced signal varies in amplitude according to rotor position. The stepper motor is driven by a microprocessor in microsteps. The position of a mechanical stop is determined by monitoring the induced signal while driving the rotor to the stop. When the induced signal no longer changes in amplitude the number of the last microstep yielding movement is recorded as the rotor position corresponding to the stop position. Also by measuring the induced signal at each microstep over a whole rotor rotation and the signal when the rotor stops, a more precise value of the stop position is determined by interpolation. Alternatively, the flip back position of the gauge and thus the stop position is determined on the basis of the induced signal.

Abstract: The maximum full level is determined in a fuel tank of undetermined size using a fuel level sender referenced to the tank bottom. A minimum full value is selected for a given type of tank and when the sender signal goes below a percentage of that value and subsequently goes above the minimum full value, a fueling event is recognized and the current fuel sender value is adopted as the maximum full value. Where a heavily filtered signal is used to minimize the effects of fuel slosh, the maximum full value is subject to increasing to higher values occurring during a short period after fueling to allow recovery of the filtered signal. An empty value is calibrated before the vehicle is initially fueled. A maximum empty level is initially set and if a lower level is measured when the ignition is turned on, the lower level is set as the empty value. This calibration is terminated when the tank is fueled above the minimum full value.

Abstract: A circuit board has an arcuate array of conductor segments each subject to a digital waveform differing in phase for the various segments, and a concentric pickup conductor. A rotary encoder disk has a conductive pattern which sums and couples the waveforms from selected segments, depending on rotary position, to the pickup conductor. A synchronous phase detector generates a phase signal from the summed waveforms and the zero crossing of the phase signal is detected. A counter develops count signals used to generate the digital waveforms. The count signals are input to a latch which is clocked at the zero crossing point to latch the count value which is a digital measure of the encoder angle.