With Illumination Means Patents (Class 116/286)
  • Patent number: 11835719
    Abstract: An optical system includes a light guide member having a light incident surface, a first surface, and a light emergent surface facing the first surface; and a prism provided in the first surface for reflecting light passing inside the light guide member towards the light emergent surface. The light guide member includes a direct optical path, along which the light that has entered the light guide member through the incident surface is directly reflected from the prism and allowed to emerge from the light emergent surface. At least one of the first surface or the light emergent surface includes a luminous intensity distribution control member configured to control a luminous intensity distribution of light to be extracted from the light emergent surface. The luminous intensity distribution control member includes a Fresnel lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wahei Agemizu, Kazumasa Takata, Masaru Fujita, Tomohisa Sakaguchi, Hiroki Hara, Masaki Amie
  • Patent number: 11808441
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing defining a recess and having a bottom wall, a circuit board disposed in the recess, a plurality of first light sources disposed on the circuit board, a guiding ring provided in the housing and extending from the recess to an exterior of the housing, and a plurality of light-absorbing elements. The guiding ring having a light-entering edge for receiving light from the first light sources, and a light-emitting edge for outputting such light; the light-absorbing elements are supported by the bottom wall and adjacent to the light-entering edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: WISTRON NEWEB CORP.
    Inventor: Chih-Chun Kuo
  • Patent number: 11756757
    Abstract: An underarm gang operated vacuum break switch (underarm switch) has an electrically live portion under a mounting arm, which provides advantages over the standard vacuum break switch, which have the electrically live portion above the mounting arm. Because the non-electrified mounting arm is above the electrified portion, the underarm switch is safer for perching birds and other wildlife. The nature of the underarm switch also provides other benefits including a disconnect blade that when opened creates a visual gap to ensure electrical discontinuity along with a safety locking arm tied to deactivating the underarm switch. Adding to the safety measures is a visual indicator that shows an electrician when the switch is live and safe to open the disconnect blade. Other safety measures include a shock absorber assembly and inertia slowing mass protecting electrical contacts within the vacuum break switch from failing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: nertial Engineering and Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Carnell Sanders, Elliott James Gist
  • Patent number: 11608978
    Abstract: A cooktop includes a knob assembly controls a heating part. The knob assembly includes: a knob body disposed at a front surface of a control panel and rotating around a rotation shaft extended in a front-rear direction, a light diffusing part disposed at a rear side of the knob body and diffusing light, and a light source part disposed at a rear side of the light diffusing part and including one or more light sources. The light diffusing part includes a light source corresponding part disposed at a position corresponding to one of the light sources, and a thickness of the light diffusing part along a first straight line that passes from a center of the light diffusing part through the light source corresponding part is greater than a thickness of the light diffusing part along a straight line that does not pass through the light source corresponding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Dae Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 11567525
    Abstract: A knob for an appliance includes a handle. A light guide defines a recess. At least a portion of the handle is received within the recess of the light guide. A bezel is disposed over at least a portion of the light guide. The handle is rotatable relative to the bezel. A light emitter is disposed within the bezel. The light emitter is operable to emit light into the light guide. At least a portion of an interior surface of the light guide is textured, and an exterior surface of the light guide is smooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Suzanne M. Krueger
  • Patent number: 11360258
    Abstract: An electronic device may have input-output devices such as buttons formed from capacitive touch sensor electrodes. A transparent layer may be provided with opaque masking structures having a symbol-shaped opening aligned with a capacitive touch sensor electrode for a button or other input device. The symbol-shaped opening may be adjacent to the electrode and may be illuminated with light from a lighting system. The lighting system may include a light guide plate. The light guide plate may have edges that are oriented at non-zero angle with respect to each other. Light-emitting diodes of different colors may emit light into the edges. The light may be extracted from the light guide plate using bumps in a light extraction region. Light may be collimated using ribs formed on an opposing side of the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan L. Huwe, Glenn K. Trainer, Jun Qi, Rong Liu, Victor H. Yin
  • Patent number: 11226216
    Abstract: A gauge assembly includes a dial face with a scale indicative of a vehicle operating parameter. The dial face includes an opening proximate the scale and an illuminable tick mark that extends through the opening in the dial face with the tick mark being larger than the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Birman, Matthew Sherman, Curt Ollila
  • Patent number: 11150395
    Abstract: A light guide guides light emitted by a light source to a portion around an illumination target. The light guide includes a light incident portion that the light emitted by the light source enters; a light emitting portion that is provided around the illumination target and emits the light that has entered; and a light distributing portion that distributes the light that has entered from the light source directly toward the light emitting portion and has at least a curved surface shape. The light incident portion is arranged at a position facing a light emitting surface of the light source and has a width so as to cover at least the light emitting surface of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11067300
    Abstract: A packaged terminal air conditioner unit, as provided herein, may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, a compressor, and a filter assembly. The housing may define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. The filter assembly may be supported on the housing. The filter assembly may include a support bracket attached to the housing, an exhaust air filter, and a louver cap. The exhaust air filter may be disposed on the support bracket in fluid communication with the indoor portion to receive air therefrom. The louver cap may be disposed over the exhaust air filter and downstream therefrom. The louver cap may be selectively attached to the support bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Ormsby Sakal, Stephen Budelsky
  • Patent number: 11062662
    Abstract: A vehicle instrument cluster including a monochromatic display having a matrix of pixels which can be independently controlled by a control unit to inhibit or to allow the passage of light. The instrument cluster has a back-lighting device that emits at least a monochromatic light beam toward a rear surface of the display and through a filter, which is light-permeable and is provided with a coloured graphic representation whose contours have a resolution higher than the one of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: MARELLI EUROPE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Sylvain Mouard, Salvatore Ingrassia
  • Patent number: 10969111
    Abstract: A method of displaying parameters of a cooking process involves a step in which an information window is provided within an indicating window. Further, a cooking intelligence applied is temporarily displayed in the information window. A cooking appliance display device can be used for displaying various parameters and steps of a cooking process and for making these available to an operator for interaction, with an information window being provided in which a currently applied cooking intelligence is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: RATIONAL AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Peter Wiedemann, Jana Kirchgaessner, Sascha Barby, Gerd Funk, Torsten Brinkmann, Bruno Maas, Frank Marek, Anton Meindl, Wilhelm Maerz, Sonja Reich, Leonora Minisini, Wolfgang Schmidberger, Meike Stelljes
  • Patent number: 10787077
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed and include an instrument cluster assembly, which includes a printed circuit board (PCB). A first motor assembly is coupled to the PCB, and the first motor assembly is configured to drive a first screw. A second motor assembly is coupled to the PCB, and the second motor assembly is configured to drive a second screw. The instrument cluster assembly includes a floating ring pointer assembly, and at least one of a position and an orientation of the floating ring pointer assembly is configured to be adjusted in response to at least one of the first motor assembly and the second motor assembly driving the first screw and the second screw, respectively. The instrument cluster assembly includes a display screen configured to generate a display based on at least one of the position and the orientation of the floating ring pointer assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Muhammad Nabeel Aslam
  • Patent number: 10782724
    Abstract: A control element for controlling a function of a domestic appliance has a control knob having a circular outer periphery, the control knob having a gripping portion configured to be gripped by a user of the domestic appliance, and a shaft receiving portion that is configured to receive a shaft of the domestic appliance; and a sliding ring positionally fixed to the control knob, the sliding ring having a circular outer periphery wall surrounding the outer periphery of the control knob, a base perpendicular to the outer periphery wall, and an opening in the base configured to receive the shaft of the domestic appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignees: BSH Home Appliances Corporation, BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventor: Holger Metzmeier
  • Patent number: 10671026
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a display module having a hole and including a plurality of first light sources disposed along a perimeter of one side of the display module and a plurality of second light sources which are positioned opposite the plurality of first light sources and are disposed along a perimeter of the other side of the display module, a shaft rotatably inserted into the hole of the display module, a movement which is positioned in the rear of the display module, is connected to one end of the shaft, and provides a rotational force for the shaft, a window which is separated from the display module and is positioned in front of the display module, and a hand which is positioned between the display module and the window and is fixed to the other end of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Pilgoo Kang, Dongseuck Ko, Jeeyoung Cheon, Jonghun Kwon
  • Patent number: 10513221
    Abstract: Provided is a soft upper trim of a vehicle door, in which an upper substrate, a foam, and a transparent skin are laminated, and particularly, to a soft upper trim for switch assembly of a vehicle door, in which a switch, which is configured to preserve continuity of a transparent skin and display lock and unlock symbols on the transparent skin, is easily assembled to an upper substrate, and a method of manufacturing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignees: SEOYON E-HWA CO., LTD., SEOYON AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ji Hyun Cho, Dong Suk Kim
  • Patent number: 10429215
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Maria Nohemi Bravo Solis, Manuel Hernandez Diaz, Carlos Ivan Ruiz Larios
  • Patent number: 10409314
    Abstract: A cooking appliance is provided including a cooking surface, a heating element, a control surface, and a control element positioned on the control surface. The control element is associated with the heating element, which is positioned on the cooking surface. The cooking appliance also includes an integrated housing positioned below the control surface aligned with the control element. The integrated housing encloses both a lighting assembly for providing light to at least one of the control element or the control surface and an electromechanical switch operably coupled to the control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren Allen Turner, Frank Jacob Hellwig
  • Patent number: 10386565
    Abstract: A backlight module includes a plurality of surface light source assembly. Each surface light source assembly includes a light source with a plurality of light emitting surfaces having a light emission angle range each; a light guide plate with a bottom surface having a groove for receiving the light source, a light exit surface opposite to the bottom surface, and at least one side surface between the bottom surface and the light exit surface; and a plurality of groove structures configured to reflect a portion of a light emitted from the light emitting surfaces to outside their light emission angle range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Hua Chen, Chun-Hsiang Hsu, Wei-Ching Wu, Fan-Chun Lin, Chung-Hung Fang
  • Patent number: 10338305
    Abstract: A luminaire can comprise a lightguide, a substrate to which an array of light emitting diodes is mounted, and a cover that extends over the substrate. A light-receiving edge of the lightguide can be positioned adjacent the array of light emitting diodes so that emitted light couples into the lightguide via that edge. The lightguide can guide the coupled light from the light-receiving edge to an opposing, light-emitting edge that emits the coupled light to provide illumination. The cover can comprise an aperture through which the lightguide extends, so that the cover may enclose the light-receiving edge while the light emitting edge may protrude through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Matthew A. Davis, Sridhar Reddy Nimma
  • Patent number: 10317259
    Abstract: A gauge may be constructed in an instrument panel and includes a dial, a motor, and at least one light source for providing backlighting behind the rear side of the dial. The motor is located behind the rear side of the dial. A pointer cap is located in front of the front side of the dial and is connected to the shaft of the motor via the aperture of the dial such that there is a gap between the dial and the pointer cap. The pointer cap has a body portion completely covering the aperture. The pointer cap includes a light blocking element constructed to optically form a pointer by blocking the backlighting from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Victoria Elvira Arellano Echeverria
  • Patent number: 10259385
    Abstract: An information display portion indicates vehicular information relevant to a vehicle. A display plate being translucent is located on a viewing side relative to the information display portion. A reflective portion formed in the display plate is configured to be illuminated in a predetermined shape by light emitted from a light source unit. The reflective portion being illuminated is overlapped on the vehicular information indicated by the information display portion and viewable on the viewing side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsumi Fujita, Satoru Tamura, Seigo Tane
  • Patent number: 10240954
    Abstract: A dial plate being nonopaque is in a disc shape. A slit member has slits each extending through the slit member in a thickness direction. A light source is located on an opposite side of the slit member from the dial plate. The light source is configured to emit light through the slits of the slit member toward the dial plate to project images on the dial plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Marc Arceo
  • Patent number: 10209427
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided, including a main body and a PCI-E insert row. The main body has a substrate, a light-emitting module and a light-guiding portion. The light-emitting module has a carrier board and a light-emitting portion disposed on the carrier board, the light-guiding portion is arranged corresponding to the light-emitting portion, and at least a part of light from the light-emitting portion is projected to outside of the electronic device through the light-guiding portion. The PCI-E insert row is disposed on the substrate, and the PCI-E insert row is for being electrically connected with the PCI-E insert slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: ALSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Han-Hung Cheng, Wei-Di Cheng
  • Patent number: 10132662
    Abstract: An instrument cluster for a motor vehicle includes a dial surface having a plurality of indicia located thereon. A pointer contacts the dial surface and is configured to rotate with respect to the dial surface. Piezoelectric material is disposed on one of the dial surface and the pointer. The piezoelectric material is configured to deform due to contact between the pointer and the dial surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Maria Cristina Gascon Rivera
  • Patent number: 9944181
    Abstract: Provided herein is a display unit for a vehicle which is designed for representing information and for arrangement in an interior space of the vehicle with respect to a viewing direction of the driver of the vehicle. The display unit may include: a display device which can be connected to a device for operating the display device, in particular for operating as a function of a measured value for a state of the vehicle; an OLED display having three-dimensional geometry, in particular for a flat emission of light, where the OLED display, seen in the viewing direction, seen in particular in the forward direction, is arranged so that it overlaps with the display device and, in the overlap area, it includes a passage through which the display device can be connected to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Lutz Diederichs, Matthias Wunderlich
  • Patent number: 9908412
    Abstract: An on-vehicle meter includes a meter including an indicator that rotates about a certain axis, a transparent display device provided on a display side of the meter, a light guide plate provided between the meter and the transparent display device, a light source that emits light to the light guide plate, and a control device that controls a display state of the transparent display device and the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Ishikawa, Shinichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9869974
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a display module having a hole and including a plurality of first light sources disposed along a perimeter of one side of the display module and a plurality of second light sources which are positioned opposite the plurality of first light sources and are disposed along a perimeter of the other side of the display module, a shaft rotatably inserted into the hole of the display module, a movement which is positioned in the rear of the display module, is connected to one end of the shaft, and provides a rotational force for the shaft, a window which is separated from the display module and is positioned in front of the display module, and a hand which is positioned between the display module and the window and is fixed to the other end of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Pilgoo Kang, Dongseuck Ko, Jeeyoung Cheon, Jonghun Kwon
  • Patent number: 9738157
    Abstract: A decorative part for a vehicle display device includes a substrate body that is molded by synthetic resin and a mirror surface that is formed on a surface of the substrate body, in which the mirror surface is formed so that mirror surface roughness becomes larger than 0 and equal to or smaller than 0.35 ?m and a ratio of a wavelength becomes equal to or larger than 1:600 and equal to or smaller than 1:6000 in the case of an amplitude of 1, the amplitude being captured by a ratio of the amplitude corresponding to an average height of an undulation waveform and the wavelength corresponding to an average length of the undulation waveform in an undulation curve in which a cutoff value from a surface shape is 250 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hattori, Teruomi Sano
  • Patent number: 9739648
    Abstract: The dial structure includes a dial base having an optical transparency, on which a carbon pattern is formed, and an uneven portion formed on a front surface of the dial base. The uneven portion has a convex and concave form representing a convex and concave form of the carbon pattern. A background print layer is formed on a back surface of the dial base excluding a portion to be an indicator portion, and has a color tone of the carbon pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuuki Takeda
  • Patent number: 9574913
    Abstract: A dial plate structure of a vehicular combination meter includes a dial plate; a light guide disposed back side of the dial plate, the light guide receiving light from a three-dimensional scale light source incident upon a proximal end side thereof; three-dimensional scale marks protruding and disposed on a distal end side of the light guide, the three-dimensional scale marks protruding from through holes perforated in the dial plate; a dimming white print formed on the back surface of the dial plate; and a hard coat clear print formed on the back surface of the dial plate so as to cover at least portions of the dimming white print opposed to the three-dimensional scale marks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasufumi Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 9568343
    Abstract: A gauge assembly having a pointer arm extending away from a hub is supported for movement about an axis to indicate a current vehicle condition. This is accomplished when the pointer points to a specific location and telltales on the gauge surface. The pointer arm has a pointer arm viewing surface with one or more clear portions and one or more illuminated portions along the length of the pointer arm viewing surface. The pointer arm further includes one or more raised steps formed on a bottom surface of the pointer arm located opposite the viewing surface of the pointer arm. The one or more raised steps is aligned with the one or more illuminated portions and the one or more raised steps have a reflective surface for reflecting light through the one more illuminated portions on the viewing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Birman, Shirley Yu
  • Patent number: 9566862
    Abstract: An indicator indicates a vehicle state value in accordance with a rotational position between a zero position and a maximum position. A step motor rotationally drives the indicator on application of a drive signal in accordance with an electrical angle to a field winding. A control unit that controls the electrical angle of the drive signal applied to the field winding performs a leave-zero control operation which varies the electrical angle to rotate the indicator from the zero position to the maximum position and determines presence or absence of abnormal rotation of the indicator based on the electrical angle at the time of detecting the stopping of the indicator during the leave-zero control operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keiichi Iwashima
  • Patent number: 9501038
    Abstract: Luminous display hand for a portable object, the portable object including a frame which houses an electrical energy supply source, the hand including a light guide in which is arranged a hole for the passage of a drive arbor, and a housing for accommodating a light source which injects light into the light guide, the light source including first and second poles, the first pole of the light source being connected to the energy supply source via the drive arbor of the hand and the second pole of the light source being connected to the energy supply source via the frame of the portable object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventor: Pierpasquale Tortora
  • Patent number: 9488508
    Abstract: An instrument panel with a shadow pointer includes a fixed pointer disposed at a predetermined position on a character board. A plurality of characters are arranged along a peripheral line of the character board at a predetermined distance from the fixed pointer. A plurality of light sources are arranged on the peripheral line and spaced apart from each other. The light sources radiate light to the fixed pointer. A shadow pointer is formed by a corresponding light source among the plurality of light sources. The shadow pointer points toward a position on the peripheral line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyo Souk Jang
  • Patent number: 9365151
    Abstract: Vehicle instrument gauges and an instrument cluster with warning telltales each having a gauge surface area with two or more indicia on a viewing surface area. At least one of the indicia is a warning indicia with an illuminated marker positionable between the indicia. The illuminated marker has a nominal luminescence mode when positioned in an area of the viewing surface area to indicate optimal vehicle operating conditions, a range of increased luminescence mode when indicating changing vehicle operating conditions and the illuminated marker will begin to brighten as the position of the illuminated marker moves toward the warning indicia, a maximum luminescence mode when in a caution zone area and used to indicate that the vehicle operating conditions need attention soon, and flashing mode indicating that the vehicle operating conditions need immediate attention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin M. Dyer
  • Patent number: 9312813
    Abstract: An instrument cluster assembly is disclosed and includes at least one gauge. The gauge comprises a dial surface and a ring spaced apart from the dial surface. The ring has an outer surface and an inner surface that includes ring graphics. The gauge further comprises a pointer rotatable about an axis. The pointer may include a pointer arm including a portion extending into a space defined between the inner surface of the ring and the dial surface and at least partially visible through the ring. The dial surface my include dial graphics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vyacheslav B. Birman, Jeremy Rooney
  • Patent number: 9135850
    Abstract: Techniques related to abrasion scorings for illuminating operating system selections are described herein. A first abrasion scoring of a display material may reflect light from a first light source resulting in an image associated with a first operating system of the computing device being illuminated at the display material. A second abrasion scoring of the display material may reflect light from a second light source resulting in an image associated with a second operating system of the computing device being illuminated at the display material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Anantha Narayanan, Arvind S, A. Ravindra Babu
  • Patent number: 9068865
    Abstract: A meter has a pointer which points indicators to show a vehicle status value. The meter has a light source to illuminate the pointer. The light source is disposed to be rotatable with the pointer. The meter has an electromagnetic power supplying device having a primary module and a secondary module. The primary module provides a stationary transmitter module which generates radio frequency electromagnetic field. The secondary module provides a movable receiver module which induces electric power by receiving the radio frequency electromagnetic field generated by the primary module. The secondary module supplies power to the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignees: DENSO International America, In.c, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tominaga
  • Patent number: 9021978
    Abstract: A combination meter has an indicator for radiating light having entered from an entrance portion thereof and a display panel having a displaying portion illuminated by light passing through such portion. A cylindrical body is inserted into a panel-side opening of the display panel. The cylindrical body has a body-side supporting portion so as to hold the display panel between the body-side supporting portion and a housing-side supporting portion. An outer peripheral reflecting portion formed in the cylindrical body reflects light toward a housing-side reflecting portion of a housing. Light emitted from a light source not only illuminates the indicator but also is reflected by the respective reflecting portions to illuminate the displaying portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Akamatsu, Makoto Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9021979
    Abstract: An automobile instrument (1) includes: a dial (4); an indicator (11) configured to rotate on the dial (4); a facing member (14) configured to surround a circumference of the dial (4) and comprising a plurality of transparent light guide portions (35) radially arranged respectively from an end of the circumference of the dial (4) at intervals in a circumferential direction of the dial (4); a first light source (17) configured to irradiate the dial (4) with light; and a second light source (19) configured to emit light to the transparent light guide portions (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Riyuuichi Hashimoto, Masanobu Terao, Takayuki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9003998
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an indicator device, a display device, particularly for a motor vehicle, and a needle mounting method for a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Frédéric Guillauminaud
  • Publication number: 20150096487
    Abstract: A dial plate structure of a vehicular combination meter includes a dial plate; a light guide disposed back side of the dial plate, the light guide receiving light from a three-dimensional scale light source incident upon a proximal end side thereof; three-dimensional scale marks protruding and disposed on a distal end side of the light guide, the three-dimensional scale marks protruding from through holes perforated in the dial plate; a dimming white print formed on the back surface of the dial plate; and a hard coat clear print formed on the back surface of the dial plate so as to cover at least portions of the dimming white print opposed to the three-dimensional scale marks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasufumi MOCHIZUKI
  • Patent number: 8997683
    Abstract: A light-guide indicator is provided with a base part, and an indicator main body extending along the indicator plate from one end of the base part. One end of a light-guide output shaft provided with a motor is arranged opposite to the other end of the base part, and the other end of the output shaft is arranged opposite to a light source. A back side of the indicator plate is provided with a light-guide member, and the light-guide member is provided with a first recess receiving the other end of the base part and a second recess receiving the one end of the output shaft. A bottom face of the first recess is arranged tapered in such a way that the bottom face approaches the output shaft as approaches rotation axis of the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Masanobu Terao, Akihiro Oohata, Katsuma Sano
  • Patent number: 8973519
    Abstract: A status indicator includes a display disc with a pin located within a central portion if the display disc, a first colored section, and a second colored section. The status indicator also includes a lens unit with an opaque section and a non-opaque section to alternately reveal the first colored section or the second colored section such that either the first or the second colored section is visible from any angle within a hemisphere below the status indicator. The status indicator also includes an indicator cam configured to receive a linear force initiated by an actuator component and to translate the linear force to a rotational force on the pin. The rotational force causes the display disc to rotate from a first position to a second position that aligns the second colored section with the non-opaque section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Bindics, William Ayala, III, Geoffrey Reed
  • Patent number: 8935989
    Abstract: A gauge assembly defining an interior direction and an exterior direction includes a gauge faceplate having a plurality of indicators and a hub that is substantially opaque. The hub includes a hub reflective portion that generally faces toward the interior direction. The assembly additionally includes a pointer having a first portion adjacent the hub and a second portion spaced away from the hub. The pointer is operable to move relative to the gauge faceplate such that the second portion distinguishes between the plurality of indicators. The pointer is substantially opaque, and the second portion includes a pointer reflective portion that generally faces toward the exterior direction. Moreover, the assembly includes a light source that emits a light generally in the exterior direction. The light reflects from the hub reflective portion generally toward the pointer reflective portion. The light also reflects from the pointer reflective portion generally toward the exterior direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: David Cook
  • Patent number: 8931428
    Abstract: A scale element for a display instrument that includes, but is not limited to a scaling. The scaling is impressed in the volume of the scale element by means of laser shot method. The scale element can furthermore include, but is not limited to a diffusion structure likewise impressed in the volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Dino Demma
  • Publication number: 20140360423
    Abstract: A gauge which uses a prism or other type of reflector to illuminate a single graphic or icon on a dial such that only one graphic on the dial is shown during the operation of the gauge. All of the remaining graphics have a dead front appearance, and cannot be viewed, such that the gauge presents only one discrete value at a time. The dial is beneath a lens, and the prism is beneath the dial. An actuator is mounted to a PCB, and an LED is also mounted to the PCB to allow the prism to transmit light to the desired area of the dial. The dial also includes a central graphic, or icon, and the gauge is able to display different values, while the central graphic remains constantly illuminated in the center of the gauge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Marcela Fernandez Michel
  • Patent number: 8847897
    Abstract: The touch-operating input device is configured so that when the control circuit turns on the main light source corresponding to each of the translucent operation buttons that can be operated, the control circuit, on condition that the translucent operation button corresponding to the main light source that is turned on is operated, turns off the sub-light source corresponding to the translucent operation button that is turned on simultaneously with the main light source. Ease of operation is increased by enabling the operator to distinguish operated translucent operation buttons from translucent operation buttons that have not been operated according to whether or not the main light sources are lit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Toyo Denso Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naohiro Sakai, Yoshitaka Noguchi, Shigeharu Nezu
  • Patent number: 8826846
    Abstract: An instrument device which enhances a texture while creating a sense of depth by superimposing and stereoscopically disposing a light-guiding member on an indicator panel, and which has a good appearance and visibility when illuminated, is provided. The instrument device includes an indicator panel, an instrument main part, an indicator needle provided to the instrument main part, a transparent light-guiding member disposed on the indicator panel, and a light source that emits a light beam into the light-guiding member. The light-guiding member is provided with a light-guiding portion provided at the outer circumferential portion of the light-guiding member and which reflects the light beam from the light source in the direction toward the rotation center of the indicator needle, so that portions of the indicator panel shine like strips, and the indicator panel and the light-guiding member are illuminated in a stereoscopic manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignees: Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Hori, Takeo Mizukoshi
  • Patent number: 8813676
    Abstract: A user interface for a controller may include a panel having multiple indicia, a parameter selector configured to move relative to the multiple indicia, and an indicator to indicate which of the multiple indicia is selected by the selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Mallory A. Fuller, Rajat Shail, Timothy E. Heater