Internal Light Source Patents (Class 362/29)
  • Publication number: 20090059555
    Abstract: There is provided a motor control apparatus illuminating a character or a graduation of a switch setting portion (3) when an operator sets the switch setting portion (3), capable of facilitating to set and preventing erroneous setting by promoting an optical recognizability and capable of achieving small-sized formation. A motor control apparatus includes light illuminating portions (11a), (11b) for illuminating the switch setting portion (3), a light illumination drive portion for driving the light illuminating portions (11a), (11b) and a control portion for controlling to drive and stop the light illumination drive portion for turning on and turning off the light illuminating portions (11a), (11b) based on a change in a set value of the switch setting portion (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Namiki, Kenichi Sekioka
  • Patent number: 7497589
    Abstract: A display and a backlight module thereof. The display includes a backlight module, a panel and a front bezel. The backlight module includes a substrate, a plurality of lamps, and a plurality of lamp holders. The substrate includes a first side and a second side. The lamps are arranged from the first side to the second side in order and parallel to the first side and the second side. The lamp holders disposed on the substrate are connected to the lamps. A line formed by the linked lamps and the substrate intersect to form an included angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Hong-Ming Chen, Yi-Jing Wang
  • Patent number: 7490952
    Abstract: Illumination unit UT is used for the illumination of an LCD panel 1 from the rear side of the LCD panel 1. Illumination unit UT is provided with light source 2, rear cover 6 to cover light source 2 and reflective sheet 5 coated on an inner surface of rear cover 6. Concretely, reflective sheet 5 is disposed to have clearance “A” with respect to rear cover 6. Alternatively, reflective sheet 5 is divided into a plurality of pieces, so that clearance “A” is defined between at least one piece 5A of reflective sheet 5 and rear cover 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Shimizu, Toshihiko Ura, Yoshinori Yasuda, Hiromi Kaneda
  • Patent number: 7475999
    Abstract: An instrument suitable for use in a vehicle and having a dial with an information bearing front surface and a pointer for indicating information on the front surface. The pointer is pivotable about a first axis that extends through the hub and is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the dial. The instrument includes first and second light sources which are both located behind the dial, generally in registry with the pointer assembly. The instrument further includes a first light deflector that deflects light from the first light source along the pointer to back light the pointer, and second light deflector that deflects light from the second light source towards the front surface to front light that surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Samir Mezouari
  • Patent number: 7476012
    Abstract: A lighting system comprising: an instrument panel having an ashtray and a cigar lighter placed parallel therein in a vehicle width direction; a light emitter; a bulb case extending in the vehicle width direction on a rear surface of the instrument panel above the ashtray and the cigar lighter, and accommodating the light emitter; and a plurality of slits provided in the instrument panel above the ashtray and the cigar lighter, and facing an opening portion of the bulb case, the light emitter being disposed above the slits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Masayuki Yoshimoto, Katsuhiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7476003
    Abstract: A surface light source device having LED clusters arranged in a matrix of rows and columns on a board. Each of the LED clusters includes red, green and blue LEDs arranged in a triangle. The LED clusters are grouped into A, E, C and D, which have the red LEDs located top, right, bottom and left, respectively, from a center of the triangle. The matrix of the LED clusters includes alternating first and second type rows arranged repeatedly from top to bottom of the matrix, terminating with the second type row. The first type rows each have first type cluster arrays of the LED clusters arranged in a repeating order of E, C, D and C from left to right. The second type rows each have second type cluster arrays of the LED clusters arranged in a repeating order of A, D, A and D from left to right.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bum Jin Kim
  • Publication number: 20090009983
    Abstract: Provided are several reconfigurable instrument clusters for instrument panels in an automotive vehicle. Instrument cluster comprises a value indicia configured to indicate a value of a plurality of vehicle data and an appliqué comprising first and second indicia. A control circuit is configured to receive first and second vehicle data from different data sources and further configured to control the value indicia and first indicia to indicate the first vehicle data and, in response to a signal, to control the value indicia and second indicia to indicate the second vehicle data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventor: Roger W. Eich
  • Patent number: 7470034
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is an improved light guide having one or more light sources inserted into the light guide such that the light sources are perpendicular to the main axis of the light guide. The light sources are inserted into a cavity within the outer wall of the light guide. The cavity is positioned at one end of the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Siew It Pang
  • Patent number: 7458695
    Abstract: A light guide assembly for illuminating an instrument surface includes a continuous curved transition portion for uniformly directing and transmitting light from a light source to a backlight surface of the instrument surface. The curved shape of the transition portion is tailored to transmit a desired amount of light into the backlight portion and a desired amount outwardly against a back surface of the instrument surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US, Inc.
    Inventors: Vyacheslav B. Birman, Chay Lee, Richard Sanders, Christian Tanguy, Shirley Yu
  • Patent number: 7441913
    Abstract: A lighting system (10) for displays, in particular in motor vehicles, comprises: a support (12), at least one first lighting means (14) for punctiform illumination, which is disposed on the support (12), a second lighting means (16) for punctiform illumination, which is disposed on the support (12), and a transparent cover (18), which is arranged at a distance from the support (12) on the side of the support with the first and second lighting means (14, 16), and which has at least one symbol (20) to be illuminated from behind by the first and second lighting means (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Lisa Dräxlmaier GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Bayersdorfer
  • Patent number: 7441931
    Abstract: A lighting system (10) for displays, in particular in motor vehicles, comprises: a support (12), at least one first lighting device (14) for a spot-like illumination, which is mounted on the support (12), a planar second lighting device (16) which is arranged on the support (12) and has at least one cut-out (17) or one transparent area, in which or below which the at least one first lighting system (14) is placed, and a transparent cover (18), which is arranged spaced from the support (12) on the side of the support with the first and second lighting devices (14, 16), and which has at least one symbol (20) to be illuminated from behind by the first lighting device (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Lisa Dräxlmaier GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Bayersdorfer, Lars Grune
  • Patent number: 7438429
    Abstract: The planar lighting device includes rod type light sources, a light guide plate having light guide plate blocks, each being formed of an integral assembly of at least two light guide plate units each having a rear surface with a groove formed to accommodate a rod type light source and a light exit surface that is away from the rear surface and which is for emitting the light from the light source and a transmittance adjuster unit that is provided on a side closer to the light exit surface, and which has a sheet type optical member capable of transmitting light and transmittance adjusters provided on at least one surface of the optical member. The transmittance adjusters at a position corresponding to a seam between adjacent light guide plate blocks are distributed at a different density than the transmittance adjusters at a position corresponding to a joint between adjacent light guide plate units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Motohiko Matsushita
  • Patent number: 7434949
    Abstract: An illumination device includes a control knob having a display portion, a tubular case combined with a back side of the control knob, a light guide plate attached to seal an upper opening of the tubular case, and LEDs disposed at a lower opening of the tubular case. Light emitted from the LEDs is applied to the display portion through the light guide plate. A plurality of retaining projections and a plurality of push-up projections are provided on an inner surface of the tubular case adjacent to the upper opening. An upper surface of an outer edge of the light guide plate is retained by lower ends of the retaining projections, and a lower surface of the outer edge is pushed up by upper ends of the push-up projections so that the light guide plate is held inside the tubular case while being bent upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshio Imai
  • Patent number: 7431475
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radiator for a light emitting unit, annexed to the light emitting unit including a multiplicity of light emitting diodes mounted on substantially the same axis line on a first principal surface of a wiring substrate. The radiator includes a radiating plate and a heat pipe. The radiating plate is combined with the wiring substrate, with a first principal surface faced as a faying surface to a second principal surface opposite to the first principal surface of the wiring substrate, and is provided with a heat pipe fitting portion. The heat pipe is mounted into the heat pipe fitting portion of the radiating plate while keeping close contact with the inner wall of the heat pipe fitting portion. The heat generated from the light emitting diode group is transferred to a radiating means through the radiating plate and the heat pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tabito Hafuka, Hirokazu Shibata
  • Patent number: 7427143
    Abstract: A vehicle display having a housing, a pointer that is rotatably coupled to the housing, a first appliqué that is coupled to the housing, a second appliqué coupled to the housing, a first graphics set coupled to a surface of the first appliqué and a second graphics set coupled to a surface of the second appliqué. The second is spaced apart rearwardly from the first appliqué. The first and second graphics sets cooperate to at least partially form a display design that is adapted to be viewed from a front side of the vehicle display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Yazaki North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Zachary A Coon
  • Patent number: 7427144
    Abstract: A direct type backlight module (30) includes a base (21), at least two lamp-fixing units (22) and at least one lamp tube (20). Each lamp-fixing unit is disposed on each corresponding opposite ends of the base. Each lamp-fixing unit includes a bottom board (222) and at least one clip element (224) formed on the bottom board. The lamp tube includes two electrodes defined at two ends thereof and two electrode holders (202) receiving the two electrodes respectively. The electrode holders of the lamp tube are fixed in the corresponding clip elements of the two lamp-fixing units, thus the lamp tube are mounted into the two aligned lamp-fixing units. In the present backlight module, the lamp tubes can be fixed into the clip elements tightly and also easily dissembled from the clip elements of the lamp-fixing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shao-Han Chang, Li-Zhou Shi, Hua-Dong Zou, Yu-Ya Liu
  • Publication number: 20080209748
    Abstract: A vehicle instrument cluster gauge may have a dial plate with an inner dial, an outer dial, indicia and graduations. The graduations may originate on a dial plate rear surface near or at the center of the gauge and traverse radially outward toward the outer or peripheral edge of the dial plate and wrap from the rear surface, around the peripheral edge and onto the front surface of the dial plate thereby creating a three-dimensional gauge structure with the dial plate. When on the dial surface, the front graduation part protrudes above and away from the outer dial face of the dial plate. The graduation may also create an overhang or cantilever by protruding over a front surface of the outer dial, and have edges formed by 90 degree surfaces and have a projected centerline directed radially through a geometric center of the dial plate, where a pointer may mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Takahira Kato
  • Patent number: 7407316
    Abstract: A backlight system and an LCD employing the backlight system. The backlight system includes a plurality of light emitting devices arranged on a base plate to form a plurality of lines each including a plurality of light emitting devices, and a light guide panel having a sidewall spaced apart from the plurality of light emitting devices such that light incident from the plurality of light emitting devices is dispersed by inner reflection, and a scattering region formed adjacent to the base plate such that light incident into the scattering region is irregularly reflected to emit in a direction away from the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-whan Noh, Jin-gil Jeong, Il-yong Jung
  • Patent number: 7407318
    Abstract: A spacer includes a base, at least a supporting column, and at least a clamp. The base includes at least a bridge-shaped portion and at least a flat portion. The bridge-shaped portion includes a bridge top surface, and two curving sidewalls respectively extend from two ends of the bridge top surface and connect with the flat portion. The supporting column is disposed on the bridge top surface of the base. The clamp is disposed on the flat portion of the base. A backlight module using the same spacers is also provided. The backlight module has a reflective plate having a plurality of projections parallel to linear light sources. The spacers are coupled to the projections and support a diffusing plate. Curving sidewalls of the spacers and the adjacent curving surface of the projections facing the corresponding light sources would give the present spacer and backlight module have good optical uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Patent number: 7404374
    Abstract: A gauge with indicating pointer has three light sources on a printed circuit board. A rear dial plate has rear markings such as MPH indicia. The first light source illuminates the pointer length, which points to the rear indicia. The second light source illuminates a front dial assembly located on an opposite side of the indicator as the rear dial plate by passing light through the thickness of the indicator. The front dial assembly is cantilevered over the rotating pointer to permit pointer rotation. The third light source illuminates the rear indicia. The front dial assembly has a front dial plate with front indicia illuminated by the second light source and to which the pointer points. The three light sources may be different colors since each illuminates a specific area of the gauge. The front dial assembly may display a separate lighted scale, such as KPH from the rear markings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Denso International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Takahira Kato
  • Publication number: 20080174986
    Abstract: An alphanumeric or shaped image laser display device and method for producing a segment of an alphanumeric display or shaped image comprising a semiconductor light source for producing a beam of light, the semiconductor light source disposed in a user defined pattern within a substrate and an optical element positioned in the path of said beam of light and converting an input beam projected from said semiconductor light source into an output beam projecting to a set of predefined positions that represent a segment of an alphanumeric display or shaped image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventor: Russell Burgess
  • Publication number: 20080170381
    Abstract: A lighting module adapted for use in a keypad device includes a circuit substrate board, a transparent light guide plate stacked on the circuit substrate board, and at least one light emitting diode embedded in the light guide plate and connected electrically to the circuit substrate board. By having the light emitting diode embedded in the light guide plate, the overall thickness of the lighting module can be reduced to permit miniaturization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Li-Kun Chou, Pai-Chen Chieh, Yung-Fu Wu, Yu-Nan Liu
  • Patent number: 7399098
    Abstract: The present invention is configured so that one light emission source such as a light emitting diode is placed inside an operation knob in front of a light guiding piece or in a bearing of the operation knob. A light beam from the light emission source is emitted to the interior of the operation knob. A reflected indirect light irregularly reflected inside the operation knob is received by the light guiding piece located at a rear surface of the operation knob. The light guiding piece has a transmission and diffusion function. The light is then guided toward an outer periphery to illuminate the rear surface of the operation knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakamoto, Yasuyuki Sakamoto, Tomoki Sakamoto, Kiyotaka Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20080151525
    Abstract: In one configuration, a gauge of an instrument cluster may have a base structure with an integrally molded dial structure and a separate, attached dial structure. A transparent area of the base structure may pass light from one side of the base structure to another side. This provides the ability to supply backlighting and floodlighting to the gage structure with just a single LED. The separate dial structure may be translucent to provide floodlighting or to supply light to graduations. Relative to a gauge pointer, inboard indicia in one dial structure denote vehicle speeds, while outboard graduations in another dial structure demark the indicia. The transparent portion of the base structure may be an integrally molded horizontal, angular or vertical portion within the base structure. Multiple levels and angles of the gauge provide a viewed component that is aesthetically pleasing and soothing to a viewer's eyes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventor: Takahira Kato
  • Publication number: 20080151526
    Abstract: A sheet switch module (21) including a circuit board (22), at least one key switch (25) mounted on one surface of the circuit board (22), a light-guiding sheet unit (30) covering one surface of the key switch (25), at least one LED (26) mounted on the circuit board (22) to enter light into the light-guiding sheet unit (30), the light-guiding sheet unit (30) being formed by a plurality of light-guiding sheets (31,32) at least parts of which are overlapped, the key switch (25) being illuminated by the LED (26) by way of plurality of light-guiding sheets (31,32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao MIYASHITA, Kenshi Aihara
  • Patent number: 7388813
    Abstract: A time display device which utilizes light beams to display time is disclosed. The time display device at least comprises a timetable panel, an illuminant module, a counter unit, and a control unit. When the counter unit sends a counting result to the control unit, the control unit controls the illuminant module to respectively emit three color light beams projected on the timetable panel through the shielding of at least one shielding structure to form three color image areas with different distances to represent a second, a minute and a hour corresponding to the counting result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Intematix Technology Center Corp.
    Inventor: Hwa Su
  • Patent number: 7382423
    Abstract: A backlight module is applied to a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device includes an optical film set having at least one optical film. The optical film set is disposed above the backlight module. The backlight module includes a housing and a spacer. The housing has a bottom plate provided with a through opening, an inward side and an outward side, wherein the inward side faces the optical film and the outward side is opposite to the inward side. The spacer supports the optical film set and is mounted onto the bottom plate of the backlight module from the outward side of the bottom plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Hannstar Display Corp.
    Inventors: Ke Chin Chang, Fu Tung Chen, Yu Hsien Wang
  • Patent number: 7380953
    Abstract: A display device is provided which offers double-sided display and achieves a thin structure and also which prevents deterioration in display quality of each of front and back display units when an illumination unit such as a backlight is shared by these display units. The display device includes a first display unit having a display surface on the front surface thereof; a second display unit having a display surface on the rear surface thereof; and a common illumination unit interposed between the first display unit and the second display unit, for illuminating both the first display unit and the second display unit with light. The illumination unit includes a light-guiding member having a first light-emitting surface opposed to the first display unit and a second light-emitting surface opposed to the second display unit, and a transflector is interposed between the second light-emitting surface of the light-guiding member and the second display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Onishi, Hisanori Kawakami, Taketoshi Masamoto
  • Patent number: 7374304
    Abstract: A display with a housing and an indicium that may be selectively back-illuminated. The housing includes a cavity having a first portion and a second portion. A first light source that provides light of one color and a first intensity is disposed in the first portion. A second light source that provides light of another color and a second, higher intensity is disposed in the second portion. The second portion is disposed in-line and encompasses an area that includes the indicium. Operation of only the first light source back-illuminates the indicium with a first color. Operation of the second light source back-illuminates the indicium with a second color regardless of whether the first light source is illuminated or not. A member may be disposed between the first and second portions to aid in controlling the brightness and uniformity with which the indicium is illuminated by the first light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Yazaki North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil H Bishop, Nobuhiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7374312
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bottom lighting backlight module comprising: a light reflecting plate, a plurality of light sources such as lamp and LED; and a diffusion sheet; wherein said diffusion sheet has an excavated structure of shape with cross-section of an inverted triangle having a specific apex angle ranging from 110 degrees to 130 degrees. Some of the light incident on the excavated structure inside the diffusion sheet can be totally reflected and redirected sideways, so that it is possible to reduce the local brightness for area around each light source but significantly improve the evenness of brightness for the whole module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Chih-Hua Feng, Mao-Hong Lu
  • Publication number: 20080111944
    Abstract: An illuminating device includes a light source including a light-emitting element, an electrode electrically connected to the light-emitting element, and a heat radiation terminal electrically isolated from the light-emitting element; and a multilayer substrate including a plurality of insulating layers, a plurality of metal layers, an electrically conducting interlayer contact portion, and a heat-conducting interlayer contact portion. The insulating layers include all insulating layer having a mount surface on which the light source is mounted with the electrode and the heat radiation terminal therebetween. The metal layers include an electrically conducting metal layer electrically connected to the electrode and disposed so as to be separated from the light source by the insulating layer having the mount surface and an electrically isolated metal layer electrically isolated from the other metal layers and disposed most distant from the mount surface of all the metal layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toyohiro SAKAI
  • Patent number: 7350932
    Abstract: The present invention concerns to a press key structure with a light module in use of illuminant variation for arrow keys of an appliance. The press key structure with light module comprises a key base plate, a light source, a spread slice and a light guiding cap. The light guiding cap includes a crown part, a chamber, and a mouth part that is set on the key base plate and can exactly cover up the above light source. The spread slice is set in the chamber of the light guiding cap so that the light is evenly spread through the light guiding function of the spread slice. Moreover, by adjusting the thickness, transparency, and inside cambered surface of the spread slice, or the distance between the spread slice and the light source, the light guiding property thereof can be modulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Tatung Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tsung Kai Lin, Lii Hwang Chen
  • Publication number: 20080074862
    Abstract: An exemplary backlight module (30) includes a frame (31), a plurality of light emitting diodes (32) and at least one optical plate (34). The light emitting diodes are regularly disposed on the base. The optical plate is positioned on the frame. Each light emitting diode includes a light output unit (321), an optical lens (323) having a light input surface (3231), a top surface (3233), and a light output surface (3235); and a reflective sheet (325) affixed on the top surface of the optical lens. The backlight module can have a thin configuration while still providing good, uniform optical performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SHAO-HAN CHANG
  • Patent number: 7347575
    Abstract: A gauge having a housing, a light source disposed in the housing, a bezel, a display and a pointer. The display is coupled to the housing and includes a display surface that is visible through an opening in the bezel. The display is spaced rearwardly of the bezel to define a light transmitting aperture. The pointer is movably mounted to the housing and includes a pointer end that is disposed on a side of the bezel opposite the light transmitting aperture. A first portion of the light produced by the light source can be employed to back-illuminate the display surface, while a second portion of the light produced by the light source can be collected by the pointer and employed to illuminate the pointer end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Yazaki North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ching Fong, Sanjiv Venkatram, Zinoviy Kelman, Joseph Pasek, Brian P Demhlow
  • Patent number: 7347574
    Abstract: An instrument gage assembly includes an applique and at least one gage mechanism mounted to a rear surface of the applique. Each gage mechanism including a pointer shaft extending through the applique and projecting outward from a front surface of the applique. A gage pointer is mounted onto each pointer shaft adjacent the front surface of the applique, and the front surface of the applique includes graphics printed thereon. A plurality of lights are mounted behind the applique to illuminate the graphics printed on the applique, and a one-piece lens is positioned at a distance from the applique with the gage pointer being positioned between the front surface of the applique and the lens. The lens includes a lens body having functional graphics molded therein to compliment the functionality of the gage and adapted to be visible when the lights behind the applique are not on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Karen Melody Kraus
  • Patent number: 7347576
    Abstract: An instrument cluster assembly includes a first instrument cluster graphic and a second instrument cluster graphic. The second instrument cluster graphic is superimposed on the first instrument cluster graphic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Continential Automotive Systems US, Inc.
    Inventors: Taochuan Bruce Wang, Vyacheslav B. Birman, Richard Sanders, Werner Eckardt, Christopher J. Volpe
  • Patent number: 7343687
    Abstract: This invention provides an instrument device including: a dial having scale marks; a pointer pointing the scale marks and provided in front of the dial; a light source provided behind the dial and supplying light to the pointer to cause the pointer to emit light; and a cover provided in front of the pointer, the scale marks and the pointer being visually confirmed through the cover, wherein a reflection member is provided at a part of the cover corresponding to a rotation center of the pointer; a reflection part is provided on the dial; and the reflection part is illuminated with light emitted from the pointer and light reflected and scattered by the reflection member after being emitted from the pointer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideto Baba, Atsushi Fujita
  • Publication number: 20080043455
    Abstract: An exemplary optical plate (20) includes a transparent plate (21) and a light diffusion layer (22). The transparent plate includes a light output surface (212), a light input surface (211) opposite to the light output surface, and a plurality of spot-shaped recessed portions (213) formed on the light input surface. The light diffusion layer is coated on the spot-shaped recessed portions. A backlight module using the optical plate is also provided, a plurality of point light sources of which being positioned in one-to-one correspondence with the spot-shaped recessed portions. The backlight module using the optical plate can have a thin body with a good optical performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SHAO-HAN CHANG
  • Patent number: 7332210
    Abstract: Various manufacturing techniques may be employed to construct an appliqué for use in an instrument cluster. In one commonly employed technique, an appliqué may be formed by applying different colored ink layers onto a surface of a polycarbonate sheet using a silk screen printing. In some instance, an edge of an underlying ink layer may cause a visible step line on the face of the appliqué. To reduce or eliminate these visible step lines, an outer boundary area of the printing layers invention are defined as a dispersing dot pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignees: Denso International America Inc., Denso Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A Arms, Joel Stooksbury
  • Patent number: 7324174
    Abstract: Disclosed is a light transmitting liquid crystal display apparatus used with advantage with a television receiver having a large-sized display not less than 30 inch. A backlight section (3) sending out illuminating light is formed by a plural number of rows made up of many light emitting units (15) arranged on the back surface of a liquid crystal display panel (8). Each light emitting unit includes many LED units (18) mounted on an interconnection substrate (17) and is mounted in this state on a heat dissipating plate (28). A reflecting section (6) for reflecting the light radiated from each LED is formed by a large number of reflective sheet pieces (27), assembled from one heat emitting unit to another, and a reflective plate (26) secured to reflecting plate supports (40) formed on the heat dissipating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tabito Hafuka, Hisakazu Takeuchi, Tatsuya Ode
  • Patent number: 7322712
    Abstract: The provided bottom-lighting module comprises a bezel, a protrusion and at least one lamp. The bezel has at least one aperture with a first circumference and a second circumference. The bezel comprises a main body and at least one inclined wall extending upward from an edge of the main body. The protrusion is formed on the outer side of the bezel corresponding to the at least one aperture. Part of the circumference of the protrusion corresponds to the first circumference of the at least one aperture. At least one lamp is disposed on the main body of the bezel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventor: Ching-Kun Lai
  • Publication number: 20080019115
    Abstract: Provided is a back light unit. The back light unit includes a light guide plate having a light guide pattern part; at least one light emitting unit provided at a sidewall of the light guide plate, and irradiating light to the light guide plate; a keypad positioned over the light guide plate, and comprising a resin layer, a base resin layer, a character opening part having a character shape, a key assembly provided at one side, and a key adherence film provided on an upper surface of the base resin layer; and a printed circuit board comprising a metal dome switch positioned under a lower surface of the light guide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Deuk II Park, Choong Yop Rhew, Ki Yong Balk, Young Jin Hyun, Jun Kyu Lee, Hyun Jung Cho, Kyu Jin Choi
  • Publication number: 20080019114
    Abstract: A panel light emitter such as a backlight for displays, has light sources of different colours, (20, 420), a cavity (30) illuminated by the light sources, to mix the light, the cavity having an output surface (35), to output some of the light and a partially reflective coating or layer (40, 440), to provide enhanced reflection back into the cavity of the light incident on the output surface, more than occurs from a difference of refractive index between the output surface and the cavity. The enhanced reflection is non selective of wavelength or polarization. The partially reflective film or coating can be a reflective material having a pattern of apertures. The enhanced reflection can help provide more mixing in the cavity for a given depth of cavity, or enable the depth to be reduced for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventor: Gert Stuyven
  • Publication number: 20080002387
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a plurality of lamps each having electrodes at opposite ends of a tube, and a bottom cover for receiving the plurality of lamps, the bottom cover having a bottom surface, first lateral sides that correspond to the ends of the plurality of lamps, and second lateral sides that correspond to a lengthwise direction of the plurality of lamps, wherein the first lateral sides have a first height above the bottom surface of the bottom cover that is less than a second height of the second lateral sides above the bottom surface of the bottom cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: LG.PHILIPS LCD., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyu Bong Jung, Jae Won Shin, Jun Hyung Kim, Jin Woo Hong
  • Publication number: 20070297163
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a plurality of light emitting diode units, each of the plurality of light emitting diode units including at least one light emitting diode and a printed circuit board mounting the at least one light emitting diode, and a reflective sheet on the printed circuit board, the reflective sheet having at least one hole corresponding to the at least one light emitting diode, such that the at least one light emitting diode is exposed through the hole, wherein the plurality of light emitting diode units are spaced apart and are electrically connected to each other via at least one line extending from the printed circuit board, the at least one line is bent toward a predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Yong Kim, Nam-Su Kim
  • Patent number: 7301523
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight, the present invention provides a detection-use pixel having the same constitution as respective pixels constituting a liquid crystal display part in the liquid crystal display panel and being formed on a region other than the liquid crystal display part, a light detector detecting light from the backlight through the detection-use pixel, and a controller adjusting the intensity of the light from the backlight in response to a signal from the light detector to adjust the change of the characteristics and chromaticity in the liquid crystal display panel properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Kamei
  • Publication number: 20070242446
    Abstract: A direct type backlight assembly is disclosed, in which a lamp guide is formed in a shape which can absorb an external force to prevent distortion from occurring from contact between the lamp guide and a diffusion plate, and to prevent the diffusion plate from being damaged. The direct type backlight assembly includes a light-emission lamp provided under an LCD panel; a reflecting plate provided on the bottom side of the light-emission lamp; a diffusion plate provided above the light-emission lamp; optical sheets provided on the diffusion plate; and a lamp guide provided on and connected with the reflecting plate, wherein the lamp guide has a supporter having a compression structure, the height thereof varying based on a load applied thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventor: Min Gyu Lee
  • Patent number: 7281812
    Abstract: A backlight unit includes: common electrodes for applying a voltage to opposite ends of a plurality of lamps; a lower member for receiving the common electrodes and positioning the common electrodes at the opposite ends of the lamps; upper members for positioning opposite to the common electrodes, each upper member having air inlet/outlets at opposite sides of the upper members and an unobstructed space between two inner side surfaces of the upper members for allowing a free flow of air between the inlet/outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gi Bin Kim
  • Publication number: 20070236910
    Abstract: A covering member for a display device includes a supporting part, a sidewall part and a plurality of contact parts. The supporting part is extended along a surface of the display device. The sidewall part is extended from the supporting part along a side surface of the display device, and an opening is formed at the sidewall part. A plurality of contact parts is inclined with respect to the sidewall part and extended from an edge of the opening, each of the contact parts bent a plurality of times. Contact parts contact another component of the display device. Therefore, the number of components of the display device is reduced, so that the manufacturing process of the display device may be simplified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Su-Young YUN, Won-Ju KIM, Jae-Hwan CHUN, Min-Ho OK
  • Patent number: 7278750
    Abstract: An LED keyboard of a notebook computer comprises a plurality of interlaced slots, each having a cluster of retaining holes. Roughly at the center of the cluster of retaining holes, there is a flexible body wherein a light-emitting body is installed. Each of the light-emitting bodies has a set of conducting feet extended thereunder, which is kept at a distance from a base. The base further includes a conducting film and a plurality of retaining rings. A scissored foot set is mounted above within each of the slots, having a key cap mounted on the scissored foot set. Thereby, as the key cap is stroked, the scissored foot set will shift downward and the conducting feet will contact with a copper-foil wire on the conducting film, activating the light-emitting body. As the key cap is not stroked, the flexible body will restore the original configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Sondyo Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Lung Cheng