Abstract: A method is provided for producing an illuminated graphic display composed of non-flat molded plastic backlit components which serve as interior controls for an instrument panel of an automobile. The method involves a process by which such backlit components are manufactured so as to result in minimal variability of backlighting intensity. The method particularly involves molding each backlit component from a white translucent substrate whose thickness is individually tailored such that the backlit component exhibits a suitable level of backlighting intensity when illuminated by a minimal number of light sources. For daytime viewing, a suitable and uniform level of graphics whiteness for the group of backlit components is achieved by painting each substrate with a white translucent coating, such that the backlit components have similar reflective characteristics.

Abstract: A display apparatus for a vehicle with a light introducing member in which light emitted by a light source passes through a slit. The slit is used as a luminous pointer with high luminance, resulting in improved recognizability and readability of the display apparatus. The display apparatus for a vehicle according to the present invention comprising: a dial; a pointer plate with a substantially round light-transmissible portion, the pointer plate situated on a front side of the dial and driven to rotate according to a measured value; a light-transmissible slit formed on the pointer plate; a light source situated on a rear side of the dial; and a light introducing member for gathering light from the light source to introduce the light into the slit.

Abstract: An instrument display method and system for use in a passenger vehicle has a number of advantageous features including particularly novel, compact, inexpensive and inherently stable electric motors. A first motor includes a rotor assembly having a shaft and a cylindrical magnet which is positioned about a stator assembly to rotate thereabout. The shaft extends through a stator of the stator assembly, a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD), and an indicia bearing layer. A mask such as a needle pointer is secured to the shaft of the rotor assembly at the indicia bearing layer to convey the value of instrument data to the passenger. A light emitting panel receives light from the VFD and transmits the light to other positions along the display system where other substantially identical electric motors move their needle pointers to likewise convey additional data to the passenger. The first motor is surface mounted directly on the back of the VFD which has electrical conductors formed therein.

Abstract: A high aspect ratio, backlit liquid crystal display in which light from opposing rows of light emitting diodes is projected into the ends of a thin optical cavity. The optical cavity is bounded by one major wall of which the interior surface is specularly reflective and an opposing major wall including a layer of transparent material having an interior surface formed with an array of regularly spaced, fine, triangular prisms which tend to collimate light received from the cavity and project it outwardly perpendicular to the major wall. A diffusion layer overlays the layer of transparent material, and a brightness enhancing film overlays the diffusion layer and functions to convert diffuse illumination received through the diffusion layer into directed illumination predominantly falling within the a viewing space bounded by predetermined angles.

Abstract: A mirror assembly including an enclosure having an aperture, and defining a cavity, a light source or lamp for emitting light in predetermined wavelengths or an instrument for emitting or receiving light having predetermined characteristics, borne by the enclosure and positioned in the cavity; and a dichroic mirror borne by the enclosure and disposed in substantially occluding relation relative to the aperture, the dichroic mirror reflecting ambient visible light and being substantially transparent to the light emitted by the light source and instrument, or received by the instrument as the case may be.

Abstract: A light table includes a housing extending in a horizontal direction having legs extending downwardly therefrom. The housing defines X- and Y-axes and has an X-Y grid pattern formed thereon and visible from above the housing. A lighting system is used to illuminate the grid pattern. A frame extends vertically upwards from the housing and defines a Z-axis having an X-Z grid pattern formed thereon. A second lighting system illuminates the grid pattern on the vertical frame.

Abstract: An improved display system includes a prism having a pair of light receiving faces which intersect at an apex. The prism has a light emitting face from which light transmitted. The light emitting face of the prism has a series of parallel linear V-shaped grooves with side surfaces which intersect to form a series of parallel linear ridges which disperse rays of light. A display panel is disposed adjacent to the prism and has a rear side with indicia thereon. The indicia can be read from a front side of the display panel, even in bright sunlight, when a pair of light sources are energized. However, when the light sources are not energized, the indicia on the display panel cannot be observed. A divider panel separates the light sources to enable an observer to determine when one of the light sources is burned out. Reflectors direct light from the light sources toward the light receiving faces of the prism.

Abstract: An improved fiber optic panel having a desired illumination pattern is assembled from at least two partial panels, each comprising a plurality of fully terminated parallel fibers. Two or more such partial arrays are combined to fabricate a optical fiber substrate having an arbitrary illumination pattern. The non-illuminated fiber lengths extending from the individual fiber terminations are removed before the two partial arrays are assembled, thus further enhancing the efficiency of the device. In a preferred embodiment the fibers of each partial array have a center-to-center spacing slightly greater than twice the fiber diameters, and the fibers of the two partial arrays are intermeshed to form a closely packed parallel array of fibers in which a fully terminated shorter fiber is located between two longer fibers.

Abstract: Improved backlighting of liquid crystal and other flat panel displays is accomplished by lighting the back of the LCD using lamps located at the ends of the LCD. The LCD is mounted over a channelized frame, and a light transmissive window covers each end of the channel, the combination forming a sealed LCD unit. The LCD unit is mounted in a panel which has reflectively-coated recesses on each side of the LCD unit containing incandescent lamps and opening in registry with the windows in the LCD. The windows are constructed of two back-to-back sheets of prism film whose function is to reject light impinging at greater than the critical angle of the film. The light from the lamps is thereby better distributed along the full width of the LCD, which eliminates bright and dark spots on the LCD. The LCD channel is provided with a centrally-located, raised luminaire to further diffuse light from the lamps in the center of the LCD.

Abstract: An improved vehicle display apparatus in which both the display and pointer are illuminated for low ambient driver viewing by a single electroluminescent (EL) lamp mounted on the rear face of the display. A generally opaque applique includes a translucent region in registry with the active area of the EL lamp, and bright opaque graphic symbols painted or deposited onto a surface of the applique within the translucent region. A pointer disposed in proximity to the front surface of the applique is provided with juxtaposed bright opaque and transparent regions. In high ambient lighting conditions when the EL lamp is not lit, a viewer of the display perceives the bright opaque graphic symbols and pointer stripes against the relatively dark translucent background regions of the applique.

Abstract: A display board has a light transmitting substrate illuminated by a light source at the back side, a illuminance adjusting layer having a plurality of light reflective dots and formed on the surface at the front side of the substrate, and a colored light transmitting image layer formed on the illuminance adjusting layer. This display board is manufactured by forming a illuminance adjusting layer and image layer sequentially on the same side of the substrate.

Abstract: A mirror assembly including an enclosure having an aperture, and defining a cavity, a light source or lamp for emitting light in predetermined wavelengths or an instrument for emitting or receiving light having predetermined characteristics, borne by the enclosure and positioned in the cavity; and a dichroic mirror borne by the enclosure and disposed in substantially occluding relation relative to the aperture, the dichroic mirror reflecting ambient visible light and being substantially transparent to the light emitted by the light source and instrument, or received by the instrument as the case may be.

Abstract: A vending machine (10) with a safety electrical back light sign assembly (32) having a sign panel assembly with a translucent sign panel (18A) and a fiber optic sign panel (18B) secured together to form an enclosure of a main housing (16) within which is contained a back light source (32A, 34B) having its own source of power (33, 35) shared with the other vending machine components (12, 14) and a fiber optic light assembly (36) with a fiber optic light source (38) protectively contained within a fire resistant housing (51) mounted within the housing (16) and having its own connection to AC power (47, 49) separate from the connection for the remainder of the vending machine (10) and a fan (63) to exhaust the interior of the fire resistant housing (51) of hot air, and a method of safe lighting of a sign panel assembly (18) of a vending machine (10).

Abstract: A device for providing large area uniform illumination of display panels comprises a light transmitting member including a light receiver for receiving light from a light source and reflecting that light within the light transmitting member in at least a first direction parallel to a first axis and parallel to the plane of the light transmitting member. A plurality of first reflectors reflect a first portion of the light from the first direction to an exit direction orthogonal to the plane of the light transmitting member and reflect a second portion of the light from the first direction to a second direction parallel to the plane of the light transmitting member and parallel to a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. A plurality of second light reflectors reflect the light from the second direction to the exit direction.

Abstract: A vending machine (10) with a first translucent panel (18A) primarily back lit by a first back light subassembly (32) and a second translucent sign panel (18B) primarily back lit by a second back light subassembly (36) having a transformer (34), halogen housing lamp socket (54) with a halogen lamp (38) spaced above a rotatable color wheel (44) driven by a motor (46) and causing the receiving end of a fiber optic cable (40) to convey light to selected locations on the second translucent sign panel (18B) all of which are held together in proper position and mounted together by means of a single elongate frame (62) with transverse arm (62A, 62B and 62C) and preconnected with the same source of power (50) as is connected to the first panel (18A).

Abstract: Viewer apparatus for object sorting machines and illumination system for such viewers, the viewer in one embodiment having a housing with a viewing device and a light source mounted therein and an opening through which objects to be sorted pass, with one or more reflectors disposed in the housing to reflect light onto portions of the object.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a shift position indicating device for use with a shift lever. The device comprises a plastic case; a light conductive structure including a horizontal wall and a vertical wall which are integrally connected with each other, the horizontal wall having an indicating outer surface on which first and second groups of projections are integrally formed, the vertical wall having a rounded cut formed in a lower edge thereof, the light conductive structure being substantially embedded within a wall of the plastic case having the indicating outer surface of the horizontal wall exposed to the outside of the plastic case and having the lower edge of the vertical wall exposed to an interior of the plastic case; a pointer located within the plastic case below the horizontal wall of the light conductive structure, the pointer being movable with the shift lever; and a light source installed in the plastic case near the rounded cut of the verical wall.

Abstract: The light emitting diode to illuminate the indicating portion of the pointer and the face plate through the light conductive member is fixedly mounted on a drive unit that rotates the pointer shaft according to the amount of a measured quantity. The light emitting diode is installed in center openings formed in the pointer, face plate and light conducting member, the light conducting member being attached to the underside of the face plate to illuminate letters on the face plate. The light emitting portion of the diode is formed cylindrical so as to allow the pointer shaft to be fixed to the pointer inside the hollow portion of the cylindrical light emitting portion, so that light radiated from the light emitting portion is reliably introduced into the indicator portion of the pointer and also to the light conducting member. Thus construction simplifies the power supply path leading from the drive unit to the light emitting diode.

Abstract: An improved vehicle head-up display apparatus in which both the display and pointer of the image source are illuminated for low ambient driver viewing by a back lighting means mounted on the rear face of the display. A generally opaque applique includes a translucent region in registry with the backlit area, and bright opaque graphic symbols painted or deposited onto a surface of the applique wihin the translucent region. A pointer disposed in proximity to the front surface of the applique is provided with juxtaposed bright opaque and transparent regions. In high ambient lighting conditions when the back lighting means is not lit, a front lighting means illuminates the bright opaque graphic symbols and pointer stripes so that a viewer of the projected display perceives an image of the bright opaque graphic symbols and pointer stripes.

Abstract: In a meter for an automobile comprising a meter case, a pointer driven by a meter drive unit, a dial plate having a display area and a graduations, characters and patterns display part formed on a base, the dial plate having a ground color providing a background to permit recognition of the position of the pointer, and an illumination lamp located on the rear side of the dial plate mounted in the meter case so as to illuminate the dial plate from the rear side or from the front side through a light guide member, at least one of the display area and the display part of the dial plate is formed by evaporation of a metal film permeable to light.

Abstract: A composite filter advantageously employable for dark field observation systems which comprises a dyed organic resin layer provided on a dyed glass plate. The organic resin layer and the glass plate in combination absorb light of a radiation spectrum in the region of longer than 600 nm under the condition that the transmission of light at 650 nm is defined to a level of 1.times.10.sup.-4 % to 5% and the transmission of light at 800 nm is defined to a level of lower than 2.times.10.sup.-5 %. Another dyed glass plate which shows an absorption spectrum having absorption peaks in regions of 480-535 nm and 560-600 nm may be incorporated into the composite filter. The composite filter can be introduced into or provided to an illuminating device.

Abstract: A fiber optic panel provides backlighting in devices such as rubber keypads, membrane switches, liquid crystal displays, rigid panels, or the like. The fiber optic panel comprises a light source for emitting light and a fiber optic cable which transmits the light to a plurality of different locations throughout the device. The fiber optic cable comprises a plurality of optical fibers, each of which individually terminates at one of a plurality of different locations to illuminate that location. Alternatively, the optical fibers individually terminate at evenly spaced locations throughout the device to illuminate a region uniformly.

Abstract: A self-illuminating coaxial knob provided on an operating panel of an air conditioning apparatus, an acoustic apparatus or the like, in which an outer knob and an inner knob connected to an outer shaft and an inner shaft, respectively, are coaxially provided on a panel surface, the panel being provided with a graduation, and the knobs being provided with indexes, respectively. The outer knob is illuminated from the back by a panel surface illuminating portion circularly provided on a panel surface light guide, whereas the inner knob is illuminated by a ring-like inner knob light guide provided in a ring-like incoming portion.

Abstract: An LCD/light wedge module used in electronic equipment includes an LCD unit engaged in a central opening, which is sealed to prevent dust from entering. The light wedge module is constructed of light conducting material that is formed to direct light off a back surface and through the LCD unit to a front viewing surface to prevent hot spots.

Abstract: A display board illuminating device includes a light guide plate arranged to face the back of a display board and a light source disposed to face the side end of the light guide plate. The side end of the light guide plate is inclined toward the center of the light guide plate in the direction of the display board. By this configuration an angle of an optical axis refracted at the surface of the side end and incident into the light guide plate with respect to a main surface of the light guide plate, so that the whole area of the display board is illuminated efficiently.

Abstract: An illuminated electrical part comprises a case, an indicator panel attached to the open front end of the case, a housing attached to the case so as to define an illuminating space behind the indicator panel, and an illuminating device comprising a light source disposed behind the indicator panel and mounted on the housing, and a cover formed of a highly heat-conductive material, fixed to the housing so as to cover the light source and provided with light control slits in its top wall extending between the indicator panel and the light source and with light control apertures in its opposite side walls. The numbers, shape and arrangement of the light control sliuts and the light control apertures are determined selectively so that the entire area of the indicator panel is illuminated uniformly by light emitted by the light source, scattered by the inner surface of the housing and shed through the light control slits and the light control apertures.

Abstract: In a pointer instrument, a light guide (3) serves as support for electronic components (7). The light guide (3) therefore assumes the function of a printed circuit board. The electronic components (7) are preferably arranged on the outer wall surface (6) of the light guide (3) which is developed in the shape of a conical frustum so that space which is in any event present in the housing can be used for them. The light guide serves to illuminate a dial of the instrument.

Abstract: A wall box dimming system assembly controls the intensity level of a plurality of groups of lights in accordance with a plurality of preset scenes. A face plate assembly which is coupled to the housing of the wall box dimming system includes a face plate. The face plate is formed of a generally opaque material and has front and rear surfaces. A recess is formed in the face plate, the recess extending from the rear surface of the face plate to near the front surface thereof such that a relatively thin region of material remains adjacent the front surface. A lamp is located adjacent the rear surface of the face plate in the area of the recess. The thickness and opacity of the thin region of material and the intersity of light generated by the lamp are such that light can be seen from a position in front of the front surface of the face plate when the lamp is on.

Abstract: A shift lever unit is disclosed, which comprises a shift lever; a housing of plastic having an upper cover portion, the upper cover portion being formed with a slot through which the shift lever passes; a position mark plate of transparent plastic mounted on the upper cover portion, the position mark plate having a plurality of position marks on an upper surface thereof; a light blocking layer covering the upper surface of the position mark plate except the positions where the position marks are located; a light source installed in the housing; a light conductive member of transparent plastic, the light conductive member including a horizontal part whose leading end is formed with a first light reflecting surface and located behind the position mark plate, a vertical part which is formed with a rounded recess from which the light rays from the light source enter the vertical part, and a jointed part at which the horizontal and vertical parts are jointed, the jointed part being formed with a second light refle

Abstract: An improved vehicle display apparatus in which both the display and pointer are illuminated for low ambient driver viewing by a common lightpipe apparatus positioned on the rear face of the display. The display comprises a generally opaque applique having a translucent region in registry with an emissive region of the lightpipe apparatus, and bright opaque graphic symbols painted or deposited onto a surface of the applique within the translucent region. A pointer disposed in proximity to the front surface of the applique is provided with juxtaposed bright opaque and transparent regions. In high ambient lighting conditions when the lightpipe apparatus is not lit, a viewer of the display perceives the bright opaque graphic symbols and pointer stripes against the relatively dark translucent background regions of the applique.

Abstract: A display device includes first and second light sources. Lights emitted from the first and second light sources respectively provide different illumination effects on a display face so that a combination of the first and second light sources provides variety of illumination patterns.

Abstract: In an illuminated regulating device for operating a ventilation arrangement or the like in a motor vehicle, in the vicinity of a regulating wheel (2, 3) rotatable about its axis are provided several light outlets (13b, 14b) arranged stationarily and at the circumference of the regulating wheel is provided a movable light outlet (11a, 12a). The light outlets (11a, 12a, 13b, 14b) are formed by inserts of clear, rigid plastic and are connected to a common light source (16, 17) by light conducting inserts (11, 12, 13, 14). All stationary light outlets (13b, 14b) are formed at the ends of arms (13a, 14a) of a single-piece light conducting insert (13, 14) with total internal reflection made of clear, rigid plastic, which extends from the light source (16, 17) to the light outlets (13b, 14b). This light conducting insert (13, 14) is provided with a lateral light outlet surface (13d, 14 d) in the region of the axis of rotation (A) of the regulating wheel (2, 3).

Abstract: A panel for illuminating an object such as an instrument in at least one aperture therein while minimizing the amount of light directly transmitted toward the front of the panel. A portion of the panel is integrally formed of light transmitting material with at least one aperture having a cylindrical portion extending partially into the front of the panel towards the object to be viewed and outwardly beveled edges on at least a portion of the remainder of the aperture toward the object for emitting light and illuminating the object, the angle of the beveled edges and the depth of the cylindrical portion being selected such that transmission of the emitted light in the direction of the front of the panel is minimized.

Abstract: A vacuum fluorescent (VF) display having integral graphic patterns backlit by an alternate light source to produce emissive graphic images in substantially the same plane as the VF graphic patterns. The backlit graphic patterns are defined by patterned openings in the anode insulation layer of a conventional VF display, and color of the backlit graphic images is determined by the color of the alternate source light, independent of the color of the light emitted from the VF phosphor.

Abstract: An automotive instrument having a meter scale plate and an indicator lens which are arranged in a side-by-side fashion on the same display panel. A light-shielding projecting wall is provided on the rear side of the meter plate constituting the display panel, so as to prevent the light illuminating the meter scale plate to leak into the area of the indicator lens. A light-shielding structure is provided on a case of the instrument so as to shield the end of the light-shielding projecting wall, thereby preventing the meter illuminating light from leaking to the area of the indicator lens.

Abstract: To improve bright needle recognizability on a dial for a bright meter, a needle made of a light transmissible material and brightened by a light source comprises a lower light reflecting layer formed at a lower surface of the needle; a first side light reflecting layer formed on a first side surface of the needle; and an upper semitransparent layer for brightening an upper surface of the needle. Therefore, when the needle is brightened, light is transmitted from a second side surface opposing the first side surface of the needle obliquely onto the dial to illuminate the lower indication display area side from the needle on the dial, for instance.

Abstract: An illumination device for producing uniform illumination of a surface, comprising several parallel optical conductors which are placed above an optically reflecting surface, and whose reflecting outside sheath is removed locally at least in such a way that the light thereby emerging from the optical conductor is reflected by the reflecting surface to the surface to be illuminated. The optical conductors are spaced at such intervals and placed at such a distance above the reflecting surface that the light reflected by the reflecting surface can reach the surface to be illuminated on the other side of the optical conductors through the space between the optical conductors in such a way that the most uniform possible illumination of said surface is obtained.

Abstract: An instrument with an illumination ring that edge-lights an opaque dial face with increased light flow by augmenting the conductivity of both the light receiving portion of the ring and a bevel for deflecting light laterally across the face. The increased light flow is accomplished by an extended annular wall portion spaced from the edge of the dial face.

Abstract: An illuminating device for an electric part which can illuminate a light conducting member uniformly with a simple construction. The illuminating device comprises an annular filter having a light passing zone and a light absorbing zone formed at different circumferential portions thereof. The filter is located on a lower face of and positionable in a circumferential direction relative to a cylindrical light conducting member which surrounds a manually operable knob mounted for rotation relative to an operation panel. A light source is located below the light conducting member so that light emitted from the light source is transmitted to an upper end face of the operation panel by way of the filter and the light conducting member. The distribution of the light passing zone and the light absorbing zone of the filter is selected suitably so as to attain desired uniform illumination at the upper end face of the operation panel.

Abstract: A multi-scale indicator which has a main scale and a sub-scale is constructed so as to prevent a misreading between the main scale and the sub-scale. A sub-scale prism and the light source which illuminates only the sub-scale are light insulated from the main scale prism and the light source which illuminates the main scale, due to the sub-scale prism being securely buried within a circular arc shaped prism receiving groove which is formed on the main scale prism. Light opaque paint is spread between the main scale prism and the sub-scale prism to prevent the occurrence of light leakage therebetween. Also provided is an electrical control for supplying a light to the sub-scale prism only when the pointer is moved to a predetermined zone located on the end of the main scale.

Abstract: A cold cathode discharge tube is disposed as a light source on the front side of a display unit, and a grounded connector is disposed on and/or in the neighborhood of the outer periphery of the cold cathode discharge tube. The conductor causes electric noise generated from the cold cathode discharge tube to flow to the ground, thus preventing the rupture and erroneous operations of the liquid crystal display unit accommodating driving ICs.

Abstract: A pointer illuminating structure in a measuring instrument. A pointer of the measuring instrument is of a generally elongated structure and transparent. At an intermediate portion thereof, a light section is provided to extend substantially prependicularly to the generally elongated structure to form a T shape. The pointer has a flat upper surface and lower surfaces extending from about both side of the light inducing section. A reflective material is applied to the lower surfaces. Beneath the upper surface and above levels of the lower surface, cavities laterally extend to open sideways. Said cavities are defined by reflective surfaces. In alternative form, said elongated pointer is formed with a truncated conical portion at the light inducing section. Said truncated conical portion has a truncated conical reflective surface. The reflective material is applied to the side surfaces instead of the lower surface thereof.

Abstract: An electroluminescent light fixture is provided which is designed for use in military aircraft which is especially arranged for night viewing compatibility either by the naked eye or with the night vision goggles of an aircraft pilot. The fixture generally comprises a frame which prevents an observer from directly viewing the source of light, an electroluminescent strip adjacent the outer portion of the frame, and a lens of a modified torus shape which is adjacent the EL strip and which pipes the light of the EL strip towards the face of the instrument. The lens is configured with a light-emitting face which is optimally angled from the normal to the instrument dial surface such that maximal uniformity of illumination is provided. Two light-emitting faces angled at different angles may be provided to highlight dial pointers. The lens is also preferably pigmented so as to eliminate undesired reflections and glare.

Abstract: The weight of an electroluminescent instrument panel is substantially reduced by manufacturing it from a pair of complementary plastic shells, which are molded together by a potting compound. The front shell of the panel is made by vacuum drawing a sheet of plastic over a first die plate, which forms in the back of the sheet a central recess, which has therein a plurality of rearwardly projecting, hollow bosses, and which is surrounded by a shallow overflow trough. One or more EL lamp elements are placed in the central recess with registering openings therein positioned over and surrounding the rearwardly projecting bosses, after which a potting compound is poured into the central recess to cover the EL elements. The complementary rear or back shell, which is also vacuum formed over a second die plate, is then forced into the back of the front shell, thereby causing excess potting material to flow out of the central recess in the front shell and into the surrounding overflow trough.

Abstract: A slide rheostat having a light-emitting device for permitting a person to check the position of the knob of the rheostat in the nighttime or in the dark. The rheostat includes a transparent upper baseplate, a transparent lower baseplate, a laminated sheet including a pressure-sensitive contact member, a transparent sliding body that reciprocates, the knob being formed on the sliding body, an indicator portion having a transparent region, and a pressure-applying member. The light-emitting device is disposed below the lower baseplate rather than on the knob carried by the sliding body. When the light-emitting device is lit, the emitted light is transmitted through the lower baseplate, the laminated sheet, the upper baseplate, and the transparent region of the indicator portion that has a scale thereon. Part of the light directly reaches the outside through this transparent region, while the other part arrives at the outside after passing through the knob.

Abstract: An instrument illuminating arrangement for the glare-free illumination of indicators such as characters of the instrument display area or, especially of movable hands or movable displays or electronically variable characters, has an excitation source which is so arranged as to irradiate the surfaces of the indicators and cause them to emit visible light. Preferably the excitation source generates light energy at least to some extent in the invisible range and the indicators' surfaces are provided with luminophors which convert the invisible light into visible light so that the light energy supplied to the indicators will not disturb the operator of, for example, a vehicle equipped with such instruments.

Abstract: A moveable pointer (15) on an indicator (11) is illuminated by use of at least one electroluminescent strip (21) which is mounted separately from the pointer (15). The pointer (15) is able to conduct light internally in such a way that light transmitted to one portion (23) of the pointer (15) illuminates another portion of the pointer (25). The electroluminescent strip (21) forms a light source for the pointer (15) so that the strip (21) may be mounted adjacent the pointer's hub (23) in order to provide the necessary illumination. This arrangement permits an indicator (11) to be illuminated with electroluminescent lighting in order that passive vision aids, such as night vision goggles, may be used, while providing sufficient illumination for the indicator's dial pointer (15).

Abstract: A device for controlling a light source in a viewfinder of a camera, such as may be used for illuminating a liquid crystal display unit, having a simple operation and which is saving of power. An operating switch is provided for operating the light source. A timer is initiated when the operating switch is turned off. The light source is maintained turned on while the operating switch is turned on and while the timer is operating, and the light source is turned off when the operating switch is turned on during the operation of the timer.

Abstract: Apparatus for front lighting a display includes a light distributing wedge, spaced from the front of the display to be lighted, through which the display can be viewed. A light source is provided aside the wedge to direct light to an inter space between the wedge and the display. A reflective surface is provided at the wide end of the wedge to reflect light incident upon it. Thus, light from the light source is directed onto the display through various reflecting and refracting paths, including directly onto the display from the light source, reflected from the interior surface of the wedge onto the display, and refracted and reflected within the wedge to be emitted in the direction of the display.

Abstract: An improved console for a tractor or the like, the console being of the type carrying various instrumentation and controls. The console includes a relatively thick support member provided with at least one generally flat surface surrounding a plurality of openings with which various light emitting devices are associated and at least one aperture covered by a support panel to which various controls may be secured. The outer surface of the support panel is in line with the surface and a translucent sheet having symbols printed thereon is secured to the surfaces and with the symbols overlying the light emitting devices in the openings.