Dashboard Patents (Class 362/489)
-
Patent number: 12203641Abstract: A vehicle interior panel has a front surface as a design surface. The vehicle interior panel includes a base material being in a plate-shape and having optical transparency, a decorative layer provided on a first surface of the base material and having optical transparency, the first surface being a surface on the front surface side, and a pattern portion provided on a second surface of the base material and having a pattern that is displayed on the front surface by emission of light from a side opposite to the front surface. The second surface is opposite to the first surface. The pattern portion includes a gradation portion in which light transmittance continuously changes in a planar direction. A gradation pattern is displayed on the front surface by emission of light from the side opposite to the front surface to the gradation portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2024Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshinori Masatsugu, Yusuke Ueshima, Takayuki Kamiya
-
Patent number: 12114447Abstract: An electronic device includes a first housing, a hinge apparatus, a second housing, and a flexible display, where two opposite ends of the hinge apparatus are connected to the first housing and the second housing, and the flexible display is mounted on the first housing and the second housing, wherein a thickness of one end that is of the second housing and that is close to the hinge apparatus is different from a thickness of one end that is of the second housing and that is away from the hinge apparatus, and wherein, in a folded state, a thickness of one end that is of the electronic device and that is close to the hinge apparatus is different from a thickness of one end that is of the electronic device and that is away from the hinge apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2020Date of Patent: October 8, 2024Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.Inventors: Bo Huang, Weihua Mao, Zhixiao Xu, Bo Wu, Peng Zha
-
Patent number: 12043171Abstract: Vehicle cabin structures comprising vehicle structure panels with embedded or associated lighting for producing changing and visually detected illuminated images appearing within the vehicle structure panels are disclosed with methods of their manufacture.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2023Date of Patent: July 23, 2024Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Lon Eric Switzer, Carolina Aranda, Eric Eagon, Gregory William Nelson, Frank H. Fash
-
Patent number: 12012036Abstract: The invention relates to a steering module (8) for a motor vehicle (1), the steering module (8) comprising an optical signaling unit (14), which optically indicates an operating state of the motor vehicle (1), wherein the optical signaling unit (14) comprises at least one light source (15) and a light guide (16), by which the light emitted by the light source (15) with a main radiation direction (20) is capable of being deflected in an exit direction which is different from the main radiation direction (20) and the light exits in this exit direction (19) from an emission surface (18) from the light guide (16), wherein the light guide (16) is shaped in such a way that light rays of the coupled-in light are reflected therein at least twice so that the exit direction (19) is opposite to the main radiation direction (20).Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2022Date of Patent: June 18, 2024Assignee: VALEO SCHALTER UND SENSOREN GMBHInventors: Vishal Kulkarni, Peter Mihalka, Hayk Yepremian
-
Patent number: 11964610Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for adjusting headlight properties according to the speed of the vehicle. In particular, some embodiments aim to optimize a vehicle's lighting in suboptimal conditions. Using the data processed by the ADAS, the system is able to optimize the vehicle's lighting by taking into account various factors beyond the current speed limit on the road.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.Inventors: Guillermo Pita Gil, Jaime S. Camhi
-
Patent number: 11934994Abstract: According to the present invention, a load receiving vehicle is provided. The load receiving vehicle comprises a storage unit usable as a receiving place of a delivery article; a lock control unit capable of controlling lock and unlock of a door of the storage unit; and a communication unit, wherein if the communication unit receives delivery schedule information representing a delivery schedule to the load receiving vehicle, information based on the delivery schedule information is provided to a driver.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Ryo Takebayashi
-
Patent number: 11833944Abstract: A back panel for a vehicle seat is described. The back panel may have an upper layer, a lower layer supporting the upper layer, an adhesive layer arranged between the upper layer and the lower layer and fixing the upper layer to the lower layer, and at least one additional panel member welded to the lower layer.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2019Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Adient US LLCInventor: Ronald G. Bedro
-
Patent number: 11827096Abstract: A display device for a vehicle is configured to be mounted in an indoor space of the vehicle and to change a display area. The display device includes a first frame that has a first end configured to be coupled to an interior member of the vehicle, a second frame that has a first end coupled to a second end of the first frame and is configured to be rotate about the second end of the first frame, and a flexible display that is disposed at a first surface of the first frame and a first surface of the second frame and configured to fold to allow a second surface of the first frame opposite to the first surface of the first frame to overlap with a second surface of the second frame opposite to the first surface of the second frame.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2020Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Seunghwan Song, In Koo Shim, Seung Mo Kang
-
Patent number: 11766978Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a crash pad device for a vehicle with a real wood sheet, the crash pad device including a real wood sheet comprising a real wood design portion having a real wood pattern processed thereon, and an edge portion formed at an edge of the design portion, and a lighting portion disposed at a lower side of the real wood sheet and being configured to emit light to an outside through the real wood pattern.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ik Keun Choi
-
Patent number: 11732871Abstract: A lid to be connected to a housing of a status display for a sensor, with a basic body comprising a covering surface and at least one side wall, wherein the basic body has at least one light-transmissive light emitting region to facilitate an illumination of desired areas of the lid that is homogeneous and space-saving, with a first reflector unit and a second reflector unit arranged opposite each other, and wherein an opening for arranging a lighting means is formed in the second reflector unit, wherein the light emitted by the lighting means is reflected to the at least one light emitting region by means of the first reflector unit and the second reflector unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2022Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: VEGA GRIESHABER KGInventors: Dominik Fehrenbach, Jonas Schwab
-
Patent number: 11614656Abstract: A backlight unit and a display device including the backlight unit are provided. A backlight unit includes a substrate, light sources disposed on one surface of the substrate, a first reflective film disposed on one surface of the substrate and including first openings, each of the first openings of the first reflective film exposing each of the light sources, and wavelength filter layers disposed above the first reflective film and disposed to correspond to the first openings, the wavelength filter layers are spaced apart from each other, and each of the wavelength filter layers covers at least one of the first openings.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2020Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.Inventors: Jae Sul An, Do Hun Kim, Tae Yong Ryu, Taek Sun Shin, Byung Seo Yoon, Ju Young Yoon
-
Patent number: 11524794Abstract: An illuminated aircraft passenger cabin gasper comprises an air outlet for outputting a flow of air into an aircraft passenger cabin and an air guide, movably arranged within the air outlet for adjusting the flow of air that includes a light guide. The gasper also includes at least one light source, arranged adjacent to the light guide for coupling light into the light guide. The light guide has a light output surface for coupling light out of the light guide into the aircraft passenger cabin.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2020Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: GOODRICH LIGHTING SYSTEMS GMBHInventors: Anil Kumar Jha, Andre Hessling-Von Heimendahl, Jens Leuschner
-
Patent number: 11510294Abstract: Solid-state lighting devices including light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and more particularly packaged LED devices are disclosed. LED packages are disclosed herein with arrangements of LED chips and corresponding lumiphoric regions that are configured to provide overall light emissions having improved color mixing and emission uniformity. LED packages are further disclosed herein that are configured to be tunable between different colors or correlated color temperatures (CCTs) while providing improved color mixing and emission uniformity. Arrangements may include differing lumiphoric regions that are arranged with various alternating patterns including one or more intersecting lines, rows of alternating lumiphoric regions, patterns that alternate in at least two directions, and checkerboard patterns.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2021Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: CreeLED, Inc.Inventors: Aaron Francis, Kyle Damborsky, Robert Wilcox, Jasper Cabalu, Colin Blakely
-
Patent number: 11486561Abstract: The invention relates to an area light decorative element (1) comprising an optically activatable symbol body (2) at least partially formed of a transparent optically activatable first material (9) and configured to emit visible light in response to the optically activatable symbol body (2) being excited with electromagnetic radiation in a predetermined first frequency range, a light element (3) consisting of a transparent material, wherein the optically activatable symbol body (2) is arranged in the light element (3), a touch-sensitive surface (4) disposed in a first area (5) of a surface of the light element (3) above the optically activatable symbol body (2) for detecting a touch of a user in the first area (5), and an illumination unit (6) which is arranged to emit visible light in a predetermined visible frequency range (22) into the light element (3) and, together with the visible light, also to emit electromagnetic radiation in the predetermined first frequency range into the light element (3).Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2019Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Florian Miedl, Thomas Tille
-
Patent number: 11467626Abstract: A display device includes a light source configured to emit light, a display panel capable of receiving the light from a first surface side and transmitting the light to a second surface side, and a cylindrical hood extending to the first surface side of the display panel from the light source and covering a periphery of an optical axis of the light. The hood is made of black resin.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2021Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Japan Display Inc.Inventor: Masayuki Mifune
-
Patent number: 11241959Abstract: A resin molded product that is applied to a vehicle display device has a surface on which a plurality of fine irregularities having surface roughness of equal to or larger than 1.0 ?m and equal to or smaller than 10.0 ?m and an array pitch of equal to or larger than 3.0 ?m and equal to or smaller than 18.0 ?m are molded. In other words, the resin molded product has the surface on which the fine irregularities causing a gloss value at an incident angle of 85° to be equal to or lower than 2 are molded. This configuration provides an effect that the resin molded product and the vehicle display device can lower gloss of the surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2017Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventor: Teruomi Sano
-
Patent number: 11098876Abstract: An LED decorative lamp includes a support frame, a light source, and a bendable reflection assembly. The support frame is a hollow annular structure. The light source is used to emit light and is arranged in the support frame. The bendable reflection assembly is used to reflect light from the light source and is arranged on the support frame and connected to the light source.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2020Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Inventor: Jie Gou
-
Patent number: 11007930Abstract: A lighting device includes a light guide that propagates incoming light, and a lighting panel including a lighting region. A front side of the lighting panel excluding the lighting region is configured to prevent transmission of light, the light guide is covered by the lighting panel, the lighting device is configured such that the light emitted from the light guide passes through the lighting region of the lighting panel for illumination, and surfaces of the lighting panel surrounding the light guide are white in color.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2020Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.Inventor: Kazuyoshi Yamagata
-
Patent number: 10895363Abstract: The present disclosure provides an illumination feature for an electronic device. A light cone is used to direct light from a light emitter to an interior surface of a housing of an electronic device in one of a variety of geometric, alphabetic, or numerical designs.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2019Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: ECOLINK INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Jerry Huang, Eric Wang
-
Patent number: 10821889Abstract: A vehicle interior component is disclosed. The component may comprise a composite structure comprising a substrate and light guide and surface/cover with holes/pattern of apertures configured for illumination (by a light source/module) to provide an interface/display (with decorative and/or instrumentation region). The light guide may comprise a resin material formed as the set of projections in the pattern of apertures. The cover may comprise a decorative layer with backing configured to provide a visual/surface effect (e.g. natural material, wood veneer, etc.); the display may present a visual/decorative effect when illuminated at the pattern of apertures/light guide. The interface/display at the surface (by illuminated light guide/pattern of holes) may present indicia for a vehicle system and/or decorative effect. The component may comprise a trim/trim panel, instrument panel/dashboard, door panel/armrest, console, overhead trim/headliner, pillar/structure, seat, etc.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2020Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Shanghai Yanfeng Inqiao Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd.Inventors: Anthony DeGrote, Christopher Kring, Scott Allen Hansen
-
Patent number: 10513220Abstract: A display device includes a liquid crystal panel providing a display surface where an image is displayed, a backlight emitting light to the liquid crystal panel from behind, a real object placed between the liquid crystal panel and the backlight and visible through the liquid crystal panel, and a controller controlling the liquid crystal panel such that a specific pixel region of the display surface behind which the real object is positioned is higher in light transmittance than another pixel region of the display surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2015Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Seigo Tane, Katsumi Fujita
-
Patent number: 10344943Abstract: The present disclosure provides an illumination feature for an electronic device. A light cone is used to direct light from a light emitter to an interior surface of a housing of an electronic device in one of a variety of geometric, alphabetic, or numerical designs.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: ECOLINK INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Jerry Huang, Eric Wang
-
Patent number: 10330856Abstract: The backlight module includes: a light guide plate, having a light incident side; a fiber bundle, disposed on an edge of the light incident side of the light guide plate and having a light guide section and a light emitting section; a light source project light into the fiber bundle; and a light collection reflector, configured to reflect light from the fiber bundle toward the light incident side of the light guide plate. A liquid crystal display panel, configured to display an image, is arranged to receive light from the backlight module.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2017Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignees: HKC CORPORATION LIMITED, CHONGQING HKC OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventor: Yu-Jen Chen
-
Patent number: 10269330Abstract: Vehicle interior equipment that includes a structure having a window surrounded by an edge area, and an electronic display screen placed in the window. In a standby condition of the screen, the screen displays a decorative image coordinated with the decoration of the edge area so that at least the peripheral area of the screen and the edge area coincide visually.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2016Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Faurecia Interieur IndustrieInventor: Zakaria Benchikhi
-
Patent number: 10203084Abstract: The present disclosure provides an illumination feature for an electronic device. A light cone is used to direct light from a light emitter to an interior surface of a housing of an electronic device in one of a variety of geometric, alphabetic, or numerical designs.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2017Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: ECOLINK INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Jerry Huang, Eric Wang
-
Patent number: 9661775Abstract: A wiring device for wiring an electronic apparatus including an interface, a conductor track and a component fitting island that is connected to the interface via the conductor track that is set up to carry an electronic component and to make electrical contact with the interface via the electrical conductor track, wherein the component fitting island is free of a web element that is set up to hold the component fitting island on a support element during a housing process housing the component fitting island.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2013Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHGInventors: Jakob Schillinger, Dietmar Huber, Lothar Biebricher, Manfred Goll, Matthias Viering
-
Patent number: 9604541Abstract: A method and system are presented for configuring a vehicle operating environment. An initial VOE configuration file and a VOE components file are provided to a VOE configuring application. A user employs the application to modify the VOE configuration file. The modified VOE configuration file is provided to a vehicle, where the vehicle uses the modified VOE configuration file to configure an operating environment of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventor: Nuri Gokhan Anter
-
Patent number: 9373922Abstract: An illumination device comprises a support plate 22 having a front surface 22a and a back surface 22b facing each other in a plate thickness direction and an opening 22d passing through in the plate thickness direction; a light source module 23 placed on the front surface of the support plate; a drive circuit portion 33 for driving the light source module; and a connector 27 connecting the drive circuit portion to the light source module. The connector is inserted through the opening of the support plate and brought into contact with the back surface of the support plate.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2011Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, LimitedInventors: Kenichi Shimoji, Takaaki Kudo
-
Patent number: 9360350Abstract: An example instrument cluster includes a light guide having a first end portion and a display located adjacent the first end portion of the light guide for emitting light into the light guide.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2012Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Curt Ollila, Taochuan Wang, Kevin Dyer
-
Patent number: 9241390Abstract: A switch image control system includes at least one first switch having a first image viewable when a backlighting is applied to the at least one first switch. The system also includes at least one second switch having a second image viewable when the backlighting is applied to the at least one second switch. The backlighting is independently applicable to either or both of the at least one first switch and the at least one second switch.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Rody Hardy, Natarajan S. Manakkal
-
Patent number: 9139092Abstract: An instrument cluster assembly mounts within a vehicle dashboard. An opening is defined within the dashboard provides for mounting of an instrument cluster assembly. The example instrument cluster assembly includes a top surface that corresponds with the top surface of the dashboard to provide a completed top visible surface when in a completed assembled condition. The instrument cluster assembly includes a first gauge and a second gauge separated by an open space therebetween. A bi-vision display is mounted in the open space between the first and second gauges. The bi-vision display generates a virtual image that is viewed by the operator between the first and second gauges.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2011Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Werner Eckardt, Arthur S. Brown, Jeremy Rooney, Robert Drury
-
Patent number: 9081227Abstract: A lighting device includes LEDs, a reflecting sheet that reflects light emitted from the LEDs, and connectors electrically connected to the LEDs. The reflecting sheet has integrated superposed portions on which the connectors are superposed, and the connector surface on the reflecting sheet side thereof serves as a sheet pressing surface for pressing down the superposed portions of the reflecting sheet.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2011Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Keitaro Matsui
-
Patent number: 8998432Abstract: An instrument includes a substrate; first and second light-emitting parts provided on the substrate; a light guide plate having a first illumination part that is illuminated by first light of the first light-emitting part, and that guides the first light of the first light-emitting part incident thereinto to the first illumination part, which is separated from the first light-emitting part; and a design plate having a second illumination part.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kazuyoshi Fukutani
-
Patent number: 8992033Abstract: The invention relates to a display element for the display unit of a vehicle. The display element can be backlit by means of at least one light source. The display element contains a film with identifying elements, and further contains a polarizing film. The films are arranged one above the other and are pressed against each other in the edge regions of the films via elastic elements.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2010Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Inventor: Manfred Suess
-
Patent number: 8967839Abstract: An instrument cluster includes a housing that provides a chamber. A light source is in communication with the chamber. A non-opaque display element is in communication with the chamber and has an exterior surface. An indicium is etched interiorly of the exterior surface without the indicium providing a portion of the exterior surface. The light source is configured to illuminate the indicium.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2012Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventor: Heath D. Zietz
-
Patent number: 8953244Abstract: A display device for a vehicle includes a front face cover that covers a front face of a display section for displaying information of the vehicle, and an antireflection film provided on a surface of the front face cover. The surface of the front face cover has a curved face which is formed so that an observation color of the curved face viewed from an eye range of a person sitting on a seat of the vehicle differs depending on an observation position in the eye range due to a difference in an interference wavelength of reflection light reflected by the antireflection film, the reflection light advancing toward the eye range from the front surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2011Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Yazaki CorporationInventor: Shuichi Ishibashi
-
Publication number: 20150023035Abstract: An automotive safety device, specifically, an automobile safety device that assists drivers to remain in their proper driving lane when driving a moving vehicle. One embodiment of the present invention can include a flat planar body member, a plurality of light emitting members connected to the planar body member, wherein the light emitting members are configured in a predetermined arrangement, a power source electronically connected to the light emitting members, and a selectively engageable dimmer switch electronically connected to the power source and the light emitting members. The plurality of light emitting members can be configured in an angled position such that when the planar body member is positioned on the dashboard of a motor vehicle, between a steering wheel and a windshield of the motor vehicle, the reflection of the light emitting members appears to project outwardly in a straight line in front of the windshield.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2013Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventors: Gregory Wood, Alejandro Casado
-
Patent number: 8931909Abstract: A display apparatus for a vehicle and a method for producing the display apparatus are described. The display apparatus comprises a transparent plastic plate having a front side, a rear side, and an edge surface surrounding the plastic plate. The display apparatus has a switchable light source of visible light directed onto the edge surface of the plastic plate. The plastic plate has transparent display elements that are disposed as limited zones inside the plastic plate and have light-sensitive dopant particles. When the light source is switched on, the dopant particles scatter the light so that the display elements become visible from the front side.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2012Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Dino Demma
-
Patent number: 8882317Abstract: A display switch unit is provided for a vehicle and a method for producing the display switch unit. The display switch unit has at least one transparent front plastic region and a rear plastic region. Plastic switch symbols are disposed in the transparent front plastic region of the plastic body. Sensor structures of proximity sensors are each disposed behind one of the plastic switch symbols in the rear plastic region. The material of the plastic switch symbols includes, but is not limited to light-sensitive invisible particles, which are disposed in such a manner that under irradiation, colored illuminated switch symbols are visible in the surrounding transparent front plastic region.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Dino Demma
-
Patent number: 8845135Abstract: An electric wire holding and waterproofing structure includes a circuit board connected to an electric wire, a housing that accommodates the circuit board, a holder having a through hole for leading out the electric wire to the outside of the housing, a packing provided on an outer circumference of the holder so as to be brought into intimately contact with an inner circumference of the housing, a rubber plug attached to the electric wire so as to seal the through hole of the holder, and a cover fitted into the housing. When the cover is fitted into the housing, the holder and the cover hold the electric wire in a state that the electric wire has a bent portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Yazaki CorporationInventor: Kosuke Yoshida
-
Patent number: 8841995Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for controlling illumination in a vehicle passenger compartment are disclosed. In one aspect, a display system for a motor vehicle passenger compartment, comprises: at least one indicia visible to an operator of the vehicle and configured to indicate a vehicle operating condition; an indicia light configured to illuminate the indicia; a display device visible to an operator of the vehicle; and a controller, in communication with the indicia light and the display device, programmed to: operate the display system in a first mode wherein the indicia light is activated to illuminate the indicia, and in response to a first control signal indicative of a change from the first mode to a second mode, reduce illumination of the indicia by the indicia light and control the display device to output information indicative of the vehicle operating condition.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Vishnu Jayamohan, John Curl
-
Patent number: 8840287Abstract: An illuminating apparatus and method for an interior passenger compartment of a vehicle including, in combination, a panel, a manual operation element mounted to the panel, and a hidden light source mounted behind the panel providing indirect light directed along a path extending downwardly across a visible surface of the panel through an aperture in the panel. A bezel can be associated with the manual operation element. The bezel can define an edge with a reflective surface. The bezel is located on the visible surface of the panel within the path of indirect light. The edge reflects indirect light from the hidden light source to be visible to occupants of the passenger compartment of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2012Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Chae An, Jonathan Quijano
-
Patent number: 8789989Abstract: A display switch unit is provided for a vehicle comprising at least one first and one second light guide plate with first and second light sources disposed at the edges. The light guide plates have switch symbols and proximity sensors having sensor structures. The first light guide plate and the second light guide plate are disposed on one another. Respectively one sensor structure is assigned two switch symbols in both light guide plates. The material of the switch symbols is a plastic with light-sensitive nanoparticles, which is arranged distributed in the light guide plates in such a manner that under edge-side irradiation the switch symbols are visible illuminated in color and three-dimensionally in the light guide plates.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2012Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Dino Demma
-
Patent number: 8783922Abstract: Disclosed is a display device capable of achieving a decorative effect by utilizing a color filter at the front of a light-emitting display unit. Also disclosed is a meter device using the display device. Specifically disclosed is a display device comprising a light-emitting display unit and a color filter, which is arranged at the front of the light-emitting display unit. A light-emitting element for decoration is provided on the outside of the light-emitting display unit. The color filter is provided with a light-discharging surface for discharging the light from the light-emitting element for a decorative appearance in the forward direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2009Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignees: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha, Yazaki Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroaki Ichihara, Masaharu Kinoshita, Yoshifumi Tatsuta, Takahiro Shimada, Koji Nomura, Masato Minakata, Koji Aikawa
-
Patent number: 8777466Abstract: A panel includes at least one icon area (8), the area (8) being illuminated by a light source (10) placed under the ornament panel, the ornament panel (1) including a translucent skin (2) forming the outer surface (6) of the ornament panel and a substrate layer (4) placed against the skin (2), the substrate layer (4) including an opening (14) placed at least between the light source (10) and the icon area (8). A light-transmitting material (18) is placed in at least part of the opening (14), the material (18) being placed in a translucent substrate element (20) placed in the opening (14) between the material (18) and the light source (10).Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Faurecia Interieur IndustrieInventors: Jean-Francois Oeuvrard, Godefroy Beau
-
Patent number: 8757824Abstract: A system includes a layer, a shaftless stepper motor, a lighting element, an input magnet, an output magnet, and a pointer. The layer includes first and second opposed sides. The shaftless stepper motor is disposed on the first opposed side of the layer. The lighting element is disposed on the first opposed side of the layer. The input magnet is disposed on the first opposed side of the layer and is connected to the shaftless stepper motor. The output magnet is disposed on the second opposed side of the layer. The pointer is connected to the output magnet. The input magnet connected to the shaftless stepper motor moves, through magnetism, the output magnet and the connected pointer, and the lighting element transmits lights to light the pointer.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2012Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Mark James Arthur Baker
-
Patent number: 8740426Abstract: A display includes a display surface and a bezel. The bezel includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The bezel and bottom surface of the bezel covers a first area of display surface around the perimeter of the display, thereby leaving a second area of the display surface, inside the bezel, uncovered. At least one graphical indicator is disposed at or in the bezel. The display is configured and arranged to produce and emit light from one or more selected portions of the first area of the display surface, which are below the bottom surface of the bezel such that the emitted light passes through the bezel and is effective to illuminate the graphical indicator.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2010Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Thomas L. Jones, Dirk Dudenbostel
-
Publication number: 20140078712Abstract: A dashboard for automobiles includes at least one display area including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is located in a first extension plane while the second portion is located in a second extension plane. The second extension plane is parallel to the first extension plane and is offset relative to the first extension plane in the direction of the user of the dashboard such that the second portion forms a diaphragm opening at least partially around the first portion, and the first portion is located in a central area of the dashboard. The dashboard includes a light source, and the display area comprises a frame member for defining the first portion, wherein the light source comprises a first portion for backlighting the first portion, as well as a second portion in which the light source extends beyond the first portion of the display area.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2012Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS SASInventors: Fabrice Henon, Benoit Box
-
Patent number: 8662722Abstract: An interior trim component for a vehicle includes a trim panel. The trim panel includes a substrate layer, a protective layer, and an organic light emitting diode portion disposed between the substrate layer and the protective layer for displaying one or more surface appearances on the trim panel within a passenger compartment of the vehicle. A method for forming and operating an interior trim component is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2008Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Magna International Inc.Inventor: Mark E. Dixon
-
Patent number: 8662689Abstract: Disclosed is a pointer-type meter with good uniformity of illumination of a display section even when there are few light sources, and with little or no displacement of each member when positioning is performed. A circuit board provided in the pointer-type meter comprises a first light-emitting element (332a) that emits light in a direction towards a first rotary shaft (3110). The pointer-type meter comprises: a first reflecting unit (321) positioned between the circuit board and a display plate (31) and that surrounds part of the circumference of the rotary shaft (3110) and reflects light towards the outer edge of a speed display unit (311); and a second reflecting unit (322) positioned between the circuit board and the display plate (31) and that reflects the light reflected by the first reflecting unit (321) to illuminate the speed display unit (311).Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yasushi Takahashi