Abstract: A display is provided having five light-emitting elements, constituting a first light source, are provided on the surface of a wiring board. These sources illuminate a graduated board and a light-emitting indicator. A single light-emitting element, constituting a second light source, is provided on the surface of the wiring board as an illumination light source for use on the graduated board so as to oppose a concave portion of the light-guiding plate via the opening portion of the holder on an outside of one of the respective light-emitting elements.

Abstract: There is provided a pointer type instrument which can reduce a light leakage to a side of a display board, and comprises a pointer 6 which includes an indication member 61 brightened by illumination light introduced from a back side of a rotation center region R and made of a translucent resin material, and a cover member 62 covering its outer periphery except for the back side of the rotation center region R and made of a light shielding resin material, and is driven to be rotated through a driving unit 2; a display board 3 which is disposed behind the pointer 6, is apart from the cover member 62 with a predetermined gap part S intervening, and includes a light passing part 33 corresponding to the rotation center region R; and a light source 5 disposed behind the display board 3, for generating the illumination light, wherein a leakage light prevention part 634 for suppressing a light leakage from the gap part S is provided on the back side (back side of a pedestal part 632) of the rotation center region R e

Abstract: An article (10) comprises a transparent material (42) having interior and exterior surfaces (44 and 46). A coating of paint (48) is applied to the exterior surface (46) of the transparent material (42). Indicia (12) are formed in the coating of paint (48) by a plurality of interrelated line segments (50). Each line segment (50) of the plurality of line segments (50) extends parallel to each other line segment (50). The article (10) further comprises a light source (40) actuatable for directing light against the interior surface (44) of the transparent material (42) and through the line segments (50) to illuminate the indicia (12). The indicia (12) are discernible from the coating of paint (48) when illuminated by the light source (40) and are indiscernible from the coating of paint (48) when not illuminated.

Abstract: A portable cockpit illumination device for the purpose of supplementing existing cockpit illumination from an overhead type lamp assembly provides for an even illumination of all cockpit panel instruments. A portable design allows installation or removal from the cockpit in seconds without using any tools. Two modes of operation insure cockpit illumination under any flight conditions. An accessory power receptacle internal to an aircraft cockpit provides power during normal operation, and a self contained battery source provides cockpit illumination during emergency situations when no external power source is available. During normal operation, a charging circuit insures optimal battery performance. A plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's) wired in a series-parallel array receives power from a DC to DC buck converter, whereby an input source voltage is reduced to a lower output voltage. A rheostat controlled feedback voltage loop provides for load current and illumination control.

Abstract: A dial for an indicating instrument, in particular in a motor vehicle, is described in the application. This dial comprises an optically conducting basic body whose outside is shaped as a two-stage cone. Except for light passages (10) forming symbols, the outside is covered by an opaque layer (9), the light, which has previously been coupled into the basic body (2), exiting there. The special feature consists in that the basic body (2) is produced by injection molding, and this permits the production of a non-planar outer surface, the opaque layer (9) itself being produced on the outer surface.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a multi-component article which comprises at least two components, each component being produced from a different polymer composition, and at least one polymer composition comprises a hydrogenated block copolymer comprising at least two distinct blocks of hydrogenated vinyl aromatic polymer, and at least one block of hydrogenated conjugated diene polymer, characterized by: a hydrogenation level such that each hydrogenated vinyl aromatic polymer block has a hydrogenation level of greater than 90 percent and the hydrogenated conjugated diene polymer block has a hydrogenation level of greater than 95 percent, with the proviso that when more than one component is prepared from compositions comprising hydrogenated block copolymers, each composition differs compositionally such that the vinyl aromatic polymer block content of the compositions differs by at least 20 percent.

Abstract: An instrument cluster 100 including a backplate 110, a mask 112, the backplate 110 and the mask 112 formed as a single component using a single shot of injection molding, and a dial 114 formed onto the backplate 110 using a second shot of injection molding.

Abstract: A combination instrument for a motor vehicle, having a front frame and a display panel and a plurality of display instruments and warning lights which are arranged on a printed circuit board and are provided for displaying information on the display panel. The front frame is produced integrally with light shafts which lead from the warning lights to the display panel. In the region of the warning lights, the display panel is formed by a diaphragm screen which is adhesively bonded to the front frame and is produced as a film. The light shafts simultaneously serve as spacers for the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A display device is created in particular for a combination instrument of a motor vehicle and has an electro-optic display device; at least one scale device for at least one analog display device which is arranged adjacent to the electro-optic display device, with one section of the scale device covering at least one section (10a; 10b) of the electro-optic display device; and a luminous layer applied to the scale device by which the section of the scale device covering the electro-optic display device as well as the remainder of the scale device can each be lighted at least in part. In this way, space can be saved between the electro-optic display device and the scale device and an esthetic transition is achieved in terms of illumination.

Abstract: An eyes up instrument having a transparent display is disclosed which is mountable on or above the dashboard of a vehicle to allow the instrument to be read by a vehicle operator without lowering his eyes to the vehicle instrument panel. The display of the instrument is transparent and therefore does not interfere substantially with the view of the operator. The compact design of the instrument and use of a miniature crossed coil gauge supported in the display itself allow it to be mounted unobtrusively on a dashboard even in applications where transparency is not required.

Abstract: A light conducting body has a generally conical through bore defined therein. The conical through bore includes a front bore part defined by a sloped surface and a rear bore part defined by a concave surface. A light conducting dial board is installed in the conical through bore with its front face facing forward and positioned in the vicinity of the junction portion between the front and rear bore parts. The dial board has a peripheral edge separated from the inner wall surface of the conical through bore thereby to define therebetween a circumferentially extending space. A light conducting supporting plate is attached to a rear surface of the dial board. The supporting plate is formed with a light transmitting portion which extends rearward and has an rear end intimately received in a recess formed in the rear end of the light conducting body. A plurality of light sources are positioned behind the rear end of the light conducting body.

Abstract: A display device for displaying transmission selected speeds and ratios is provided. In order to create a display device in which the space requirement for the display is reduced, it is proposed to use as the display elements the scale elements such as scale numbers or divisional lines of a display instrument. In preferred embodiments, the display instrument is a tachometer.

Abstract: In an indicating instrument (1) with a translucent dial (8), an illuminated pointer (4) is arranged, out of the viewing direction of a viewer, behind the dial (8) on its rear, inner side (7). An additional covering glass for protecting the pointer (4) can thus be dispensed with.

Abstract: A system for indicating the operational status and parameters of a cruise control system for use in a human operated vehicle. The system includes apparatus for storing and recalling a preset speed for the cruise control system. The system further includes apparatus for indicating this preset speed to the operator, along with apparatus configured to indicate to the user whether or not the cruise control system is engaged. One embodiment is a system for use with vehicles with digital speedometers. In this embodiment, the system includes digital memory for storing the preset speed, and a digital display configured to show the preset speed and the operational status of the cruise control system. Another embodiment is for use with vehicles having analog speedometers. The analog system includes an array of LEDs and detectors arranged around a speed indicating dial and under the speedometer needle.

Abstract: A vehicle interior component and lighting assembly that includes a vehicle interior component having a fabric disposed over a substrate or foam layer, or both. An electroluminescent panel is located between the fabric and substrate/foam layer and directs light from the panel through the fabric. In this way, the light source can be effectively hidden when not in use and can be incorporated into the interior component in a manner that requires little space. The vehicle interior component can be any of a number of different interior articles, including, for example, a headliner, door panel, vehicle seat, rear deck, sun visor, and trunk panel. Also disclosed are vehicle interior illumination systems using touch switches and electroluminescent panels to provide back lighting of the switch and/or vehicle interior illumination through the switch.

Abstract: A meter for a vehicle has a scale plate, a pointer and a plurality of light sources. A first light source lights a scale plate up from a backside thereof. A second light source lights the scale plate up through a light guiding plate. A third light source lights a pointer up from a base thereof. The first light and the second light have different colors. The first and second lights and the third light are activated with time lag. The light sources produce a novel appearance on the meter.

Abstract: In an indicating instrument (1) for a motor vehicle, a light-emitting polymer (8) enclosed between two electrodes (9, 10) serves as the light source. The polymer (8) can at the same time be activated by a suitable segmentation in such a way that a direct representation of symbols or alphanumeric characters is permitted, with at the same time high image sharpness and great brightness. The indicating instrument (1) can therefore be operated with the polymer (8) as a commonly shared light source, with the low overall height permitting reduced outer dimensions of the indicating instrument (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a control unit of a motor vehicle having a plurality of control elements (2, 3) arranged in a visible surface of the control unit, at least one of which elements can be illuminated by a light source (18) via a light coupling-out area of an annular optical waveguide (16). The invention provides for the optical waveguide (16) to have a closed annular form with a tangential bulge (17) which forms a light coupling-in area perpendicularly to the annular light coupling-out area. In a second embodiment for illuminating a plurality of control elements, provision is made of an optical waveguide having a plurality of light coupling-out areas arranged in the same plane on finger-like extensions of an otherwise planar optical waveguide, the light coupling-out areas being arranged at right angles to a common light coupling-in area.

Abstract: A controllable auto-heating type heat source is located at a periphery of a light source and light reflecting layers are placed between the light source and the controllable auto-heating type heat source. Therefore, use of a temperature detector and a control circuit in order to control the heat source are unnecessary, so that thermal runaway of the heat source is avoided. Further, the light reflecting layers reflect the light irradiated from the light source, so that the amount of the beam of light shielded by the heat source is decreased.

Abstract: A vehicle lighting system providing lighting for an instrument panel generating light having a wave length, such as white light, which does not interfere with night goggle vision systems. The system comprises a portable housing, a battery pack, and an plurality of cables extending outwardly from the housing to a plurality of light-emitting elements providing white light proximate each of the plurality of vehicle instruments.

Abstract: A touch sensitive switch with a light comprises a light sensor which detects a finger approaching the key top using the output of the light sensor to detect that the touch sensitive switch with a light is to be operated before the operation takes place. Notification to the person who operates the key-top can therefore be given by any predetermined effect such as a voice accruing based on the output of the light sensor just before the operation starts. Therefore, confusion does not arise even when the switch is put to a large number of uses.

Abstract: A cradle for holding a flashlight in a glovebox of an automobile and for facilitating the use of the flashlight as a light for the glovebox. The cradle has an opening to allow the flashlight to slide in and out of the cradle and a light opening to allow light from the flashlight to shine through the cradle. The cradle includes a reflector to cause light from the flashlight to be reflected in a different direction. The cradle can have a tapered inner surface on a side adjacent the insertion opening. The tapered inner surface is to increase the snugness of the fit of the flashlight and, when the flashlight has a push button switch, the tapered inner surface can serve to deactivate the flashlight when the flashlight is inserted into the cradle. A light assembly includes a flashlight and a cradle for holding the flashlight and for mounting the light assembly in a glovebox of an automobile.

Abstract: A transparent display panel such as an electroluminescent panel is overlapped on a part of a conventional instrument panel for use in an automobile. The overlapped display panel displays additional information such as navigation maps when required and is turned off under a normal driving condition. When the overlapped transparent display panel is turned off, the conventional instrument panel displays information such as a vehicle speed, an engine speed and so forth. In this situation, overall luminance on the combined display panel is made uniform throughout a whole surface including the area where the transparent display panel is overlapped. To realize the uniformity of luminance, brightness of back lamps for illuminating the instrument panel is adjusted or a filter having an adequate transparency is used. The combined display panel may be also made by combining a non-transparent display panel with a conventional instrument panel.

Abstract: An accessory for a vehicle consisting of a display device that can fit into a DC adapter opening or the cigarette lighter opening in a vehicle dashboard. The display device includes an end portion in which are located an illuminated picture or message and an illuminating device, which receives power from the vehicle electrical source. The display message is disposed in a central opening defined by an end cap and can be readily changed by unscrewing the end cap and inserting other discs in the space between an enlarged end cap and the threaded enlarged portion of the cylindrical body portion of the accessory.

Abstract: An optical waveguide assembly for distributing light within a vehicle door panel includes a light source that outputs light to an optical waveguide. A trunk waveguide that propagates light through internal reflection has output branches and a trunk input portion connected to the light source. Branch waveguides that propagate light through internal reflection extend from the output branches of the trunk waveguide to lighting outputs of the vehicle door panel. Support arms extend between the branch waveguides and support the branch waveguides within the vehicle door panel.

Abstract: A combination ground and power source circuit tester device includes a cylindrical plug with a cone-shaped end that fits into a vehicle accessory receptacle. An attached body member engages the plug and retains first and second radially extending contacts that function to provide a connection with conductive studs that attach to leads to a circuit. A light bulb indicating that the circuitry is powered is retained in the body member and in a parallel circuit with the contacts.

Abstract: An integrated instrument cluster assembly for use in an instrument panel 400, the assembly comprising: (1) a generally flat instrument cluster appliqué 110 having a first surface 112, an opposed second surface 114, and a perimeter 116 thereabout; (2) a generally flat light pipe/diffuser 120 sandwiched against the second surface 114 of the appliqué; and (3) at least one generally flat circuit board 130 sandwiched against the light pipe/diffuser. The at least one circuit board 130 is/are disposed such that a first rigid edge card connector portion 140 thereof extends outward generally beyond the perimeter 116.

Abstract: A motor vehicle heating, ventilating and/or air conditioning installation has a control panel comprising a light box which consists of a housing comprising a housing member with an open side closed by a front wall of the control panel, and a light source within the housing. The front wall is of translucent material made opaque on its front face except in lighting zones which define illuminated indicia. Some of the lighting zones have a first thickness, while others are of different thicknesses, so that the luminance of the lighting zones at the front face of the front wall is modified locally. In this way, imperfections in the light box arising from differences in luminance in the illuminated indicia can be compensated for.

Abstract: An interior lighting system for an automotive vehicle has an upper group of lights mounted in the vehicle interior, a lower group of lights mounted in the vehicle interior, and a switch mounted in the vehicle interior. The switch is movable between the dome position in which both the upper and lower groups of lights are illuminated, a dim position in which both the upper and lower groups of lights are illuminated between a maximum and a minimum intensity, a floor position in which only the lower lights are illuminated, and an off position in which neither the upper nor the lower group of lights are illuminated. The lower group of lights are illuminated when the switch is in the floor position after a door-ajar condition is sensed and the vehicle is moving at a predetermined velocity. Additionally, when the switch is in the dim position, the upper and lower groups of lights are illuminated only when a door-ajar condition is sensed and the vehicle is moving at a predetermined velocity.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle illumination mechanism for an instrument cluster dial includes a transparent light guide having a generally planar front surface, at least one semi-circular light socket, and at least one dial socket, a light source arranged within the light socket for directing light into the light guide, a lens having a focal axis arranged adjacent the light source and within the light socket for collecting the light from the light source and transmitting the light with a predetermined spread angle toward the dial socket, and a plurality of reflective surfaces, distributed in a fan-like arrangement about the focal axis and intermediate the lens and the dial socket, for redirecting light received from the lens toward the dial.

Abstract: A plunger 20 which moves in and out relative to an illuminated panel 10 to operate a switch 18 is assembled from the front of the panel by pushing a shaft 24 with radial extensions 28 through a socket. The extensions yield to allow the shaft to pass through the socket and spring out once the shaft has passed through. A compressible gasket 32 is positioned between a shoulder 34 on the knob and the front face of the panel 10, to prevent light leaking from behind the panel, and to provide a restoring force to return the plunger to its start position after operation.

Abstract: A decorative illumination apparatus including a light source, a microphone, and a controller that changes the light emission of the light source in response to sounds detected by the microphone. The controller controls the intensity and the flashing of the light source. In the preferred embodiment, the invention is installed in an automobile and the light source is a cable-like electroluminescent light source that can be easily fitted around an automobile component, such as an instrument panel. In addition to the microphone, the invention can also be connected to audio equipment, in which case the controller varies light emission in response to audio signals from the audio equipment.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus such as for a display apparatus equipped for an instrument panel of an automobile, for example, comprises a light source, such as a light-emitting diode, having polarities of substantially a tubular structure having a center axis, a circuit board arranged substantially on the center axis of the light source and electrically connected thereto, a socket body having substantially a cylindrical structure for accommodating the circuit board, and contact terminals accommodated in the socket body and including an inner terminal portion electrically connected to the circuit board through a contact point of the circuit board and an outer terminal portion electrically connected to the inner terminal portion and fixed to the socket body so as to protrude outward the socket body. The circuit board is provided with a flicker element for flickering the light source at 0.5 to 10 Hz controlled by a control unit provided for a printed circuit board of the display apparatus.

Abstract: A transparent display panel such as an electroluminescent panel is overlapped on a part of a conventional instrument panel for use in an automobile. The overlapped display panel displays additional information such as navigation maps when required and is turned off under a normal driving condition. When the overlapped transparent display panel is turned off, the conventional instrument panel displays information such as a vehicle speed, an engine speed so and so forth. In this situation, overall luminance on the combined display panel is made uniform throughout a whole surface including the area where the transparent display panel is overlapped. To realize the uniformity of luminance, brightness of back lamps for illuminating the instrument panel is adjusted or a filter having an adequate transparency is used. The combined display panel may be also made by combining a non-transparent display panel with a conventional instrument panel.

Abstract: Light shielding portions made from light shielding resin material, and light conducting portions made from transparent or translucent resin material are formed integrally with each other by two-layer molding to thereby reduce the number of manufacturing steps and to thereby make the assembling easy. The light conducting portions for conducting light from light sources furnished in a control panel to light-emission portions of the control panel are constituted by operating dial light-emission portions, label light-emission portions, a CD insertion hole light-emission portion, and so on. Further, temporarily locking claws for locking the light shielding portions in the control panel temporarily may be formed by integral molding with the light shielding portions to thereby make the assembling easier.

Abstract: The present invention provides a decorative lighting laminate that can be made to glow or illuminate while shielding the laminate's light source components from view. The decorative lighting laminate is made from a decorative laminate that includes a transparent base layer and a thin translucent decorative covering layer. In a preferred embodiment, the base layer is made from a clear polycarbonate material and the decorative covering layer is made from an organic fluoropolymeric, such as a polyvinyl fluoride or a polyvinylidene fluoride polymeric material.

Abstract: The fascia of a vehicle heating control panel is obtained by overmolding onto a monolayer flat film made of polycarbonate, elements made of different thermoplastic materials so as to allow marks and/or symbols formed by silkscreen printing on the film and present on a rotary knob to be illuminated by a transparency, while at the same time preventing the leaking of light.

Abstract: An instrument cluster assembly includes a light source for emitting black light and an instrument cluster display including at least one graphic feature that is illuminable by black light. The invisible black light illuminates only the graphic features when contacted by the black light from the light source without illuminating the surrounding portions of the instrument cluster display. Preferably, the light source includes first and second light sources positioned on opposite sides of the instrument cluster display. The light sources are each a single bulb for emitting ultraviolet light. The light sources are positioned between reflectors and the instrument cluster display such that the reflectors are positioned for redirecting black light initially emitted towards the reflector onto the instrument cluster display. The graphic features are preferably made of a phosphoric material.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for providing user selectable multi-color illumination to automotive instrument panel instruments. In one embodiment, an instrument panel or individual instrument is supplied with a plurality of differently colored illumination sources. The intensity of each color is individually controllable, allowing the user to select both intensity and hue of instrument illumination. In one embodiment, an instrument panel illumination system comprises three light sources that produce nominally white light and three associated diffusing filters, one red, one green, one blue. In another embodiment different colors of illumination are provided by light sources producing different colors of light, such as, for example, a plurality of high intensity red, green, and blue light emitting diodes ("LED's"). In one embodiment, a plurality of triplets of red, green and blue high intensity LED's are mounted above a white diffusing filter.

Abstract: A light guide apparatus for use on a motor vehicle instrument panel is disclosed. In order to bring as much light as possible into a dial pointer 20, the panel has a translucent plate 22, the front face of which forms the dial face. Light is introduced into the translucent plate through a plurality of light pipes 44, and is then directed into a catchment area 30 for pointer illumination by converging facets 35,38 formed in the plate. The facets are arranged with a wide opening which receives light traveling in the plate and with a tapering or converging area in which the light incident in the wide opening is continuously reflected into the pointer illumination catchment area.

Abstract: A transmitted illumination type meter comprises a transparent light transmitting board having both a light entering bore and a shaft passing bore formed therethrough; a translucent dial plate placed on a front surface of the board, the dial plate having a shaft passing opening mated with the shaft passing bore of the board; a movement positioned behind the board; a light source positioned within the light entering bore; a drive shaft extending from the movement to the outside of the dial plate through the shaft passing bore and the shaft passing opening; a transparent pointer connected to the drive shaft to move over a front surface of the dial plate; and an annular convex peripheral wall defining the light entering bore. The annular convex peripheral wall allows light beams from the light source to enter the board and travel in parallel in the same. A plurality of stepped annular light reflecting surfaces are formed on a rear surface of the board and arranged to be concentric with the light entering bore.

Abstract: A main body of an illuminating knob is formed as a base made of a transparent resin. An undercoat layer and a topcoat layer are applied on a peripheral surface of the base. A pattern inside eliminating portion is formed in a shape of an indicating pattern as a marked portion by a laser etching or a partial exfoliation of the topcoat layer on the bottom portion. By passing light from a light source provided inside of the knob through the marked portion, an indication via passing through light is achieved.

Abstract: A display panel includes a transparent EL panel held at an inner end of an opening formed in an instrument panel portion and inclined at a predetermined acute angle with respect to a viewing direction. A cover is disposed at a back side of the display panel for covering the display panel. A surface of the opening portion and an inner face of the cover, to which light from the display panel enters, are colored dark to absorb unnecessary ambient light.