Color Messaging Lens

• US 20090066532A1
• Filed: 09/07/2007
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Kraus, Karen M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,880,635 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/691.400
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/021 Reading apparatus

Abstract

An enhanced color messaging instrument gauge assembly is disclosed having a lens with one or more surface interruptions. A lens covering an instrument cluster transmits colored light longitudinally from at least one light source near its edge. Light encountering the surface interruption causes the surface interruption to illuminate. In one embodiment, different colored light can be coordinated with activation of symbols on the instrument cluster to attract the attention of an operator to an abnormal operating condition or to reinforce other information being communicated to the operator on the instrument cluster.

Claims

1. An instrument gauge assembly, of a type having an instrument cluster comprising indicators and visible symbols and in communication with a controller, said instrument gauge assembly comprising:

a lens covering at least a portion of the instrument cluster and capable of carrying light longitudinally from its edge,

a light source in communication with the controller,

a light pick up formed on the lens and having an edge portion proximate to the light source, and

an interruption on a surface of the lens which illuminates with light transmitted within the lens by the light source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light transmitted by the light source is colored.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an abnormal operating condition signal communicated by the controller, wherein the light source illuminates the surface interruption in response to the abnormal operating condition signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller is programmed to cause the light source to intensify or blink as an abnormal operating condition persists or becomes more urgent.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface interruption on the lens is in the perimeter region of the lens which is visible to an operator.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lens is made of plastic.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a plurality of light sources and a plurality of light pickups.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one light pickup is proximate to a plurality of light sources capable of emitting different colored light.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a first portion of the lens having a first surface interruption zone associated with a first light color and a second portion of the lens having a second surface interruption zone associated with a second light color.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of light sources is itself configured to emit a plurality of colors.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein an operator can select at least one illumination color or color sequence from the plurality of light sources.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface interruption is etched or molded into the lens.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface interruption comprises a material applied onto the lens.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source is an LED.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an operator switch configured to modify or disable the illumination of the surface interruption.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lens covers substantially the entire instrument cluster.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface interruption is configured to produce a clear and distinct line or pattern of illumination.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface interruption is configured to produce a diffused area of illumination.

19. An enhanced instrument gauge assembly, of a type used in a motor vehicle and having an instrument cluster comprising indicators and visible symbols and in communication with a controller, said enhanced instrument gauge assembly comprising:

an optically clear plastic lens capable of carrying light longitudinally from its edge and covering at least a perimeter portion of the instrument panel,

a plurality of colored LED light sources in communication with the controller, at least one of the light sources transmitting light in response to an abnormal operating condition of the motor vehicle,

a plurality of light pickups molded into a perimeter portion of the lens, each light pickup having an edge portion proximate to at least one of the plurality of colored light sources, and

a surface interruption molded or cut into at least one surface of the lens which illuminates the light transmitted by the plurality of colored light sources.

20. A method of conveying information to a motor vehicle operator via an instrument gauge assembly, of a type having an instrument cluster comprising indicators and visible signals and in communication with a controller, said method comprising:

providing a lens covering at least a portion of the instrument cluster and capable of carrying light longitudinally from its edge,

providing a light source in communication with the controller,

providing a light pickup formed on the lens and having an edge portion proximate to the light source,

providing an interruption on a surface of the lens which illuminates with light transmitted within the lens by the light source,

sending a signal from the controller to the light source in response to abnormal operating conditions,

transmitting a colored light from the light source through the light pickup and through a portion of the lens to the surface interruption; and

illuminating the surface interruption.