BACKLIGHT DISPLAY AND METHOD FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20100039366A1
• Filed: 08/18/2008
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hardy, Rody
• Application Number:
  US12/193,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20100039366A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/102
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133391 Constructional arrangement for sub-divided displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133602 Direct backlight
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0221 with use of split matrices G09G3/3644 and G09G3/3666 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336

Abstract

An opaque divider divides two independently-controllable backlights to a vehicle-based display screen. In this way light from one backlight does not interfere with the light (or the lack thereof) from the other backlight.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle frame;

a locomotion source operatively supported to the frame that provides locomotion for the vehicle; and

at least one passenger seat for use by an associated vehicle passenger;

a backlit display screen assembly operatively supported to the vehicle frame and for use by the associated vehicle passenger when seated in the passenger seat, the backlit display screen assembly comprising;

(a) a display housing;

(b) a display screen;

(c) first and second independently-controllable backlights positioned to illuminate the display screen in the housing; and

(d) an opaque divider separating the at least two backlights defining a first display zone and a second display zone.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the display screen assembly further comprises:

a third independently-controllable backlight positioned to illuminate the display screen and second opaque divider dividing the display screen into a first, second and a third display zones.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the backlight comprises:

at least one cold cathode florescent lamp.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the backlight comprises:

at least one light emitting diode.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the display screen assembly comprises:

a control mechanism to operate one backlight independently of the other backlight.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first display zone controls about 80% of the display screen, and the second display zone controls about 20% of the display screen.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the opaque divider has a horizontal orientation across the display screen.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the opaque divider has a vertical orientation across the display screen.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first opaque divider has a horizontal orientation across the display screen and the second opaque divider has a vertical orientation across the display screen.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first display zone controls about 40% of the display screen, and the second display zone controls about 40% of the display screen and a third display zone controls about 20% of the display screen.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first display zone displays vehicle location information and the second display zone displays audio information.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first display zone displays vehicle location and map information and the second display zone displays audio information and a third display zone displays guidance information.

13. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the display screen assembly is mounted in front of an operator at the front of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the display screen assembly is mounted between an operator and a passenger at the front of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein there are at least two display screen assemblies.

16. A method comprising the steps of:

providing a vehicle comprising;

a frame;

a locomotion source operatively supported to the frame that provides locomotion for the vehicle;

at least one passenger seat for a vehicle passenger; and

,

providing a backlit display screen assembly comprising;

a display screen housing operatively supported to the frame, a display screen operatively connected to the display housing, an opaque divider positioned behind the display screen for dividing the display screen into a first display zone and a second display zone, a first backlight for use in illuminating the first display zone, a second backlight for use in illuminating the second display zone, wherein the first backlight is separated from the second backlight by the opaque divider, and a control mechanism for use in operating the first and second backlight;

(a) operating the vehicle in low light conditions;

(b) operating the control mechanism to cause the first backlight to enter an inactive state;

(c) illuminating only the second viewing area via the second backlight and preventing the first display zone from receiving illumination from the second backlight.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein step comprises the steps of:

operating the control mechanism to cause the first backlight to activate;

illuminating the first viewing area with the first backlight and illuminating the second viewing area with the second backlight.