VEHICLE WITH ILLUMINATED DISPLAY INSTRUMENT

• US 20150165964A1
• Filed: 12/11/2014
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Mori, Erol
• Application Number:
  US14/567,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20150165964A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/332 Light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/338 Light strips
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/339 Translucent dashboard skins
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/777 on or in sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/332 Light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/338 Light strips
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/339 Translucent dashboard skins
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/777 on or in sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/20 Dashboard panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/51 for mounting lighting devices onto vehicle interior, e.g. onto ceiling or floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/54 Lighting devices embedded in interior trim, e.g. in roof liners
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling

Abstract

An inner lining element having an OLED embedded between a transparent outer layer and an opaque configuration layer is disclosed for the passenger compartment. The OLED includes layers of semiconducting organic material which are essentially transparent and colorless. Against the background of the opaque configuration layer they are practically invisible when inactive and not illuminated. The OLED embedded in the inner lining element can therefore be recognized only when contacted and supplied with a voltage.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. An inner lining assembly for the passenger compartment of a vehicle comprising:

an inner liner having a transparent outer layer and an opaque configuration layer; and

at least one OLED embedded between the transparent outer layer and the opaque configuration layer.

17. The inner liner assembly according to claim 16, wherein the outer layer is colorless.

18. The inner liner assembly according to claim 16, wherein the configuration layer is visible through the outer layer around the at least one OLED.

19. The inner liner assembly according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the outer layer and the configuration layer is flexible.

20. The inner liner assembly according to claim 16, wherein the OLED is shaped as a pictogram or part of a pictogram.

21. The inner liner assembly according to claim 16, further comprising a transparent supply line for the at least one OLED running between the outer layer and the configuration layer up to a rim of the inner liner assembly.

22. The inner liner assembly according to claim 21, wherein the rim comprises metallic contacts arranged thereon.

23. The inner liner assembly according to claim 16, further comprising a plurality of varicolored OLEDs embedded between the transparent outer layer and the opaque configuration layer.

24. The inner liner assembly according to claim 16, wherein a contact sensor is attached at the location of the at least one OLED.

25. A vehicle door comprising an inner liner assembly according to claim 16, wherein the inner liner assembly is positioned on at least a portion of interior surface of the door.

26. The vehicle door according to claim 25, wherein the at least one OLED is arranged below a waistline of the vehicle door.

27. The vehicle door according to claim 26, where the inner liner assembly further comprises an wall surface and a shoulder connecting the wall surface with a window lower edge, wherein the at least one OLED is arranged at the shoulder.

28. The vehicle door according to claim 25, where the inner liner assembly fills a portion of the door between a waistline and a front edge of a door window and the at least one OLED is arranged in a crotch region therebetween.

29. The vehicle door according to claim 25, where the at least one OLED is coupled to a sensor for monitoring an environmental area on a side of the door opposite the interior side for indicating the presence of an object in the environmental area.

30. A vehicle, wherein an inner liner assembly according to claim 16 forms an interior component of the vehicle selected from the group comprising a dashboard, a portion of a dashboard, a portion of a steering wheel or a cover of an A-column.