Display arrangement for a motor vehicle

• US 6,200,010 B1
• Filed: 03/01/1999
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Anders, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Laura K.
• Application Number:
  US09/260,588
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 362/555, 362/511, 362/494, 362/540, 362/545, 362/544, 362/543
• US Class Current: 362/511
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

A display arrangement to display data on a mirror surface of a motor vehicle surrounded by a housing includes at least one light-emitting element and a corresponding light guide having one end face to receive light from the light-emitting element and another end face located in the housing substantially parallel to the mirror surface. The mirror surface is provided with a light transmissive aperture in the region of the second end face of the light guide.

Claims

1. A display arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising:

a mirror surface mounted in a housing;

at least one light emitting element at a location remote from the mirror surface;

a light guide associated with the light-emitting element extending between the location remote from the mirror surface and a location adjacent to the mirror surface and having a first end face coupled to receive light from the light-emitting element and a second end face disposed substantially parallel to the mirror surface in the housing, the mirror surface having a light transmissive aperture in the region of the second end face of the light guide.

2. A display arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the light-emitting element is a luminescence diode.

3. A display arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the light transmissive aperture is an opening in or a semitransparent portion of the mirror surface.

4. A display arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the second end face of the light guide has an associated lens by which the emitted light can be directed.

5. A display arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the light transmissive aperture is located in a region of the mirror surface where little traffic monitoring data is to be expected.

6. A display arrangement according to claim 1 including a plurality of light guides located at the light transmissive aperture which are capable of being selectively actuated by light from corresponding light-emitting elements.