Fiber optic lighted instrument panel

• US 6,206,533 B1
• Filed: 12/13/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Shi, Zhong-You Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Quach, Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/460,199
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 362/23, 362/26, 362/28, 362/29, 362/30, 362/554, 362/556, 362/582, 362/583, 362/555, 362/31
• US Class Current: 362/23
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/12 lighting onto the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/66 for distributing light among several lighting devices

Abstract

A fiber optic lighted instrument panel includes an instrument panel having at least one portion to be illuminated and adapted to be disposed in an occupant compartment of a vehicle. The fiber optic lighted instrument panel also includes a fiber optic light cable extending around the at least one portion. The fiber optic lighted instrument panel further includes a light source connected to the fiber optic light cable to illuminate the at least one portion of the instrument panel.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle having a fiber optic lighted instrument panel comprising:

an occupant compartment;

an instrument panel having at least one first portion to be illuminated disposed in said occupant compartment;

a fiber optic light cable extending around said at least one first portion and having a second portion removed on one side of said fiber optic light cable to form an aperture; and

a light source connected to said fiber optic light cable so that light is leaked out said aperture to illuminate said at least one first portion of said instrument panel.

2. A motor vehicle having a fiber optic lighted instrument panel as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fiber optic light cable has a core and a cladding extending around said core.

3. A motor vehicle having a fiber optic lighted instrument panel as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fiber optic light cable is made of a plastic material.

4. A motor vehicle having a fiber optic lighted instrument panel as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fiber optic light cable includes a protective jacket disposed about said cladding.

5. A motor vehicle having a fiber optic lighted instrument panel as set forth in claim 2 wherein said core has a dye disposed thereabout to allow said core to emit a colored light.

6. A motor vehicle having a fiber optic lighted instrument panel as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light source emits a colored light.

7. A motor vehicle having a fiber optic lighted instrument panel as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one first portion is a gage.

8. A motor vehicle having a fiber optic lighted instrument panel as set forth in claim 7 wherein said gage comprises a gage member having indicia disposed circumferentially thereabout and a needle pivotally connected to said gage member.

9. A motor vehicle having a fiber optic lighted instrument panel as set forth in claim 8 wherein said needle includes a light emitting diode.

10. A motor vehicle having a fiber optic lighted instrument panel as set forth in claim 9 wherein said fiber optic light cable is connected to said needle.

11. A motor vehicle having a fiber optic lighted instrument panel comprising:

an occupant compartment;

an instrument panel having a plurality of gages to be illuminated disposed in said occupant compartment;

a fiber optic light cable extending around each of said gages, said fiber optic light cable comprising a core and a cladding around said core wherein a portion of said cladding is removed to form an aperture; and

a light source connected to said fiber optic light cable so that light is leaked out said aperture to illuminate a desired area on each of said gages of said instrument panel.

12. A motor vehicle having a fiber optic lighted instrument panel as set forth in claim 11 wherein said fiber optic light cable includes a protective jacket disposed about said cladding.

13. A motor vehicle having a fiber optic lighted instrument panel as set forth in claim 11 wherein said core has a dye disposed thereabout to allow said core to emit a colored light.

14. A motor vehicle having a fiber optic lighted instrument panel as set forth in claim 11 wherein said light source emits a colored light.

15. A motor vehicle having a fiber optic lighted instrument panel as set forth in claim 11 wherein each of said gages comprises a gage member having indicia disposed circumferentially thereabout and a needle pivotally connected to said gage member.

16. A motor vehicle having a fiber optic lighted instrument panel as set forth in claim 11 wherein said fiber optic light cable is made of a plastic material.

17. A motor vehicle having a fiber optic lighted instrument panel comprising:

an occupant compartment;

an instrument panel having a plurality of gages to be illuminated disposed in said occupant compartment, each of said gases comprising a gage member having indicia disposed circumferentially thereabout and a needle pivotally connected to said gage member;

a fiber optic light cable extending around each of said gages, said fiber optic light cable comprising a core and a cladding extending around said core, wherein a portion of said cladding is removed to form an aperture; and

a light source connected to said fiber optic light cable to allow light from said core to be emitted through said aperture to illuminate a desired area on each of said gages of said instrument panel.