Method of manufacturing a cover of a backlit display using fluorescing materials

• US 6,905,901 B1
• Filed: 03/27/2002
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Uglum, Paul A., Fye, Michael E., Lippmann, Ray, Sylvester, Gail M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THUY V
• Application Number:
  US10/107,766
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 438/29, 359/227, 362558-559, 445 23- 24, 445/58
• US Class Current: 438/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/188 Displaying information using colour changes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/188 Displaying information using colour changes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133617 Illumination with ultraviolet light; Luminescent elements or materials associated to the cell
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/20 with luminescent surfaces or parts luminescent compositions C09K11/00; light sources using luminescence F21K2/00

Abstract

A backlit display allowing one or more colors to be properly illuminated. Included in the backlit display is a light source that emits light upon a backside of a substrate. A selectively applied opaque layer prevents light from a light source from passing through at least one selected portion of said substrate. Incorporated into the substrate is one or more fluorescing materials to diffuse the light and/or change the color of the light emitted from the light source.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a cover for a backlit display, comprising:

combining a polymer material with a fluorescing material and a diffusing substance to form a substrate material;

forming a substrate from the substrate material; and

applying an opaque layer on the substrate to form a graphic, wherein the opaque layer prevents light from a light source from passing through at least one selected portion of said substrate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming step forms the substrate via injection molding.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying step comprises:

disposing the opaque layer over the substrate; and

selectively removing at least a portion of the opaque layer to form the graphic.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the selectively removing step is conducted via at least one of a lasing process and an etching process.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising disposing a light-passing coating layer between the substrate and the opaque layer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the light-passing coating layer is colored to reflect a daytime graphic color.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the diffusing substance is a silica-based material.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the diffusing substance is an acrylic-based material.