Backlight setting method of analog instrument panel

• US 7,015,891 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2003
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jui-Yang Lo
• Original Assignee: Jui-Yang Lo
• Inventors: Lo, Jui-Yang
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad, Amr A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shapiro, Leonid
• Application Number:
  US10/419,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20040212579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 345/102, 345/39, 345/76, 345/5, 345/75
• US Class Current: 345/102
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• 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

Abstract

A backlight setting method of an analog instrument panel is provided. Through a cooperation between a microprocessor and an electronic control circuit, the backlight of the analog instrument panel can be cyclically varied. Moreover, the present invention employs the key set mounted outside the instrument panel to be pressed by the user for choosing a favorite backlight color during the backlight of the instrument panel is mixing changed. Furthermore, because the program design in the microprocessor, the illuminating element, through an asynchronous color mixing theory, can provide various colors to be set by the user for complying the backlight of the analog instrument panel with the like and demands of the user.

Claims

1. A backlight setting method of an analog instrument panel, said backlight having a variation mode loaded in a program of a microprocessor, wherein illumination of a first backlight is transitioned into illumination of a second backlight, the illumination of said first backlight dims until faded out, thereby causing a delay phenomenon in said transitioning of said illumination of first backlight into illumination of said second backlight, and, illumination of said second backlight brightens, simultaneous to said dimming of illumination of said first backlight, said simultaneous dimming of illumination of said first backlight and said brightening of illumination of said second backlight produces a mixed, combined color effect, and when illumination of said backlight is transitioning, a user utilizes an external key set to lock different transitioning colors or to lock said mixed, combined color based on said user'"'"'s preference;

and so on, when illumination of said second backlight is transitioned into a illumination of a third backlight, said user is also capable of setting said color.

2. The backlight setting method of an analog instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein said method is achieved through:

a microprocessor for controlling a variation of said backlight through a program burned therein and connected to an electronic control circuit for receiving a setting signal inputted by a key set;

an electronic control circuit connected to said microprocessor, a key set and a RGB illuminating element so as to receive a control signal inputted by said key set, transmit said signal to said microprocessor, and outputting a proceeded result to said RGB illuminating element;

a key set connected to said electronic control circuit and mounted on an external portion of said instrument panel for being used by the user when setting;

a RGB illuminating element for receiving a signal from said microprocessor and transforming said signal into a backlight output through said electronic control circuit;

wherein said backlight of said analog instrument panel is cyclically varied through a cooperation between said microprocessor and said electronic control circuit, and said key set mounted outside said instrument panel is employed to be pressed by said user for choosing a favorite backlight color during said backlight of said instrument panel is mixing changed.

3. The backlight setting method of an analog instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein the color, quantity and arrangement said backlight does not influence a design of said microprocessor and only influence said achieved efficiency.

4. The backlight setting method of an analog instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein said color which is set by said user is memorized by said microprocessor which owns a memorizing function and is still shown on said instrument panel when starting next time only if a reset order is not commanded.