Illuminated indicator

• US 7,252,400 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Perry, Kenneth D., Sylvester, Gail M., Heidtman, Randall J., Clugston, Mark J., Brooks, David L., Best, Douglas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar; Stephen F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunwiddie; Meghan K.
• Application Number:
  US10/965,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20050128733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 362/23, 362/26, 362/27, 362/231, 362/555
• US Class Current: 362/26
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/336 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/6985 with only part of pointer being visible
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices

Abstract

An illuminated indicator is disclosed. The illuminated indicator includes graphics disposed on a rear surface of a lightpipe and a housing that supports the rear surface of lightpipe. The housing defines an outer perimeter light channel. The illuminated indicator also includes a plurality of light sources that are disposed about the outer perimeter light channel. The outer perimeter light channel directs light from the plurality of light sources to an outer perimeter edge of the lightpipe to evenly illuminate the graphics.

Claims

1. An illuminated indicator, comprising:

a lightpipe having a front surface, a rear surface and an outer edge peripheral surface;

graphics disposed on the rear surface of the lightpipe;

a housing that supports the rear surface of the lightpipe, wherein the housing defines an outer perimeter light channel peripherally and outwardly adiacent the outer edge peripheral surface of the lightpipe; and

a plurality of light sources that are disposed about the outer perimeter light channel, wherein the outer perimeter light channel facilitates mixing of light from the plurality of light sources and directs the mixed light from the plurality of light sources to the outer edge peripheral surface of the lightpipe for entry into the lightpipe therethrough, wherein the graphics redirect a portion of the light in the lightpipe passing across and interacting therewith for escape from the lightpipe through the front surface to render the graphics visible to a viewer facing the front surface thereof.

2. The illuminated indicator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources are differently colored.

3. The illuminated indicator of claim 2, wherein the plurality of differently colored light sources include

at least one red light source,

at least one blue light source, and

at least one green light source.

4. The illuminated indicator of claim 2, wherein the plurality of light sources are light emitting diodes (LEDs).

5. The illuminated indicator of claim 1, wherein the outer perimeter light channel includes a reflecting wall that directs the light to the outer edge perimeter of the lightpipe, wherein the reflecting wall is located opposite the outer perimeter edge of the lightpipe and above the plurality of light sources at an angle.

6. The illuminated indicator of claim 5, wherein the angle ranges from approximately 40°

-60°

.

7. The illuminated indicator of claim 6, wherein the lightpipe includes a sheet stock acrylic material, wherein the angle is ranges from approximately 47°

-53°

.

8. The illuminated indicator of claim 1 further comprising a dark background applique intermediately located between a support surface of the housing and the rear surface of the lightpipe to provide a contrasting dark color against the graphics, wherein the graphics include a relatively light color compared to the dark applique.

11. The illuminated indicator of claim 1, wherein individual on/off time of each of the plurality of light sources that are disposed about the outer perimeter light channel are controlled by a manual input means.

12. The illuminated indicator of claim 11, wherein the manual input means is a button that, upon being depressed, provides a selection of one of a plurality of pre-set even illumination colors and/or a variable even illumination color.

13. The illuminated indicator of claim 12, wherein the plurality of pre-set even illumination colors includes red, green, blue, white, amber, and purple.

14. The illuminated indicator of claim 1, wherein the graphics are disposed on the rear surface of lightpipe via a laser-etching process, an acid-etching process, or a pad-printing process.

9. An illuminated indicator, comprising:

graphics disposed on a rear surface of a lightpipe;

a housing that supports the rear surface of the lightpipe, wherein the housing defines an outer perimeter light channel;

a plurality of light sources that are disposed about the outer perimeter light channel, wherein the outer perimeter light channel facilitates directs light from the plurality of light sources to an outer perimeter edge of the lightpipe to evenly illuminate the graphics;

a dark background appligue intermediately located between a support surface of the housing and the rear surface of the lightpipe to provide a contrasting dark color against the graphics, wherein the graphics include a relatively light color compared to the dark appligue; and

a second plurality of light sources disposed about an inner light channel defined by the housing, wherein at least one individual light source of the second plurality of light sources is located substantially behind the graphics, wherein light from the at least one individual light source of the second plurality of light sources passes through an opening formed in a support surface of the housing to provide an illumination of a higher intensity over the even illumination provided by the first plurality of light sources.

10. The illuminated indicator of claim 9, wherein the illumination of a higher intensity is of a different color than the even illumination.

15. A method of illuminating an indicator, comprising:

providing graphics on a rear surface of a lightpipe having a front surface, a rear surface and an outer edge peripheral surface;

disposing a plurality of light sources about an outer perimeter light channel of a housing that supports the lightpipe and is located peripherally and outwardly adiacent the outer edge peripheral surface of the lightpipe, and

mixing light from the plurality of light sources within the outer perimeter light channel; and

directing the mixed light from the plurality of light sources to the outer edge peripheral surface of the lightpipe for entry into the lightpipe therethrough, wherein the graphics redirect a portion of the light in the lightpipe passing across and interacting therewith for escape from the lightpipe through the front surface to render the graphics visible to a viewer facing the front surface thereof.

17. The method of illuminating an indicator according to claim 15 further comprising the step of

changing the color of the light provided by the plurality of light sources disposed about the outer perimeter light channel by providing a manual input means that controls the on/off time of the plurality of light sources.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein, upon providing an input to the manual input means, allowing an operator to select one of a plurality of preset colors.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein, upon providing an input to the manual input means, allowing an operator to tune the color of the light provided by the plurality of light sources disposed about the outer perimeter light channel.

16. A method of illuminating an indicator, comprising:

providing graphics on a rear surface of a lightpipe;

disposing a plurality of light sources about an outer perimeter light channel of a housing that supports the lightpipe;

directing light from the plurality of light sources through the outer perimeter light channel to an outer perimeter edge of the lightpipe to evenly illuminate the graphics;

disposing a second plurality of light sources about an inner light channel defined by the housing, wherein individual light sources of the second plurality of light sources are positioned substantially behind the graphics; and

directing light through the housing to illuminate the graphics with a light of a higher intensity than that of the plurality of light sources disposed about the outer perimeter light channel.