Display apparatus

• US 7,350,954 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2005
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Snider, Chris R., Fye, Michael E., Lippmann, Raymond, Sylvester, Gail M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar; Stephen F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neils; Peggy A.
• Application Number:
  US11/194,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20070025096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 362/612, 362/633, 362/634, 362/29, 362/30, 362/555, 362/800, 362/632, 362/84, 349/58
• US Class Current: 362/612
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133603 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133608 including particular frames or supporting means
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133614 using photoluminescence, e.g. phosphors illuminated by UV or blue light
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133617 Illumination with ultraviolet light; Luminescent elements or materials associated to the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/025 Light-emitting indicators

Abstract

An holder or support for a backlit component is disclosed which provides display lighting for the backlit component. The holder may be a one-piece holder and may be made from a polymeric material including one or more fluorescing materials and/or diffusing substances. A trim plate for a backlit display is disclosed. The trim plate may have a front face which provides both a solid support for graphic indicia and display lighting for the graphic indicia.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a backlit display, the apparatus comprising:

at least one illumination source configured to emit a cone of light having a first spectrum;

a backlit component; and

a one-piece holder configured to support the backlit component, the holder having a first portion positioned between the at least one illumination source and the backlit component, the first portion including a fluorescing material which absorbs at least a portion of light having the first spectrum and emits light having a second spectrum to provide appropriate lighting for the backlit component, where said first portion has a shape that approximates a wavefront of said cone of light so that all light rays within said cone of light have a substantially equal path length through said first portion and substantially equal absorption by said fluorescing material.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a spacing between said first portion and a periphery of the illumination source is substantially constant.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the illumination source has a shape that corresponds to the wavefront of said cone of light, and said first portion has a share that approximates the shape of said illumination source.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a base member for supporting said illumination source and said first portion.

5. A method for providing a backlit display, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a backlit component and at least one illumination source configured to emit a cone of light having a first spectrum; and

positioning a holder between the illumination source and the backlit component, the holder having a light-transmitting first portion including one or more fluorescing materials which absorb light of the first spectrum and emit light of a second spectrum for backlighting the backlit display, said first portion having a shape that approximates a wavefront of said cone of light so that all light rays within said cone of light have a substantially equal path length through said first portion and substantially equal absorption by said fluorescing materials.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of supporting the backlit component with a second portion of the holder, wherein the backlit component is a liquid crystal display and wherein the first portion of the holder is spaced apart from a back surface of the liquid crystal display.