Illuminated instrument cluster with perceived 3-D display segments
First Claim
1. A vehicle instrument cluster for indicating a value of a vehicle parameter, the vehicle instrument cluster comprising:
- a display member formed of a transparent material, wherein said display member defines an internal portion within said display member;
display segments integrally formed in said internal portion within said display member, said display segments including a flat upper surface facing said first external surface, a lower surface disposed opposite the first external surface relative to said flat upper surface, and a flat edge surface extending from said flat upper surface to said lower surface;
a first illumination system having a light source and an optical member, that is movable in response to a change in the value of the vehicle parameter, wherein said optical member selectively directs the light from said light source into said internal portion within said display member to illuminate at least a portion of said display segments that form indicia to indicate the value of the vehicle parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle instrument cluster for indicating a value of a vehicle parameter. The vehicle instrument cluster includes a display member formed of a transparent material and display segments integrally formed within the display member. The display segments are configured to diffuse light and the display segments form at least a portion of indicia associated with the vehicle parameter. A first illumination system has a light source and a motor connected to an optical member. The optical member is movable in response to a change in the value of the vehicle parameter. The optical member selectively directs the light from the light source to within the display member to illuminate at least a portion of the display segments that form the indicia to indicate the value of the vehicle parameter.
48 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A vehicle instrument cluster for indicating a value of a vehicle parameter, the vehicle instrument cluster comprising:
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a display member formed of a transparent material, wherein said display member defines an internal portion within said display member; display segments integrally formed in said internal portion within said display member, said display segments including a flat upper surface facing said first external surface, a lower surface disposed opposite the first external surface relative to said flat upper surface, and a flat edge surface extending from said flat upper surface to said lower surface; a first illumination system having a light source and an optical member, that is movable in response to a change in the value of the vehicle parameter, wherein said optical member selectively directs the light from said light source into said internal portion within said display member to illuminate at least a portion of said display segments that form indicia to indicate the value of the vehicle parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle instrument cluster for indicating a value of a vehicle parameter, the vehicle instrument cluster comprising:
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a display member formed of a transparent material, wherein said display member defines an internal portion within said display member and a first external surface, a second external surface and a third external surface, said first external surface operable as a front face of said display member said second external surface opposite said first external surface and said third external surface disposed at a non-zero angle relative to said first surface and said second surface; display segments integrally formed in said internal portion within said display member, said display segments including a flat upper surface facing said first external surface, a lower surface disposed opposite said first external surface relative to said flat upper surface, and a flat edge surface extending from said flat upper surface to said lower surface, wherein said display segments are configured to diffuse light and to form at least a portion of indicia associated with the vehicle parameter; a first illumination system having a light source and a motor connected to an optical member, said optical member movable in response to a change in the value of the vehicle parameter, wherein said optical member selectively directs the light from said light source through said third external surface and into said internal portion within said display member to illuminate at least a portion of said display segments that form said indicia to indicate the value of the vehicle parameter, wherein at least a portion of said display segments is disposed in said internal portion and spaced from said external surface. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A vehicle instrument display for indicating a value and a change of a vehicle parameter, the vehicle instrument display comprising:
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a block of transparent material defining at least a first external surface viewable from the vehicle instrument display, a second external surface generally opposite said first external surface, a third external surface disposed at a non-zero angle relative to said first surface and said second surface and an internal portion disposed between said first and second external surfaces; indicia forming a gauge that indicates the value of the vehicle parameter, wherein said indicia are integrally formed in said internal portion within said block of material, wherein said indicia are configured to diffuse light, wherein a first portion of said indicia at least includes a flat upper surface facing said first external surface, a lower surface disposed opposite said first external surface relative to said flat upper surface, and a flat edge surface extending from said flat upper surface to said lower surface; a laser beam selectively directed through said third external surface to illuminate said first portion of said indicia in said interior portion to indicate the value of the vehicle parameter and a second portion of said indicia to indicate the value of the vehicle parameter and the change therein. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of forming a three dimensional instrument cluster that indicates a value of a vehicle parameter, the method comprising:
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providing a transparent block of material housed in the three dimensional instrument cluster having at least a first external surface viewable from the vehicle instrument display, a second external surface generally opposite said first external surface, a third external surface disposed at a non-zero angle relative to said first surface and said second surface and an internal portion disposed between said first and second external surfaces; providing a sufficient amount of points in said internal portion of said transparent block of material, wherein said sufficient amount of points at least include a flat upper surface facing said first external surface, a lower surface disposed opposite the first external surface relative to said flat upper surface, and a flat edge surface extending from said flat upper surface to said lower surface; directing a laser beam through said third external surface into said internal portion within said block of material; illuminating said sufficient amount of points in said internal portion that diffuse light within said block of material to provide at least a portion of a gauge that is operable to display a value of the vehicle parameter. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A method forming an illuminated instruments cluster with perceived 3-D display segments, the method comprising:
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providing a transparent block of material having an internal portion; providing a sufficient amount of points in said internal portion of said transparent block of material, wherein said sufficient amount of points at least include a flat upper surface facing said first external surface, a lower surface disposed opposite the first external surface relative to said flat upper surface, and a flat edge surface extending from said flat upper surface to said lower surface; directing a laser beam into said internal portion of said block of material; illuminating said points in said internal portion that diffuse light within said transparent block of material to provide at least a portion of a gauge; indicating a value of a vehicle parameter on said portion of said gauge with said laser beam when said laser beam is illuminating said points in said internal portion. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification