Accessory light

• US 7,507,008 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2007
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Dennis, Jeffrey C., Walczowski, George, Chen, Chi-han, Clauw, Mitchell J., Novak, Nicholas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRANSON JR, JAMES W
• Application Number:
  US11/668,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20080180963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 362/487, 362/488, 362/489
• US Class Current: 362/489
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/12 lighting onto the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/20 for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/229 Cup holders
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens

Abstract

A lighting system for a vehicle including a display panel and vehicle accessory includes a light source disposed within the display panel that illuminates the display panel. The display panel includes at least one aperture that selectively permits light from the light source to pass through the display panel to illuminate the vehicle accessory.

Claims

1. A lighting system for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a display panel and a vehicle accessory adjacent to the display panel, the lighting system comprising a light source disposed within the display panel and operable to backlight said display panel with light from said light source, said display panel including at least one aperture selectively permitting light from said light source to pass through said display panel to illuminate the vehicle accessory.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said at least one aperture is positioned to permit light from said light source to directly impinge upon the vehicle accessory.

3. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said at least one aperture includes a color filter.

4. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said display panel includes at least one control device operable to control a subsystem of the vehicle.

5. The lighting system of claim 4, wherein said subsystem is at least one of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, an audio system, and a graphical user interface.

6. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle accessory is disposed beneath said display panel.

7. The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a console disposed beneath said display panel and supporting the vehicle accessory.

8. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle accessory is a cup holder.

9. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle accessory includes a coating reflecting light from said light source.

10. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said display panel is mounted to an instrument panel of the vehicle.

11. The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a control system that selectively prevents light from passing through said display panel when said light source is backlighting said display panel.

12. A vehicle comprising:

a display panel;

a vehicle accessory disposed adjacent to said display panel; and

a lighting system including a light source disposed within said display panel for backlighting the display panel and selectively illuminating said vehicle accessory.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein said display panel includes at least one aperture that allows light from said light source to pass through said display panel and directly impinge upon said vehicle accessory.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein said at least one aperture includes a color filter.

15. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising an instrument panel and a console disposed beneath said instrument panel, said instrument panel supporting said display panel and said console supporting said vehicle accessory.

16. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein said vehicle accessory is a cup holder.

17. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein said vehicle accessory reflects light from said light source.

18. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein said vehicle accessory is disposed beneath said display panel.

19. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein said vehicle accessory is a storage compartment.

20. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising a control system that selectively prevents said lighting system from illuminating said vehicle accessory when said lighting system backlights said display panel.