Spring-mounted light guide

• US 7,527,386 B1
• Filed: 04/04/2007
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Inventors: Salinas Fox, Victor Hugo, Masuda, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Negron; Ismael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crowe; David R
• Application Number:
  US11/730,838
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 362/97, 362/602, 362/603, 362/604, 362/605, 362/612, 362/628, 362/632, 362/633, 362/634, 362/559, 362/560, 362/561, 362/85, 362/86, 362/88, 362/543, 362/544, 362/545, 362/548, 362/356, 362/800, 362/23, 362/26, 362/27, 362/28, 362/29, 362/30, 362/390, 362/471, 362/482, 362/487, 362/488, 362/489, 362/240, 362/241, 362/646, 405/50, 405/64, 405/77, 439/56, 385/901, 349/62
• US Class Current: 362/29
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices

Abstract

A light guide has a series of light channels passing through the guide between an outer planar surface and a base. Two resilient arms extend from opposite ends of the guide. The arms have free ends with cap elements for fitting over bosses within an instrument cluster mask. The base of the guide, through a flex action of the resilient arms, forces a dial or appliqué against the mask for viewing through a display window in the mask. In a vehicle instrument cluster assembly, the light guide is located between the mask and a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB has light emitting diodes for fitting into the channels at the planar surface of the guide and backlighting the appliqué. The PCB presses against the cap elements of the resilient arms, causing the base of the guide to force the appliqué against sides of the mask window.

Claims

1. A light guide for a display, the light guide comprising:

a base with a bottom surface, a top surface, and opposite ends;

a formation projecting from the top surface of the base, the formation having multiple channels for directing light through the light guide; and

spring arms extending over and past each opposite end of the base, each spring arm having a free end with means for securing the light guide between a light source and the display,

wherein each securing means includes a collar fitting around a cylindrical protrusion of the display, the collar being formed by opposite semi-circular segments joined at upper edges by a flat plate.

2. The light guide of claim 1 further comprising a short cylindrical member extending from the plate away from the semi-circular segments.

3. The light guide of claim 2 further including a through-hole passing through the short cylindrical member and plate.

4. A display instrument for a vehicle, the instrument comprising:

a mask having an interior with a front wall, and a window extending through the front wall;

a circuit board and a light source mounted on a surface of the circuit board;

a light guide, the light guide having at least one compartment, the light guide further including protruding spring arms with free ends, the free ends having means for mounting the light guide within the interior of the mask, the circuit board surface exerting a pressing force on the mounting means against a surface of the mask when the circuit board surface is positioned against the light guide and the at least one compartment receives the light source; and

an appliqué

having an information display face for being backlit by the light source, the appliqué

being located between the light guide and the front wall of the mask, wherein the spring arms of the light guide are shaped to flex and bias the light guide against the appliqué

when the force is exerted on the mounting means by the circuit board surface and thereby press the appliqué

against the front wall of the mask with the display face viewable through the window.

5. The display instrument of claim 4 wherein the mounting means is a cap-like element on the free end of each spring arm for fitting around bosses in the interior of the mask.