Light diffusion device for a gauge dial plate

• US 7,553,037 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Auto Meter Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: John T. Sullivan
• Inventors: Sullivan, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar; Stephen F
• Application Number:
  US11/898,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20080002388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 362/26, 362/27, 362/30, 362/333, 362/334, 362/558, 362/559, 116/287
• US Class Current: 362/26
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/07 Indicating devices, e.g. for remote indication indicating working conditions of vehicles G07C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 116/05 using light guides
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 116/36 Illuminated dial and pointer

Abstract

A light diffusion device for uniformly dispersing light across a gauge dial plate having indicia associated therewith includes an annular member of transparent or translucent material having front and rear annular surfaces each merging with an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface. The inner peripheral surface is a frusto-conical widening in a direction from the rear surface toward the front surface to reflect light rays toward the outer peripheral and front surfaces thereby effecting uniform illumination across the front surface, and the outer peripheral surface and frusto-conical inner peripheral surface share a coincident axis of generation.

Claims

1. A light diffusion device for uniformly dispersing light across a gauge dial plate having indicia associated therewith comprising a substantially annular member made of at least one of transparent and translucent material, said annular member including front and rear substantially annular surfaces each merging with an outer substantially peripheral surface and an inner substantially peripheral surface, said inner substantially peripheral surface being of a frusto-conical configuration widening in a direction from said rear surface toward said front surface to reflect light rays toward said outer peripheral and front surfaces thereby effecting substantially uniform illumination across said front surface, said outer peripheral surface and frusto-conical inner peripheral surface share a coincident axis of generation, a substantially annular shoulder projecting axially away from said rear annular surface in substantially surrounding relationship to a narrowest end of said inner peripheral frusto-conical surface, said annular shoulder being of a substantially convex configuration whereby light waves from a light source directed toward said annular shoulder surface are directed substantially axially toward said frusto-conical surface and radially therefrom outwardly toward said outer peripheral surface, and said outer peripheral surface including a surface portion for redirecting the radial light rays toward said front annular surface and a plurality of light ray directing facets thereof which uniformly disperse light across an associated gauge dial plate.

2. The light diffusion device as defined in claim 1 wherein the surface portion of the outer peripheral surface for redirecting the radial light rays toward the front annular surface is defined by a plurality of light ray directing facets.

3. The light diffusion device as defined in claim 1 wherein the surface portion of the outer peripheral surface for redirecting the radial light rays toward the front annular surface is defined by a convex curved surface.