Color messaging lens
First Claim
1. An instrument gauge assembly of a type having an instrument cluster comprising indicators and visible symbols and in communication with a controller, said instrument gauge assembly comprising:
- a lens covering at least a portion of the instrument cluster and capable of carrying light longitudinally from its edge,a light source in communication with the controller,a light pickup formed on the lens and having an edge portion proximate to the light source, andan interruption on a surface of the lens which illuminates with light transmitted within the lens by the light source, wherein the interruption on the surface of the lens is in the perimeter region of the lens which is visible to an operator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An enhanced color messaging instrument gauge assembly is disclosed having a lens with one or more surface interruptions. A lens covering an instrument cluster transmits colored light longitudinally from at least one light source near its edge. Light encountering the surface interruption causes the surface interruption to illuminate. In one embodiment, different colored light can be coordinated with activation of symbols on the instrument cluster to attract the attention of an operator to an abnormal operating condition or to reinforce other information being communicated to the operator on the instrument cluster.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An instrument gauge assembly of a type having an instrument cluster comprising indicators and visible symbols and in communication with a controller, said instrument gauge assembly comprising:
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a lens covering at least a portion of the instrument cluster and capable of carrying light longitudinally from its edge, a light source in communication with the controller, a light pickup formed on the lens and having an edge portion proximate to the light source, and an interruption on a surface of the lens which illuminates with light transmitted within the lens by the light source, wherein the interruption on the surface of the lens is in the perimeter region of the lens which is visible to an operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An instrument gauge assembly of a type having an instrument cluster comprising indicators and visible symbols and in communication with a controller, said instrument gauge assembly comprising:
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a lens covering at least a portion of the instrument cluster and capable of carrying light longitudinally from its edge, a plurality of light sources in communication with the controller, a plurality of light pickups formed on the lens, each of the light pickups having an edge portion proximate to at least one of the light sources, wherein at least one of the light pickups has an edge portion proximate to more than one of the light sources whereby light is first received by the at least one light pickup from the more than one light sources, the more than one light sources being capable of emitting different colored light, and an interruption on a surface of the lens which illuminates with light transmitted within the lens by the light source. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An instrument gauge assembly of a type having an instrument cluster comprising indicators and visible symbols and in communication with a controller, said instrument gauge assembly comprising:
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a lens covering at least a portion of the instrument cluster and capable of carrying light longitudinally from its edge, a light source in communication with the controller, a light pickup formed on the lens and having an edge portion proximate to the light source, and an interruption on a surface of the lens which illuminates with light transmitted within the lens by the light source; and an operator switch in communication with the controller and configured to modify or disable the illumination of the surface interruption.
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Specification