Head unit background illumination

• US 7,918,593 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2008
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Feit, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar; Stephen F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neils; Peggy A.
• Application Number:
  US12/061,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20090251910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 362/489, 362/491, 362/510, 362/85, 362/86, 362/87, 362/88, 362/29, 362/296.09, 362/311.01
• US Class Current: 362/489
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated

Abstract

A front panel display assembly may have an integrated decorative film having first and second sides. The first side may have a half-mirroredrface that allows the passage of light in only a single direction and the second side may have a non-uniform diffusion pattern that extends across it. The non-uniform diffusion pattern may regulate and diffuse light irradiated onto the second side to pass through the integrated decorative film and to be regulated and emitted uniformly across the front panel display assembly.

Claims

1. A bezel comprising:

a plurality of bezel apertures extending through the bezel; and

,

an integrated decorative film comprising;

a first side having a half-mirrored surface that allows emitted light to pass through the bezel in a single direction only; and

,

a second side having a non-uniform diffusion pattern that is dispersed across the second side as a function of distance from a light source positioned to irradiate light on the second side that allows a light irradiated onto the second side to pass through the decorative film and be regulated and emitted uniformly across the bezel;

wherein a portion of the light irradiated from the light source enters the integrated decorative film through the second side and exits the integrated decorative film through the first side.

2. The bezel of claim 1, wherein:

the integrated decorative film comprises a transparent resin; and

,

the non-uniform diffusion pattern comprises a relatively heavier print area and a relatively lighter print area, wherein the difference between the refractive index of the relatively heavier print area and the transparent resin is greater than the different between the refractive index between the relatively lighter print area and the transparent resin.

3. The bezel of claim 1, wherein the integrated decorative film is integrated with the bezel.

10. The bezel of claim 1, wherein the light source is positioned a set distance from the second side and the light source is positioned to provide the greatest amount of light substantially in the center of the second side of the integrated decorative film.

13. The bezel of claim 2, wherein the relatively heavier print area is substantially located in the center of the second side and the relatively lighter print area at least partially surrounds the relatively heavier print area.

16. The bezel of claim 2, wherein the relatively heavier print area is substantially located in the center of the second side and the relatively lighter print area comprises a plurality of separate relatively lighter print areas spaced apart and positioned around the relatively heavier print area.

4. A head unit comprising:

an electronic control portion comprising;

a printed circuit board; and

,

a light source coupled to the printed circuit board; and

,

a front face panel assembly comprising;

a button carrier portion comprising a plurality of manually actuated buttons operatively coupled to the printed circuit board; and

,

a bezel coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the bezel comprises;

a plurality of bezel apertures extending through the bezel, wherein the plurality of manually actuated buttons extend through the plurality of bezel apertures; and

,

an integrated decorative film comprising;

a first side having a half-mirrored surface that allows light emitted from the light source to pass through the bezel while substantially completely preventing light from passing in the opposite direction; and

,

a second side having a non-uniform diffusion pattern that is dispersed across the second side as a function of distance from the light source;

wherein a portion of the light emitted from the light source enters the integrated decorative film through the second side and exits the integrated decorative film through the first side.

5. The head unit of claim 4, wherein:

the integrated decorative film comprises a transparent resin; and

,

the non-uniform diffusion pattern comprises a relatively heavier print area and a relatively lighter print area wherein the difference between the refractive index of the relatively heavier print area and the transparent resin is greater than the different between the refractive index between the relatively lighter print area and the transparent resin.

6. The head unit of claim 4, wherein the integrated decorative film is integrated with the bezel.

11. The head unit of claim 4, wherein the light source is positioned a set distance from the second side and the light source is positioned to provide the greatest amount of light substantially in the center of the second side of the integrated decorative film.

14. The head unit of claim 5, wherein the relatively heavier print area is substantially located in the center of the second side and the relatively lighter print area at least partially surrounds the relatively heavier print area.

17. The head unit of claim 5, wherein the relatively heavier print area is substantially located in the center of the second side and the relatively lighter print area comprises a plurality of separate relatively lighter print areas spaced apart and positioned around the relatively heavier print area.

7. A vehicle entertainment system comprising:

a device component;

an output component; and

,

a control portion comprising an electronic control unit and a head unit, wherein the head unit comprises;

an electronic control portion operatively coupled to the device component and the output component comprising;

a printed circuit board;

a light source coupled to the printed circuit board; and

, a front face panel assembly comprising;

a button carrier portion comprising a plurality of manually actuated buttons operatively coupled to the printed circuit board; and

,

a bezel coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the bezel comprises;

a plurality of bezel apertures extending through the bezel, wherein the plurality of manually actuated buttons extend through the plurality of bezel apertures;

an integrated decorative film comprising;

 

a first side having a half-mirrored surface that allows light emitted from the light source to pass through the bezel while substantially completely preventing light from passing in the opposite direction;

 

a second side having a non-uniform diffusion pattern that is dispersed across the second side as a function of distance from the light source;

wherein a portion of the light emitted from the light source enters the integrated decorative film through the second side and exits the integrated decorative film through the first side.

8. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 7, wherein:

the integrated decorative film comprises a transparent resin; and

,

the non-uniform diffusion pattern comprises a relatively heavier print area and a relatively lighter print area wherein the difference between the refractive index of the relatively heavier print area and the transparent resin is greater than the different between the refractive index between the relatively lighter print area and the transparent resin.

9. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 7, wherein the integrated decorative film is integrated with the bezel.

12. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 7, wherein the light source is positioned a set distance from the second side and the light source is positioned to provide the greatest amount of light substantially in the center of the second side of the integrated decorative film.

15. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 8, wherein the relatively heavier print area is substantially located in the center of the second side and the relatively lighter print area at least partially surrounds the relatively heavier print area.

18. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 8, wherein the relatively heavier print area is substantially located in the center of the second side and the relatively lighter print area comprises a plurality of separate relatively lighter print areas spaced apart and positioned around the relatively heavier print area.