Flood illuminated cluster with telltales

• US 8,261,686 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Birman, Vyacheslav B., Yang, Yang
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, R. A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COURSON, TANIA C
• Application Number:
  US12/212,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20100064962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 116286-287, 116/305, 116/334, 116/DIG.36, 362 26- 30, 362/85
• US Class Current: 116/286
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/698 Pointers of combined instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/6992 Light conducting pointers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/20 Dashboard panels
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 13/265 Pointers which conduct light

Abstract

An illuminated gauge assembly includes a top surface of a light housing that includes a scale and a light guide that extends through the light housing for distributing light onto the surface of the top surface. A single light source is disposed below the light housing and directs through the light guide onto the top surface of the light housing.

Claims

1. A gauge assembly comprising:

a light housing;

graphics disposed on top surface of the light housing representing a vehicle parameter;

a single primary light guide disposed along an axis and extending through the light housing, the light guide including a reflective surface; and

a single light source disposed below the light housing and coaxial with the single primary light guide, the single light source directing light through the single primary light guide and onto the graphics printed on the top surface, wherein the single light source provides all light utilized for illuminating the top surface.

2. The assembly as recited in claim 1, including a pointer rotatable about an axis, wherein the single light guide is disposed above the axis and a shaft of the pointer.

3. The assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the top surface includes a first portion disposed on a first side of the axis of rotation of the pointer and a second portion disposed on a second side of the axis of rotation of the pointer, the single primary light guide disposed within the first portion.

4. The assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the pointer includes a hub disposed about the axis of rotation and the single primary light guide is disposed within the outer periphery of the hub.

5. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the light housing comprises a dish shaped portion with a center portion raised relative to the dish shaped portion.

6. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the pointer comprises a clear material with phosphor for generating a desired illuminated appearance.

7. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the single light source comprises a light emitting diode mounted to a printed circuit board.

8. A gauge assembly comprising:

a light housing;

graphics disposed on top surface of the light housing representing a vehicle parameter;

a single primary light guide extending through the light housing, the light guide including a reflective surface; and

a single light source disposed below the light housing directing light through the single primary light guide and onto the graphics printed on the top surface, wherein the single light source provides all light utilized for illuminating the top surface, wherein the light housing comprises a dish shaped portion with a center portion raised relative to the dish shaped portion and the center portion includes at least one illuminatable symbol.

9. The assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the center portion includes at least one secondary light guide for communicating light from a secondary light source for illuminating a corresponding one of the at least one illuminatable symbol.

10. The assembly as recited in claim 9, including a light block disposed about each of the at least one secondary light guides for controlling light emission.

11. The assembly as recited in claim 9, including a groove disposed at least partially around the at least one illuminatable symbol for controlling light transmission from the secondary light guide.

12. An instrument panel assembly comprising

a light housing including a positively curved surface including a scale;

a single primary light guide disposed along an axis and extending through the light housing;

a single primary light source disposed below the light housing and coaxial with the single primary light guide for communicating light through the single primary light guide and onto the scale; and

a pointer rotatable about the axis for indicating a portion of the scale, wherein only the single primary light guide and the single primary light guide direct light onto the curved surface including the scale.

13. The assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the pointer includes a hub portion that covers an end portion of the single primary light guide.

14. The assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the pointer is illuminatable from light communicated through the primary light guide.

15. The assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the pointer comprises a clear material with phosphor for generating a desired illuminated appearance.

16. The assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the single primary light guide includes a reflective surface for directing light from the primary light source onto the curved surface and the scale.

17. An instrument panel assembly comprising

a light housing including a positively curved surface including a scale;

a single primary light guide extending through the light housing;

a single primary light source disposed below the light housing for communicating light through the single primary light guide and onto the scale; and

a pointer rotatable about an axis of rotation for indicating a portion of the scale, wherein only the single primary light guide and the single primary light guide direct light onto the curved surface including the scale, wherein the single primary light housing includes a flat center portion from which the positively curved surface extends.

18. The assembly as recited in claim 17, wherein the center portion includes at least one secondary light guide and a telltale illuminatable by light from the secondary light guide.

19. The assembly as recited in claim 18, including a light block surrounding the secondary light guide for controlling light leakage.

20. The assembly as recited in claim 18, including at least one groove within the light housing disposed at least partially around the telltale for controlling light leakage through the light housing.