Display element for a display unit in a vehicle

• US 8,992,033 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2010
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Suess, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cranson, Jr., James
• Application Number:
  US13/577,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20130058113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: 362/23.01, 362/488, 362/489, 362/509, 362/19
• US Class Current: 362/19
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/20 Optical features of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/25 using filters
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/28 for instruments which are not visible when inactive
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/693 Cover plate features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• 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: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3033 in the form of a thin sheet or foil, e.g. Polaroid
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133311 Environmental protection, e.g. against dust or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133528 Polarisers

Abstract

The invention relates to a display element for the display unit of a vehicle. The display element can be backlit by means of at least one light source. The display element contains a film with identifying elements, and further contains a polarizing film. The films are arranged one above the other and are pressed against each other in the edge regions of the films via elastic elements.

Claims

1. A display element for a display unit of a vehicle, the display element being configured to backlight the display unit via at least one light source, the display element comprising a film having identifying elements, and a polarizing film, the film and the polarizing film being arranged one above the other;

wherein the film and the polarizing film are pressed against one another in edge regions via elastic elements, and the elastic elements are driven into contact with the film and the polarizing film by retaining features with sufficient pressure to establish a seal between the edge regions of the film and the polarizing film.

2. The display element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifying elements are printed onto the film.

3. The display element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polarizing film is arranged upstream of a front side of the film so that it faces a viewer of the display element.

4. The display element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polarizing film is a circularly polarizing film.

5. The display element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the film and the polarizing film have substantially identical dimensions.

6. The display element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic element comprises a circumferential seal.

7. The display element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic element comprises individual pressure pieces.

8. The display element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic element is connected indirectly to a frame.

9. The display element as claimed in claim 8, wherein the frame has a shape corresponding to the edge of the film, the polarizing film, or some combination thereof.

10. The display element as claimed in claim 8, wherein clamping elements are arranged on the frame.

11. The display element as claimed in claim 10, wherein the elastic elements are fitted on the clamping elements.

12. The display element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the film and the polarizing film rest with the edge regions on a base surface of a base part.

13. The display element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic element is connected directly to a frame.

14. A display element for a display unit of a vehicle, the display element being configured to backlight the display unit via at least one light source, the display element comprising a film having identifying elements, and a polarizing film, the film and the polarizing film being arranged one above the other and pressed against one another in edge regions via elastic elements;

wherein the elastic elements are connected indirectly to a frame, and clamping elements are arranged on the frame.

15. The display element as claimed in claim 14, wherein the elastic elements are fitted on the clamping elements.