STEERING WHEEL LIGHT BAR
First Claim
1. A light bar system for a steering wheel of a vehicle, the display system comprising:
- a liquid crystal display (LCD) having an outer surface and an inner surface that extend between a first end and a second end of the LCD, the outer and inner surfaces being arcuate-shaped between the ends and spaced apart from and opposite each other relative to a plane that extends through the first and second ends of the LCD and is parallel to the outer and inner surfaces;
a light guide having an outer surface and an inner surface that extend between a first end and a second end of the light guide, the outer and inner surfaces of the light guide being arcuate-shaped between the ends of the light guide and spaced apart and opposite each other relative to a plane that extends through the first and second ends of the light guide and is parallel to the outer and inner surfaces of the light guide, the outer surface of the light guide being disposed adjacent the inner surface of the LCD; and
at least one light source disposed adjacent the first end of the light guide, the light source configured for emitting light into the first end of the light guide;
wherein the light guide is configured for transmitting light from the light source through at least a portion of the outer surface of the light guide toward the inner surface of the liquid crystal display.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various implementation of a light bar warning system for a steering wheel of a vehicle include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light guide, and at least one light source disposed adjacent the light guide. The LCD and light guide having arcuate shaped surfaces that follow along a portion of the steering wheel rim. Light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the light guide and out of its outer surface into an inner surface of the LCD that is disposed adjacent the light guide. The light is emitted through portions of the LCD that are activated for illumination by an LCD driver. The LCD may provide various types of warnings to the operator, including blind spot warnings, forward collision/proximity warnings, and lane departure warnings, for example.
39 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A light bar system for a steering wheel of a vehicle, the display system comprising:
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a liquid crystal display (LCD) having an outer surface and an inner surface that extend between a first end and a second end of the LCD, the outer and inner surfaces being arcuate-shaped between the ends and spaced apart from and opposite each other relative to a plane that extends through the first and second ends of the LCD and is parallel to the outer and inner surfaces; a light guide having an outer surface and an inner surface that extend between a first end and a second end of the light guide, the outer and inner surfaces of the light guide being arcuate-shaped between the ends of the light guide and spaced apart and opposite each other relative to a plane that extends through the first and second ends of the light guide and is parallel to the outer and inner surfaces of the light guide, the outer surface of the light guide being disposed adjacent the inner surface of the LCD; and at least one light source disposed adjacent the first end of the light guide, the light source configured for emitting light into the first end of the light guide; wherein the light guide is configured for transmitting light from the light source through at least a portion of the outer surface of the light guide toward the inner surface of the liquid crystal display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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8. (canceled)
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23. A light bar system for a steering wheel of a vehicle, the display system comprising:
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a light guide having an outer surface and an inner surface that extend between a first end and a second end of the light guide, the outer and inner surfaces of the light guide being arcuate-shaped between the ends and spaced apart and opposite each other relative to a plane that extends through the first and second ends of the light guide and is parallel to the outer and inner surfaces of the light guide; and at least one light source disposed adjacent the first end of the light guide, the light source configured for emitting light into the first end of the light guide; wherein the light guide is configured for transmitting light from the light source through at least a portion of the outer surface of the light guide. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31)
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29. (canceled)
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32. A light bar system for a steering wheel of a vehicle, the display system comprising:
an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display having an outer surface and an inner surface that extend between a first end and a second end of the OLED display, the outer and inner surfaces being arcuate-shaped between the ends and spaced apart from and opposite each other relative to a plane that extends through the first and second ends of the OLED display and is parallel to the outer and inner surfaces.
Specification