Illuminated display system

• US 7,350,934 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2005
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kenworthy, Tim A., Fye, Michael E., Lippmann, Raymond, Sylvester, Gail M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Jong-Suk (James)
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shallenberger; Julie A.
• Application Number:
  US11/122,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20060250813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 362/224, 362/556, 362/559, 362/570, 362/23, 362/26, 362/27, 362/551, 362/554, 200/317, 200/314, 361/600, 361/139, 405/47
• US Class Current: 362/224
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0033 Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0274 Optical details, e.g. printed circuits comprising integral optical means H05K1/0269 takes precedence; coupling light guides with opto-electronic components G02B6/42
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09063 Holes or slots in insulating substrate not used for electrical connections

Abstract

An illuminated display system is disclosed. The illuminated display system includes a circuit board with a front surface and a rear surface, and a plurality of light-passing holes. At least one light pipe is arranged on the rear surface of the circuit board. The at least one light pipe includes at least one entrance port and a plurality of corresponding facets and exit ports. Each of the plurality of facets, exit ports, and light passing holes are aligned in a corresponding relationship to the location of individual components of a display surface positioned over the front surface of the circuit board.

Claims

1. An illuminated display system comprising:

a circuit board including a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the circuit board includes a plurality of light-passing holes, each said light-passing hole corresponding to a location of a component of a display surface positioned over the front surface; and

at least one light pipe arranged on the rear surface of the circuit board, wherein the at least one light pipe includes at least one entrance port and a plurality of corresponding facets and exit ports, each exit port being aligned with one of said light-passing holes, each said facet being disposed adjacent the rear surface and aligned with one of said light passing holes and an exit port for redirecting light from the entrance port toward the exit port, and

a light source arranged proximate the at least one entrance port to direct light from the at least one entrance port to the plurality of facets and exit ports for passage through the plurality of light-passing holes formed in the circuit board to illuminate the components on the display surface.

2. The illuminated display system according to claim 1 wherein the light source is a side-emitting light source arranged on the rear surface of the circuit board.

3. The illuminated display system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light pipe includes a wedge portion and one or more branches that direct light from the entrance port to the facets.

4. The illuminated display system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light pipe includes a curved internal reflection mirror that gathers wide angle light to be used with one or more facets.

5. The illuminated display system according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of facets is defined to include a width, wherein each of the plurality of facets encompasses a subtended angle in reference to the normal of the emitting surface of the light source.

6. The illuminated display system according to claim 5, wherein the width increases as the subtended angle increases.

7. The illuminated display system according to claim 5, wherein each facet is defined to include a facet angle, wherein the facet angle is within a range between approximately 40°

-55°

.

8. The illuminated display system according to claim 1 further comprising a perpendicular riser integrally formed with the at least one light pipe, wherein the perpendicular riser extends through one of the plurality of light-passing holes to illuminate the display surface.

9. The illuminated display system according to claim 2, wherein the side-emitting light source is a first side-emitting light source and wherein the illuminated display system further comprises a second side-emitting light source, wherein the first and second side-emitting light sources emit light into the at least one light pipe and prior to reaching the plurality of facets, line of sight light paths from each first and second light source are superimposed to permit simultaneous propogation of light within the at least one light pipe.

10. The illuminated display system according to claim 2, wherein the side-emitting light source is arranged proximate the light passing hole to provide a direct illumination of the components with the light without passing the light through the at least one light pipe.

11. The illuminated display system according to claim 10, wherein the hole is sized and shaped to provide a desired amount of light for direct illumination of the component.

12. An illuminated display system comprising:

a circuit board including a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the circuit board includes a plurality of light-passing holes;

a first light pipe arranged on the rear surface of the circuit board; and

a second light pipe arranged on the front surface of the circuit board, wherein light from a light source is communicated from the first light pipe through one or more light-passing holes formed in the circuit board to the second light pipe, wherein the light is communicated from the second light pipe to a display surface positioned over the front surface of the circuit board to illuminate individual components of the display surface, wherein the second light pipe is supported by a housing placed over the circuit board forming a halo-illuminating structure.

13. The illuminated display system according to claim 12, wherein the first light pipe includes at least one entrance port and one or more corresponding facets and exit ports that directs the light to the second light pipe.

14. The illuminated display system according to claim 13, wherein the one or more facets, exit ports, and light passing holes are aligned in a corresponding relationship to the location of the individual components of the display surface.

15. The illuminated display system according to claim 12, wherein the light source produces blue or ultraviolet light in high frequency energy, wherein a color converter is located between the second light pipe and housing to absorb the blue or ultraviolet light in high frequency energy for re-emission as a non-blue light in lower frequency energy.

16. The illuminated display system according to claim 12, wherein the light source is arranged proximate the light passing hole to provide a direct illumination of the components with the light without passing the light through the at least one light pipe.

17. The illuminated display system according to claim 16, wherein the hole is sized and shaped to provide a desired amount of light for direct illumination of the component.