System and method for instrument panel with color graphical display

• US 7,750,821 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Inventors: Boyd, Michael R., Klimchynski, Igor, Taborisskiy, Yuriy
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen; Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US11/694,579
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.4, 340/815.45, 340/815.65, 340/438, 340/459, 340/461, 345/87, 345/102, 345/30, 345/55, 345/84, 362/459, 362487-489, 116/28.R, 116/62.4
• US Class Current: 340/815.45
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/215 characterised by the combination of multiple visual outputs, e.g. combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays

Abstract

A message center that can comprise a liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided. The LCD can be divided into one or more zones, with each zone being designated for a specific message. The message center can also include a light guide system positioned behind the liquid crystal display. The light guide system can have one or more light guides, with each of the light guides having a first end, and each of the light guides can be aligned with a zone of the liquid crystal display. The message center can further include a multi-color light emitting diode (LED) that can be mounted at the first end of each of the light guides, and a control system that can set the intensity of each of the multi-colors on each of the LEDs such that a backlighting of each zone is individually controlled.

Claims

1. A message center comprising:

a liquid crystal display (LCD), the LCD being divided into one or more zones, each zone being designated for a specific message;

a light guide system positioned behind the liquid crystal display, the light guide system having one or more light guides, with each of the light guides having a first end, each of the light guides aligned with a zone of the liquid crystal display;

a multi-color light emitting diode (LED) mounted at the first end of each of the light guides, each multi-color LED being configured to selectively emit a plurality of light colors; and

a control system that sets the intensity of each of the multi colors on plurality of light colors emitted from each of the LEDs such that a backlighting of each zone is individually controlled;

wherein each of the light guides has a second end, with each of the light guides narrowing toward the second ends.

2. The message center of claim 1, wherein the control system sets the intensity of each of the plurality of light colors emitted from each of the LEDs such that each zone on the LCD has a distinct color.

3. The message center of claim 1, wherein each of the light guides has a second end, with the second ends parallel to the first ends.

4. The message center of claim 1, wherein the light guide system further comprises:

a prism foil disposed between the LCD and the light guide to dispense the light generated by the LEDs; and

a diffuser disposed between the prism foil and the light guide.

5. The message center of claim 4, wherein the light guide system further comprises:

one or more reflectors disposed adjacent to each of the light guides opposite the diffuser to reflect the light from the LEDs to the diffuser.

6. The message center of claim 5, wherein one or more reflectors are disposed between each light guide such that the light generated by the LED associated with each light guide is contained within the light guide.

7. The message center of claim 1, wherein the message center is adapted to be coupled to an instrument panel.

8. The message center of claim 1, wherein the LCD is a monochrome LCD.

9. The message center of claim 1, wherein the LED is a red-green-blue LED.

10. A message center comprising:

a liquid crystal display (LCD), the LCD being divided into multiple zones, each zone being designated for a specific graphical message;

a light guide system positioned behind the LCD, the light guide system having multiple light guides separated by completely light-reflective sidewalls, the light guides having first ends and second ends with the light guides narrowing toward the second ends, each of the light guides aligned with a zone of the LCD;

a multi-color light emitting diode (LED) mounted at the first end of each light guide, the multi-color LED being configured to selectively emit a plurality of light colors; and

a controller that is configured for setting the intensity of each of the plurality of light colors emitted from each of the LEDs such that a backlighting of each zone is individually controlled.

11. The message center of claim 10, wherein the controller sets the intensity of each of the plurality of light colors emitted from each of the LEDs such that each zone on the LCD has a distinct color.

12. The message center of claim 10, wherein the light guide system further comprises:

a prism foil disposed between the LCD and the light guide to dispense the light generated by the LEDs; and

a diffuser disposed between the prism foil and the light guide.

13. The message center of claim 12, wherein the light guide system further comprises:

one or more reflectors disposed adjacent to each of the light guides opposite the diffuser to reflect the light from the LEDs to the diffuser.

14. The message center of claim 13, wherein one or more reflectors are disposed between each light guide such that the light generated by the LED associated with each light guide is contained within the light guide.

15. The message center of claim 10, wherein the LCD is a monochrome LCD.

16. A message center for an instrument panel of a motor vehicle, the instrument panel comprising:

one or more gages that display an operating condition associated with the motor vehicle; and

a color graphical display coupled to the instrument panel adjacent to the gages, the color graphical display including;

a liquid crystal display (LCD), the LCD being divided into one or more zones, each zone being designated for a specific message;

a light guide system positioned behind the liquid crystal display, the light guide system having one or more light guides, with each of the light guides aligned with a zone, the light guides having a first end;

a light emitting diode (LED) mounted at the first end of each of the light guides; and

a control system that sets the intensity of each of the light emitting diodes such that a backlighting of each zone is individually controlled;

wherein each of the light guides has a second end, with each of the light guides narrowing toward the second ends.

17. The message center of claim 16, wherein the LEDs comprise a multi-color LED.

18. The message center of claim 16, wherein one or more reflectors are disposed between each light guide and behind each light guide such that the light generated by the LED associated with each light guide is contained within the light guide.