Apparatus and method for vehicle display lighting

• US 8,740,426 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2010
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Jones, Thomas L., Dudenbostel, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUMEBO, TSION M
• Application Number:
  US12/962,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20120140499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 362/23, 362/28, 362/29, 362/30, 362/632, 362/633, 362/97.2, 362/97.4, 362/295, 362/394, 345/102, 345/55, 345/60, 345/76, 345/82, 345/87, 345/204, 345/690, 345/156, 345/173, 361/679.01
• US Class Current: 362/489
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/145 Instrument input by combination of touch screen and hardware input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1523 Matrix displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/336 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/34 Backlit symbols
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 13/00 Component parts of indicators for measuring arrangements not specially adapted for a specific variable
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 13/28 with luminescent markings

Abstract

A display includes a display surface and a bezel. The bezel includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The bezel and bottom surface of the bezel covers a first area of display surface around the perimeter of the display, thereby leaving a second area of the display surface, inside the bezel, uncovered. At least one graphical indicator is disposed at or in the bezel. The display is configured and arranged to produce and emit light from one or more selected portions of the first area of the display surface, which are below the bottom surface of the bezel such that the emitted light passes through the bezel and is effective to illuminate the graphical indicator.

Claims

1. A display system comprising:

a display presentation device comprising a plurality of individual light producing pixels capable of being selectively activated to display information, the presentation device having a substantially planar top surface having a perimeter, a display inactive area inside the perimeter, a first lighting source area inside the display inactive area comprising a first plurality of light-producing pixels and configured to provide illumination for a bezel and, a display visible area inside the first lighting source area, the display visible area comprising a second plurality of light-producing pixels;

the bezel having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a substantially clear, light path portion extending between the top surface and bottom surface, the bottom surface of the bezel covering at least part of the first lighting source area and leaving the display visible area uncovered, the substantially planar top surface of the bezel being located above and substantially parallel to the substantially planar top surface of the display presentation device, a first portion of the bezel top surface being outside the perimeter;

a graphical indicator disposed on the top surface of the bezel, the graphical indicator being located on the bezel top surface such that at least part of the graphical indicator is located outside the perimeter;

wherein the display presentation device is configured and arranged to selectively emit light from one or more selected portions of the first lighting source area such that light emitted from the one or more selected portions and traveling in a first direction, enters the bottom surface of the bezel, travels in a different second direction through the light path portion and exits the bezel top surface traveling in said first direction, such that light from the first lighting source area passes through the bezel, to illuminate the graphical indicator outside the perimeter.

2. The display of claim 1 wherein one or more selected portions of the first lighting source area are configured to be varied in size.

3. The display of claim 1 wherein the first and second directions are substantially orthogonal to each other, and wherein the second direction is substantially parallel to the top surface of the display presentation device.

4. The display of claim 1 wherein the light emitted from the first plurality of light-producing pixels has an adjustable brightness.

5. The display of claim 1 wherein the light emitted from the first plurality of light-producing pixels has an adjustable color.

6. The display of claim 1 wherein the bezel is constructed of an optically clear material.

7. The display of claim 6 wherein the clear material is selected from the group consisting of a polycarbonate and an acrylic.

8. The display of claim 1 further comprising a paint substance, the paint substance disposed on portions of at least one of:

the top surface of the bezel and the bottom surface of the bezel.

9. The display of claim 8 wherein the paint substance comprises an ink.

10. A method of illuminating a graphic indicator on a bezel, the method comprising:

determining a first portion of a first lighting source area of a display presentation device to illuminate, by selectively activating a first light source in the first portion of the first lighting source area, the presentation device having a perimeter, a display inactive area inside the perimeter, the first lighting source area being located inside the display inactive area, the display presentation device also having a second display area located inside the first lighting source area;

actuating the first light source in the first portion of the first lighting source area to produce light rays, the first lighting source area being at least partially covered by a light transmissive bezel, the bezel having a top surface, a substantially planar bottom surface, and a substantially clear, light path portion extending between the top surface and bottom surfaces, the bezel bottom surface covering at least part of the first lighting source area, the bezel additionally being internally reflective and additionally configured to have a graphical indicator located on the top surface of the bezel such that at least part of the graphical indicator is located outside the perimeter

wherein light from the light source is conducted through the bezel bottom surface in a first direction, conducted in a second direction through the light path portion and exits the top surface of the bezel in said first direction, providing illumination to portions of the graphical indicator outside the perimeter.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising, varying the size of the first portion of the first lighting source area.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising moving the location of the first portion of the first lighting source area.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

varying a brightness of light emitted from the first portion of the first lighting source area.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

varying a color of the first portion of the first lighting source area.

15. A bezel comprising:

a solid, light-path portion constructed from a light conducting material which also reflects light internally, the light-path portion extending between an upper surface of the light-path portion and a lower surface of the light-path portion;

the lower surface of the bezel disposed so as to substantially cover a light source located inside a first lighting source area of a display presentation device having, which is located inside a display inactive area of the display presentation device, which is located inside a perimeter of the display presentation device, the light source being selectively actuated to produce light that traverses the lower surface of the bezel traveling in a first direction, the light-path portion of the bezel being configured to change the direction of said light from the first direction to a second direction, pass light through the light-path portion in said second direction and change the direction of said light again, from the second direction to the first direction, whereby said light exits the upper surface traveling in said first direction;

a graphical indicator located on the upper surface of the solid body portion such that at least a the graphical indicator is outside the perimeter of the display presentation device and capable of being illuminated by light emitted from the light source inside the first lighting source area.

16. The bezel of claim 15 wherein the bezel is made from a clear material is selected from the group consisting of a polycarbonate and an acrylic.

17. The bezel of claim 15 further comprising an ink, the ink disposed on at least one of:

portions of the upper surface of the bezel and portions of the lower surface of the bezel.

18. An instrument panel comprising:

a display presentation device having a substantially planar top surface, a perimeter extending around the top surface, a display inactive area inside the perimeter, and a first lighting source area inside the display inactive area, the display presentation device also having a second display area inside the first lighting source area;

at least one bezel having a top surface a first portion of which is outside the perimeter, the at least one bezel also having a substantially planar bottom surface at least part of which is inside the perimeter, the at least one bezel configured to substantially cover the first lighting source area and leave the second display area uncovered;

a graphical indicator disposed on the top surface of the bezel, at least a portion of the graphical indicator being outside the perimeter;

wherein the display presentation device is configured and arranged to produce and emit light from one or more selected portions of the first lighting source area such that the emitted light from the first lighting source area travels in a first direction and enters the at least one bezel at a location on the bottom surface of the bezel that is inside the perimeter, said light passes through the at least one bezel in a second and different direction to a second location beyond the perimeter and exits the at least one bezel in said first direction at a location on the upper surface that is outside the perimeter, and is thereby effective to illuminate the graphical indicator.