Light guide assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10031277-B2
Application number	US-201615009120-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2016
Priority date	Nov 30, 2015
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

An assembly includes a light guide having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end has a light-emitting diode package coupled thereto. The assembly may include another light guide, also having a proximal end and a distal end, with a light-emitting diode package coupled to the proximal end. A light housing may be included that defines a cavity therein, wherein at least a portion of the first and second light guides including the distal ends are disposed in the cavity. Further, a dial face may be included that is disposed adjacent to the first and second light guides and the light housing, wherein each of the first and second light guides are configured to illuminate the dial face. In some variations, flexible printed circuit boards are attached to and electrically connected with the light-emitting diode packages.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A light guide assembly comprising:
a light-emitting diode package configured to emit light rays therefrom;
a light guide configured to conduct the light rays therethrough, the light-emitting diode package being coupled to the light guide, the light guide having a first end and a second end, the first end disposed within a light housing and adjacent to a dial face assembly cover, the second end extending from the light housing, the light-emitting diode package being coupled to the second end of the light guide;
a dial face assembly including the dial face assembly cover and the light housing, the light guide being at least partially disposed between the light housing and the dial face assembly cover, the light guide being configured to illuminate the dial face assembly cover, the light guide and the dial face dial face assembly each having a non-linear shape, the shape of the light guide corresponding to the shape of the dial face assembly; and
wherein the dial face assembly comprises a closed strip of material defining an aperture therethrough and being disposed about the perimeter of an instrument cluster, the instrument cluster being viewable through the aperture defined by the shape of the dial face assembly.

2. The light guide assembly of claim 1 , the light guide having a front side and a back side, the light guide assembly further comprising white foil stamped to the back side of the light guide, the front side of the light guide being disposed adjacent to the dial face assembly and the back side of the light guide being disposed adjacent to a surface of the light housing.

3. The light guide assembly of claim 2 , the light housing being opaque and defining a cavity, the first end of the light guide being disposed in the cavity.

4. A dial face assembly comprising:
a first light guide having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the first light guide having a first light-emitting diode package coupled thereto;
a second light guide having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second light guide having a second light-emitting diode package coupled thereto;
a light housing defining a cavity therein, at least a portion of the first and second light guides including the distal ends being disposed in the cavity; and
a dial face assembly cover disposed adjacent to the first and second light guides and the light housing, each of the first and second light guides being configured to illuminate the dial face assembly cover, and
wherein the dial face assembly comprises a closed strip of material defining an aperture therethrough and being disposed about the perimeter of an instrument cluster, the instrument cluster being viewable through the aperture defined by the dial face assembly;
wherein the first and second light guides are each curved;
wherein the proximal ends of the first and second light guides extend from the light housing, the first and second light-emitting diode packages being located outside of the light housing;
wherein the dial face is made of a material that is at least one of: transparent and translucent;
wherein, each of the first and second light guides has a front side and a back side, the light guide assembly further comprising a first white foil stamped to the back side of the first light guide and a second white foil stamped to the back side of the second light guide, the front sides of the first and second light guides being disposed adjacent the dial face assembly and the back sides of the first and second light guides being disposed adjacent to a surface of the light housing.

5. The dial face assembly of claim 4 , the first light guide being configured to illuminate a first section of the dial face assembly and the second light guide being configured to illuminate a second section of the dial face assembly, the first light guide being configured to selectively illuminate the first section in a plurality of first colors, wherein each first color is selected based on a first operating parameter of a motor vehicle, the second light guide being configured to selectively illuminate the second section in a plurality of second colors, wherein each second color is selected based on a second operating parameter of the motor vehicle.

Assignees

• Continental automotive systems inc

Inventors

• Birman Vyacheslav B
• Ollila Curt

Classifications

• G02B6/0083

  Details of electrical connections of light sources to drivers, circuit boards, or the like · CPC title

• B60Q3/64

  for a single lighting device · CPC title

• G01D13/04

  Construction · CPC title

• G02B6/008 Primary

  of the partially overlapping type · CPC title

• G02B6/0073

  Light emitting diode [LED] · CPC title