Panel device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11479121-B2
Application number	US-202117388994-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2021
Priority date	Aug 3, 2020
Publication date	Oct 25, 2022
Grant date	Oct 25, 2022

Abstract

A panel device includes a panel unit, a light source, and a light-blocking layer. The panel device includes a light attenuation layer, or a tinted layer, to blacken the panel unit. The light attenuation layer is located between the light source and the light-blocking layer, specifically, on the rear surface of the light-blocking layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A panel device, comprising:
a panel unit that is light-transmissive and one of colored or colorless;
a light-blocking layer including an opening shaped in correspondence with a representation displayed on the panel unit;
a light source that emits light from a rear side of the panel unit and displays the representation on the panel unit with the light passing through the opening; and
a light attenuation layer that attenuates ambient light to further darken light in cooperation with the light-blocking layer,
wherein the light attenuation layer is located between the light source and the light-blocking layer, and
the light-blocking layer is a black printed layer, and the light attenuation layer is a tinted printed layer.

2. The panel device according to claim 1 , wherein the light attenuation layer is arranged on a rear surface of the light-blocking layer.

3. The panel device according to claim 1 , wherein the panel unit includes a black background corresponding to the light-blocking layer in color.

4. The panel device according to claim 1 , comprising:
a display that includes
a window frame defining the opening; and
an image displaying unit that serves as the light source and projects an image as the representation from the rear side of the panel unit through the window frame onto the panel unit to display the image on the panel unit.

5. The panel device according to claim 4 , wherein the light attenuation layer includes a light-transmitting section extending through the light attenuation layer and disposed to be continuous with the window frame.

6. The panel device according to claim 1 , comprising:
a symbol portion that includes
a mark opening that serves as the opening and is shaped in correspondence with a mark serving as the representation,
a light projector that serves as the light source and emits light from the rear side of the panel unit to the mark opening to display the mark, which is shaped in correspondence with the mark opening, on the panel unit, and
a detector arranged inward from the mark opening to detect when the panel unit is touched at the mark.

7. The panel device according to claim 6 , wherein the light attenuation layer includes a filling portion that fills the mark opening.

8. The panel device according to claim 1 , comprising:
an indicator portion that includes
an indicator opening that serves as the opening and is shaped in correspondence with an indicator serving as the representation, and
a light projector that serves as the light source and emits light from the rear side of the panel unit to the indicator opening to display the indicator, which is shaped in correspondence with the indicator opening, on the panel unit.

Assignees

• Tokai Rika Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ishihara Akito
• Nomura Yusuke
• Sakai Yuki

Classifications

• B60K35/81 Primary

  for controlling displays · CPC title

• B60K2370/774

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60K35/00 Primary

  Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles · CPC title

• B60K2370/16

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60K2370/34

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic