Device for displaying at least one symbol and method for producing a device for displaying at least one symbol

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016288704-A1
Application number	US-201415036153-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 14, 2014
Priority date	Nov 14, 2013
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device for a vehicle for displaying at least one symbol has a translucent plastic layer with a non-translucent coating, wherein a symbol face for a symbol to be displayed by the device is recessed from the non-translucent coating. Furthermore, the device has a non-translucent intermediate component, which is applied outside the symbol face and surrounding the symbol face on the non-translucent coating and which forms a light shaft adjoining the symbol face. Furthermore, the device has a diffuser element, which is arranged and designed inside the light shaft and spaced apart from the symbol face by a gap in order to convert light penetrating the diffuser element to diffuse light for illuminating the symbol face.

First claim

1 . A device for a vehicle for displaying at least one symbol, the device comprising:
a translucent plastic layer with a non-translucent coating, wherein a symbol face for a symbol to be displayed by the device is recessed from the non-translucent coating; a non-translucent intermediate component, which is applied on the non-translucent coating outside of the symbol face and surrounding the symbol face, and which forms a light shaft adjoining the symbol face; and a diffuser element, which is arranged and designed inside the light shaft and spaced apart from the symbol face through a gap so as to convert light penetrating the diffuser element to diffuse light for illuminating the symbol face.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the gap is filled with a medium, which prevents light reflected inside the translucent plastic layer from passing into the gap.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the gap is filled with air.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser element comprises coloring agents.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the translucent plastic layer is produced from a synthetic polymer or a thermoplastic material.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the non-translucent coating comprises a black lacquer coat, which is applied to a surface of the plastic layer.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser element is designed as an element that is inserted as a whole into the light shaft.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser element is designed as an element that is produced from a material sputtered on the symbol face in the light shaft, wherein the material has a characteristic which when curing the material results in a durable bond of the material on the intermediate component and when forming the gap to a decreasing bond on the symbol face.

9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises an illuminant for radiating the light penetrating the diffuser element is arranged on a side of the diffuser element facing away from the plastic layer.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein a further symbol face is recessed from the non-translucent coating for an additional symbol to be displayed, the non-translucent intermediate component is applied outside of the further symbol face and surrounding the further symbol face on the non-translucent coating and forms a further light shaft adjoining the further symbol face, and a further diffuser element is arranged inside the further light shaft and designed to be spaced apart from the further symbol face by means of a further gap so as to convert light penetrating the further diffuser element in diffuse light for illuminating the further symbol face.

11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is connected to a switching device for switching a vehicle transmission, and wherein the device displays a set operating mode of the vehicle transmission.

12 . A method for producing a device for a vehicle for displaying at least one symbol, the method comprising:
providing an arrangement consisting of a translucent plastic layer with a non-translucent coating, wherein a symbol face for a symbol to be displayed by the device is recessed from the non-translucent coating, as well as a non-translucent intermediate component is arranged outside of the symbol face and surrounding the symbol face on the non-translucent coating and forms a light shaft adjoining the symbol face; and arranging a diffuser element inside the light shaft and spaced apart by a gap from the symbol face, wherein the diffuser element is designed to convert light penetrating the diffuser element to diffuse light for illuminating the symbol face.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the arranging the diffuser element comprises material for forming the diffuser element is sputtered on the symbol face in the light shaft, wherein the material has a characteristic which when curing the material results in a durable bond of the material on the intermediate component and when forming the gap to a decreasing bond on the symbol face.

14 . A method for displaying at least one symbol, the method comprising:
converting light penetrating a diffuser element arranged in a light shaft to diffuse light; and conducting the diffuse light through a gap on a symbol face, which is recessed from a non-translucent coating of a translucent plastic layer in order to display the symbol.

15 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the gap is filled with air.

16 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the diffuser element comprises coloring agents.

17 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the translucent plastic layer is produced from a synthetic polymer or a thermoplastic material.

18 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the non-translucent coating comprises a black lacquer coat, which is applied to a surface of the plastic layer.

19 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the diffuser element is designed as an element that is inserted as a whole into the light shaft.

20 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser element is designed as an element that is produced from a material sputtered on the symbol face in the light shaft, wherein the material has a characteristic which when curing the material results in a durable bond of the material on the intermediate component and when forming the gap to a decreasing bond on the symbol face.

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Kirilenko Alexander
• Strassburg Karsten

Classifications

• F16H2063/423

  Range indicators for automatic transmissions, e.g. showing selected range or mode · CPC title

• B60Q3/62 Primary

  using light guides · CPC title

• B60Q3/14

  lighting through the surface to be illuminated · CPC title

• G02B6/0025

  Diffusing sheet or layer; Prismatic sheet or layer · CPC title

• B29K2995/0026

  Transparent · CPC title