Instrument panel housing with light diffuser
View Patent ↗A light distributing assembly for a vehicle instrument panel includes a light source that emits light in a first direction. A first surface that is transverse to the first direction receives the light and changes the direction of the light to a second direction. A vehicle instrument panel housing having a second surface receives the light from the first surface and reflects a portion of the reflected light toward a vehicle display surface to illuminate the vehicle display surface.
1. A light distributing assembly for a vehicle instrument panel comprising:
a circuit board;
a light source in electrical communication with the circuit board, the light source emitting light in a first direction;
a vehicle display surface that illuminates in response to light received from the light source;
a diffuser member between the light source and the vehicle display surface, wherein the diffuser member includes a first surface roughness that diffuses the light to produce diffused light; and
a vehicle instrument panel housing having a surface that reflects at least a portion of the diffused light from the diffuser member toward the vehicle display surface, wherein the surface includes a second surface roughness that is different than the first surface roughness, and wherein the vehicle instrument panel housing includes a beveled opening that receives the light source or the light from the light source.
2. The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the diffuser member includes a textured surface that is transverse to the first direction, the textured surface having the first surface roughness.
3. The assembly as recited in claim 2 , wherein the textured surface is curved.
4. The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the diffuser member includes an attachment portion that suspends the diffuser member adjacent to the light source.
5. The assembly as recited in claim 4 , wherein the attachment portion includes at least one arm connecting the diffuser member and the vehicle instrument panel housing.
6. The assembly as recited in claim 5 , wherein the at least one arm connects to the vehicle instrument panel housing at a location directly adjacent the beveled opening.
7. The assembly as recited in claim 4 , wherein the attachment portion includes a pair of arms each connecting the diffuser member and the vehicle instrument panel housing.
8. The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the diffuser member includes a cross-section having a conical shape.
9. The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the diffuser member includes a cross-section having a triangular shape.
10. The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the diffuser member is made of at least one of a non-transparent plastic material, a transparent plastic material, or a translucent plastic material.
11. The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the vehicle instrument panel housing includes housing walls spaced radially outward from the first direction, and the housing walls are curved.
12. The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the diffuser member is made of a translucent plastic material that reflects a portion of the light and permits another portion of the light to pass through.