IP Library Granted Patent US 8,172,439
Granted Patent B2
US 8,172,439 · App. 12/373,492 · Granted May 8, 2012

Display device for a motor vehicle, comprising a substantially parallel light beam

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,172,439
App. No.
12/373,492
Granted
May 8, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a display device for a motor vehicle, particularly for a combined instrument of a motor vehicle. The display device comprises a display area and an illumination means that is provided with a light emission area and a light source. The display area has a visible face and a rear face. The illumination means is disposed on the rear face of the display area. A light beam that is emitted from the light emission area is incident directly on the rear face of the display area. The light beam has an angle of spread of less than about 20°.

Claims (23)

1. A display device for a motor vehicle, in particular for a combined instrument of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a display surface, having a visible side and a rear side; and

illumination means having a light exit surface and a light source, the illumination means being arranged on the rear side of the display surface,

wherein the illumination means is configured to generate a light beam emanating from the light exit surface that falls directly onto the rear side of the display surface and has an aperture angle of less than approximately 20°,

wherein the light beam emanating from the light exit surface is convergent or substantially parallel so as to produce a sharp illumination spot on the visible side of the display surface, and

wherein the light exit surface is provided below the display surface in a fashion rotatable about a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the display surface.

2. The display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the aperture angle is less than approximately 15°.

3. The display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cross section of the light beam transverse to the propagation direction of the light is one of square, triangular, rectangular, star-shaped and oval.

4. The display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the light exit surface is arranged at a spacing from the rear side of the display surface, the spacing being between approximately 1 millimeter and approximately 10 millimeters.

5. The display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the illumination means has a lens, the lens having the light exit surface, and the light source being arranged on the side of the lens averted from the light exit surface.

6. The display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the illumination means has a lens system with the lens and a further lens, the further lens being arranged between the lens and the light source.

7. The display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode.

8. The display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the illumination means is arranged on a subsurface pointer.

9. The display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the aperture angle is less than approximately 10°.

10. The display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the aperture angle is less than approximately 5°.

11. The display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the light exit surface is arranged at a spacing from the rear side of the display surface, the spacing being between approximately 2 millimeters and approximately 8 millimeters.

12. The display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the light exit surface is arranged at a spacing from the rear side of the display surface, the spacing being between approximately 3 millimeters and approximately 6 millimeters.

13. A display device for a motor vehicle, in particular for a combined instrument of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a display surface, having a visible side and a rear side; and

an illumination device having a light exit surface and a light source, the illumination device being arranged on the rear side of the display surface,

wherein the illumination device is configured to generate a light beam emanating from the light exit surface that falls directly onto the rear side of the display surface and has an aperture angle of less than approximately 20°,

wherein the light beam emanating from the light exit surface is convergent or substantially parallel so as to produce a sharp illumination spot on the visible side of the display surface, and

wherein the light exit surface is provided below the display surface in a fashion rotatable about a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the display surface.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2015
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
To: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035091/0435 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2013
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS GMBH
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 031691/0647 →