IP Library Granted Patent US 8,827,473
Granted Patent B2
US 8,827,473 · App. 13/334,677 · Granted Sep 9, 2014

Vehicle having at least one instrument in a driver information system and a method for avoiding reflections of an instrument in a windshield of a vehicle

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,827,473
App. No.
13/334,677
Granted
Sep 9, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A driver information system is provided for a vehicle having at least one instrument, which has a front plate and an illumination device. At least one light-transmitting area is arranged in the front plate and the illumination device is arranged behind the front plate, the illumination device being able to emit light through the at least one light-transmitting area of the front plate. A polarization filter is arranged between the front plate and the illumination device. The polarization filter is oriented opposite to a polarization direction of a windshield of the vehicle.

Claims (17)

1. A driver information system for a vehicle with a windshield, comprising:

an instrument having a front plate that includes a light transmitting area;

a pressure-sensitive mat arranged behind the front plate and having a closed opening that corresponds to the light-transmitting area of the front plate;

an illumination device arranged behind the front plate and the pressure-sensitive mat and configured to emit light through the opening and the light-transmitting area of the front plate; and

a polarization filter arranged between the pressure-sensitive mat and the illumination device and oriented opposite to a polarization direction of the windshield of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the polarization filter is a transparent plastic film comprising linearly oriented molecular chains.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the polarization filter is a transparent plastic film having circularly oriented molecular chains.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the illumination device is installed on a circuit board.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the illumination device comprises background illumination with a light source arranged on side edges of the circuit board.

6. The vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the illumination device comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes distributed behind the front plate.

7. The vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein a distribution and number of the plurality of light-emitting diodes on the circuit board corresponds to a second distribution and number of light-transmitting areas of the front plate.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the polarization direction of a polarized light emission through the light-transmitting area of the front plate is oriented opposite to the polarization direction of the windshield of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the front plate comprises operating elements through which light of the illumination device is configured to shine.

10. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the instrument is an input device.

11. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the instrument is a playback device.

12. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the instrument is a measuring device.

13. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the instrument is an audio device.

Assignments (2)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034287/0415 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 28, 2012
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 028458/0184 →