IP Library Granted Patent US 7,273,278
Granted Patent B2
US 7,273,278 · App. 10/489,331 · Granted Sep 25, 2007

Instrument panel with simulated instruments

Assignee: Rheinmetall Defence Electronics GmbH
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,273,278
App. No.
10/489,331
Granted
Sep 25, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to an instrument panel for the operating state of a land, air or water vehicle, in particular for the cockpit of an airplane, comprising a number of display fields ( 13 ) for representing information, whereby, in order to provide an instrument panel, which may be produced and maintained in an economic manner, with realistic instrumentation, the display fields ( 13 ) are produced on a backlit sheet ( 11 ) by means of image projection and a mask ( 12 ) is overlaid on the backlit sheet ( 11 ), which comprises cutouts ( 14 ), congruent with the display fields ( 13 ).

Claims (11)

1. An instrument panel for an operating stand of a land, air or water vehicle, in particular a cockpit of an airplane, said panel comprising:

a backlit sheet ( 11 ) having front and back sides;

at least one image projector ( 15 ) that projects display fields ( 13 ) depicting images of instruments onto the back side of the backlit sheet ( 11 ), said display fields ( 13 ) being visible on the front side of the backlit sheet ( 11 ); and

a separate mask layer ( 12 ) located over the front side of the backlit sheet and including cutouts ( 14 ) that are congruent with the display fields ( 13 ).

2. The instrument panel according to claim 1 , characterized in that an image generator ( 16 ) that generates the display fields ( 13 ) is connected to the at least one image projector ( 15 ).

3. The instrument panel according to claim 1 , characterized in that the cutouts ( 14 ) in the separate mask layer ( 12 ) are respectively framed in with a circumferential border ( 24 ).

4. The instrument panel according to claim 1 , characterized in that servo components ( 18 ) with electric adjuster outputs ( 25 ) are provided, which are assigned at least in part to the display fields ( 13 ) and can be activated via manual operating elements ( 19 ), that the servo components ( 18 ) are mechanically secured to the separate mask layer ( 12 ), such that they project from it, and that the backlit sheet ( 11 ) has openings ( 20 ) through which the servo components ( 18 ) can project.

5. The instrument panel according to claim 4 , characterized in that the electric adjuster outputs ( 25 ) of the servo components ( 18 ) are connected to the image generator ( 16 ).

6. The instrument panel according to claim 4 , characterized in that the operating elements ( 19 ) on the servo components ( 18 ) are designed as rotary buttons or switching levers.

7. The instrument panel according to claim 1 , characterized in that the backlit sheet ( 11 ) is produced from transparent plastic or glass.

8. The instrument panel according to claim 1 , characterized in that the separate mask layer ( 12 ) is made of plastic or sheet metal.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2004
From: FRONZEK, HARALD
To: RHEINMETALL DEFENCE ELECTRONICS GMBH
Reel/Frame 015671/0132 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 101 45 294 · Sep 14, 2001 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20040246200A1 · Dec 9, 2004