Phosphor reactive instrument panel and gauges

An instrument panel assembly (10) having a transparent intermediate substrate (42) inside its housing (16) on which is applied a phosphor coated indicia (40) for giving the appearance of a depth dimension when energized by a UV light source (36). Multiple intermediate substrates (42, 48) can be positioned at different level within the interior region of the housing (16), each containing various indicia (40, 46, 56, 58) which emits luminescent light when irradiated by the UV light source (36). Multiple UV light sources (36, 52) can be set to project UV radiation of different wavelengths into the housing (16) with each of the phosphor coated indicia (40, 46, 56, 58) being selected from material types which are responsive to only one of the various UV wavelengths, so that each indicia (40, 46, 56, 58) can be selectively energized to display warnings, information messages, or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an instrument panel such as used for navigational purposes, and more particularly toward an improved technique for lighting indicia in a vehicle instrument cluster to create an aesthetic dimensional effect.

2. Related Art

The instrument cluster and gauges in a typical motor vehicle must be clearly visible by the operator during all ambient lighting conditions. For example, a driver must be able to clearly read the gauges during bright sunlight as well as during nighttime driving. For this reason, the various colors applied to different components and the lighting or illumination of those components must be adaptable to different conditions. Various illumination techniques, such as incandescent lighting, florescent lighting, and LED lighting have been used to accomplish both daytime and nighttime gauge illumination.

In addition to the functional requirements of visibility placed upon the instrumentation, this area of a vehicle has become a favored target of designers and stylists who attempt to create dazzling and visually impressive presentations. Such impressive stylizations often become a determining factor in a consumer's buying decision.

One such stylistic feature has included the use of phosphor coated indicia within the housing of the instrument cluster which can be selectively energized by an ultraviolet (UV) light source. The phosphor coated indicia presents a different color to an observer when irradiated, than it does in a non-energized state. The resulting instrument cluster can thereby provide an aesthetically appealing display when energized. Examples of prior art instrument panels including phosphor or other UV sensitive indicia may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,150 to Crary, et al issued Jul. 6, 1999. Other examples may be found in US Publication No. 2002/0186556 to Wojnarowski, published Dec. 12, 2002 and US Publication No. 2004/0189483 to Stringfellow, published Sep. 30, 2004. In all of these examples, UV-irradiated indicia may be located within the confines of an instrument panel housing and selectively energized by the UV light source to develop aesthetically interesting effects.

All of these prior art examples emphasize the attention that is given to the instrument cluster and the general appeal of various lighting effects to generate consumer interest. Accordingly, these prior art underscore the need for functional instrument panels which are both clearly visible to a driver during all lighting conditions and also present unique and stylistically impressive visual displays.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises an instrument panel assembly such as the type which can be used in a motor vehicle. The instrument panel assembly includes a housing having a generally transparent front screen, a backfield, and sidewalls, which together bound an interior region. At least one gauge is fixed to the backfield within the interior region of the housing for communicating information to an observer through the front viewing screen. Phosphor coated indicia is disposed in the interior region for converting UV radiation into emitted luminescent light. A UV light source projects UV light into the interior region of the housing and thereby irradiates the phosphor coated indicia so that it emits luminescent light. An intermediate substrate holds the phosphor coated indicia in spaced relation to the gauge and suspended between the backfield and the viewing screen to provide an aesthetic dimensional effect within the interior region when the phosphor coated indicia emits luminescent light. In other words, the phosphor coated indicia can take the appearance of floating or hovering above the gauge and/or backfield thereby mimicking a somewhat three-dimensional or holographic effect. The end result in an aesthetically interesting visual presentation created when the phosphor coated indicial is irradiated within the instrument panel assembly. Due to the value placed upon dazzling and visually impressive presentations within an instrument panel assembly, particularly those within a motor vehicle, the subject invention offers a technique for meeting a long felt yet unsatisfied need.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, an instrument panel assembly for communicating information to a observer is generally shown at10inFIG. 1. The novel features of this invention are applicable to an instrument panel assembly for any field of use, including machine control, aviation, and the like, but throughout this specification is described in the exemplary setting of a motor vehicle. Thus, the instrument cluster10is here shown sheltered below a dashboard12and behind a steering wheel14, which has proven to be an ergonomically convenient location for vehicular applications. When used in applications other than motor vehicles, which other applications are within the scope of this invention, the instrument panel assembly10may be set in and among different features altogether.

Referring now toFIGS. 2 and 3, the instrument panel assembly10is shown in its most basic form including a housing, generally indicated at16. The housing16includes a backfield18and a UV absorbing or reflecting front viewing screen20. Typically, the front viewing screen20is made from a clear acrylic material, however, other translucent or transparent materials can be used provided they do not allow UV light to pass through to an observer, such as the driver, represented by an eye22. The housing16also includes sidewalls24and a bottom26which, together with the backfield18and dashboard12, define an enclosure visible to the observer22through the front viewing screen20. The enclosure is hereinafter referred to as the interior region.

Within the housing16, supported upon the backfield18, is provided one or more gauges28. The gauges28may take any known form, including a speedometer, tachometer, display screen, or the like. In the example depicted, the gauge28includes a pointer30, a stripe32along the pointer30, and a patterned gauge field34. These components may be coated with a phosphor material such as strontium, zinc, cadmium sulfides, or any other material or pigment that absorbs light energy and radiates visible light when exposed to ultraviolet light. Different phosphor materials and blends of materials can be used to radiate different visible light colors. In the example ofFIG. 2, during the daytime (unexcited) condition, the gauge field34may be generally yellowish in color and the pointer30generally black, with the stripe32taking a generally white appearance. However, in the irradiated nighttime condition, the visible light radiated from the phosphor coated indicia will change. For example, the gauge field34may display a predominantly bluish color with random circles reminiscent of craters seen on a full moon, the pointer30a predominantly red color, and the stripe32a predominantly yellow color. This change of colors between daytime and nighttime conditions, where the visual impression of the gauge28may change from subtly sun-like to moon-like, results in an aesthetically pleasing presentation.

A UV light source36can be placed anywhere convenient, but for illustrative purposes is shown suspended from the underside of the dashboard12within the housing16. To prevent any visible light which may be generated by the UV light source36from escaping, a filter38is positioned in front of the light source36. In the preferred embodiment, the filter38allows only UV light of a predetermined wavelength to pass through. For example, a typical UV light wavelength might be 365 nm. Thus, when energized, the UV light source36may produce light within a range of wavelengths, however, the filter38will only allow light in the 365 nm (or other selected) wavelength to enter the interior of the housing16. Once in the housing16, the filtered UV light irradiates the phosphor coated indicia, which in turn absorbs light energy and then radiates visible light. The UV absorbing (or reflecting) front viewing screen20, which is generally clear to the observer22, prevents harmful UV radiation from reaching the observer. Thus, to the observer22, UV light emitted from the light source36is completely undetectable. Nevertheless, the UV light causes the gauge field34, the pointer30, and the stripe32to glow with different visible light colors. This renders an impressive visual effect.

According to the invention, additional phosphor coated indicia40in the form of, for example words or shapes, can be applied inside the housing16at locations spaced away from the backfield18and from the gauge28. Preferably, but not necessarily, this technique is carried out in a manner which renders the phosphor coated indicia40completely invisible to the human eye during the daytime, or at least not prominent, and to become visible (prominent) during nighttime viewing or when otherwise energized by the UV light source36. In order to accomplish an interesting dimensional effect, the phosphor coated indicia40is supported on an intermediate substrate42. The intermediate substrate42holds the phosphor coated indicia40in spaced relation to the gauge28and suspended between the backfield18and the front viewing screen20. If the phosphor coated indicia40is applied as a very thin coating, and if the intermediate substrate42is substantially transparent, the phosphor coated indicia40will be nearly invisible to the human eye during daytime or non-energized conditions. However, when energized by the UV light source36, the phosphor coated indicia40will emit luminescent light and the normal depth perception of an observer22will appreciate that the phosphor coated indicia appears to hover or float above the gauge28and backfield18. Preferably, although not necessarily, the intermediate substrate42comprises a sheet-like plastic material which is fully UV light transmissive. The intermediate substrate42may thus cover the entire backfield18but be substantially undetectable by the observer due to its transparency. Depending upon the distance between the backfield18and the intermediate substrate42, different visual effects can be achieved, in part by any shadows44which may be cast by the energized phosphorus coated indicia40upon the backfield18and/or the gauge28, as shown inFIG. 2.

InFIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of the subject invention is depicted including a secondary phosphor coated indicia46disposed in the interior region and spaced from the first mentioned phosphor coated indicia40. The secondary phosphor coated indicia46is supported on a secondary intermediate substrate48which, like the first mentioned intermediate substrate42, holds the secondary phosphor coated indicia46in spaced relation to the gauge28and suspended between the backfield18and the viewing screen20. The first mentioned intermediate substrate42and the secondary intermediate substrate48may, as depicted, be both manufactured from a similar, substantially transparent sheet-like plastic material which spans the interior region from sidewall24to opposing sidewall24within the housing16. It is not required that the substrates42,48be planar members, but rather can have contours such an convex or concave shapes to impart additional dimensional qualities to the perceived image of the phosphor coated indicia40,46.

Referring still toFIG. 4, a tertiary phosphor coated indicia50can be disposed within the interior region and affixed to the front viewing screen20. Because it is disposed on the inside surface of the front viewing screen20, the tertiary phosphor coated indicia50can be radiated by the UV light source36to emit luminescent light. The result is a multidimensional visual effect which is perceived as visually interesting to an observer22.

Turning now toFIG. 5, a second alternative embodiment of the subject invention is shown including a second UV light source52. The second UV light source52can be used to increase the amount of UV radiation flooded into the housing16, or more preferably can be accompanied with a filter54which allows a different wavelength of UV energy to flood the housing16. For example, the first mentioned UV filter38may be set to 350 nm, whereas the second UV filter54may be set to 385 nm. With this combination, the phosphor coated indicia can be selectively chosen so that phosphor materials react to UV radiation at the 350 nm wavelength are not affected by UV light at the 385 nm wavelength. Although many practical and aesthetic uses of this alternative embodiment will be readily appreciated, one such application energizes the second UV light source42only when a predetermined condition occurs. For example, inFIG. 5a warning indicia56which displays the words “LOW FUEL” (as but one example) is visible only when the second UV light source52is energized. Thus, in the example, the second UV light source52can be operatively coupled to the fuel gauge so that it is energized only when the fuel level falls below a predetermined lower level. In the unexcited state, the warning indicia56would be completely transparent (or at least barely noticeable) to the observer22.

Similarly, another informational indicia58might display the words “CRUISE ON” as an example. The informational indicia58might be responsive to UV light at the 350 nm wavelength only, and is therefore visible when the first mentioned UV light source36is energized, but not when the second UV light source52is energized. If both first36and second52UV light sources are simultaneously energized, then both warning56and informational58indicia are visible. Similarly, the tertiary phosphor coated indicia50which, inFIG. 5is depicted by the exemplary word “LOGO”, may be responsive to a third or tertiary UV light source (not shown) which operates at yet a different wavelength than either of the other two UV light sources36,52. As an example, the tertiary phosphor coated indicia50may be activated independently from any of the other indicia56,58or in combination therewith. Furthermore, because the warning indicia56is sensitive to UV light in a different wavelength from that of the informational indicia58, they can be supported on the same intermediate substrate or on separate intermediate substrates akin to the embodiment depicted inFIG. 4.

The secondary intermediate substrate48can be used in various configurations together with the dual light source embodiment shown inFIG. 5. For example, the secondary intermediate substrate48could be made from a UV absorbing material much like the front viewing screen20, and the dual UV light sources set to operate on different sides of the secondary intermediate substrate48. In this manner, it is possible to achieve the conditional activation of the various indicia56,58while using UV light sources and filters of the same wavelength. This technique can be applied with any number of intermediate substrates and any number of UV light sources.

FIGS. 6 and 7illustrate yet another alternative embodiment of the subject invention, wherein the UV light source36′ is positioned behind the backfield18. In this embodiment, phosphor deposited in a clear medium is painted or otherwise applied to select surfaces within the interior region. UV light emanating from the light source36′ energizes the phosphor materials within the interior region, or at least those phosphor coated indicia which are responsive to the particular wavelength passing through filter38′. For indicia features which may be partially or fully eclipsed, such as the pointer30′ is eclipsed by the gauge field34′, various techniques can be employed so that UV light reaches all phosphor surfaces to achieve results similar to that shown in the preceding embodiments. For example, the pointer30′ may be fitted with a wave guide60which functions to transmit UV light to the needed surfaces. This concept of backlighting the indicia can be used in conjunction with other embodiments of the invention, including the dual light source embodiment shown inFIG. 5.

Although the phosphor coated indicia40,46,50,56,58has been described almost entirely within the context of the florescent type phosphor, i.e., one which radiates visible light only so long as the UV light source remains energized, the phosphor coated indicia could also be of the phosphorescent type which continues to radiate visible light long after the energy source is discontinued. With phosphorescent type materials, it would be possible to pulse the UV light source36instead of maintaining a continuous “ON” condition.