Patent ID: 7048397

Claim:
An instrument gauge display comprising: a dial; a light housing mounted to a circuit board and positioned underneath said dial; a light source mounted to said circuit board to illuminate at least a portion of said dial; a light guide mounted between said dial and said light housing wherein said dial or said light guide includes a plurality of graphical images indicating at least one vehicle operating condition, said plurality of graphical images being spaced apart from each other on an upper or lower surface of said dial; and a plurality of scattering elements supported by said light guide with at least a portion of a scattering element being positioned underneath each one of said graphical images, wherein each of said scattering elements comprises a predetermined area on said light guide and includes a layer of paint applied only on said predetermined areas, and wherein said scattering elements are divided into a plurality of zones based on light intensity with each zone defining a unique paint pattern for said predetermined areas of said scattering elements located within said respective zone with said light source and scattering elements cooperating to increase light efficiency in graphical image areas.