Compensation free illumination of instrument cluster display

Abstract

An example light guide assembly for illuminating a display of an instrument cluster includes a light receiving portion, a light propagating portion and a conical surface positioned between the light receiving portion and the light propagating portion. An exterior surface of the light propagating portion includes a plurality of lobes that uniformly illuminate the display as light propagates from the light receiving portion to the conical surface and through the light propagating portion.

Description

FIG. 1 illustrates selected portions of a vehicle having an example instrument cluster;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the example instrument cluster illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an example light guide having a plurality of lobes;

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the example light guide illustrated in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example instrument cluster including a light housing and the example light guide illustrated in FIG. 3.

Claims

1. A light guide assembly for illuminating a display of an instrument cluster, comprising: a light receiving portion disposed transverse to said display;a light propagating portion transverse to said light receiving portion; anda conical surface positioned between said light receiving portion and said light propagating portion, wherein an exterior surface of said light propagating portion includes a plurality of lobes that uniformly illuminate said display as light propagates from said light receiving portion to said conical surface and through said light propagating portion.

2. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said exterior surface of said light propagating portion is at least partially cylindrical in shape, said plurality of lobes positioned circumferentially about said exterior surface.

3. The assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said plurality of lobes are equidistantly positioned about said exterior surface of said light propagating portion.

4. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of lobes are at least partially crescent shaped.

5. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said conical surface is inclined to direct a portion of the light from the light receiving portion into said light propagating portion.

6. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one light source is positioned adjacent each of said plurality of lobes.

7. An illuminated instrument cluster comprising a display including at least one vehicle graphic;at least one pointer moveable relative to said at least one vehicle graphic;at least one light source positioned to illuminate at least a portion of said at least one vehicle graphic;a circuit board supporting said at least one light source;at least one light guide for directing light from said at least one light source to each of said at least one pointer and said display; andat least one light housing supported by said circuit board and including at least one reflective surface extending between said circuit board and said display, wherein said at least one reflective surface includes a negative sloped section and a positive sloped section.

8. The cluster as recited in claim 7, wherein said at least one reflective surface extends circumferentially about a center of said circuit board, said negative sloped section positioned adjacent said center of said circuit board and said positive sloped section positioned adjacent a periphery of said circuit board.

9. The cluster as recited in claim 7, wherein said negative sloped section extends from a center of said at least one light housing toward said circuit board.

10. The cluster as recited in claim 7, wherein said positive sloped section extends between said negative sloped section toward said display.

11. The cluster as recited in claim 7, wherein said at least one light guide includes a light receiving portion, a light propagating portion and a conical surface between said light receiving portion and said light propagating portion.

12. The cluster as recited in claim 11, wherein an exterior surface of said light propagating portion includes a plurality of lobes that uniformly illuminate said display as light propagates from said light receiving portion to said conical surface and through said light propagating surface.

13. The cluster as recited in claim 11, wherein at least a portion of said light from said at least one light source is directed into said light receiving portion, reflects off said conical surface and is directed into said light propagating surface prior to exiting said at least one light guide.

14. The cluster as recited in claim 13, wherein a portion of said light which exits said at least one light guide reflects off said at least one reflective surface to illuminate said display.

15. The cluster as recited in claim 13, wherein a portion of said light which exits said at least one light guide directly illuminates said display.

16. The cluster as recited in claim 11, wherein a portion of said light from said at least one light source bypasses said conical surface and is directed within said pointer.

17. The cluster as recited in claim 7, wherein said at least one light source includes a light emitting diode.