Patent Application
20050087654
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an instrument panel system which permits different sized devices to be used within a common instrument panel architecture.
2. Background Art
In the automotive industry, an common instrument panel architecture is commonly used for a particular vehicle model. Typically, the common architecture includes a common set of openings for the different devices which may be purchased for the vehicle.
The opening are generally sized relative to the largest device option which can be used in the opening. In this manner, an opening assigned to a LCD display would include an area sufficient for receiving the largest available LCD display. In general, a LCD display for a high end version of the vehicle may include a relatively large size LCD display in comparison to a low end version which includes a relatively small size LCD display.
Because of the common instrument panel architecture, the opening for the LCD display includes an opening area to match the largest LCD display. As such, an intermediate area of the opening between the LCD display and the instrument panel can be seen when an LCD display having an area smaller than the area of the opening is selected.
The intermediate area appears as an aesthetically undesirable empty portion in the instrument panel. As such, there exists a need to provide an instrument panel system which can accommodate different sized devices within a common instrument panel architecture without showing the empty intermediate area when the device received within the opening is smaller than the area of the opening.
The present invention provides an instrument panel system which meets the need identified above. In particular, the instrument panel system can accommodate different sized devices within a common instrument panel architecture without showing an empty intermediate area between the device and the instrument panel when the device received within the opening is smaller than an area of the opening.
One aspect of the present invention relates to a secondary panel. When the device received within the opening is smaller than an area of the opening, the secondary panel can be attached to the instrument panel to form an intermediate surface for covering the empty intermediate area between the device and the instrument panel. Preferably, the secondary panel can be removably or permanently attached to the instrument panel.
The secondary panel can comprises a one-way transmissible material which passes light in one direction through the secondary panel. In this manner, a display, such as an LCD display, having an area smaller than the area of the opening can be used and covered by the secondary panel such that the empty intermediate area between the display and the instrument panel is concealed when the display is inactive, yet the one-way transmissible material still permits the covered LCD display to be viewed from the passenger compartment when active.
The secondary panel can also comprise an opaque material specifically shaped to fit around the display for covering the empty intermediate area. In this manner, if the smaller size display is used, a secondary panel conforming to the size and shape of the empty intermediate area can be selected. Preferably, the opaque secondary panel is removably attachable to the instrument panel such that an occupant can change the appearance of the instrument panel system by replacing the secondary panel with another secondary panel. The different opaque secondary panels can include designs and other ornamental appearances to permit different panels to be attached for different aesthetic appearances.
The secondary panel can also comprise an opaque portion and a transparent portion. The opaque portions is shaped to cover the empty intermediate area and the transparent portions is shaped to cover a display. In this manner, the display is visible to the passenger compartment though the transparent portion and the empty intermediate area is covered by the opaque portion.
The instrument panel system 10 relates to an automobile, however, the present invention is not limited to automobiles. Rather, the present invention applies to airplanes, boats, and other vehicles, as one having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate.
For exemplary purposes, the device 24 referred to below is a display device, such as an LCD display. The device 24, however, is not limited to displays or LCD displays. Rather, the instrument panel 12 can include a number of openings for different devices, including a cathode ray tube display, light emitting diodes, control panels to control vehicle systems, switches, buttons, a radio controller, an air conditioning controller, a CD player, a tape player, and other display units for conveying information to or receiving information from a passenger compartment.
The instrument panel 12 preferably includes a common architecture which includes a predefined arrangement for the openings 16, 18, 20. This means the common instrument panel 10 can be used with different versions of a single vehicle model. The opening area for each opening is sufficiently sized relative to the largest device which can be purchased for use in the opening.
For example, the vehicle model may include different options for a LCD display 24. The LCD display 24 for a high end version of the vehicle may include a relatively large size LCD display in comparison to a low end version which includes a relatively smaller size LCD display.
Because of the common instrument panel architecture, the opening area 16 for the LCD display 24 is sized to match the large size LCD display. The openings 16, 18, 20 are configured to receive one of a plurality of devices, such as the LCD display device 24. As shown in
The secondary panel 34 includes an aperture 38 to fit around the display 24. Extending relative to the aperture is an extended portion 40 of the intermediate surface 36. The extended portion 40 is sized cover the empty intermediate area 30 in the opening. In this manner, the secondary panel 34 is said to ring the display 24.
The size of the extended portion 40 is typically proportion to the difference in size between the display and the opening. A number of differently sized secondary panels can be made to facilitate the manufacturing of the instrument panel system 10. From the supply of secondary panels, the properly sized secondary panel is selected and attached to the instrument panel 12.
The secondary panel 34 can be removably or permanently attachable to the instrument panel 12. The removably attachable secondary panel 34 permits the secondary panel 34 to be removed and replaced after manufacturing with relative ease.
Optionally, the secondary panel 34 can include a material which matches an outer skin material of the instrument panel. The matched material provides a continuous appearance to the instrument panel such that the portion of the opening covered by the secondary panel appears to substantially match with the rest of the instrument panel 12. In this manner, the secondary panel 34 is configured to meet the instrument panel 12 such that the instrument panel appears substantially integral to the occupant.
The material of the secondary panel 34 can also include different aesthetic appearances such that an occupant can change the appearance of the instrument panel system 10 by replacing the secondary panel 34 with another secondary panel 34. The different secondary panels can include designs and other ornamental appearances to permit different panels to be attached for different aesthetic appearances.
The one-way material secondary panel 80 advantageously covers the entire opening to cover the empty intermediate area 30 regardless of the display size. In other words, the empty intermediate area is covered regardless of whether the large or small size display is used. Typically, the secondary panel 80 extends slightly beyond the opening to insure the any empty intermediate area that may even appear with use of the largest size display due to tolerance gaps is covered.
The one-way material is such that sufficiently viewable light only pass from behind the secondary panel to the passenger area and not from the passenger area to behind the secondary panel, i.e. in only one direction. In this manner, the covered display is viewable when active but concealed when inactive.
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
