US3792248A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means for controlling illumination of control or service elements on motor vehicle
Assignee: Johnson Controls Interiors GmbH and Co KG
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Filing: 1972-08-01
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Granted: 1974-02-12
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Expires: 1992-08-01
Abstract
Abstract A light guide for illuminating display elements in a vehicle, which elements are on the dashboard, or the like; the guide comprises a light source, and a light guide positioned over both the elements to be illuminated and the light source; the light guide has an exterior surface which is spaced away from the elements being illuminated and which curves gradually toward the surface to be illuminated along the direction away from the light source thereby to concentrate light in the light guide body remote from the source; in certain embodiments, a prismatically shaped light guiding body intersects the principal light guide for concentrating light at a particular display element.
Inventors
- 👤 G Dietz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:40
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q3/00; B60Q3/10; B60Q3/14; B60Q3/60; B60Q3/62; B60Q3/64
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
337 words
A light guide structure for uniformly illuminating a display below an opening through said structure: said structure being comprised of a block of light transmitting material; said block having a first and second end and a top and a bottom surface; a receptacle for a light source, which said receptacle is disposed away from said first end and is positioned to cause light to be transmitted through said block toward said first end; said block being defined in shape by external surfaces having interior sides facing inwardly into said block; said interior sides of said external surfaces of said block having reflective capability when light is incident thereupon at less than a critical angle; an opening passing through said block and through saId top and bottom surfaces and being located between said light source receptacle and said first end; an end portion of said block surrounding said opening and having a wall facing into and defining said opening; said end portion having a generally rectangular cross-section across said top and bottom surfaces in the vicinity of said light source receptacle and having its cross-section gradually change shape, moving away from said light source receptacle toward said one end, into a generally triangular shape, with the apex directed outwardly from said opening; said crosssection of said end portion also gradually decreasing in height between said top and said bottom surfaces moving away from said light source receptacle toward said one end; all of this crosssection change giving said end portion a generally spheroidal shape that is concave with respect to said exterior surface interior sides; the aforesaid changes in said block cross-section causing one said interior side of an external surface of said end portion to gradually twist, moving away from said light source receptacle toward said one end and thus also moving around said opening to cause said one interior side to cooperate with the other said interior sides to reflect light generally uniformly around said opening moving from said light source receptacle to said first end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
337 words
A light guide structure for uniformly illuminating a display below an opening through said structure: said structure being comprised of a block of light transmitting material; said block having a first and second end and a top and a bottom surface; a receptacle for a light source, which said receptacle is disposed away from said first end and is positioned to cause light to be transmitted through said block toward said first end; said block being defined in shape by external surfaces having interior sides facing inwardly into said block; said interior sides of said external surfaces of said block having reflective capability when light is incident thereupon at less than a critical angle; an opening passing through said block and through saId top and bottom surfaces and being located between said light source receptacle and said first end; an end portion of said block surrounding said opening and having a wall facing into and defining said opening; said end portion having a generally rectangular cross-section across said top and bottom surfaces in the vicinity of said light source receptacle and having its cross-section gradually change shape, moving away from said light source receptacle toward said one end, into a generally triangular shape, with the apex directed outwardly from said opening; said crosssection of said end portion also gradually decreasing in height between said top and said bottom surfaces moving away from said light source receptacle toward said one end; all of this crosssection change giving said end portion a generally spheroidal shape that is concave with respect to said exterior surface interior sides; the aforesaid changes in said block cross-section causing one said interior side of an external surface of said end portion to gradually twist, moving away from said light source receptacle toward said one end and thus also moving around said opening to cause said one interior side to cooperate with the other said interior sides to reflect light generally uniformly around said opening moving from said light source receptacle to said first end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The light guide structure of claim 1, wherein said light source receptacle is positioned generally centrally between said first and said second ends and both said ends and the said portions of said structure leading to those said ends having the aforesaid characteristics of the first said end and the said end portion leading thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The light guide structure of claim 1, wherein it is said top surface of said block that changes to change the shape and cross-section of said end portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
An illuminating device, including the light guide structure of Claim 3, and further comprising: a framework supporting said structure; said framework carrying a display to be illuminated; said display being positioned across said structure and across said structure opening and adjacent the said bottom surface of said structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The light guide structure of claim 1, wherein said structure has a prismatically shaped region that extends transversely to the normal transmission of light through said structure for intercepting the light and intensifying light in the vincinity of said prismatically shaped region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The light quide structure of claim 5, wherein said prismatically shaped region comprises a notch in the said structure external surface that carries said interior side that is curved.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The light guide structure of claim 1, wherein said opening is round and said end portion is rounded in a manner to encircle said opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The light guide structure of claim 7, wherein said block has peripheral edges which extend into and become part of said end portion; said light source receptacle being at said peripheral edges, thereby to transmit light straight into said end portion around said opening along both said peripheral edges and to said first end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The light guide structure of claim 8, wherein said light source receptacle is positioned generally centrally between said first and said second ends and both said ends and the said portions of said structure leading to those said ends having the aforesaid characteristics of the first said end and the said end portion leading thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
140 words
An illuminating device for carrying illumination to a remote location, said device comprising: a light guide structure having a light transmitting capability and being supportable in means for supporting a light guide structure before a display to be illuminated; said structure having a first and second end; a light source disposed away from at least one of said ends and positioned to transmit light through said structure; said structure having a prismatically shaped region that extends transversely to the normal transmissioN of light through said structure for intercepting the light and intensifying light in the vincinity of said prismatically shaped region; said prismatically shaped region extending along the length of said structure from said light source to the one said end; said structure having a rim away from said light source and said prismatically shaped region extending along said rim.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
140 words
An illuminating device for carrying illumination to a remote location, said device comprising: a light guide structure having a light transmitting capability and being supportable in means for supporting a light guide structure before a display to be illuminated; said structure having a first and second end; a light source disposed away from at least one of said ends and positioned to transmit light through said structure; said structure having a prismatically shaped region that extends transversely to the normal transmissioN of light through said structure for intercepting the light and intensifying light in the vincinity of said prismatically shaped region; said prismatically shaped region extending along the length of said structure from said light source to the one said end; said structure having a rim away from said light source and said prismatically shaped region extending along said rim.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The illuminating device of claim 10, wherein said prismatically shaped region comprises a prismatically shaped body; means supporting said prismatically shaped body spaced away from and across an air gap from said structure and from said light source.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-11 | 1977-08-13 | 1978-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-11 | 1981-08-13 | 1982-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-11 | 1985-08-13 | 1986-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |