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`(12) United States Patent
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`US 6,508,563 B2
`(10) Patent N0.:
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`Parker et al.
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`Jan. 21, 2003(45) Date of Patent:
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`U5006508563B2
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`LIGHT EMITTING PANEL ASSEMBLIES
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`FOR USE IN AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS
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`AND THE LIKE
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`Inventors: Jefl'ery R. Parker, Strongsville, OH
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`(US); Mark D. Miller, Parma, OH
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`(US); Thomas A. Hough, Lakewood,
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`OH (US)
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`Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited (VG)
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`Notice:
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`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
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`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
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`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
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`Appl. N0.: 10/005,090
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`Filed:
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`Dec. 5, 2001
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`Prior Publication Data
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`US 2002/0054487 A1 May 9, 2002
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`Related US. Application Data
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`Continuation of application No. 09/703,088, filed on Oct.
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`31, 2000, now Pat. No. 6,367,940, which is a continuation
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`of application No. 09/167,949, filed on Oct. 7, 1998, now
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`Pat. No. 6,158,867, which is a division of application No.
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`08/585,062, filed on Jan. 16, 1996, now Pat. No. 5,895,115.
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`Int. Cl.7 ................................................ G01D 11/28
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`US. Cl.
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`362/85; 362/459; 362/487; 362/543
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`Field of Search ................................. 200/314, 313;
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`362/85, 26, 27, 30, 29, 278, 320, 459, 487,
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`511, 543, 545
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`(56)
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`ABSTRACT
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`References Cited
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`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`..................... 362/299
`5,434,754 A *
`7/1995 Li et al.
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`............... 362/244
`5.895.115 A *
`4/1999 Parker el al.
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`* cited by examiner
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`Primary Examiner—Cassandra Spyrou
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`Assistant Examiner—Fayez Assaf
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`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Renner, Otto, Boisselle &
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`Sklar, LLP
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`Light emitting panel assemblies include in one form of the
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`invention a light emitting panel member made of a trans-
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`resiliently deformable elastomeric material
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`absorbs impact without breakage for use in automotive
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`lighting applications of various types. In another form of the
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`invention, a rigid light emitting panel member may be used
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`with dome switches for switch area lighting or to backlight
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`control buttons/key pads by providing holes or openings in
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`the panel member for the control buttons/key pads. Also, a
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`rigid light emitting panel member may be used as a struc-
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`tural member, and two or more such light emitting panel
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`members may be stacked together and used to light an
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`instrument panel or the like. One or more light sources may
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`be mounted within one or more light transition areas adja—
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`cent one or more light input surfaces of the light emitting
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`panel members. Also one or more light sources may be
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`positioned adjacent one side of the light emitting panel
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`members for causing light to shine through the panel mem-
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`bers or through holes in the panel members for performing
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`specified lighting functions.
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`23 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
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`Page 1 of 13
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`TOYOTA EXHIBIT 1001
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`Page 1 of 13
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`TOYOTA EXHIBIT 1001
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 21, 2003
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`Sheet 1 0f5
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`US 6,508,563 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 21, 2003
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`Sheet 2 0f5
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`US 6,508,563 B2
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`Jan. 21, 2003
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`Sheet 3 0f5
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`US 6,508,563 B2
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`Jan. 21, 2003
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`Sheet 4 0f5
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`Jan. 21, 2003
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`Sheet 5 0f5
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`US 6,508,563 B2
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`1
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`LIGHT EMITTING PANEL ASSEMBLIES
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`FOR USE IN AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS
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`AND THE LIKE
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`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
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`APPLICATIONS
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`This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
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`09/703,088, filed Oct. 31, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,
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`940, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/167,
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`949, filed Oct. 7, 1998, now US. Pat. No. 6,158,867, dated
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`Dec. 12, 2000, which is a division of application Ser. No.
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`08/585,062, filed Jan. 16, 1996, now US. Pat. No. 5,895,
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`115, dated Apr. 20, 1999.
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`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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`This invention relates generally as indicated to light
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`emitting panel assemblies especially for automotive appli-
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`cations.
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`Light emitting panel assemblies are generally known. The
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`present invention relates to certain improvements in light
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`emitting panel assemblies especially for automotive appli-
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`cations. Also,
`this invention is concerned with passing/
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`shining light directly through a light emitting panel member
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`or through holes in the panel member for performing speci-
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`fied lighting functions, for example, providing brake or turn
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`signal
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`vehicle.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the light
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`emitting panel assemblies of the present
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`include a light emitting panel member made out of a suitable
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`transparent resiliently deformable elastomeric material that
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`absorbs impact without breakage. Such panel members are
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`especially suitable for use both in interior automotive light-
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`ing applications to reduce the possibility of serious injury to
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`a driver or passenger of a vehicle when thrown into contact
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`with the panel member during a traffic accident, and in
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`exterior automotive lighting applications to help eliminate
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`damage to the panel member if impacted during a traffic
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`accident.
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`Examples where such a resiliently deformable light emit-
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`ting panel member may be effectively used in interior
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`automotive lighting applications to reduce injury during
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`accidents are steering wheel and dash lighting applications
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`for lighting controls, switches, instrument panels, headliner
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`lighting, logos and/or accent lighting.
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`In steering wheel applications, a resiliently deformable
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`light emitting panel member may be mounted in the hub
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`portion of the steering wheel outwardly of an air bag for
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`lighting controls and/or switches or logos on the steering
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`wheel hub and for accent lighting.
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`When used on a dash or other flush mount applications
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`such as instrument panels and headliner lighting, a resil-
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`iently deformable panel member will absorb impact/shock,
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`and may be contoured to match the shape of the dash or other
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`surface.
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`Examples where such a resiliently deformable panel
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`member may be effectively used in exterior automotive
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`lighting applications to reduce or eliminate damage to the
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`panel member during accidents are running or accent lights
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`in the bumper or other exterior body portions of a vehicle.
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`The light emitting panel member may also be incorporated
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`Page 7 0f 13
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`20
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`2
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`into a trunk lid of a vehicle to provide running lights and/or
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`license plate or logo illumination in the trunk lid. In appli-
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`cations where the trunk lid is recessed, the panel member
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`may be rigid. However, if the trunk lid is substantially flush
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`with the body exterior,
`the panel member is desirably
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`resiliently deformable to withstand impacts during accidents
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`without breakage of the panel member.
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`In accordance with another aspect of the invention, one or
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`more light sources may be mounted within one or more light
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`transition areas or regions adjacent one or more light input
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`surfaces of a light emitting panel member.
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`In accordance with another aspect of the invention, one or
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`more light sources may be positioned adjacent one side of
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`the panel member for causing light to shine through the
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`panel member or through holes in the panel member for
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`performing specified lighting functions, for example, pro-
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`viding brake or turn signal lights and/or turning or backup
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`illumination for a vehicle.
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`In accordance with another aspect of the invention, one or
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`more light sources may be selectively positioned along an
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`edge or side of the panel member for increasing the light
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`output from selected light output areas/regions on one or
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`both sides of the panel member.
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`In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a
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`resiliently deformable light emitting panel member may be
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`used to backlight a liquid crystal display (LCD) and/or
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`multiple control switches or key pads of a radio or other
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`electrical device. Such a panel member upon being engaged
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`by a control button/key pad will be deformed into electrical
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`contact with a switch or other circuitry such as a printed
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`circuit
`inwardly of the panel member for performing a
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`selected switching function.
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`In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a rigid
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`light emitting panel member may be used to backlight an
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`LCD and/or multiple control buttons/key pads of a radio or
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`other electrical device by providing holes or openings
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`through the panel member for movement of a portion of the
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`control buttons/key pads into and out of electrical contact
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`with a printed circuit inwardly of the panel member. Surface
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`irregularities such as print patterns or molded in shapes may
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`be provided on the panel surfaces around the holes/openings
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`to flood the areas around the buttons/key pads with light.
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`In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a rigid
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`light emitting panel member may be used with dome and
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`other such switches for switch area lighting. One or more
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`such rigid light emitting panel members each with its own
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`separate light source and transition region may support a
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`series of push buttons that float on the panel members to
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`permit the push buttons to be moved into contact with the
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`dome switches.
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`In accordance with another aspect of the invention, two or
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`more stacked light emitting panel members may be used to
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`light an instrument panel or the like. One of the panel
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`members may be used to provide general backlighting for
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`graphic displays on the instrument panel, whereas an other
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`panel member may be used to light dial pointers or other
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`elements on the instrument panel. Common or separate light
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`sources may be used to supply light to input surfaces of two
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`or more panel members. Also, separate indicator lights may
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`be provided behind the panel members for providing
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`through illumination to indicators on the graphic displays of
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`the instrument panel.
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`In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a rigid
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`light emitting panel member may be used as a structural
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`member for graphic overlays or decals,
`to provide for
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`example lighting for designating the gear shift lever posi-
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`Page 7 of 13
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`US 6,508,563 B2
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`4
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`FIG. 9 is a schematic side elevation view of another form
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`of light emitting panel assembly in accordance with this
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`invention used for supporting and illuminating a series of
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`floating push buttons above a series of dome switches;
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`FIG. 10 is a transverse section through the assembly of
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`FIG. 9 taken on the plane of the line 10—10 thereof;
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`FIG. 11 is a top plan View of another form of light
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`emitting panel assembly in accordance with this invention
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`which is also used to support and illuminate a series of
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`floating push buttons;
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`FIG. 12 is a schematic vertical section through an instru-
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`ment panel incorporating other forms of light emitting panel
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`assemblies in accordance with this invention;
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`FIG. 13 is a top plan View of a graphic overlay for the
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`instrument panel of FIG. 12 as seen from the plane of the
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`line 13—13 thereof;
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`FIG. 14 is a top plan View of one light emitting panel
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`assembly in accordance with this invention incorporated in
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`the instrument panel of FIG. 12 as seen from the plane of the
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`line 14—14 thereof;
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`FIG. 15 is a top plan View of another form of light
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`emitting panel assembly in accordance with this invention
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`incorporated in the instrument panel of FIG. 12 as seen from
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`the plane of the line 15—15 thereof;
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`FIGS. 16 through 18 are schematic plan views showing
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`other forms of light emitting panel assemblies in accordance
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`with this invention which provide a structural support for
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`graphic overlays/decals used for example to designate the
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`various gear shift lever positions of an engine;
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`FIG. 19 is a fragmentary transverse section through one
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`such light emitting panel member used as a structural
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`support; and
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`FIGS. 20 through 22 are schematic illustrations showing
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`light emitting panel assemblies in accordance with this
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`invention used to provide lighting for vanity mirrors and the
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`like.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
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`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
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`Referring now in detail to the drawings, and initially to
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`FIGS. 1 and 2, there is schematically shown one form of
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`light emitting panel assembly 1 in accordance with this
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`invention mounted in the hub portion 2 of a steering wheel
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`3 of a vehicle outwardly of an air bag 4 to provide back-
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`lighting for control switches/buttons 5, the horn, logos, or
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`other accent lighting on the steering wheel.
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`The light emitting panel assembly 1 includes a transparent
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`light emitting panel member 8 having one or more light
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`sources 9 mounted within one or more light transition areas
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`or regions 10 at one or both ends of the panel member
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`mounted within the air bag/steering wheel covering 11
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`outwardly of the air bag 4. In FIGS. 1 and 2, two such light
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`transition areas or regions 10 and light sources 9 are shown
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`at one end of one or two panel members 8 for selectively
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`lighting one or two rows of control buttons 5. The light that
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`enters the transparent light emitting panel members 8 from
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`the light transition region(s) 10 may be emitted along the
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`entire length ofthe panel members or from one or more light
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`output surface areas along their length as desired to produce
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`a desired light output distribution to fit a particular applica-
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`tion.
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`The light sources 9 may be mechanically held in any
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`suitable manner in slots, cavities or openings machined,
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`molded or otherwise formed in the light transition regions of
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`the panel assemblies. However, the light sources may be
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`3
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`lions of a vehicle. One or more light sources may be
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`inserted/embedded within light transition regions at one or
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`more locations along the length of the panel member to
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`direct light into input surfaces of the panel member. Indi-
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`cator lights may be provided adjacent an edge or side of the
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`panel member in line with each indicator position for
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`providing increased light output at the selected position.
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`Also, a movable color filter may be provided between the
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`panel member and label to provide a different colored light
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`output at any selected gear shift position. For example, a
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`movable red filter may be used to change the color of the
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`light output at the selected gear shift lever position from
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`white to red.
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`In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
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`light emitting panel member may have a secondary
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`reflective/refractive surface for reflecting/refracting a por—
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`tion of the light entering an input surface of the panel
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`member around a corner of the panel member.
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`To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends,
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`the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully
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`described and particularly pointed out in the claims,
`the
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`following description and the annexed drawings setting forth
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`in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention,
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`these being indicative, however, of but several of the various
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`ways in which the principles of the invention may be
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`employed.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`In the annexed drawings:
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`FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan View of a steering wheel of
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`a vehicle incorporating one form of light emitting panel
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`assembly in accordance with this invention in the hub
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`portion of the steering wheel;
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`FIG. 2 is a fragmentary transverse section through the
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`panel assembly within the hub portion of FIG. 1 taken on the
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`plane of the line 2—2 thereof;
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`FIG. 2A is an enlarged plan View of a portion of a light
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`output surface area of a panel assembly schematically show-
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`ing a pattern of light extracting deformities on the light
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`output surface area;
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`FIG. 3 is a schematic end View of a rear portion of a
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`vehicle incorporating other forms of light emitting panel
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`assemblies in accordance with this invention;
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`FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section through the
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`vehicle end portion and panel assemblies of FIG. 3 taken on
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`the plane of the line 4—4 thereof;
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`FIG. 5 is a schematic plan View of a radio or other
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`electronic device incorporating another form of light emit-
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`ting panel assembly in accordance with this invention;
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`FIG. 6 is a transverse section through the assembly of
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`FIG. 5 taken on the plane of the line 6—6 thereof;
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`FIG. 7 is a schematic fragmentary section through a
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`portion of a control panel incorporating another form of light
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`emitting panel assembly in accordance with this invention;
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`FIG. 7A is a fragmentary top plan View of a portion of the
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`light emitting panel member of FIG. 7 showing light extract-
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`ing deformities on light emitting surfaces of the panel
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`member around a hole or opening in the panel member in
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`alignment with a control button/key pad;
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`FIG. 8 is a schematic fragmentary section through a
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`contoured surface such as the dash of a vehicle showing
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`other forms of light emitting panel assemblies in accordance
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`with this invention interposed between a printed circuit and
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`a series of key pads either molded into the contoured surface
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`or extending through openings therein;
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`10
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`20
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`L)m
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`30
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`L»UI
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`60
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`Page 8 0f 13
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`Page 8 of 13
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`

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`5
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`embedded, polled or bonded in the light transition regions in
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`order to eliminate any air gaps or air interface surfaces
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`between the light sources and surrounding light transition
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`regions, thereby reducing light loss and increasing the light
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`output emitted by the light emitting panels. Bonding may be
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`accomplished using a suitable embedding, potting or bond-
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`ing material or by a variety of methods that do not incor-
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`porate extra material, for example, thermal bonding, heat
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`staking, ultrasonic or plastic welding or the like. Other
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`methods of bonding include insert molding and casting
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`around the light sources.
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`The light sources may be of any suitable type including,
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`for example, any of the types disclosed in US. Pat. Nos.
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`4,897,771 and 5,005,108, assigned to the same assignee as
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`the present application, the entire disclosures of which are
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`incorporated herein by reference.
`In particular,
`the light
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`sources may be non-linear such as an arc lamp, an incan-
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`descent bulb which also may be colored, filtered or painted,
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`a lens end bulb, a halogen lamp, a light emitting diode
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`(LED), a chip from an LED, a neon bulb, a fiber optic light
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`pipe transmitting light from a remote light source, a laser or
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`laser diode, or linear such as a line light or fluorescent tube,
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`or any other suitable light source. Also, the light sources may
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`be a multiple colored LED, or a combination of multiple
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`colored radiation sources in order to provide a desired
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`colored or white light output distribution. For example, a
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`plurality of colored lights such as LEDs of different colors
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`(red, blue, green) or a single LED with multiple colored
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`chips may be employed to create white light or any other
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`color or shade light output distribution by varying the
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`intensities of each individual colored light. A label/overlay
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`with different color light emitting regions can be used in
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`conjunction with a panel assembly having a plurality of
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`colored light sources for specific indication based on color
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`or the frequency of light emitted by the dilferent
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`emitting regions.
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`Apattern of light extracting deformities or disruptions 12
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`(see FIG. 2A) may be provided on one or both sides 13, 14
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`of the panel members along the entire length thereof or at
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`one or more selected areas of the panel members as desired.
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`The terms deformities or disruptions are used interchange-
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`ably herein to mean any change in the shape or geometry of
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`the panel surface and/or coating or surface treatment that
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`causes a portion of the light to be emitted. Apattern of light
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