(12) United States Patent
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`Parker et al.
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`US006886956B2
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`(10) Patent N0.:
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`(45) Date of Patent:
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`US 6,886,956 B2
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`*May 3, 2005
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`References Cited
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`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`7/’l 960 Hardesty
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`7/1962 Albinger, Jr.
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`1/1963 Miller
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`2,945,313 A
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`3,o43,947 A
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`3,070,913 A
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`(Continued)
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`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`A—78486/91
`12/1991
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`0 453 092 A1
`10/1991
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`523706
`3/1939
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`2285518 A
`7/1995
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`VVO 92/05535
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`VVO 96/17207
`6/1996
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`9/1996
`VVO 96/27757
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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: Jelfery R. Parker, Richfield, OH (US);
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`Mark D. Miller, Parma, OH (US);
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`Thomas A. Hough, Lakewood, OH
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`(US)
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`Solid State Opto Limited (VG)
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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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`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
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`claimer.
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`Appl. N0.: 10/298,367
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`Filed:
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`Nov. 18, 2002
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`Prior Publication Data
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`US 2003/0095398 A1 May 22, 2003
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`Primary Examiner—Faycz G. Assaf
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`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Renner, Otto, Boisselle &
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`Sklar, LLP
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`Related U.S. Application Data
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`(57)
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`ABSTRACT
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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
`that
`parent
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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 dorne switches for switch area lighting or to backlight
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`control buttons/key pads. Also, a rigid hght emitting panel
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`member may be used as a structural member, and two or
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`more such light emitting panel members may be stacked
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`together and used to light an instrument panel or the like.
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`33 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
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`Continuation of application No. 10/005,090, filed on Dec. 5,
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`2001, now Pat. No. 6,508,563, which is a continuation of
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`application No. 09/703,088, filed on Oct. 31, 2000, now Pat.
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`No. 6,367,940, which is a continuation of application No.
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`09/167,949, filed on Oct. 7, 1998, now Pat. No. 6,158,867,
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`which is a division of application No. 08/585,062, filed on
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`Jan. 16, 1996, now Pat. No. 5,895,115.
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`Int. Cl.7 .............................................. .. G01D 11/28
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`U.S. Cl.
`........................... .. 362/29; 362/85; 362/26;
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`362/30; 362/487; 362/543
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`Field of Search ............................... .. 362/278, 503,
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`362/540, 85, 511, 543, 545, 487, 459, 26,
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`27, 29, 30; 40/556
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`I 4
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`7:?/£<'a?}'F.+ .
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`Page 1 of 14
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`TOYOTA EXHIBIT 1001
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`US 6,886,956 B2
`Page 2
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`5,207,493
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`5,262,928
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`5,283,673
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`5,303,322
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`5,307,244
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`5,339,179
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`5,349,503
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`5,375,043
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`5,377,084
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`5,390,085
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`5,394,308
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`5,396,350
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`5,442,523
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`5,467,208
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`5,467,417
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`5,485,291
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`5,506,929
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`5,521,342
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`5,576,078
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`5,579,134
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`5,598,280
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`5,598,281
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`5,600,462
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`5,613,751
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`5,618,095
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`5,664,862
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`5,671,994
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`5,711,592
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`5,719,649
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`5,771,328
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`5,775,791
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`5,779,338
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`5,808,784
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`5,851,062
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`5,961,198
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`5,971,559
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`>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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`DiDébé<@¥QQQQ‘\°@"\‘£Q
`§§§£s§e2<£££22<:EE&£:E
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`* cited by examiner
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`362/503
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`Murase et al.
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`Kashima et al.
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`Murasc ct al.
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`Winston et al.
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`Gaudette
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`Rudisill el al.
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`Blonder et al.
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`Tokunaga
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`Kojima et al.
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`Mari—Roca et al.
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`Watanabe et al.
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`Tai el al.
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`Schalz
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`Lengyel
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`............... .. 362/31
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`Balchunas
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`Bustad
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`Schermerhorn
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`Baker et al.
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`Mund el al.
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`Eberhardt et al.
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`3,752,974
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`3,761,703
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`4,043,636
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`4,183,628
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`4,257,084
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`4,446,508
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`4,630,895
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`4,638,131
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`4,714,983
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`4,729,185
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`4,733,335
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`4,751,615
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`4,763,984
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`4,765,701
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`4,906,070
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`4,974,122
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`4,975,808
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`4,978,952
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`4,989,956
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`5,005,108
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`5,027,258
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`5,056,892
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`5,070,431
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`5,093,765
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`5,128,842
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`5,134,549
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`5,136,483
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`>>>3>>3>>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>
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`6/1967
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`11/1970
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`3/1971
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`8/1973
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`9/1973
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`7/1975
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`5/1976
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`1/1980
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`8/1981
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`9/1981
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`5/1984
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`9/1985
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`3/1986
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`12/1986
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`1/1987
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`12/1987
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`3/1988
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`3/1988
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`6/1988
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`8/1988
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`8/1988
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`3/1990
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`11/1990
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`12/1990
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`12/1990
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`2/1991
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`4/1991
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`6/1991
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`10/1991
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`12/1991
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`3/1992
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`7/1992
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`7/1992
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`8/1992
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sheet 1 of 5
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`Sheet 2 of 5
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`US 6,886,956 B2
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`11}
`‘—,-/AA
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`7I_;£A.5I.=.I3V,/AI_fl_.lY§
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`Page 4 of 14
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`May 3, 2005
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`Sheet 3 of 5
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`US 6,886,956 B2
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`Page 5 of 14
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`Sheet 4 of 5
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`US 6,886,956 B2
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`.|9
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`Sheet 5 of 5
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`US 6,886,956 B2
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`Page 7 of 14
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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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`10/005,090, filed Dec. 5, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,563
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`B2, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/703,
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`088, filed Oct. 31, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,940, dated
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`Apr. 9, 2002, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.
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`09/167,949, filed Oct. 7, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,867,
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`dated Dec. 12, 2000, which is a division of application Ser.
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`No. 08/585,062, filed Jan. 16, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No.
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`5,895,115, 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 lights and/or turning or backup illumination for a
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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
`invention may
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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 conto11red 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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`US 6,886,956 B2
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`2
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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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`into a trunk lid of a vehicle to provide running lights and/or
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`license plate or logo illumination in the tr11nk 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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`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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`_
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`Page 8 of 14
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`4
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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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`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 l4—l4 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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`US 6,886,956 B2
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`3
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`to provide for
`member for graphic overlays or decals,
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`example lighting for designating the gear shift lever posi-
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`tions 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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`aanel member in line with each indicator position for
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`aroviding 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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`aanel 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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`ight 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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`ight emitting panel member may have a secondary
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`reflective/refractive surface for reflecting/refracting a por-
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`ion of the light entering an input surface of the panel
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`nember around a corner of the panel member.
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`To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends,
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`he ir1ver1tior1, tl1er1, comprises the features hereinafter fully
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`described and particularly pointed out in the claims,
`the
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`ollowing description and the annexed drawings setting forth
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`in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention,
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`hese 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 forr11 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 44 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 forr11 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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`_
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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 fror11
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`the light transition region(s) 10 may be emitted along the
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`entire length of the 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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`tron.
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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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`Page 9 of 14
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`US 6,886,956 B2
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`5
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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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`embedded, potted 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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`staldng, ultrasonic or plast