Control panel illumination system for automobile dashboards - has light-guide strip behind panel windows reducing bulb requirement

摘要

The control panel illumination system, esp. for automobile dashboards, requires the minimum of filament bulbs through the use of light-guides. The control panel front mask (1) is perforated at various positions along its length with slots and windows through which the control levers protrude. The windows contain the alpha-numeric characters indicating the control function selected by the levers. A slab of light-guide material (1) is fitted immediately behind the front panel. Recesses (8) cut in the light-guide are aligned with the display windows cut in the front panel (7). A compensating slice of light-guide material with the display symbols fixed to its rear face (4), is fitted into the recess. The light-guide sheet is illuminated at each end by single filament bulbs.