The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 25, 1990
Filed:
Aug. 04, 1989
James L Kohler, Kokomo, IN (US);
Delco Electronics Corporation, Kokomo, IN (US);
Abstract
A solid state thickfilm electroluminescent lamp illuminates a pointer for viewing automotive instrument clusters during low ambient light conditions. A solid state ThFEL lamp is placed between the faceplate of a vehicle dashboard and the air core mechanism. An instrument cluster pointer is situated on the opposite side of the faceplate from the ThFEL lamp. The ThFEL lamp is donut-shaped with a hole in its center to allow the pointer to connect to the air core mechanism. The lamp has a reflectie electrode and a transparent electrode situated such that the reflective electrode directs the ThFEL light towards the pointer where it is needed and away from the air core mechanism. The pointer is designed to collect a large area of dim light, focusing that light down the pointer shaft and reflecting it to an observer viewing the instrument cluster.