GB2051449A - Improvements in indicator apparatus such as for motor vehicles - Google Patents
Improvements in indicator apparatus such as for motor vehicles Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2051449A GB2051449A GB8017701A GB8017701A GB2051449A GB 2051449 A GB2051449 A GB 2051449A GB 8017701 A GB8017701 A GB 8017701A GB 8017701 A GB8017701 A GB 8017701A GB 2051449 A GB2051449 A GB 2051449A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- semi
- plates
- conductor
- medium
- component
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 38
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 229920003002 synthetic resin Polymers 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000000057 synthetic resin Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 125000006850 spacer group Chemical group 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000004973 liquid crystal related substance Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 14
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229920005439 Perspex® Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920003217 poly(methylsilsesquioxane) Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000004926 polymethyl methacrylate Substances 0.000 description 2
- AZWHFTKIBIQKCA-UHFFFAOYSA-N [Sn+2]=O.[O-2].[In+3] Chemical compound [Sn+2]=O.[O-2].[In+3] AZWHFTKIBIQKCA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910010293 ceramic material Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000009500 colour coating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000498 cooling water Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003822 epoxy resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005530 etching Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000647 polyepoxide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000011241 protective layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
- G02F1/1343—Electrodes
- G02F1/134309—Electrodes characterised by their geometrical arrangement
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01D—MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01D13/00—Component parts of indicators for measuring arrangements not specially adapted for a specific variable
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01D—MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01D7/00—Indicating measured values
- G01D7/02—Indicating value of two or more variables simultaneously
- G01D7/04—Indicating value of two or more variables simultaneously using a separate indicating element for each variable
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- G01R13/00—Arrangements for displaying electric variables or waveforms
- G01R13/40—Arrangements for displaying electric variables or waveforms using modulation of a light beam otherwise than by mechanical displacement, e.g. by Kerr effect
- G01R13/404—Arrangements for displaying electric variables or waveforms using modulation of a light beam otherwise than by mechanical displacement, e.g. by Kerr effect for discontinuous display, i.e. display of discrete values
- G01R13/407—Arrangements for displaying electric variables or waveforms using modulation of a light beam otherwise than by mechanical displacement, e.g. by Kerr effect for discontinuous display, i.e. display of discrete values using a plurality of passive display elements, e.g. liquid crystal or Kerr-effect display elements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
- G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
- Nonlinear Science (AREA)
- Mathematical Physics (AREA)
- Geometry (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
- Instrument Panels (AREA)
- Details Of Measuring Devices (AREA)
Abstract
An indicator apparatus with an indication zone 1, 2, 3, 4, e.g. for use in a motor vehicle comprises transparent plate 31 spaced from a similar plate, each provided with a conductive translucent coating of desired configuration. Between the plates is a layer of a medium which changes its appearance when an electric voltage is applied. One or more semiconductor components such as integrated circuits, for supplying the electric voltage are disposed between the plates within the configuration of the indication zone, e.g. at sites 21-25. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Improvements in or relating to indicator apparatuses with indication zones for motor vehicles
The invention relates to an indicator apparatus with an indication zone for use, for instance, in motor vehicles, such an apparatus may comprise two plates which are maintained at a certain spacing by means of spacer members, are transparent and provided with a conductive or translucent coating of defined configuration, and a layer of a medium disposed therebetween which changes its appearance when an electric voltage is applied thereto, and wherein an electric voltage may be supplied to the medium by way of a semiconductor component (such as an integrated circuit or "chip") arranged between the plates.
Indicator apparatuses of this kind may be used for example in the instrument panels of motor vehicles and may serve inter alia for the indication of speed, motor revolutions (RPM) and so forth. They are characterised in particular by three properties and advantages namely low power consumption, flat construction extending over a large area, and indication contrast which is independent of the ambient brightness. The use of such indicator apparatus, which generally contain a liquid crystal as the indicating medium, having very many points serving for indication and therefore to be controlled separately, is severely hindered by the fact that the connecting technique for the many terminal contacts renders the indication disproportionally expensive.For this reason a semiconductor component has previously been arranged in a depression of a glass plate directly at the edge of the indicator apparatus and a so-called "hybrid system" has been produced in this way (DE-OS 22 01 268). Such an arrangement has the advantage that the many connections of the points to be controlled of the indicator apparatus all terminate in the vicinity of the semi-conductor component constructed as a so-called "chip".
The semi-conductor component contains storage elements, so that the information for controlling the individual points of the indication zone may be inserted in series into the semi-conductor component and then transmitted in parallel to the individual segments of the indication zone.
However, this known solution has the disadvantage that long conductive paths are necessary for connecting all regions of the indication zone to the semi-conductor component.
Moreover, additional space for the semi-conductor or semi-conductor is required at the rim or the edge of the indicator apparatus and such space may not be available in motor vehicles, for example in view of prescribed assembly dimensions.
According to the invention, there is provided an indicator apparatus with an indication zone, comprising two plates, which are maintained at a predetermined spacing by one or more spacer members, and are transparent and provided with a conductive or translucent coating of predefined configuration, and a layer of a medium disposed therebetween capable of changing its appearance when an electric voltage is applied thereto, there being provided at least one semi conductor component for supplying an electric voltage to the medium, the or each semiconductor component being disposed between the plates and being arranged within the configuration of the indication zone.
It is thus possible to provide an indicator apparatus in which a semi-conductor component is accommodated in a space saving manner and long conductor paths are avoided.
The assembly dimensions of the apparatus may be kept small and space can be utilised which is normally not needed in the indication zone.
The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows an indication zone of an indicator apparatus for the instrument panel of a motor vehicle with associated electrodes and conductor paths;
Figure 2 shows a counter-plate associated with the indication zone of Fig. 1, with counter-electrodes and conductor paths;
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view of an indicator apparatus constituting a prefered embodiment of the invention; and
Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 3 of another indicator apparatus constituting a prefered embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 1 illustrates by way of example the indication zone of an indicator apparatus for a motor vehicle, the zone having been produced in the form of a single colour or multiple colour coating on a transparent plate 31 of glass or a synthetic resin. The indication zone comprises inter alia a speed indicator 1, a tachometer indicator 2, and distance and time indicators 3 and 4, respectively. Furthermore additional indicators (not illustrated) may be provided for fuel level, and temperature of the cooling water, as well as further indicator regions for direction signals, head lamps, safety belts, etc.
Fig. 1 illustrates, in addition to the individual indication zones or regions, associated control electrodes and conductor paths which are arranged on the plate 31 of glass or synthetic resin by a conventional technique.
The individual conductor paths 5 terminate in connection electrodes 6 which are grouped together in four regions 10, 11, 1 2 and 13 3in the illustrated constructional form. Fig. 2 illustrates a counter-plate 35 of glass or synthetic resin with a circuit which is associated with the indication zones of Fig. 1 and is printed on the plate and which comprises counterelectrodes grouped together in regions 14, 15, 1 6 and 1 7, as well as a connection electrode 1 8. In known indicator apparatus of this kind the electrodes 10, 11, 12, 1 3 and 1 8 are generally located at the edge thereof and are connected to one or more semiconductor components from which the usual leads for the current supply and the control leads are guided to the outside.Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate conventional arrangement without illustration of the semiconductor components.
Instead of arranging the connection electrodes with the associated semi-conductor components at the rim or the edge of the plates 31, 35 as heretofore, these electrodes and the semi-conductor components connected thereto are placed in the interior of the configuration of the indication zone where they do not interfere with the individual indication regions, and are screened from the outside in an invisible manner e.g. by a black cover. Possible regions in which connection electrodes and semi-conductor components may be arranged within the configuration of an indication zone, are referenced with the reference numerals 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26, 27, respectively, in Figs. 1 and 2.The arrangement of these regions within the configuration of the indication zone requires considerably shorter conductor paths and allows a considerable amount of space to be saved at the edge of the indicator apparatus because of the omission there of the connection electrodes and semi-conductor components. (For reasons of clarity the conductor paths leading to the regions 21 to 27 per se and their connection electrodes are not illustrated in
Figs. 1 and 2).
Fig. 3 illustrates a partial sectional view of an indicator apparatus constituting a prefered embodiment of the invention. An upper transparent plate 31 consisting of glass or a synthetic resin, e.g. perspex (Registered Trade
Mark), supports on its back face as translucent coating an indication zone 32 with con trol electrodes and conductor paths of approximately the configuration illustrated in Fig. 1.
By means of a frame-shaped spacer member 34 preferably provided at the edge 33 of the apparatus, the plate 31 is connected to a further preferably transparent plate 35, for example of glass or a synthetic resin. On its front or upper face, the plate 35 supports in the form of a conductive coating the conductor paths and counter-electrodes 36 illustrated in Fig. 2. A medium 30 fills the gap between the plates 31 and 35 by the spacer member 34. Upon the application of an electrical voltage between the control electrodes and the counter-electrodes, this medium changes its appearance and thus provides a visual indication. The medium 30 is preferably a liquid crystal, but may alternatively be an electrochromic substance, an electrolytic substance, an electrophoretic substance or a dipole liquid. Such media are known per se.As shown in Fig. 3, a depression 37 is etched or milled into the plate 31. A semi-conductor component 38 is fixed therein and is protected by a thin layer of synthetic resin cast thereover or by a cover 39 adhesively secured thereover.
When the plate 31 consists of synthetic resin, e.g. perspex, the recess 37 may be moulded therein during the production of the plate.
The semi-conductor component 38 is connected in an electrically conductive manner to the conductor paths of the indication zone 32 in a conventional manner by means of the connection electrodes. In the apparatus, shown in Fig. 3, one or more depressions 37 may be provided with semi-conductor components 38. As shown in Fig. 3, the semiconductor component 38 is not located at the edge 33 of the apparatus, but in the interior of the configuration of the indication zone 32.
When the layer thickness of the medium 30 is very small and the semi-conductor component 38 (under certain circumstances with the cover 39) projects beyond the underside of the plate 31, additionally a depression which partly receives the semi-conductor component 38 may also be provided in the upper face of the plate 35.
Fig. 4 (using the same reference numerals as in Fig. 3) illustrates a semi-conductor component 38 which is fixed on the surface of the plate 31 and which enters a depression 37 in the counter-plate 35. The semi-conductor component 38 in Fig. 4 does not support a protective layer and is therefore located directly in the medium (liquid crystal) 30.
In the production of the apparatus, after the depression 37 has been provided, coating of the plates 31, 35 with a tin oxide-indium oxide mixture is effected in a conventional manner. Thereupon the production of the configuration of the conductor paths and electrodes according to Figs. 1 and 2 is effected likewise by usual methods (e.g. etching technique). In this case all conductor paths leading from the indicator elements terminate in the vicinity of the semi-conductor component or components. Only the leads for the current supply of this component and its control leads are guided to the outside. After the production of the conductor path configuration the semiconductor component 38 (integrated circuit or "chip") is inserted in the depression 37 and connected likewise by a conventional method ("bonding") to the conductor paths. Finally the semi-conductor component is covered with a plate of glass or ceramic material approximately 0.1 mm thick. Isolation of the semi-conductor component from the environ
ment may be effected by cementing by means of a suitable synthetic resin, preferably an epoxy resin. Finally the plates 31 and 35 are securely connected together with the interpo
sition of the medium 30.
Claims (9)
1. An indicator apparatus with an indication zone, comprising two plates, which are maintained at a predetermined spacing by one or more spacer members and are transparent and provided with a conductive or translucent coating of pre-defined configuration, and a layer of a medium disposed therebetween capable of changing its appearance when an electric voltage is applied thereto, there being provided at least one semiconductor component for supplying an electric voltage to the medium, the or each semiconductor component being disposed between the plates and being arranged within the configuration of the indication zone.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the or each semi-conductor component is arranged in a depression in at least one of the plates.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the medium between the plates is a liquid crystal, an electrochromic substance, an electrophoretic substance, an electrolytic substance or a dipole liquid.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the or each semi-conductor component is screened so as to be invisible from outside by means of a cover.
5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the or each semiconductor component is securely arranged on the surface of one of the plates and enters a recess in the other plate.
6. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the or each semi-conductor component is protected by a cover comprising a thin layer of a synthetic resin.
7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the semi-conductor component is located directly in the medium.
8. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one of the plates is formed from a synthetic resin and has a recess for receiving the or one of the semi-conductor components formed by being moulded in the plate during the production thereof.
9. An indicator apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
1 0. A motor vehicle dashboard including an apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE19792922400 DE2922400A1 (en) | 1979-06-01 | 1979-06-01 | DISPLAY DEVICE WITH DISPLAY PANEL, ESPECIALLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2051449A true GB2051449A (en) | 1981-01-14 |
| GB2051449B GB2051449B (en) | 1983-01-26 |
Family
ID=6072289
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8017701A Expired GB2051449B (en) | 1979-06-01 | 1980-05-30 | Indicator apparatus such as for motor vehicles |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| DE (1) | DE2922400A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2457785B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2051449B (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1130786B (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0042920A2 (en) * | 1980-06-27 | 1982-01-06 | VDO Adolf Schindling AG | Method of producing conductors on a substrate |
| EP0079430A2 (en) * | 1981-10-23 | 1983-05-25 | VDO Adolf Schindling AG | Display device |
| GB2555783A (en) * | 2016-11-04 | 2018-05-16 | Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag | Automotive interiors |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3765747A (en) * | 1971-08-02 | 1973-10-16 | Texas Instruments Inc | Liquid crystal display using a moat, integral driver circuit and electrodes formed within a semiconductor substrate |
| DE2201268A1 (en) * | 1972-01-12 | 1973-09-20 | Grabe Bernt Von | OPTOELECTRONIC DISPLAY DEVICE FOR REPRESENTING CHARACTERS AND PATTERNS |
| US3861783A (en) * | 1973-06-28 | 1975-01-21 | Hughes Aircraft Co | Liquid crystal display featuring self-adjusting mosaic panel |
| JPS5749912B2 (en) * | 1973-10-29 | 1982-10-25 | ||
| US3954325A (en) * | 1974-05-28 | 1976-05-04 | Ceramic Systems | Multilayer ceramic-based liquid crystal display |
| DE2620530C2 (en) * | 1975-05-12 | 1982-05-13 | Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo | Liquid crystal matrix display |
| GB1473772A (en) * | 1975-09-30 | 1977-05-18 | Ibm | Electrochromic display device |
-
1979
- 1979-06-01 DE DE19792922400 patent/DE2922400A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1980
- 1980-05-30 GB GB8017701A patent/GB2051449B/en not_active Expired
- 1980-05-30 IT IT22420/80A patent/IT1130786B/en active
- 1980-06-02 FR FR8012481A patent/FR2457785B1/en not_active Expired
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0042920A2 (en) * | 1980-06-27 | 1982-01-06 | VDO Adolf Schindling AG | Method of producing conductors on a substrate |
| EP0042920A3 (en) * | 1980-06-27 | 1983-09-14 | Vdo Adolf Schindling Ag | Method of producing conductors on a substrate |
| EP0079430A2 (en) * | 1981-10-23 | 1983-05-25 | VDO Adolf Schindling AG | Display device |
| EP0079430A3 (en) * | 1981-10-23 | 1985-07-10 | Vdo Adolf Schindling Ag | Display device |
| GB2555783A (en) * | 2016-11-04 | 2018-05-16 | Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag | Automotive interiors |
| GB2555783B (en) * | 2016-11-04 | 2022-09-28 | Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag | Automotive interiors |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2051449B (en) | 1983-01-26 |
| FR2457785A1 (en) | 1980-12-26 |
| DE2922400A1 (en) | 1980-12-11 |
| IT1130786B (en) | 1986-06-18 |
| IT8022420A0 (en) | 1980-05-30 |
| FR2457785B1 (en) | 1986-11-07 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |