Description LED ILLUMINATED INSRTUMENT CLUSTER PANEL

[1] Technical Field

[2] This invention relates to a LED illuminated instrument cluster panel to be used in commercial vehicles wherein all analog and digital data can be displayed simultaneously and which can provide easy assemble.

[3] Prior Art

[4] State-of-the-art instrument cluster panel are either back-lit or are fitted with illumination systems providing illumination from the edges to the center of the panel. Such systems generally require high current values due to filament illumination systems they comprise. An electrical current is passed through a filament structure and the filament is heated up. The light emitted by the incandescing filament is used for illumination purposes. As most of the energy applied to the bulb turns into heat, energy loss is high. Moreover, the physical life of these types of light sources are not very long. The bulb can be broken and the filament can break when exposed to a small shock.

[5] Today, the speed, engine revolution, air pressure, temperature, oil pressure and fuel indicators are illuminated using 2W bulbs and illuminated warnings are illuminated using 3W bulbs which are placed separately on the indicator panel located on the vehicle. In vehicle containing all options the illumination and supply cables are each plugged separately with a total of 80 electrical connectors.

[6] The above summarized problems are solved with the use of a LED illuminated indicator panel. In the state-of-the-art various embodiments related to LED illuminated instrument cluster panels are known.

[7] The known embodiment of the art in the German patent application numbered

DE 19622900, a LED system which illuminates the indicators through photo conductors instead of needles on the dial is used. As a result of the acceleration of the vehicle or the increase in engine revolutions, LED's are consecutively lit, fulfilling the function of the needle.

[8] Another known embodiment of the art is the dial of Japanese patent application numbered JP 2003065810, wherein liquid crystal screens and LED digit indicators are used in the display of digits.

[9] Another known embodiment of the art is the dial of Spanish patent application numbered ES8500145, wherein information about the engine is graphically presented on the indicator.

[10] However, the aforementioned inventions only apply the current LED technology on indicator panels. Further more LED illumination systems are only applied to

speedometers and tachometers. Engine information such as engine revolutions and fuel consumption information is not provided on the indicator panel along with the vehicle information. However, embodiments which comprise odometers are known. None the less, instead of the aforementioned systems, filament bulbs are used for displaying oil and air pressures and fuel status.

[11] Brief Description of the Invention

[12] The purpose of this invention is to provide a LED illuminated instrument cluster panel wherein all warnings and information the driver requires regarding the vehicle and the road are displayed on the same screen, and the illumination performance and working life is increased.

[13] Another purpose of this invention is to provide a LED illuminated instrument cluster panel, wherein easy access and applicability to functions on the liquid crystal display is enabled and the assembly is simplified by reducing the number of electronic transition pieces.

[14] Another object of this invention is to realize a LED illuminated indicator panel, wherein in case of a malfunction risk of arc formation and heating is reduced through ease of control, and in case of malfunctions of high importance, noise pollution caused by vocal warning for water level, low oil pressure and low air pressure that is continuous unless the malfunctions are overcome independent from the driver, is eliminated.

[15] Another object of the invention is to realize a LED illuminated indicator panel, comprising a K-line connection and which is compatible with CAN Bus system, SEA Protocol J1939.

[16] Detailed Description of the Invention

[17] The LED illuminated indicator panel realized in order to attain the objects of the invention is shown in the annexed figure, wherein;

[18] Figure 1 - is a schematic view of the indicator panel of the invention.

[19] The parts in the Figure are numbered individually, and equivalent of these numbers are presented below:

[20] 1. Instrument cluster panel

[21] 2. Tachometer

[22] 3. Speedometer

[23] 4. On board computer

[24] 5. Coolant Temperature pointer

[25] 6. Clock

[26] 7. Odometer

[27] 8. Oil pressure pointer

[28] 9. Fuel level pointer

[29] 10. Warning indicator

[30] 11. Function buttons

[31] The LED illuminated instrument cluster panel (1) which is the subject of the invention comprises, fundamentally, a tachometer (2), a speedometer (3), a on board computer (4), a Coolant Temperature pointer (5), a clock (6), an odometer (7), an Oil pressure pointer (8), a Fuel level pointer (9), a warning indicator (10), function buttons (11); and it is characterized in that all analog and digital data can be displayed on a single instrument cluster.

[32] The LED illuminated instrument cluster panel (1) realized in order to attain the objects of the invention, is situated behind the steering wheel, within the front vision level of the driver.

[33] In one embodiment of the LED illuminated instrument cluster panel (1) realized in order to attain the objects of the invention, any malfunction code occurring in the engine, when the commands required for the engine control operation are followed, are displayed respectively in the said instrument cluster panel (1). When malfunctions with high level of importance occur which cannot be overcome without the help of the driver, notification is made with the continuous warning in the warning indicator (10). By displaying the said malfunctions that can occur inside the vehicle on the instrument cluster panel (1) instead of letting out vocal warnings buzzers noise pollution is prevented.

[34] In another embodiment of the invention, easy access to and usage of the functions on the liquid crystal instrument cluster panel, (1) can be realized by means of the function buttons (11). Furthermore, by reducing the number of intermediate parts used in the assembly line, the duration required to complete electrical connections is reduced and the illumination performance and durability of the instrument cluster panel (1) is increased by means of LED's which draw less current. The instrument cluster panel (1) and all functions are controlled by a microprocessor. In this way, low cross-section cables can be used.

[35] Yet in another embodiment of the invention, easy control facility is provided for any malfunctions and possibility of arc formation and heating is reduced. The LED illuminated instrument cluster panel (1) is compatible with a K-line connection wherein the control is realized, a CAN Bus system which reads vehicle speed information and sends it to the engine electronic control unit with a SEA J 1939 protocol.

[36] Yet in another embodiment of the invention, two liquid crystal indicators are installed in the indicator panel (1) in one of which a on board computer (4), a clock (6) and a warning indicator (10) displaying malfunctions warnings with DTC codes; and in the other, an odometer (7) which notifies the total and the current distance traveled are present.

[37] The LED illuminated instrument cluster panel, (1) which is the subject of the invention cannot be limited with the examples presented in the description if the invention. The invention is, fundamentally, as stated in the claims.