초록 ▼

A display device and a lighting system is provided for providing lighting in exterior and interior lighting applications, such as for center high mount stop lights (CHMSL) and other automotive lighting applications. The display device uses a light guide having light couplers hingedly attached to a l

A display device and a lighting system is provided for providing lighting in exterior and interior lighting applications, such as for center high mount stop lights (CHMSL) and other automotive lighting applications. The display device uses a light guide having light couplers hingedly attached to a light source end for receiving light from at least one light source. The light guide extends from the light source end with a light emitting surface and a light guide surface opposite the light emitting surface. The light emitting surface and the light guide surface extend in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the light received from the light source. The light guide surface has a plurality of surface sections extending at angles relative to one another. The surface sections may be angled at alternating sections to direct light towards the light emitting surface using total internal reflection.

대표청구항 ▼

A display device and a lighting system is provided for providing lighting in exterior and interior lighting applications, such as for center high mount stop lights (CHMSL) and other automotive lighting applications. The display device uses a light guide having light couplers hingedly attached to a l

A display device and a lighting system is provided for providing lighting in exterior and interior lighting applications, such as for center high mount stop lights (CHMSL) and other automotive lighting applications. The display device uses a light guide having light couplers hingedly attached to a light source end for receiving light from at least one light source. The light guide extends from the light source end with a light emitting surface and a light guide surface opposite the light emitting surface. The light emitting surface and the light guide surface extend in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the light received from the light source. The light guide surface has a plurality of surface sections extending at angles relative to one another. The surface sections may be angled at alternating sections to direct light towards the light emitting surface using total internal reflection. through the core portion of an expanding airbag. 4. The airbag door assembly according to claim 2 wherein the reinforcing assembly comprises a section that pivots in response to passage through the core portion of an expanding airbag. 5. The airbag door assembly according to claim 1 wherein one of the a) lining assembly and b) core portion has at least one part that passes through an opening in the reinforcing assembly and is vibration joined to the other of the a) lining assembly and b) core portion. 6. The airbag door assembly according to claim 5 wherein the reinforcing assembly comprises a section that pivots in response to passage through the core portion of an expanding airbag and the at least one part of the one of the a) lining assembly and b) core portion passes through the section. 7. The airbag door assembly according to claim 5 wherein the at least one part of the one of the a) lining assembly and b) core portion comprises a hollow post. 8. The airbag door assembly according to claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of projections on one of the a) lining assembly and b) core portion that are vibration joined to the other of the a) lining assembly and b) core portion. 9. The airbag door assembly according to claim 8 wherein the projections are hollow and cylindrical in shape. 10. The airbag door assembly according to claim 1 wherein the lining assembly and core portion are both made from the same material. 11. The airbag door assembly according to claim 1 wherein the lining assembly comprises a thermoplastic olefin resin. 12. The airbag door assembly according to claim 11 wherein the core portion comprises a thermoplastic olefin resin. 13. An airbag door assembly comprising: an instrument panel section having a core portion with an inside surface and an outside surface and through which an expanding airbag can project; a reinforcing assembly for placement against the inside surface; and a lining assembly, at least a part of the reinforcing assembly residing between the core portion and the lining assembly, the lining assembly and core portion being vibration joined at at least one location so as to maintain the part of the reinforcing assembly captively between the core portion and the lining assembly, wherein one of the a) lining assembly and b) core portion has at least one part that passes through an opening in the frame assembly and is vibration joined to the other of the a) lining assembly and b) core portion, wherein the at least one part of the one of the a) lining assembly and b) core portion comprises a hollow post, wherein the hollow post is cylindrical and has a peripheral wall with an inside surface surrounding an axis and further comprises a web spanning two locations on the inside surface of the peripheral wall and extending in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the hollow post. 14. The airbag door assembly according to claim 13 wherein an airbag associated with the airbag door assembly expands in a direction along a first line and the web extends generally parallel to the first line. 15. An airbag door assembly comprising: an instrument panel section having a core portion with an inside surface and an outside surface and through which an expanding airbag can project; a reinforcing assembly for placement against the inside surface; and a lining assembly, at least a part of the reinforcing assembly residing between the core portion and the lining assembly, the lining assembly and core portion being vibration joined at at least one location so as to maintain the part of the reinforcing assembly captively between the core portion and the lining assembly, wherein there are a plurality of projections on one of the a) lining assembly and b) core portion that are vibration joined to the other of the a) lining assembly and b) core portion, wherein the projections are hollow and cylindrical in shape, wherein the projections each have a peripheral wall with an inside surface surr ounding an axis and further comprise a web spanning two locations on the inside surface of the peripheral wall. 16. The airbag door assembly according to claim 15 wherein the webs are substantially flat and extend substantially parallel to the axes of the projections. 17. An airbag door assembly comprising: an instrument panel section having a core portion with an inside surface and an outside surface and through which an expanding airbag can project; a reinforcing assembly for placement against the inside surface; and a lining assembly, at least a part of the reinforcing assembly residing between the core portion and the lining assembly, the lining assembly and core portion being vibration joined at at least one location so as to maintain the part of the reinforcing assembly captively between the core portion and the lining assembly, wherein there are a plurality of projections on one of the a) lining assembly and b) core portion that are vibration joined to the other of the a) lining assembly and b) core portion, wherein at least one of the projections has a free end with an effective diameter and the other of the lining assembly and core portion has a cavity into which the at least one projection extends, and the cavity has an effective diameter that is larger than the effective diameter of the free end of the at least one projection. 18. The airbag door assembly according to claim 17 wherein the at least one projection is hollow and has an inside surface with a diameter and an outside surface with a diameter, the inside surface diameter is at least 5 mm and the outside surface diameter is at least 20 mm. 19. The airbag door assembly according to claim 18 wherein the inside surface diameter is at least 10 mm and the outside surface diameter is at least 30 mm. 20. In combination: a) an airbag having normal and expanded states; and b) an airbag door assembly comprising: an instrument panel section having a core portion with an inside surface and an outside surface and through which the airbag projects as the airbag changes from the normal state into the expanded state; and a reinforcing assembly for placement against the inside surface, wherein the reinforcing assembly is maintained on the core portion by vibration joining a first element to the core portion, wherein the first element is an element separate from the core portion and reinforcing assembly, wherein the reinforcing element is captive between the core portion and the first element. 21. The combination according to claim 20 wherein the core portion has a weakened portion that facilitates passage through the core portion of an expanding airbag and the reinforcing assembly comprises a frame that extends around the weakened portion. 22. The combination according to claim 21 wherein the weakened portion is frangible and ruptures to facilitate passage through the core portion of an expanding airbag. 23. The combination according to claim 22 wherein the reinforcing assembly comprises a section that pivots in response to passage through the core portion of an expanding airbag. 24. A method of making an airbag door assembly, the method comprising the steps of: providing an instrument panel having a core portion with an inside surface and an outside surface and through which an expanding airbag can project; placing a reinforcing element against the core portion; and through a vibration process, joining first and second elements so that the reinforcing element is maintained on the core portion, wherein the first element is the core portion, wherein the second element is a lining assembly that is initially separate from both the reinforcing element and the core portion, wherein the reinforcing element is captive between the core portion and the lining assembly. 25. The method of making an airbag door assembly according to claim 24 wherein the core portion has a weakened portion that facilitates passage through the core portion of an expandi