Devices, systems and methods for controlling an exterior and dashboard lights of an autonomous vehicle are described. One example of a method for controlling one or more exterior lights includes receiving, from an autonomous driving system (ADS) of the vehicle, an input to control one or more exterior lights that are part of a lighting system of the vehicle, and transmitting, based on the input, a message to a controller area network (CAN) bus of the lighting system, the message being further based on a driver command upon a determination that a driver-initiated message is received. In an example, the lighting system of the vehicle further comprises a plurality of dashboard lights.

A display device includes a dial, a substrate, a plurality of light source parts, and a transmittance adjustment part. The transmittance adjustment part has a low transmittance part in which a transmittance of light is lower than a predetermined value and a high transmittance part in which a transmittance of light is higher than that of the low transmittance part, and adjusts a transmittance of light from the plurality of light source parts. Each of the light source parts includes a first light source and a second light source having different light-emission colors to be alternately switched on lighting. The low transmittance part is arranged within an area corresponding to the plurality of light source parts. The high transmittance part is located based on a midpoint position where the distance from the adjacent light source parts is equal in the circumferential direction between the light source parts.

A vehicle instrument device includes a housing for attaching a dial plate, a light guide plate housing recess formed in the housing, a light guide plate that is housed in the light guide plate housing recess, and guides illumination light to the dial plate, a claw that fixes the light guide plate to the housing, and a press-fitting rib that is provided in a side surface of the light guide plate, and extends toward a side wall of the light guide plate housing recess. The press-fitting rib includes a tapered portion for increasing a height from a back side to a front side of the light guide plate housing recess and a tapered portion for decreasing a width from the back side to the front side of the light guide plate housing recess.

A meter device includes an instrument panel, a coaxial motor, a central light source, a peripheral light source, and units. The coaxial motor includes rotation shafts which rotate around a single axis perpendicular to the instrument panel. The central light source is disposed near the rotation shafts. The peripheral light source is disposed more distantly from the rotation shafts than the central light source. The units rotate together with the rotation shafts, respectively. The units includes indicator parts, respectively. Each of the indicator parts guides light to emit the light, thereby indicating a surface of the instrument panel. The units include a first unit and a second unit. The first unit includes a light path which guides light from the central light source to the indicator part. The second unit includes a light path which guides light from the peripheral light source to the indicator part, and a non-light guide part that prevents the light of the central light source from being guided to the indicator part.

An instrument panel meter including a flexible face and a pointer. The flexible face includes indicators configured to convey information to a user regarding operation of the vehicle. The pointer is beneath the flexible face, and is movable between an inactive position and an active position. In the inactive position, the pointer does not stretch the flexible face. In the active position, the pointer does stretch the flexible face at or proximate to one of the indicators so as to convey information to the user regarding operation of the vehicle.

The invention provides a meter display device for a vehicle having improved visibility of indicated contents. A meter display device includes a pointer having a pointer position changed by shifting in a predetermined array direction in accordance with a continuously changing vehicle state to indicate the vehicle state, a dial having a plurality of numeral indicating portions configured to indicate the vehicle state at different levels, aligned at intervals in the array direction, and individually change lighting modes, and a controller configured to change the lighting modes of the plurality of numeral indicating portions in accordance with the vehicle state.

A flexible lighting system includes a printed circuit board, a flexible multiple electrical conductor strip, a light source, and a flexible light conductor. The light source is mounted on the flexible multiple electrical conductor strip and is electrically connected to the printed circuit board by the flexible multiple electrical conductor strip. The flexible light conductor is mounted on the flexible multiple electrical conductor strip to conduct light from the light source. A component, such as, a gauge can have a display with a graphical element that is illuminated or backlit by the flexible light conductor.

The disclosure relates to a combination indicating instrument, and has as its object to devise a hybrid combination display instrument for displaying information in a motor vehicle in a manner so as to provide a homogeneous and smooth transition between an analog display region and a digital display region within the hybrid combination display instrument. Also included for guiding the light generated by the light source, is a light guiding device, which has a first surface facing away from the viewer (viewing individual), and a second surface facing toward the viewer.

An instrument panel meter including a flexible face and a pointer. The flexible face includes indicators configured to convey information to a user regarding operation of the vehicle. The pointer is beneath the flexible face, and is movable between an inactive position and an active position. In the inactive position, the pointer does not stretch the flexible face. In the active position, the pointer does stretch the flexible face at or proximate to one of the indicators so as to convey information to the user regarding operation of the vehicle.

A vehicle instrument panel having a three-dimensional illumination effect includes a transparent ring having a three-dimensional circular shape, at least one primary scale formed in a front surface of the transparent ring, the at least one primary scale being spaced apart from an adjacent primary scale by a predetermined distance, a reflecting plate for changing a direction of travel of LED light along the transparent ring, generated below the transparent ring, in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, and a prism unit including at least one prism for reflecting a portion of the LED light traveling along the transparent ring toward the at least one primary scale at a predetermined angle.