Cover panel for at least one display instrument in a vehicle

Abstract

A cover panel, for at least partially transparently covering at least one display instrument in a vehicle, has a microstructure applied on at least one surface. The microstructure is suitable for scattering visible light which is incident on the cover panel. The at least one window region of the cover panel is cutout from the microstructure. A method for manufacturing such a cover panel uses a molding tool with an applied microstructure matrix for forming a microstructure on a part of the molding tool which is assigned to a surface of a molded cover panel. The parts of the molding tool which are assigned to window regions are cut out from the microstructure matrix.

Claims

1. A system, comprising: a combination instrument in a vehicle, the combination instrument comprising at least one first display instrument and at least one second display instrument; and a cover panel at least partially transparently covering the combination instrument, comprising: at least one surface of the cover panel; a microstructure formed into parts of the at least one surface of the cover panel, wherein the microstructure is configured to scatter visible light which is incident on the cover panel, the combination instrument arranged such that the at least one first display instrument is arranged behind the parts; and at least one window region of the cover panel, wherein the microstructure is not formed into the at least one surface, wherein the at least one second display instrument is arranged behind the at least one window region and is readable through the at least one window region; wherein the at least one first display instrument comprises at least one of a monitoring light or a warning light and wherein at least one second display instrument comprises an analogue pointer instrument; and wherein the cover panel is essentially composed of thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one window region is shaped and arranged essentially in a precisely fitting fashion with respect to the combination instrument.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic is polymethylmethacrylate.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the polymethylmethacrylate further comprises mineral salts added for coloring.

Description

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail on the basis of the appended schematic figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a combination instrument and a cover panel, and

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a moulding tool for a cover panel.

(4) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a cover panel 1 which is moulded essentially from PMMA and has a rectangular basic shape. The cover panel 1 is provided for installation in front of a combination instrument 2 in the reading direction. The combination instrument 2 comprises display instruments 2.1 to 2.8. In this context, the display instruments 2.1 and 2.2 are embodied for example as tubular analogue pointer instruments which comprise a rotatable pointer with a centrally arranged pointer axis and an essentially circular scale division. For example, the display instrument 2.1 is embodied as a speed display instrument and the display instrument 2.2 as a rotational speed display instrument. Further display instruments 2.3 to 2.8 are embodied as monitoring lights or warning lights, for example as flashing monitoring lights 2.3 to 2.5, as a monitoring light 2.6 for activation of a fan or as monitoring lights 2.7, 2.8 for a switched-on windscreen heater.

(5) On the surface of the cover panel 1 facing an observer, the reflection-reducing microstructure 1.3 is applied, from which microstructure 1.3 two essentially circular window regions 1.1, 1.2 are cut out. The window regions 1.1, 1.2 are arranged in such a way that when the cover panel 1 is arranged in front of the combination instrument 2 in the reading direction, the speed display instrument 2.1 is readable through the window region 1.1, and the rotational speed display instrument 2.2 is readable through the window region 1.2.

(6) Disruptive direct reflections at the optical boundary face between the air and PMMA on the surface of the cover panel 1 facing the observer are reduced by the microstructure 1.3 which is applied in a planar fashion. The window regions 1.1, 1.2 which are cut out from the microstructure 1.3 improve the contrast and/or the brightness and/or the sharpness of the imaging of the analogue display instruments 2.1, 2.2 arranged behind these window regions 1.1, 1.2. As a result, ergonomic and precise readability, for example of speed values of the speed display instrument 2.1 or of rotational speed values of the rotational speed display instrument 2.2 is advantageously made possible. The quantitatively accurate reading of specific values is particularly significant for such analogue pointer instruments 2.1, 2.2. The other display instruments 2.3 to 2.8 which are embodied as monitoring lights or warning lights can, on the other hand, also be sufficiently well perceived behind regions of the cover panel 1 which are matted by means of applied microstructure 1.3.

(7) FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a moulding tool 3 for moulding a cover panel 1 with a rectangular basic shape. The moulding tool 3 is divided into an upper die 3.1 and into a lower die 3.2. On the lower die 3.2, a microstructure carrier 3.3 is arranged. The surface of the microstructure carrier 3.3 which points to the upper die 3.1 has a microstructure matrix 3.4 with an essentially rectangular outline and two circular cut outs 3.3.1, 3.3.2 which correspond to the window regions 1.1, 1.2.

(8) It is possible that the microstructure carrier 3.3 is detachably connected to the lower die 3.2 and can be exchanged. This makes it possible to use the same moulding tool 3 to fabricate cover panels 1 of the same rectangular basic shape but with a different number and/or shape and/or arrangement of window regions 1.1, 1.2. This advantageously permits more cost-effective and flexible manufacture of cover panels 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(9) 1 Cover panel 1.1, 1.2 Window region 1.3 Microstructure 2 Combination instrument 2.1 to 2.8 Display instrument 3 Moulding tool 3.1 Upper die 3.2 Lower die 3.3 Microstructure carrier 3.3.1, 3.3.2 Cutout 3.4 Microstructure matrix