Larry J Bougsty

US Patent:

47892242, Dec 6, 1988

Filed:

May 4, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/045463

Inventors:

Larry J. Bougsty - Holly MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G02F 113
F21V 704
F21V 119

US Classification:

350345

Abstract:

An instrument panel cluster includes a printed circuit board having a plurality of liquid crystal subassemblies secured thereto, each of which includes a columnar terminal block with a beam configured light pipe cantilevered from one side of the block to locate the free end of the beam at a light source on the printed circuit board to direct light therefrom across the planar extent of an illuminating surface on the beam for backlighting a liquid crystal display; and wherein the liquid crystal display and light pipe are configured to be releasably connected to the terminal block by a spring clip means that biases the liquid crystal display against an elastomeric connector supported by the terminal block to electrically connect the liquid crystal display to a printed circuit board and thereby enabling the light pipe and liquid crystal display to be interconnected and preassembled for testing and adjustment of the light pipe with respect to the liquid crystal display prior to final assembly of an instrument panel bezel.