Light Control Systems for Automotiwe Instrumentation

Numerous optical problems for instrument panel designers have been created by new trends in automotive exterior and interior design, increasing use of electronic instrumentation, and new display packaging methods. The problems, nighttime reflections, glare, and daytime display viewability, were previously solved using conventional techniques of instrument panel hooding and recessing of displays.

This paper will review the trends in automotive design and instrumentation technology and relate the design objectives to functional performance requirements. It will also describe a technology and product available from 3M which can reduce or eliminate many of the aesthetic and functional design problems now being addressed for automotive instrumentation.