Vehicle gauge with embedded driver information

• US 20060012971A1
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Inventors: Fong, Ching, Pasek, Joseph, Kelman, Zinoviy, Venkatram, Sanjiv, Demhlow, Brian P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,347,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/23
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/6985 with only part of pointer being visible
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/6992 Light conducting pointers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 13/265 Pointers which conduct light
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/002 giving both analog and numerical indication

Abstract

A gauge having a housing, a light source disposed in the housing, a bezel, a display and a pointer. The display is coupled to the housing and includes a display surface that is visible through an opening in the bezel. The display is spaced rearwardly of the bezel to define a light transmitting aperture. The pointer is movably mounted to the housing and includes a pointer end that is disposed on a side of the bezel opposite the light transmitting aperture. A first portion of the light produced by the light source can be employed to back-illuminate the display surface, while a second portion of the light produced by the light source can be collected by the pointer and employed to illuminate the pointer end.

Claims

1. A gauge comprising:

a housing;

a light source disposed in the housing and producing light;

a bezel coupled to the housing, the bezel having a opening;

a display coupled to the housing, the display having a display surface that is visible through the opening, the display being spaced rearwardly of at least a portion of the bezel to define a light transmitting aperture; and

a pointer moveably mounted to the housing, the pointer having a pointer end, which is disposed on a side of the bezel opposite the light transmitting aperture, and a light pipe that extends through the light transmitting aperture;

wherein a first portion of the light produced by the light source back-illuminates the display surface; and

wherein a second portion of the light produced by the light source is collected by the light pipe and illuminates the pointer end.

2. The gauge of claim 1, further comprising display indicia disposed about a perimeter of the opening and wherein a third portion of the light produced by the light source escapes through light passages and illuminates the display indicia.

3. The gauge of claim 2, wherein the display indicia is back-illuminated.

4. The gauge of claim 3, wherein the light pipe is generally L-shaped.

5. The gauge of claim 1, wherein the pointer further includes a pointer body that is disposed between the light pipe and the pointer end, the pointer body having an annular shape.

6. The gauge of claim 1, wherein the pointer includes an annular pointer body.

7. The gauge of claim 6, further comprising a motor assembly coupled to the housing, the motor assembly having a drive member that meshingly engages a plurality of teeth that are formed at least a portion of a perimeter of the pointer body.

8. The gauge of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a sleeve, the annular pointer body being received onto the sleeve and rotatable thereon.

9. The gauge of claim 1, wherein the display is an LCD display.

10. The gauge of claim 1, further comprising a light guide coupled to the display and disposed between the display and the light source, the light guide being configured to direct light from the light source into the display.

11. The gauge of claim 1, further comprising an ultrasonic motor coupled to the housing and the pointer, the ultrasonic motor being configured to move the pointer.

12. The gauge of claim 11, wherein the ultrasonic motor is hollow.

13. The gauge of claim 12, wherein the pointer is directly coupled to the ultrasonic motor.

14. A gauge comprising:

a housing;

a light source disposed in the housing and producing light;

a pointer having an annular body and a pointer member that extends outwardly from the annular body, the annular body being rotatably mounted on the housing;

a display coupled to the housing, the display having a display surface that is visible through an aperture in the annular body of the pointer; and

a motor assembly having a motor and a drive member that is coupled for rotation with an output member of the motor, the drive member being configured rotate the annular body;

wherein the light source illuminates at least the pointer member and wherein the display is selected from a group consisting of liquid crystal displays, organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays, polymer light emitting diode displays, and thin film electroluminescent displays.

15. The gauge of claim 14, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display and a portion of the light produced by the light source back-illuminates the display surface.

16. The gauge of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of a perimeter of the annular body is formed with a plurality of teeth and wherein the drive member has a plurality of teeth similarly formed teeth.

17. The gauge of claim 16, wherein the teeth of the drive member are meshingly engaged with the teeth of the annular body.

18. The gauge of claim 14, further comprising a bezel coupled to the housing, the bezel having a opening through which the display is visible, the display being spaced rearwardly of at least a portion of the bezel to define a light transmitting aperture, wherein a portion of the light produced by the light source escapes from the light transmitting aperture and illuminates a display indicia disposed about a perimeter of the opening.

19. A method comprising:

providing a gauge with a pointer and a display, the pointer having an annular pointer body through which the display is visible; and

illuminating a stationary light source to produce light, a first portion of the light being employed to illuminate the pointer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a second portion of the light is employed to back-illuminate the display.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the display is an LCD display.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising;

providing a motor assembly having an output member;

meshingly engaging the output member to an edge of the annular pointer body; and

rotating the output member to move the annular pointer body.