Custom gauge panel ordering apparatus method and system

• US 20060218051A1
• Filed: 05/17/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aaron R. Westberg
• Original Assignee: Aaron R. Westberg
• Inventors: Westberg, Aaron R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,725,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/736 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2304/076 by add-on parts, e.g. retrofit
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2410/12 Production or manufacturing of vehicle parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/944 Business related
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/12 Surface bonding means and/or assembly means with cutting, punching, piercing, severing or tearing

Abstract

A custom gauge ordering apparatus facilitates selecting options related to a gauge panel, previewing the selected options under daylight or nighttime conditions, and submitting orders for a gauge panel with the selected options. The order may be automatically received by an order fulfillment system and used to direct or control manufacture of the custom gauge panel. In another aspect of the invention, a custom gauge panel includes a user-selected design printed on a translucent medium that is bonded to an electro-luminescent substrate. In one embodiment, the custom gauge panel also includes substantially transparent layer that stiffens and protects the translucent medium and user-selected design printed thereon during manufacture, installation, and use. The simplicity of the custom panel reduces the material and labor costs associated with producing a custom gauge panel.

Claims

1. An apparatus for ordering a custom manufactured gauge panel, the apparatus:

comprising;

an option selector configured to enable selection of a gauge panel option;

a preview module configured to preview a gauge panel with a selected gauge panel option under a selected lighting condition, the selected lighting condition selected from a plurality of lighting conditions; and

an order submission module configured to submit an order for a gauge panel with the selected gauge panel option.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selected lighting condition is selected from the group consisting of daytime, twilight, dawn, dusk, streetlight, and nighttime conditions.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the option selector is selected from the group consisting of a background pattern selector, a background color selector, and a graphic selector.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the option selector is selected from the group consisting of a text position selector, a text alignment selector, a font style selector, a font color selector, and a font size selector.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the option selector is selected from the group consisting of a tick mark style selector, a tick mark color selector, a scale font style selector, a scale font size selector, a scale font color selector, a shift line range selector, a shift line style selector, and a shift line color selector.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a graphical editor integrated with the preview module, the graphical editor configured to enable graphical editing of a custom dial face.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an upload module configured to receive a dial face design provided by a user.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a text editor configured to enable entry of a desired text string.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a text position selector configured to enable selection of a desired text position.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a dial scale selector configured to enable selection of a desired dial scale.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an order status module configured to display a status for a submitted order.

12. An apparatus for ordering a custom manufactured gauge panel, the apparatus comprising:

an option selector configured to enable selection of a gauge panel option; and

a preview module configured to preview a gauge panel with a selected gauge panel option under night-time conditions.

13. A method for ordering a custom manufactured gauge panel, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of gauge panel options to a user;

previewing a gauge panel with a selected gauge panel option under night-time conditions; and

submitting an order for a gauge panel with the selected gauge panel option.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing an option to preview the gauge panel under a selected lighting condition.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the selected lighting condition is selected from the group consisting of daytime, twilight, dawn, dusk, streetlight, and nighttime conditions.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the gauge panel option is selected from the group consisting of a background pattern option, a background color option, and a background graphic option.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the gauge panel option is selected from the group consisting of a text position option, a text alignment option, a font style option, a font color option, and a font size option.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the gauge panel option is selected from the group consisting of a tick mark style option, a tick mark color option, a scale font style option, a scale font size option, a scale font color option, a shift line range option, a shift line style option, and a shift line color option.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing an option to graphically edit a custom dial face.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing an option to receive a dial face design from a user.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing an option to receive a custom text string.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing an option to select a desired text position.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing an option to select a desired dial scale.

24. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying a status for a submitted order.