VEHICLE METER CLUSTER

• US 20130002414A1
• Filed: 06/28/2011
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Konet, Heather, Christensen, Andy, Goudy, Roy, Chambers, Jeremy, Combest, John, Grabow, Jim
• Granted Patent: US 8,878,660 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/347 Optical elements for superposition of display information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/693 Cover plate features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/215 characterised by the combination of multiple visual outputs, e.g. combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

A vehicle meter cluster basically includes a meter cluster housing, an instrument display, a lens and a light source. The lens is disposed in front of the instrument display and includes a reflective area. The light source is mounted on the meter cluster housing or proximate to the meter cluster housing. The light source is configured to selectively emit light toward the reflective area of the lens to selectively provide warning information on the reflective area.

Claims

1. A vehicle meter cluster comprising:

a meter cluster housing;

an instrument display;

a lens disposed in front of the instrument display and including a reflective area; and

a light source mounted one of on the meter cluster housing and proximate to the meter cluster housing, the light source being configured to selectively emit light toward the reflective area of the lens to selectively provide warning information on the reflective area.

2. The vehicle meter cluster according to claim 1, wherein

the light source includes at least one light emitter.

3. The vehicle meter cluster according to claim 2, wherein

the light source includes a plurality of light emitters arranged in an array, and is configured to selectively emit light from the light emitters in a predetermined sequence that represents the warning information.

4. The vehicle meter cluster according to claim 1, wherein

the light emitted from the light source is shaped as an icon representing the warning information.

5. The vehicle meter cluster according to claim 1, wherein

the reflective area includes at least a portion of an outer surface of the lens.

6. The vehicle meter cluster according to claim 1, wherein

the instrument display includes at least one instrumentation indicia configured to present vehicle condition information, and the light source is configured to emit the light toward a reflective display area on the lens that is positioned such that at least a majority of the instrumentation indicia is visible through the lens while the light source is emitting the light toward the reflective display area.

7. The vehicle meter cluster according to claim 6, wherein

the reflective display area is positioned to overlap at least some of the instrumentation indicia along the lens.

8. The vehicle meter cluster according to claim 6, wherein

the reflective display area is entirely spaced away from the instrumentation indicia along the lens.

9. The vehicle meter cluster according to claim 1, wherein

the meter cluster housing includes a hood that is configured to extend past the lens to block light propagating in a direction toward the lens from behind the hood and cast a shadow across a portion of the lens that includes the reflective area.

10. The vehicle meter cluster according to claim 1, wherein

the meter cluster housing includes a hood extending over and past the lens in a direction away from the instrument display;

and

the meter cluster housing, in cooperation with the lens, defines a cavity in which the instrument display is disposed.

11. The vehicle meter cluster according to claim 1, wherein

the meter cluster housing includes a hood extending past the lens in a direction away from the instrument display;

and

the light source is mounted on the hood.

12. The vehicle meter cluster according to claim 1, wherein

the lens includes a first surface having at least one etching including the reflective area that is shaped as an icon representing the warning information, a second surface, and a peripheral edge surrounding the first surface and second surface, with the light source directed toward the peripheral edge to selectively the emit the light to propagate in the lens in a longitudinal direction of the lens onto the reflective area.

13. The vehicle meter cluster according to claim 1, wherein

at least a portion of the lens is non-refractive.

14. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle collision warning system including;

a collision detection component configured to detect whether a potential for collision exists between the vehicle and an object, and to provide a potential collision detection signal based on the detection;

a meter cluster including;

a meter cluster housing;

an instrument display;

a lens positioned in front of the instrument display and including a reflective area; and

a light source mounted one of on the meter cluster housing and proximate to the meter cluster housing, the light source being configured to selectively emit light toward the reflective area of the lens; and

a controller configured to selectively activate the light source to emit the light based on the potential collision detection signal.

15. A vehicle according to claim 14, wherein

the potential collision detection signal represents at least one warning of a plurality of warnings, and the controller is configured to control the light source to emit the light in a manner to indicate the warning represented by the potential collision detection signal.

16. A vehicle according to claim 15, wherein

the light source includes a plurality of light emitters arranged in an array, and the controller is configured to control the light source to light the entire array of light emitters when the potential collision detection signal indicates a forward collision warning.

17. A vehicle according to claim 15, wherein

the light source includes a plurality of light emitters arranged in an array, with the array of light emitters divided into a left side group and a right side group;

and

the controller is configured to control the light source to light one of the left side group or right side group of light emitters when the potential collision detection signal indicates a blind spot warning on a corresponding left or right side of the vehicle.

18. A vehicle according to claim 15, wherein

the light source includes a plurality of light emitters arranged in an array, and the controller is configured to control the light source to light the array of light emitters in sequence toward an intended turn direction of the vehicle when the potential collision detection signal indicates clearance for the vehicle to turn in the intended turn direction, and to flash the array of light emitters when the potential collision detection signal indicates a turn hazard warning pertaining to the intended turn direction.

19. A vehicle according to claim 18, wherein

the light emitted by the light emitters is a first color when the potential collision detection signal indicates clearance to turn and a second color when potential collision detection signal indicates a turn hazard warning.

20. A vehicle according to claim 15, wherein

the lens includes a first surface having at least one etching including the reflective area that is shaped as an icon representing the warning information, a second surface, and a peripheral edge surrounding the first surface and second surface, with the light source directed toward the peripheral edge to selectively the emit the light to propagate in the lens in a longitudinal direction of the lens onto the reflective area.

21. A vehicle comprising:

a viewing aperture;

a meter cluster including;

a meter cluster housing;

an instrument display; and

a lens disposed in front of the instrument display and including a reflective area;

a vehicle component; and

a light source mounted on the vehicle component and configured to selectively emit light toward the reflective area of the lens to selectively provide warning information on the reflective area, with a portion of the vehicle component positioned between the light source and the viewing aperture, such that the light source is not visible through the viewing aperture.