DIGITAL METER

• US 20130092075A1
• Filed: 10/13/2011
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Volpe, Christopher J., Brown, Arthur S.
• Application Number:
  US13/272,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20130092075A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 116/201
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/349 Adjustment of brightness
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/154 Combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/349 Adjustment of brightness
• 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 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 13/20 with luminescent markings
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/002 giving both analog and numerical indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/04 using a separate indicating element for each variable
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/08 Arrangements of scales, pointers, lamps or acoustic indicators, e.g. in automobile speedometers

Abstract

An instrument cluster assembly includes a plurality of gauges that each provides an indication and measure for communicating vehicle operating conditions to a vehicle operator. At least one of the gauges includes a secondary scale that includes a plurality of individually illuminatable segments. The measured parameter is indicated by the secondary scales by illuminating select segments in a variable manner between a fully illuminated, partially illuminated and off conditions to provide an additional degree of precision.

Claims

1. A gauge for a vehicle comprising:

a scale representing a vehicle operating parameter, the scale having a plurality of discrete sections representing a single increment of a measured vehicle operating parameter; and

a separate individual light source associated with each of the plurality of discrete sections, wherein each of the light sources are illuminatable according to one of a fully illuminated condition, a partially illuminated condition and a non-illuminated condition.

2. The gauge as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of discrete sections represents a portion of the single increment of the measured vehicle operating parameter when the single light source associated with that discrete section is in the partially illuminated condition.

3. The gauge as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of discrete sections represents a full increment of the measured vehicle operating parameter when the single light source associated with that discrete section is in the fully illuminated condition.

4. The gauge as recited in claim 1, wherein a discrete section illuminated according to the partially illuminated condition is preceded by a discrete section illuminated according to the fully illuminated condition and is followed by a discrete section illuminated according to the non-illuminated condition.

5. The gauge as recited in claim 1, including a light housing defining a plurality of separate light chambers corresponding with the plurality of discrete sections, each of the plurality of separate light chambers including one of the individual light sources.

6. The gauge as recited in claim 1, including a controller for governing illumination of each of the light sources.

7. The gauge as recited in claim 1, wherein the scale represents a measured temperature of a fluid.

8. The gauge as recited in claim 1, wherein the scale represents a measured pressure of a fluid.

9. The gauge as recited in claim 1, wherein the scale represents a measured speed of the vehicle.

10. The gauge as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the light sources are of a common color.

11. The gauge as recited in claim 1, wherein at least two of the light sources are of different colors.

12. A vehicle instrument cluster assembly comprising:

at least one gauge including a scale representing a vehicle operating parameter, the scale having a plurality of discrete sections representing a single increment of a measured vehicle operating parameter; and

a separate individual light source associated with each of the plurality of discrete sections, wherein each of the light sources are illuminatable according to one of a fully illuminated condition, a partially illuminated condition and a non-illuminated condition.

13. The vehicle instrument cluster assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of discrete sections represents a portion of the single increment of the measured vehicle operating parameter when the single light source associated with that discrete section is in the partially illuminated condition.

14. The vehicle instrument cluster assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of discrete sections represents a full increment of the measured vehicle operating parameter when the single light source associated with that discrete section is in the fully illuminated condition.

15. The vehicle instrument cluster assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein a discrete section illuminated according to the partially illuminated condition is preceded by a discrete section illuminated according to the fully illuminated condition and is followed by a discrete section illuminated according to the non-illuminated condition.

16. The vehicle instrument cluster assembly as recited in claim 12, including a controller for governing illumination of each of the light sources.

17. A method of indicating a measured value indicative of a vehicle operating condition, the method comprising the steps of:

defining a scale to have a plurality of discrete sections;

associating an increment of a measured valued with each of the plurality of discrete sections;

illuminating a light source associated with one of the plurality of discrete sections in a partially illuminated condition to indicate a portion of an increment of the measured value; and

illuminating a light source associated with one of the plurality of discrete sections in a fully illuminated condition to indicate an increment of the measured value.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, including changing the light source from a partially illuminated condition to a fully illuminated condition responsive to the measured value changing a full increment of the measured value.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, including the step of changing the light source from the fully illuminated condition to a partially illuminated condition responsive to the measured value changing less than a full increment of the measured value.