Pointer illuminated instrument

• US 5,047,761 A
• Filed: 12/08/1989
• Issued: 09/10/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Inventors: Sell, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): YASICH, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US07/447,925
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 116/288, 116/310, 340/815.01, 340/815.03, 340/815.1, 73/431, 362/29, 362/26, 362/28, 362/30, 362/32
• US Class Current: 340/815.42
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/16 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0284 Details of three-dimensional rigid printed circuit boards H05K1/119 takes precedence; shaping of the substrate H05K3/0014

Abstract

In a pointer instrument, a light guide (3) serves as support for electronic components (7). The light guide (3) therefore assumes the function of a printed circuit board. The electronic components (7) are preferably arranged on the outer wall surface (6) of the light guide (3) which is developed in the shape of a conical frustum so that space which is in any event present in the housing can be used for them. The light guide serves to illuminate a dial of the instrument.

Claims

1. A pointer instrument comprising

a dial, a pointer moveable about the dial for providing an indication thereon, and a light guide for illuminating the dial with light from a source of light, a surface of the light guide enclosing the light source and facing the dial for directing light from the source of light toward the dial;

a measurement mechanism including electronic components and a shaft, the shaft passing through the light guide for operating the pointer for providing the indication on the dial; and

wherein

at least one surface of the light guide, facing away from the dial, serves as a support for the electronic components.

2. An instrument according to claim 1, wherein

the surface of the light guide includes an outer wall surface;

and

the electronic components are located on the outer wall surface of the light guide.

3. An instrument according to claim 2, wherein

at least one of said electronic components is a flat component;

the surface of the light guide furthermore has a circular surface;

said flat electronic component is located on the circular surface of the light guide; and

other ones of said components are arranged on said outer wall surface of the light guide, said outer wall surface extending from said circular surface toward said dial.

4. An instrument according to claim 1, further comprising

conductive paths for interconnecting the electronic components, the conductive paths being located on said surface of the light guide.

5. A pointer instrument comprising:

a dial, a pointer, a source of light comprising light-emitting diode means, and a light guide for illuminating the dial with light from the light source, the pointer being moveable about the dial to provide an indication on the dial;

a measurement mechanism having electronic components for providing the indication on the dial, the light guide being located between the measurement mechanism and the pointer, the measurement mechanism having a shaft intending through the light guide to operate the pointer; and

wherein

said light guide comprises a circular portion, and a wall portion extending from the circular portion toward said dail, said guide having a surface facing said light source and said dial for directing light from said light source toward said dial, said guide having an outer circular surface on said circular portion, said guide having an outer wall surface on said wall portion; and

said light guide serves as a support for said components, said measurement instrument having conductive paths of the components wherein the conductive paths are mounted on said outer circular surface of said guide and on said outer wall surface of said guide, one of said components having a flat configuration and being mounted on said outer circular surface of said guide, and another of said components being mounted on said outer wall surface.

6. A pointer instrument comprising:

a dial, a source of light, and a light guide for illuminating the dial with light from the light source;

a measurement mechanism including electronic components for providing an indication on the dial and for activating the light source to provide light;

conductive paths for interconnecting the electronic components;

a pointer and a shaft, said light guide lying between said pointer and said measurement mechanism, said shaft passing through the light guide for operatively coupling the pointer to the measurement mechanism to provide said indication on said dial; and

wherein said light guide comprises a circular portion, and a wall portion extending from the circular portion toward said dial, said guide having a surface enclosing said light source and facing said dial for directing light from said light source toward said dial, said guide having an outer circular surface on said circular portion, said guide having an outer wall surface on said wall portion; and

said light guide serves as a support for said light source and said components and said conductive paths, one of said components having a flat configuration and being mounted on said outer circular surface of said guide, and another of said components being mounted on said outer wall surface.