Digital/analog indication unit

• US 5,469,137 A
• Filed: 09/02/1993
• Issued: 11/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Muto, Masanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US08/115,059
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 340/525, 340/441, 340/461, 340/462, 340/870.02, 340/870.23, 340/870.05, 340/459, 345/5, 345/7, 345/35, 345/36, 364/426.02, 364/426.05, 364/565, 364/710.01, 324/99 D, 324/115, 324/142, 368/71
• US Class Current: 340/462
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/698 Pointers of combined instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/002 giving both analog and numerical indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/08 Arrangements of scales, pointers, lamps or acoustic indicators, e.g. in automobile speedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/489 Digital circuits therefor

Abstract

A digital/analog indication unit which is capable of performing both digital and analog indications of detected value such as vehicle speed or the like, respectively by displaying numerals and rotating an indication needle to a scale, wherein there is no discrepancy between the digital indication and analog indication. The digital/analog indication unit of the present invention includes; a digital indicator having a display device for indicating numerals corresponding to a detected value, an analog indicator having a dial plate with scales provided on the surface thereof, an indication needle, and a pulse motor connected to the indication needle, wherein the indication needle is rotated by the pulse motor to point to one of the scales, and an indication control means which updates the numerals displayed by the digital indicator in accordance with a newly detected value, and activates the pulse motor following the updating operation of the digital indicator to rotate the indication needle to point to a scale of the analog indicator, the scale corresponding to the updated indication of the digital indicator.

Claims

1. A digital/analog indication unit for indicating continuously changing vehicle speed comprising:

a digital indicator having a display means for indicating numerals corresponding to a first detected value received from a vehicle speed sensor;

an analog indicator having a dial plate with scales provided on the surface thereof, an indication needle, and a pulse motor connected to said indication needle, wherein said indication needle is rotated by said pulse motor to point to one of said scales; and

indication control means for performing a continuous updating operation to provide an updated indication of the numerals displayed by said digital indicator in accordance with a second detected value received from the sensor, and for activating said pulse motor following the updating operation of said digital indicator to rotate said indication needle to point to a scale of said analog indicator, said scale corresponding to said updated indication of said digital indicator.

2. A digital/analog indication unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indication control means includes means for calculating a number of pulses to be fed to said pulse motor to rotate said indication needle of the analog indicator for a required angle in accordance with said updated indication of said digital indicator.