On-vehicle display

• US 5,582,129 A
• Filed: 06/03/1994
• Issued: 12/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Furuya, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WORTH, WILLIE M
• Application Number:
  US08/253,792
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 116/62.1, 116/62.2, 116/62.3, 116/62.4, 116/284, 116/285, 116/286, 116/287, 116/288, 116/327, 116/328, 116/329, 116/330, 116/331, 116/332, 116/DIG. 6 , 116/DIG. 23, 116/DIG. 36, 116/ DIG. 45, 324/150, 324/151 R, 324/154 R, 324/154 PB, 324/155, 353/11, 353/12, 353/13, 353/14, 359/630, 359/857, 345/7
• US Class Current: 116/284
• 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: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/02 Bearings or suspensions for moving parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 13/22 Pointers, e.g. settable pointer

Abstract

An on-vehicle display apparatus includes an analog meter mounted with a display surface facing downwardly within a meter hood of an instrument panel of a vehicle. A reflector is disposed below the meter to reflect a display image of the analog meter through an opening of the instrument panel into a driver'"'"'s eyes so that the driver views a virtual image of the analog meter behind the reflector. The on-vehicle display includes a movement which has a rotating shaft and is positioned such that the movement is above the display surface. A pointer shaft rotatably is eccentric with the rotating shaft and is supported by a bearing. The pointer shaft has a pointer attached to a distal end thereof projecting below the display surface. The pointer angularly moves over the display surface together with the pointer shaft. A rotation transmitting means is provided between the rotating shaft and the pointer shaft for transmitting rotation of the rotating shaft to the pointer shaft.

Claims

1. An on-vehicle display apparatus in which an analog meter is mounted with a display surface of a dial facing downwardly within a meter hood of an instrument panel of a vehicle, and a reflector is disposed below the meter to reflect a display image of the analog meter through an opening of the instrument panel into a driver'"'"'s eyes so that the driver views a virtual image of the analog meter behind the reflector, comprising:

a movement positioned behind and vertically above said dial and having a rotating shaft;

a pointer shaft rotatably supported by a bearing, said pointer shaft being eccentric with said rotating shaft and having a pointer attached to a distal end thereof projecting below the display surface, wherein a rotation of said pointer shaft moves said pointer angularly across the display surface; and

a rotation transmitting means connecting said rotating shaft and said pointer shaft for transmitting rotation of said rotating shaft to said pointer shaft, said rotation transmitting means being connected to said pointer shaft at an end opposite distal end of the pointer shaft.

2. The on-vehicle display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotation transmitting means comprising a gear train.

3. The on-vehicle display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said gear train includes a first gear attached to said rotating shaft and a second gear attached to said pointer shaft, and wherein said first gear meshes with said second gear to transmit rotation of said rotating shaft to said pointer shaft.

4. The on-vehicle display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pointer shaft comprises a non-magnetic material.

5. The on-vehicle display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movement has terminals for receiving an input signal, and wherein said pointer shaft is positioned through one of the terminals.