Analog indicator with self-luminescent pointer

• US 5,630,373 A
• Filed: 11/16/1994
• Issued: 05/20/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Kazuhiko, Kato, Miki
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WORTH, WILLIE M
• Application Number:
  US08/342,004
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 116/286, 116/287, 116/288, 116/328, 116/332, 116/DIG. 6, 116/DIG. 36, 362/29, 368/238
• US Class Current: 116/288
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• 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: B60Q 3/16 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 13/28 with luminescent markings
• CPC Class Codes: G12B 11/04 Pointers; Setting-mechanisms therefor

Abstract

A self-luminescent indicator which may be employed in a tachometer, a speedometer, or other such gauges in automotive vehicles. The self-luminescent indicator comprises an indicating pointer, a luminescent element for emitting light, and a lens. The luminescent element is disposed in the indicating pointer. The lens is arranged in the indicating pointer and includes a flat surface through which light emitted from the luminescent element enters and a corrugated surface which projects the light entering the flat surface out of the indicating pointer. With this arrangement, the indicating pointer projects the light having uniform and high brightness to an observer for improving the visibility of pointer deflection over a dial plate.

Claims

1. A self-luminescent indicator apparatus comprising:

an indicating pointer;

a luminescent element disposed in said indicating pointer;

means for conducting energy to said luminescent element to cause said luminescent element to emit light; and

a lens disposed in said indicating pointer, said lens having a substantially flat surface and a corrugated surface opposite said flat surface, said flat surface being arranged to receive light emitted from said luminescent element and to refract the light toward the corrugated surface, the corrugated surface being arranged to direct light emitted from said luminescent element and refracted by the flat surface out of said indicating pointer.

2. A self-luminescent indicator apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the corrugated surface of said lens is geometrically oriented to allow the light entering the flat surface at a first incident angle to emerge at a second refractive angle smaller than the first incident angle.

3. A self-luminescent indicator apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the corrugated surface of said lens is formed with a plurality of triangle pole-like protrusions arranged parallel to each other.

4. A self-luminescent indicator apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said lens has a preselected length laying over said luminescent element, the triangle pole-like protrusions each extending perpendicular to the length of said lens.

5. A self-luminescent indicator apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the corrugated surface has peak portions and bottom portions, the peak portions and the bottom portions being defined by adjacent surfaces respectively which are inclined at approximately 90 deg to each other.

13. A self-luminescent indicator apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the substantially flat surface and the corrugated surface are disposed substantially parallel to each other.

15. A self-luminescent indicator apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said luminescent element is disposed in said indicating pointer at a given interval away from and facing the substantially flat surface of said lens.

16. A self-luminescent indicator apparatus as set forth in claim 15, further comprising a transparent member disposed between said luminescent element and the substantially flat surface of said lens.

6. A self-luminescent indicator apparatus comprising:

an indicating pointer having a housing and a cover for covering the housing, the housing including a groove formed therein having a bottom and two opposing side walls, the cover including an opening formed therein;

a luminescent element disposed on the bottom of the groove formed in the housing of said indicating pointer;

means for conducting energy to said luminescent element to cause said luminescent element to emit light; and

a lens interposed between the cover of said indicating pointer and said luminescent element and abutting with top portions of the side walls of the groove formed in the housing, said lens having a flat surface through which light emitted from said luminescent element enters, and a corrugated surface opposite the flat surface which projects the light entering through the flat surface out of said indicating pointer through the opening formed in the cover.

7. A self-luminescent indicator apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said corrugated surface of said lens is formed with a plurality of triangle pole-like protrusions arranged parallel to each other.

8. A self-luminescent indicator apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the top portions of the side walls of the groove formed in the housing have shoulder portions respectively in which said lens is retained.

9. A self-luminescent indicator apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the housing of said indicating pointer has a predetermined length, said luminescent element including a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged along the length of the housing.

10. A self-luminescent indicator apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the opening formed in the cover of said indicating pointer has a semitransparent portion disposed therein which diffuses the light transmitted through said lens outwardly.

11. A self-luminescent indicator apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the groove has a given length so that said luminescent element is disposed therein along the given length, the groove forming an opening oriented to the semitransparent portion of the cover and having a preselected width substantially equal to that of the opening of the cover.

12. A self-luminescent indicator apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein the corrugated surface has peak portions and bottom portions, the peak portions and the bottom portions being defined by adjacent surfaces respectively which are inclined at approximately 90 deg to each other.

14. A self-luminescent indicator apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the flat surface and the corrugated surface are disposed substantially parallel to each other.

17. A self-luminescent indicator apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the flat surface of said lens is arranged so as to refract the light emitted by said luminescent element and entering therethrough toward the corrugated surface.