Instrument display method and system for passenger vehicle

• US 5,825,338 A
• Filed: 04/06/1995
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atoma International Corp.
• Original Assignee: Atoma International Corp.
• Inventors: Salmon, Michael E., Hovis, Jeffrey G., Ehle, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRIER, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US08/418,073
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345/9, 345/30-32, 345/47, 345/75, 362/26, 362/27, 362/29, 362/30, 310/49 R, 310/40 MM, 310/67 R, 353/13, 353/14
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/184 Displaying the same information on different displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/698 Pointers of combined instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/155 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/184 Displaying the same information on different displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/698 Pointers of combined instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• 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: G01R 7/08 moving-coil type, e.g. crossed-coil type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0165 associated with a head-down display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0149 characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 116/36 Illuminated dial and pointer

Abstract

An instrument display method and system for use in a passenger vehicle has a number of advantageous features including particularly novel, compact, inexpensive and inherently stable electric motors. A first motor includes a rotor assembly having a shaft and a cylindrical magnet which is positioned about a stator assembly to rotate thereabout. The shaft extends through a stator of the stator assembly, a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD), and an indicia bearing layer. A mask such as a needle pointer is secured to the shaft of the rotor assembly at the indicia bearing layer to convey the value of instrument data to the passenger. A light emitting panel receives light from the VFD and transmits the light to other positions along the display system where other substantially identical electric motors move their needle pointers to likewise convey additional data to the passenger. The first motor is surface mounted directly on the back of the VFD which has electrical conductors formed therein. The other motors are mounted so that their shafts extend through the optical sheet and the indicia bearing layer. In one embodiment, a light beam projecting mechanism projects light beams modified by the various needle pointers to a reflective surface which, in turn, reflects the modified light beams toward the passenger. In another embodiment, the projecting mechanism includes a combiner which projects the modified light beams into the passenger'"'"'s field of view.

Claims

1. In combination with an instrument display system for use in a passenger vehicle to provide a visual representation of instrument data to the passenger, the system being of the type having a mask, an electric motor for moving the mask and control means for controlling movement of the mask, the electric motor being responsive to said control means and having a stator assembly and a rotor assembly for rotating relative to the stator assembly, the improvement wherein:

the rotor assembly includes a cylindrical magnet coupled to the mask to move the mask and positioned about the stator assembly for rotating without the stator assembly to enable the mask to convey the instrument data to the passenger;

said combination further comprising

a vacuum fluorescent display oriented behind the mask and provided with a plurality of illuminated indicia for projecting an analog gauge image therefrom, the vacuum fluorescent display, mask and motor forming a heads-up projector;

a combiner positioned a spaced apart distance from the heads-up projector to form a projected image in the passenger'"'"'s field of vision;

means for affixing the projector to a vehicle windshield; and

means for adjustably affixing the combiner relative to the vehicle windshield a spaced apart distance from the heads-up projector.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said combiner comprises a spherical transparent photochromic member coated with a partially reflective film to enable the passenger to look through the combiner and see the roadway as well as the projected image from the heads-up projector.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said motor is mounted in front of said vacuum fluorescent display.

4. In combination with an instrument display system for use in a passenger vehicle to provide a visual representation of instrument data to the passenger, the system being of the type having a mask, an electric motor for moving the mask and control means for controlling movement of the mask, the electric motor being responsive to said control means and having a stator assembly and a rotor assembly for rotating relative to the stator assembly, the improvement wherein:

the rotor assembly includes a cylindrical magnet coupled to the mask to move the mask and positioned about the stator assembly for rotating without the stator assembly in a fixed circular path concentric with the stator assembly and in a continuous motion without mechanical step intervals to enable the mask to accurately convey the instrument data to the passenger;

said combination further comprising

a vacuum fluorescent display oriented behind the mask and provided with a plurality of illuminated indicia for projecting an analog gauge image therefrom, the vacuum fluorescent display, mask and motor forming a heads-up projector;

a combiner positioned a spaced apart distance from the heads-up projector to form a projected image in the passenger'"'"'s field of vision;

means for affixing the projector to a vehicle windshield; and

means for adjustably affixing the combiner relative to the vehicle windshield a spaced apart distance from the heads-up projector.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said combiner comprises a spherical transparent photochromic member coated with a partially reflective film to enable the passenger to look through the combiner and see the roadway as well as the projected image from the heads-up projector.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said motor is mounted in front of said vacuum fluorescent display.