Gauge with mechanical indicator and reconfigurable gauge display

• US 5,920,256 A
• Filed: 04/08/1997
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Automotive Dearborn, Incorporated (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: UT Automotive Dearborn, Inc.
• Inventors: Toffolo, Daniel J., Chutorash, Richard, Palalau, Silviu
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Sihong
• Application Number:
  US08/826,928
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 340/525, 340/461, 340/462, 340/815.78, 340/815.55, 340/815.47, 345/4, 345/5, 345/105, 324/115
• US Class Current: 340/461
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 13/10 with adjustable scales; with auxiliary scales, e.g. vernier
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/002 giving both analog and numerical indication

Abstract

A vehicle gauge comprises a mechanical indicator moveable relative to a reconfigurable gauge display. A transparent electroluminescent display selectively provides one of a plurality of gauge displays. A mechanical indicator positioned behind the display moves relative to the gauge display based upon data from a sensor associated with the current gauge display. A selectively transmissive device positioned between the display and the indicator selectively hides the indicator from view, providing a display independent of the indicator.

Claims

1. A gauge comprising:

a reconfigurable display including a plurality of pixels which can be selectively switched on or off;

a controller receiving first data from a first sensor;

a mechanical indicator being positioned behind said display, said indicator movable relative to said display, said controller controlling said pixels of said display to display a first gauge display associated with said first sensor, said controller moving said indicator relative to said first gauge display based upon said first data from said first sensor, the position of said indicator relative to said display being visible simultaneously with said first gauge display.

2. The gauge of claim 1 wherein said controller receives second data from a second sensor, said controller controlling said pixels of said display to selectively display said first gauge display or a second gauge display associated with said second sensor, said controller moving said indicator relative to said second gauge display based upon said second data from said second sensor, the position of said indicator relative to said display being visible simultaneously with said second gauge display.

3. The gauge of claim 1 further including a selectively variable transmissive device between said display and said indicator.

4. The gauge of claim 3 wherein said selectively variable transmissive device is an electrochromic dimmer.

5. The gauge of claim 3 wherein said controller controls said selectively variable transmissive device, said variable transmissive device becoming opaque to hide said indicator when said display is displaying a third display independent of said indicator.

6. The gauge of claim 1 wherein said display is a transparent electroluminescent display.

7. The gauge of claim 1 wherein said indicator is positioned behind said display, said indicator being visible through said display from a position in front of said display.

8. The gauge of claim 7 wherein said indicator includes at least one light source mounted on said indicator.

9. The gauge of claim 1 further including a second mechanical indicator adjacent said display, said controller controlling said display to selectively display a third gauge display associated with a second sensor, said controller moving said second indicator relative to said gauge display based upon data from said second sensor.

10. The gauge of claim 9 further including a selectively variable transmissive device between said display and said first and second indicators, said selectively variable transmissive device having a first portion in front of said first indicator and a second portion in front of said second indicator, the transmissivity of said first and second portions of said variable transmissive device being independently variable by said controller.

11. The gauge of claim 1 wherein said pixels of said display selectively generate light.

12. The gauge of claim 1 wherein said display is an electroluminescent display.

13. A vehicle display comprising:

a reconfigurable transparent display;

a controller receiving first data from a first sensor and second data from a second sensor, said controller controlling said display to selectively display a first gauge display associated with said first sensor or a second gauge display associated with said second sensor;

a mechanical indicator behind said display, said indicator being visible through said display from a position in front of said display, said indicator movable relative to said display, said controller moving said indicator relative to said first gauge display based upon said first data from said first sensor when said first gauge display is displayed on said display, said indicator visible simultaneously with said first gauge display when said first gauge display is displayed, said controller moving said indicator relative to said second gauge display based upon said second data from said second sensor when said second gauge display is displayed by said display, said indicator visible simultaneously with said second gauge display when said second gauge display is displayed.

14. The vehicle display of claim 13 wherein said display is an electroluminescent display.

15. The vehicle display of claim 13 wherein said indicator includes at least one LED mounted on said indicator.

16. The vehicle display of claim 13 further including a selectively variable transmissive device between said display and said indicator.

17. The vehicle display of claim 16 wherein said selectively variable transmissive device is an electrochromic dimmer.

18. The vehicle display claim 16 wherein said controller controls said selectively variable transmissive device, said variable transmissive device becoming opaque to hide said indicator when said display is displaying a third display independent of said indicator.

19. A method for displaying information including the steps of:

a) receiving first data from a first sensor;

b) displaying a first gauge display on a display adjacent a movable mechanical indicator, said first gauge display associated with said first sensor;

c) moving said indicator relative to said first gauge display based upon said first data from said first sensor to communicate information related to said first data from said first sensor when said first gauge display is displayed;

d) concealing said mechanical indicator after said steps a)-c);

e) displaying a second display on said display during said step d).

20. The method of claim 19 further including the steps of:

selectively obscuring said mechanical indicator; and

displaying said second display while said mechanical indicator is obscured.

21. The method of claim 19 further including the steps of:

positioning a reconfigurable transparent display in front of said indicator;

forming said first gauge display and said second display on said display.