Virtual instrument panel

• US 6,317,037 B1
• Filed: 11/03/1998
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Invotronics Manufacturing (Flex, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Atoma International Corp.
• Inventors: Hall, Douglas, Ayres, Craig A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US09/185,081
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 340/459, 340/461, 340/462, 345/7, 359/630, 359/631, 359/632
• US Class Current: 340/461
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/12 lighting onto the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence

Abstract

An instrument panel having easy-to-read instruments is disclosed and which in certain embodiments allows for more efficient use of space behind the instrument panel by providing a partially reflective screen in the instrument panel and mounting certain instruments or instrument elements in the brow of the dashboard over and in front of the screen so that images of the instruments or elements in the brow are reflected off the screen. Other instruments or instrument elements may be located behind the screen, and from a viewing location, the instruments or elements combine into an integral display.

Claims

1. An instrument panel viewable from a viewing location comprising:

a screen portion for displaying information, said screen portion having an upper edge and a lower edge and further comprising a partially reflective combiner having a front surface facing said viewing location;

a brow portion extending outwardly from said upper edge of said screen portion;

a first illuminated display element positioned behind said combiner;

a second illuminated display element mounted in said brow so that the reflection of said second illuminated display element is visible in said combiner from said viewing location superimposed on said first illuminated display element to form an image of a virtual instrument, said second illuminated display element including a gauge motor having a rotary output shaft extending out from said gauge motor downwardly toward said combiner and a pointer mounted on said rotary output shaft;

a sensor for sensing a vehicle condition, said sensor generating and transmitting a signal; and

a controller for controlling one of said first and second display elements in response to said signal received from said sensor so that said virtual instrument displays information on said vehicle condition.

2. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said first illuminated display element comprises a background display bearing markings indicative of a vehicle condition.

3. The instrument of claim 2 wherein said first illuminated display element comprises a light sheet and a light source mounted in proximity to said light sheet.

4. The instrument of claim 3 wherein said second illuminated display element comprises a pointer light source directing light into said pointer and wherein said pointer includes a first light-emitting portion and is masked to substantially prevent light from escaping except along said first light-emitting portion.

5. An instrument panel viewable from a viewing location comprising:

a screen portion for displaying information, said screen portion having an upper edge and a lower edge and further comprising a partially reflective combiner having a front surface facing the viewing location;

a brow portion extending outwardly from said upper edge of said screen portion;

a first illuminated instrument mounted behind said combiner for displaying information concerning a first vehicle condition;

a second illuminated instrument for displaying information concerning a second vehicle condition and mounted in said brow so that an image of said second instrument is visible in said combiner, said image appearing proximate to said first instrument from said viewing location, wherein the first illuminated instrument and the second illuminated instrument are disposed at an angle of about 90°

relative to one another;

a first sensor for sensing said first vehicle condition, said first sensor generating and transmitting a first signal;

a second sensor for sensing said second vehicle condition, said second sensor generating and transmitting a second signal; and

a controller for controlling said first instrument in response to said first signal received from said first sensor and for controlling said second instrument in response to said first signal received from said first sensor and for controlling said second instrument in response to said second signal received from said second sensor.

6. The instrument of claim 5 wherein said first illuminated instrument comprises a light sheet and a light source mounted in proximity to said light sheet.

7. The instrument of claim 5 wherein said second illuminated instrument comprises a light sheet and a light source mounted in proximity to said light sheet.

8. The instrument of claim 6 wherein said second illuminated instrument comprises a pointer light source directing light into said pointer and wherein said pointer includes a first light-emitting portion and is masked to substantially prevent light from escaping except along said first light-emitting portion.

9. The instrument of claim 5 wherein said second illuminated instrument includes a gauge motor having a rotary output shaft extending coaxially with said gauge motor and downwardly toward said combiner and a pointer mounted on said rotary output shaft.

10. The instrument of claim 9 wherein said second illuminated instrument comprises a pointer light source directing light into said pointer and wherein said pointer includes a first light-emitting portion and is masked to substantially prevent light from escaping except along said first light-emitting portion.

11. An instrument panel viewable from a viewing location comprising:

a screen portion for displaying information, said screen portion having an upper edge and a lower edge and further comprising a partially reflective portion;

a brow portion extending outwardly from said upper edge of said screen portion;

an illuminated instrument for displaying information concerning a vehicle condition, said instrument comprising a first illuminated display element and a second illuminated display element, the first illuminated display element including a light sheet bearing markings indicative of the vehicle condition and a light source mounted in proximity to said light sheet and the second illuminated display element comprising a gauge motor having a rotary output shaft extending directly out from said gauge motor downwardly toward said screen portion and a pointer mounted on said rotary output shaft, wherein said first and second display elements are mounted in said brow portion so that reflections of said first and second display elements are visible in said screen portion from the viewing location, the reflections of said first and second display elements being superimposed in said screen portion so as to form an image of the instrument viewable from said viewing location;

a sensor for sensing said vehicle condition, said sensor generating and transmitting a signal; and

a controller for controlling said gauge motor in response to said signals received from said sensor.