Indicator

• US 6,904,866 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2002
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Furuya, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOHNSON, AMY COHEN
• Application Number:
  US10/308,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20030121467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 116/286, 116/287, 116/288, 116/62.1, 116/62.3, 116/62.4, 116/305, 116/304, 116/302, 116/DIG.36, 362/23, 362/28, 362/29, 362/359, 405/79, 405/80, 340/441, 340/815.53, 340/815.62, 340/815.78, 340/815.86
• US Class Current: 116/286
• 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: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 116/36 Illuminated dial and pointer

Abstract

An indicator having a character plate capable of making indicative characters emit light is provided, wherein a metal character plate 30 is provided with cut-out portions 30a being cut out along the peripheries of respective indicative characters, a back light source emits light on the back of the metal character plate 30, and a light-transmissive plate 40 are provided with projecting portions 40a to fit in cutout portions 30a of the metal character plate 30.

Claims

1. An indicator comprising:

a metal character plate provided with cut-out portions being cut out along peripheries of respective indicative characters to indicate a measured value;

a back light source to emit light on a back of the metal character plate;

a light-transmissive plate provided with projecting portions corresponding to the indicative characters, wherein the light-transmissive plate is behind the metal plate; and

a pointer rotating to point to the characters corresponding to the measured value.

2. The indicator as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a front light source to emit light on a face of the metal character plate.

3. The indicator as set forth in claim 2, wherein

the front light source illuminates the metal character plate in such a way that a straight high luminance portion arises on the metal character plate.

4. The indicator as set forth in claim 2, wherein

the front light source illuminates the metal character plate in such a way that straight high luminance portions crossing each other arise on the metal character plate.

5. The indicator as set forth in claim 3, wherein

a pattern of concentric circles is formed on a face of the metal character plate.

6. The indicator as set forth in claim 3, wherein

a pattern of radial lines is formed on a face of the metal character plate.

7. The indicator as set forth in any one of claims 1-6, wherein

the back light source has a light-emitting element to emit light entering the light-transmissive plate.

8. The indicator as set forth in claim 7, wherein

the projecting portions being formed to fit in the cut-out portions of the metal character plate.

9. The indicator as set forth in claim 8, wherein

the projecting portions are divided into at least two groups formed on respective divided light-transmissive plates.

10. The indicator as set forth in claim 7, wherein

when the indicative character has a hole surrounded with a straight or curved line forming the indicative character, a portion corresponding to the hole of the light-transmissive plate is printed in a color same as that of the metal character plate.

11. The indicator as set forth in claim 7, wherein

when the indicative character has a hole surrounded with a straight or curved line forming the indicative character, a portion corresponding to the hole of the light-transmissive plate sinks from a front face of the indicative character.

12. The indicator as set forth in claim 11, wherein

a hole-filling piece having a face printed in a color same as that of the metal character plate is fitted in the hole.

13. The indicator as set forth in claim 8, wherein the light-transmissive plate is formed in a state that the metal character plate is insert-molded in the light-transmissive plate.

14. The indicator as set forth in claim 10, wherein the light-transmissive plate is formed in a state that the metal character plate is insert-molded in the light-transmissive plate.