Indication system of meter part

• US 6,990,922 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ito, Hiroshi, Takahashi, Toshinori, Ichikawa, Tadaoki, Nawashiro, Mitsuhiro, Kino, Norihito
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COURSON, TANIA C
• Application Number:
  US10/283,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20030079671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 116/286, 116/DIG.35, 116/DIG.36, 116/287, 116/288, 116/62.1, 116/305, 116/298, 340/286.01, 345/22, 345/35, 345/72, 345/83, 362/231, 362/230, 362/23, 362/29, 362/30, 362/28, 362/84, 404/46
• US Class Current: 116/286
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/188 Displaying information using colour changes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• 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: Y10S 116/36 Illuminated dial and pointer

Abstract

This invention is to offer an indication system and method of a meter part having excellent visibility and designing property. Alight is irradiated from the first light source toward the indicating panel from the side of the indicating face for making the background part of the indicating panel luminous with a complementary color to a color indicating the indicator part of pointers, graduations, numerals and others.

Claims

1. An indication system of a meter part, comprising:

an indicating panel including an indicator part luminous with an indicating color, and a background part; and

a first light source for irradiating light toward the indicating panel from a side of an indicating face with respect to the indicating panel,

wherein the background part is illuminated by the first light source and is luminous with a complementary color to the indicating color of the indicator part, and

wherein one of said indicating color and said complementary color comprises a warm group color, and the other comprises a cold group color,

wherein the illumination system is adapted to a vehicle, and

wherein a contrast in luminous intensity between the indicator part and the background part varies in accordance with a running speed of the vehicle.

2. An indication system of the meter part as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said indicating color and said complementary color comprises red, and the other comprises green.

3. An indication system of the meter part as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said indicating color and said complementary color comprises orange, and the other comprises blue.

4. An indication system of the meter part as set forth in claim 1, wherein the background part comprises a phosphor, and the first light source emits light of wavelength exciting the phosphor.

5. An indication system of the meter part as set forth in claim 1, wherein said panel comprises a punched-out portion corresponding to said indicator part.

6. An indication system of the meter part as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

a second light source disposed on a side of said indicating panel which is opposite to said indicating face, said second light source illuminating said indicator part through said punched-out portion.

7. An indication system of the meter part as set forth in claim 6, wherein said indicator part comprises a plurality of indicator parts, and said punched-out portion comprises a plurality of punched-out portions which correspond respectively to said plurality of indicator parts.

8. An indication system of the meter part as set forth in claim 6, wherein said second light source comprises a plurality of second light sources, and

wherein said indicator part comprises a phosphor, and light from said second light source excites said phosphor.

9. An indication system of the meter part as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first light source comprises a blue light-emitting diode (LED).

10. An indication system of the meter part as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first light source emits light having said complementary color.

11. An indication system of the meter part as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said indicating color and said complementary color comprises yellow, and the other comprises blue-purple.