Vehicle gauge with embedded driver information

• US 7,347,575 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Inventors: Demhlow, Brian P, Venkatram, Sanjiv, Fong, Ching, Pasek, Joseph, Kelman, Zinoviy
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward; John Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crowe; David R
• Application Number:
  US11/157,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20060012971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 116/62.1, 116/284, 116/300, 116/48, 116285-288, 362/28, 362/29, 362/262, 362/546, 362/489, 362/27, 734/99, 738/663, 340/688
• US Class Current: 362/23
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/6985 with only part of pointer being visible
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/6992 Light conducting pointers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/6985 with only part of pointer being visible
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/6992 Light conducting pointers
• 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: G01D 13/265 Pointers which conduct light
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/002 giving both analog and numerical indication

Abstract

A gauge having a housing, a light source disposed in the housing, a bezel, a display and a pointer. The display is coupled to the housing and includes a display surface that is visible through an opening in the bezel. The display is spaced rearwardly of the bezel to define a light transmitting aperture. The pointer is movably mounted to the housing and includes a pointer end that is disposed on a side of the bezel opposite the light transmitting aperture. A first portion of the light produced by the light source can be employed to back-illuminate the display surface, while a second portion of the light produced by the light source can be collected by the pointer and employed to illuminate the pointer end.

Claims

1. A gauge comprising:

a housing that includes a sleeve;

a plurality of light sources disposed in the housing and producing light;

a bezel coupled to the housing to define a light transmitting aperture, the bezel having a opening;

a display coupled to the housing, the display having a display surface that is visible through the opening, the display being spaced rearwardly of at least a portion of the bezel;

a pointer moveably mounted to the housing, the pointer having a pointer end, which is disposed on a side of the bezel opposite the light transmitting aperture, an annular pointer body that includes a plurality of teeth formed about a perimeter of the body, the annular pointer body rotatably supported on the sleeve and a light guide that extends through the light transmitting aperture and the sleeve;

a face coupled to at least one of the housing, the bezel and the display, the face including dial face indicia that are disposed about the sleeve; and

a motor assembly coupled to the housing, the motor assembly having a drive member that meshingly engages the plurality of teeth of the pointer body,

wherein a first portion of the light produced by the plurality of light sources back-illuminates the display surface; and

wherein a second portion of the light produced by the plurality of light sources is collected by the light guide and illuminates the pointer end.

2. The gauge of claim 1, further comprising display indicia disposed about a perimeter of the opening and wherein a third portion of the light produced by the plurality of light sources escapes through windows and illuminates the display indicia.

3. The gauge of claim 2, wherein the display indicia is back-illuminated.

4. The gauge of claim 3, wherein the light guide is generally L-shaped.

5. The gauge of claim 1, wherein the pointer body is disposed between the light guide and the pointer end.

6. The gauge of claim 1, wherein the display is an LCD display.

7. The gauge of claim 1, further comprising a light guide coupled to the display and disposed between the display and the plurality of light sources, the light guide being configured to direct light from the plurality of light sources into the display.

8. The gauge of claim 1, further comprising an ultrasonic motor coupled to the housing and the pointer, the ultrasonic motor being configured to move the pointer.

9. The gauge of claim 8, wherein the ultrasonic motor is hollow.

10. The gauge of claim 9, wherein the pointer is directly coupled to the ultrasonic motor.

11. A gauge comprising:

a housing that includes a sleeve;

a plurality of light sources disposed in the housing and producing light;

a bezel coupled to the housing to define a light transmitting aperture;

a pointer having an annular body and a pointer member that extends outwardly from the annular body, the annular body being rotatably mounted on the sleeve, the pointer member including a pointer end disposed on a side of the bezel opposite the light transmitting aperture and a light guide that extends through the light transmitting aperture and the sleeve;

a display coupled to the housing, the display having a display surface that is disposed in-line with an aperture in the annular body of the pointer so that the pointer member is movable about at least a portion of the display surface during operation of the gauge;

a face coupled to at least one of the housing, the bezel and the display, the face including dial face indicia that are disposed about the sleeve; and

a motor assembly having a motor and a drive member that is coupled for rotation with an output member of the motor, the drive member being configured rotate the annular body,

wherein the plurality of light sources illuminates at least the pointer member and wherein the display is selected from a group consisting of liquid crystal displays, organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays, polymer light emitting diode displays, and thin film electroluminescent displays.

12. The gauge of claim 11, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display and a portion of the light produced by the plurality of light sources back-illuminates the display surface.

13. The gauge of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of a perimeter of the annular body is formed with a plurality of teeth and wherein the drive member has a plurality of similarly teeth formed teeth.

14. The gauge of claim 13, wherein the teeth of the drive member are meshingly engaged with the teeth of the annular body.

15. The gauge of claim 11, wherein the bezel has an opening through which the display is visible, the display being spaced rearwardly of at least a portion of the bezel to define the light transmitting aperture, wherein a portion of the light produced by the plurality of light sources escapes from the light transmitting aperture and illuminates a display indicia disposed about a perimeter of the opening.

16. A method of illuminating a gauge comprising:

providing a gauge with a pointer and a display, the pointer having an annular pointer body rotatably coupled on a sleeve of a housing, the pointer including a light guide that extends through the sleeve, the display being disposed in-line with the sleeve so that a pointer member associated with the pointer is movable about at least a portion of the display during operation of the gauge; and

illuminating a plurality of stationary light sources to produce light, a first portion of the light being directed into the light guide and through the annular pointer body to illuminate the pointer and a second portion of the light being employed to back-illuminate the display.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the display is an LCD display.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing a motor assembly having an output member;

meshingly engaging the output member to an edge of the annular pointer body; and

rotating the output member to move the annular pointer body.