Full angle laser illuminate instrument cluster

• US 7,928,859 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Inventors: Li, Kang, Boyd, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L
• Application Number:
  US12/275,365
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.78, 340/815.54
• US Class Current: 340/815.78
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/333 Lasers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/336 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/698 Pointers of combined instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/6992 Light conducting pointers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/155 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/333 Lasers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/336 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/698 Pointers of combined instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/6992 Light conducting pointers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• 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: B60K 37/02 Arrangement of instruments arrangement of lighting devices for dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 13/265 Pointers which conduct light

Abstract

A display for measured quantities can include a dial plaque with at least one set of indicia spaced around the plaque to indicate the measured quantities. An optical device can be mounted on a shaft within a perimeter of the dial plaque at a location surrounded by the indicia. The optical device can redirect an incident light beam onto the area of the set of indicia. A motor can turn the shaft to rotate the optical device through three-hundred-sixty degrees about an axis of rotation centered on the shaft. Apparatus can be provided for sensing the shaft rotating angular position. A light source can project a light beam on the optical device through the axis of rotation, such that a virtual pointer is generated.

Claims

1. A display for measured quantities comprising:

a dial plaque with at least one set of indicia spaced around the plaque to indicate the measured quantities;

an optical device mounted on a shaft within a perimeter of the dial plaque surrounded by the indicia, the optical device capable to redirect an incident light beam;

a motor for turning the shaft to rotate the optical device through three-hundred-sixty degrees about an axis of rotation centered on the shaft;

means for sensing the shaft rotating angular position;

a light source for projecting a light beam on the optical device along the axis of rotation such that a virtual pointer is generated, the optical device enabling the virtual pointer to be aimed at the at least one set of indicia for a three-hundred-sixty degree scan around the plaque as the optical device is rotated; and

a controller for receiving signals representing the measured quantities and for monitoring the angular position of the shaft provided from the sensing means, and to coordinate on/off of the light source based on the signals and the angular position.

2. The display of claim 1 wherein the dial plaque defines multiple sets of indicia at corresponding display regions, each set of indicia corresponding to a distinct measured quantity of the measured quantities.

3. The display of claim 2 wherein at least one of a unique illumination marker and an illuminated section of the indicia is identified concurrently on each set of indicia by the light beam that is redirected by the optical device.

4. The display of claim 1 wherein the optical device is a mirror having a curved reflector surface with a predetermined radius.

5. The display of claim 4 wherein the motor is located in a position intermediate of the mirror and the light source.

6. The display of claim 5 wherein the shaft defines a cannulation and wherein the light source projects the light beam through the cannulation.

7. The display of claim 6 wherein the cannulation is parallel to the axis of rotation.

8. The display of claim 6 wherein the mirror defines a body having an inner boundary, wherein the reflector surface is formed within the inner boundary of the body.

9. The display of claim 4 wherein the reflector surface is defined by a radius of a cylinder.

10. The display of claim 4 wherein the mirror is located in a position intermediate of the motor and the light source.

11. The display of claim 1 wherein the light source is a laser light source.

12. The display of claim 1, further comprising a light detector positioned to receive the light beam at a reference position, the light detector being connected to the controller for calibration purposes.

13. The display of claim 1 wherein the dial plaque further comprises at least one telltale and wherein the optical device redirects light from the light source at a location on at least one set of indicia and onto the at least one telltale to illuminate a location on the at least one set of indicia concurrently with the at least one telltale.

14. A display for measured quantities comprising:

a dial plaque with a first and a second set of indicia spaced around the plaque to indicate a first and a second distinct measured quantity;

an optical device mounted on a shaft within a perimeter of the dial plaque;

a motor for turning the shaft to rotate the optical device through three-hundred-sixty degrees about an axis of rotation centered on the shaft;

means for sensing the shaft rotating angular position;

a light source for projecting a light beam on the optical device along the axis of rotation such that a virtual pointer is generated, the optical device enabling the virtual pointer to be aimed at the first and second sets of indicia for a three-hundred-sixty degree scan around the plaque as the optical device is rotated; and

a controller for receiving signals representing the measured quantities and for monitoring the angular position of the shaft provided from the sensing means, and to coordinate on/off of the light source based on the signals and the angular position.

15. The display of claim 14 wherein the dial plaque further comprises at least one telltale and wherein the optical device redirects and spreads or focuses light from the light source to illuminate at least one telltale based on the signals representing the measured quantities.

16. The display of claim 14 wherein the optical device is a mirror having a curved reflector surface with a predetermined radius.

17. The display of claim 16 wherein the motor is located in a position intermediate of the optical device and the light source.

18. The display of claim 16 wherein the shaft defines a cannulation and wherein the light source projects the light beam through the cannulation.

19. The display of claim 18 wherein the mirror defines a body having an inner boundary wherein the reflector surface is formed within the inner boundary of the body.

20. The display of claim 16 wherein the mirror is located in a position intermediate of the motor and the light source.