Analog-style instrumentation display with color-changing pointer
First Claim
1. An analog-style gauge for receiving signals from a remote sensor and displaying a value of a parameter sensed by the remote sensor, the gauge comprising:
- an actuator having a shaft that is selectively rotatable through a range of motion having a plurality of sub-ranges;
a pointer fixedly attached to the actuator shaft and adapted to be internally illuminated;
a light source selectively producing a plurality of illumination colors and disposed so as to internally illuminate the pointer in a selected illumination color;
control circuitry operably connected to the actuator and the light source;
the control circuitry rotating the actuator shaft within the range of motion in response to signals received from the remote sensor until the pointer is in a position indicative of the value of the sensed parameter such that the pointer is visible at the position; and
the control circuitry controlling the selected illumination color of the light source to be indicative of the sub-range of motion within which the actuator shaft is positioned;
whereby the illumination color of the pointer will change color when the pointer reaches a predetermined point within the range of motion.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An analog-style gauge for displaying the value of a parameter measured or sensed by a remote sensor. The gauge comprises an actuator having a selectively rotatable shaft and a pointer fixedly attached to the actuator shaft and capable of being internally illuminated by light directed into the pointer. A light source is disposed to direct light of at least two colors into the pointer. Control circuitry is operably connected to the actuator, the light source and a remote sensor. The control circuitry rotates the actuator shaft within a range of motion in response to signals received from the remote sensor indicative of changes in the value of the sensed parameter. The control circuitry changes the color of light directed into the pointer when the pointer reaches a pre-determined point within the range of motion, whereby the internal illumination of the pointer will change color when the pointer reaches a predetermined point within the range of motion.
37 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An analog-style gauge for receiving signals from a remote sensor and displaying a value of a parameter sensed by the remote sensor, the gauge comprising:
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an actuator having a shaft that is selectively rotatable through a range of motion having a plurality of sub-ranges; a pointer fixedly attached to the actuator shaft and adapted to be internally illuminated; a light source selectively producing a plurality of illumination colors and disposed so as to internally illuminate the pointer in a selected illumination color; control circuitry operably connected to the actuator and the light source; the control circuitry rotating the actuator shaft within the range of motion in response to signals received from the remote sensor until the pointer is in a position indicative of the value of the sensed parameter such that the pointer is visible at the position; and the control circuitry controlling the selected illumination color of the light source to be indicative of the sub-range of motion within which the actuator shaft is positioned; whereby the illumination color of the pointer will change color when the pointer reaches a predetermined point within the range of motion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle instrumentation system for displaying, by means of a position of a pointer within a range of motion having a plurality of sub-ranges, a current value of a parameter sensed by a remote sensor and simultaneously indicating, by means of an illumination color of the pointer, the sub-range within which the value of the parameter currently lies, the system comprising:
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an onboard computer mounted in the vehicle and operatively connected to the remote sensor to receive signals therefrom indicative of the current parameter value at the remote sensor, the computer including a memory storing data regarding a plurality of sub-ranges, data for each sub-range including the parameter values included within the sub-range and an illumination color assigned to each sub-range; and a processor receiving the current parameter value, accessing the data in the memory to identify the sub-range within which the current parameter value lies and the illumination color assigned to the identified sub-range, and producing pointer control signals based on the current parameter value and illumination color control signals based on the illumination color assigned to the identified sub-range; and a gauge having a movable pointer that can be selectively positioned and selectively illuminated with a plurality of illumination colors, the pointer being positioned based on the pointer control signals received from the onboard computer such that the pointer is visible within the sensed sub-range of the parameter and being illuminated based on the illumination color control signals received from the onboard computer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a gauge for displaying a current value of a parameter sensed by a remote sensor and simultaneously indicating a sub-range within a plurality of sub-ranges within which the current value of the parameter lies, the method comprising:
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moving a pointer within a range of motion to a position indicative of the current value of the sensed parameter such that the pointer is visible in the sub-range within which the current value of the sensed parameter lies; determining which sub-range of a plurality of sub-ranges the current value of the sensed parameter lies within; determining which illumination color of a plurality of illumination colors is associated with the determined sub-range; and illuminating the pointer with the illumination color associated with the determined sub-range. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification