Pointer for illuminating bar graph gauges

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11548388-B2
Application number	US-201615382659-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2016
Priority date	Dec 17, 2015
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

A pointer for a gauge or an instrument cluster assembly is provided. The pointer is formed of a light conducting material. In one form, indicia are disposed about the axis of rotation and/or on a surface, the plurality of indicia configured to be selectively illuminated by the pointer. A second end of the pointer may be configured to be selectively rotated adjacent to each indicium of the plurality of indicia and to illuminate the indicia when the light guide pointer is disposed adjacent to the indicia. The second end may be wider than a first end of the pointer. In some variations, the pointer may have a fan shape, and the indicia may be configured as tick marks defining a bar graph. In some forms, opaque material may be disposed on the pointer, the opaque material defining a plurality of indicia on the pointer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gauge assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:
a light guide pointer supported for rotation about an axis of rotation, the light guide pointer having a first end disposed over the axis of rotation and a second end disposed a distance away from the axis of rotation, the second end being wider than the first end, wherein a groove formed in a top surface of the pointer;
a plurality of indicia disposed about the axis of rotation, the plurality of indicia configured to be selectively illuminated by the light guide pointer, wherein the second end of the light guide pointer is configured to be selectively rotated adjacent to each indicium of the plurality of indicia and to illuminate each indicium when the second end of the light guide pointer is disposed adjacent to each indicium.

2. The gauge assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the pointer is configured to be disposed adjacent to multiple indicia of the plurality of indicia simultaneously.

3. The gauge assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a gauge face disposed adjacent to the pointer, the gauge face defining the plurality of indicia.

4. The gauge assembly of claim 3 , wherein each indicium of the plurality of indicia is a tick mark.

5. The gauge assembly of claim 4 , wherein each tick mark is one of a pocket and a cut-out provided in the gauge face.

6. The gauge assembly of claim 5 , wherein in a direction as viewed by a driver of the motor vehicle when seated in a driver's seat of the motor vehicle, the gauge face is disposed in front of the pointer.

7. The gauge assembly of claim 5 , wherein the pointer has a fan shape.

8. The gauge assembly of claim 5 , wherein the pointer has a pie piece shape with a curved edge at the second end of the pointer.

9. The gauge assembly of claim 8 , further comprising at least one light source disposed adjacent to the first end of the pointer, the pointer being disposed between the gauge face and the at least one light source.

10. The gauge assembly of claim 9 , wherein the at least one light source is a light-emitting diode (LED) package, the gauge assembly further comprising a circuit board and a stepper motor driven by the circuit board, the circuit board being disposed between the stepper motor and the at least one LED package.

11. The gauge assembly of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of tick marks forms a bar graph, the pointer being configured to selectively light up at least a portion of the bar graph.

12. The gauge assembly of claim 11 , wherein the gauge face is substantially opaque, and light from the pointer is selectively viewable through the plurality of indicia.

13. The gauge assembly of claim 1 , the pointer having a curved reflecting surface disposed at the first end over the axis of rotation.

14. The gauge assembly of claim 1 , the pointer defining a plurality of reflecting surfaces disposed adjacent to the second end, the plurality of reflecting surfaces being configured to overlap with each indicium of the plurality of indicia as the light guide pointer is rotated about the axis of rotation.

15. The gauge assembly of claim 1 , wherein the groove is disposed adjacent to a substantially opaque portion of the gauge face and spaced apart from the plurality of indicia.

16. The gauge assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a substantially opaque shroud disposed on an end surface and a bottom surface of the pointer.

17. A pointer for an instrument cluster assembly of a motor vehicle, the pointer comprising:
a body portion formed of a light conducting material, the body portion configured to receive rays from a light source and conduct the rays through the body portion, the body portion having an inner end and an outer end, the outer end being wider than the inner end, the body portion having a fan shape; and
opaque material disposed on the body portion, the opaque material defining a plurality of indicia on the pointer.

Assignees

• Continental automotive systems inc

Inventors

• Ollila Curt
• Carrel Michael E
• Birman Vyacheslav B

Classifications

• G01D13/265 Primary

  Pointers which conduct light · CPC title

• G01D11/28 Primary

  Structurally-combined illuminating devices · CPC title

• B60K2370/152

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60K2370/332

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60K35/00 Primary

  Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles · CPC title