Self-calibrating indicating device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9958474-B2
Application number	US-201514852925-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2015
Priority date	Sep 14, 2015
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

A pointer is rotational relative to the screen. A driver unit rotates the pointer. An imaging device detects an image of the pointer sends a signal of the image. A controller receives the signal of the image from the imaging device. The screen indicates a graphic. The controller modifies the graphic according to the signal of the image.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An indicating device comprising:
a screen:
a pointer rotational relative to the screen;
a driver unit equipped with the pointer and configured to rotate the pointer;
an imaging device configured to detect an image of the pointer and to send a signal of the image; and
a controller configured to receive the signal of the image from the imaging device, wherein
the screen is configured to indicate a graphic, and
the controller is configured to modify the graphic according to the signal of the image.

2. The indicating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the graphic includes a dial gauge including at least one of a plurality of tick marks and a plurality of numeral symbols.

3. The indicating device according to claim 2 , wherein
the controller is configured to determine whether the pointer is misaligned from an original position, and
the controller is configured to rotate or move the dial gauge when determining that the pointer is misaligned from the original position.

4. The indicating device according to claim 2 , wherein
the controller is configured to determine whether a rotational range of the pointer is reduced or enlarged relative to an original rotational range, and
the controller is configured to expand or shrink the dial gauge when determining that the rotational range of the pointer is reduced or enlarged relative to the original rotational range.

5. The indicating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the controller is configured to modify the graphic such that a minimum tick mark in the dial gauge coincides with a minimum rotational position of the pointer when the driver unit drives the pointer to actuate the pointer at the minimum rotational position.

6. The indicating device according to claim 5 , wherein
the controller is configured to modify the graphic such that a maximum tick mark in the dial gauge coincides with a maximum rotational position of the pointer when the driver unit drives the pointer to actuate the pointer at the maximum rotational position.

7. The indicating device according to claim 6 , wherein
the controller is configured to modify the graphic such that an intermediate tick mark in the dial gauge coincides with an intermediate rotational position of the pointer when the driver unit drives the pointer to actuate the pointer at the intermediate rotational position.

8. The indicating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the pointer has a marker,
the imaging device is configured to detect an image of the marker and to send a signal of the image when being opposed to the marker, and
the controller is configured to detect a rotational position of the pointer according to the signal from the imaging device.

9. The indicating device according to claim 8 , wherein
the marker is a plurality of slits or a matrix array.

10. The indicating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the pointer includes an arm, a body, and a pointer shaft, and
the pointer shaft is extended through a through hole of the screen and is coupled with the driver unit.

11. The indicating device according to claim 10 , wherein
the imaging device is opposed to the body of the pointer through the through hole of the screen.

12. The indicating device according to claim 10 , wherein
the arm of the pointer has a marker, and
the imaging device is configured to be opposed to the arm.

13. The indicating device according to claim 10 , wherein
the body of the pointer has a marker, and
the imaging device is opposed to the body.

14. The indicating device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a circuit board electrically coupled with the controller, the driver unit, and the imaging device, and
the imaging device is equipped to the circuit board.

15. The indicating device according to claim 14 , further comprising:
a lighting device circuit configured to emit light toward the screen, and
the lighting device is opposed to the screen.

16. The indicating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the screen is a dot matrix display.

17. The indicating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the driver unit is a stepping motor.

18. The indicating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the controller is configured to detect a minimum rotational position of the pointer to obtain a detected minimum rotational position when the driver unit drives the pointer to actuate the pointer at the minimum rotational position,
the controller is configured to compare the detected minimum rotational position with a predetermined minimum rotational position to calculate an error between the detected minimum rotational position and the predetermined minimum rotational position, and
the controller is configured to determine that the pointer is misaligned when the error is a threshold or more.

19. An indicating device comprising:
a screen:
a pointer rotational relative to the screen;
a driver unit equipped with the pointer and configured to rotate the pointer;
an imaging device configured to detect an image of the pointer and to send a signal of the image; and
a controller configured to receive the signal from the imaging device and to detect a rotational position of the pointer, wherein
the screen is configured to indicate a dial gauge including a plurality of tick marks and a plurality of numeral symbols, and
the controller is further configured to modify the dial gauge according to the rotational position of the pointer by implementing at least one of rotation, movement, shrinkage, and expansion of the dial gauge.

Assignees

• Denso Int America Inc
• Denso Corp

Inventors

• Bi Ke
• Muramatsu Takaaki
• Degowske Jill

Classifications

• G01P21/02 Primary

  of speedometers · CPC title

• G01P1/08

  Arrangements of scales, pointers, lamps or acoustic indicators, e.g. in automobile speedometers · CPC title