# US 10,500,957 B2 · Meter cluster and meter cluster system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,500,957 B2 - Document ID: US10500957B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/672,557 - Filed: 2017-08-09 - Published: 2018-08-02 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-27 - Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc.; Denso Corporation - Applicants: DENSO International America, Inc.; Denso Corporation - Inventors: Charles Jaber; Kazushige Hara; Gareth Webb - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500957B2 ## CPC - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 35/22: Display screens - B60K 35/29: Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions - B60K 35/60: Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) - B60Q 3/14: lighting through the surface to be illuminated - B60Q 3/18: for varying the light intensity - B60Q 3/85: for manual control of the light, e.g. of colour, orientation or intensity - G02B 27/0101: {characterised by optical features (G02B27/0172 takes precedence)} - B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver - B60K 2360/167: Vehicle dynamics information - B60K 2360/179: Distances to obstacles or vehicles - B60K 2360/20: Optical features of instruments - B60K 2360/27: using semi-transparent optical elements - B60Y 2400/3017: Radars - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract The present disclosure provides a meter cluster. The meter cluster includes a first luminous panel and a second luminous panel. The first luminous panel indicates first information. The second luminous panel is arranged in front of the first luminous panel. The second luminous panel indicates second information. Each of the first luminous panel and the second luminous panel has transparency. The first information of the first luminous panel is visible through the second luminous panel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A meter cluster comprising: a first luminous panel that indicates first information; and a second luminous panel that is arranged in front of the first luminous panel, the second luminous panel indicating second information, wherein each of the first luminous panel and the second luminous panel has transparency, and the first information of the first luminous panel is visible through the second luminous panel, wherein the meter cluster further comprises: a first pointer that is used for indicating the first information; and a second pointer that is used for indicating the second information, the first pointer and the second pointer indicate the first information and the second information, respectively, when both the first information and the second information are lit, each of the first information and the second information is shown as a circular shape, the first information and the second information are shown to be coaxial with a common axis, and the first and second pointers rotate about the common axis, the first information is either one of a tachometer and a speedometer, the second information is the other one of the tachometer and the speedometer, and the first luminous panel is away from the second luminous panel along the common axis and gives the first information depth perception. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The meter cluster according to claim 1, further comprising: a display that is arranged behind the first luminous panel, the display displaying third information thereon, wherein the third information displayed on the display is visible through the first luminous panel and the second luminous panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The meter cluster according to claim 2, wherein the third information is an image representing a compass. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The meter cluster according to claim 1, wherein the tachometer has a diameter that is smaller than that of the speedometer. ### Claim 5 A meter cluster system comprising: a first luminous panel that indicates first information; a second luminous panel that is arranged in front of the first luminous panel, the second luminous panel indicating second information; a first light source that emits a light toward the first luminous panel; a second light source that emits a light toward the second luminous panel; and a controller that controls the first light source and the second light source, wherein each of the first luminous panel and the second luminous panel has transparency, the first information is lit when the controller controls the first light source to emit the light, the second information is lit when the controller controls the second light source to emit the light, and the first information of the first luminous panel is visible through the second luminous panel, the meter cluster system further comprises: a first pointer; a second pointer; a first motor that drives the first pointer to rotate, the first motor being controlled by the controller; and a second motor that drives the second pointer to rotate, the second motor being controlled by the controller, the controller controls the first light source to emit the light, the second light source to emit the light, the first motor to have the first pointer indicate the first information, and the second motor to have the second pointer indicate the second information, each of the first information and the second information is shown as a circular shape, the first information and the second information are shown to be coaxial with a common axis, and the first and second pointers rotate about the common axis, the first information is either one of a tachometer and a speedometer, the second information is the other one of the tachometer and the speedometer, and the first luminous panel is away from the second luminous panel along the common axis and gives the first information depth perception. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The meter cluster system according to claim 5, further comprising a display that is arranged behind the first luminous panel, the display displaying third information thereon, wherein the third information displayed on the display is visible through the first luminous panel and the second luminous panel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The meter cluster system according to claim 6, wherein the third information is an image representing a compass. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The meter cluster system according to claim 5, wherein the tachometer has a diameter that is smaller than that of the speedometer.