# US 2013/0154818 A1 · Expandable instrument cluster > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0154818 A1 - Document ID: US20130154818A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/710,076 - Filed: 2012-12-10 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Holger WEYER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130154818A1 ## CPC - B60Q 1/00: Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor (for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00) - B60K 35/22: Display screens - B60K 35/50: Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle (B60K35/231 takes precedence) - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 35/215: characterised by the combination of multiple visual outputs, e.g. combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays - B60K 35/60: Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) - B60K 35/80: Arrangements for controlling instruments - B60K 35/85: Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data - B60K 2360/573: Mobile devices controlling vehicle functions - B60K 2360/586: Wired data transfers - B60K 2360/816: Fastening of displays or touch screens - B60K 2360/834: Docking arrangements - G01D 7/04: using a separate indicating element for each variable - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - 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 - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An instrument cluster for a motor vehicle is provided. The instrument cluster includes at least one display instrument with an annular segment-like display scale and a needle. Here, the display instrument comprises devices for the mechanical fixing and for the electrical contacting of at least one add-on instrument, which can be releasably attached within the display scale. The present disclosure makes possible the simple upgrading of a motor vehicle with additional add-on instruments. Further embodiments provide that an add-on instrument can also be used as a vehicle key. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An instrument cluster for a motor vehicle comprising: at least one display instrument with an annular segment-like display scale and a needle; and at least one add-on instrument, wherein the at least one display instrument includes devices for the mechanical fixing and electrical coupling of the at least one add-on instrument, which can be releasably attached within the display scale. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The instrument cluster according to claim 1, wherein the at least one display instrument is a speedometer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The instrument cluster according to claim 1, wherein the add-on instrument is selected from the group comprising: a clock, a compass display, a tachometer, a kilometer counter, a tank display, a consumption display, a cooling water temperature display, an oil temperature display, an oil pressure display, a speedometer and a monitor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The instrument cluster according to claim 1, wherein the electrical coupling supplies the add-on instrument with operating voltage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The instrument cluster according to claim 1, wherein via the electrical coupling display data are transmitted to the add-on instrument. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The instrument cluster according to claim 1, wherein the add-on instrument comprises an identification part individually assigned to the vehicle, which communicates with a central vehicle control unit and permits a starting of the motor vehicle only when the identification part has been identified by the vehicle control unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The instrument cluster according to claim 1, wherein a data exchange between the motor vehicle and the at least one display instrument is effected wirelessly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The instrument cluster according to claim 1, wherein a data exchange between the motor vehicle and the add-on instrument is effected wirelessly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The instrument cluster according to claim 1, wherein the add-on instrument further comprises at least one operating unit for a command input by a user. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The instrument cluster according to claim 1, wherein the device for the mechanical fixing is selected from the group comprising: groove and tongue elements, engagement elements, bayonet elements, screw elements and magnet elements. ### Claim 11 A motor vehicle, comprising: an instrument cluster including at least one display instrument with an annular segment-like display scale and a needle that displays a first type of data; and at least one add-on instrument that displays a second type of data, wherein the at least one display instrument includes devices for the mechanical fixing and electrical contacting of the at least one add-on instrument, which can be releasably attached within the display scale and the first type of data is different than the second type of data. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the at least one display instrument is a speedometer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the add-on instrument is selected from the group comprising: a clock, a compass display, a tachometer, a kilometer counter, a tank display, a consumption display, a cooling water temperature display, an oil temperature display, an oil pressure display and a monitor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the electrical contacting supplies the add-on instrument with operating voltage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein via the electrical contacting display data are transmitted to the add-on instrument. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the add-on instrument comprises an identification part individually assigned to the vehicle, which communicates with a central vehicle control unit and permits a starting of the motor vehicle only when the identification part has been identified by the vehicle control unit.