US 5,845,598 A · Integrated gauge mechanism and light pipe

Abstract

An automotive gauge has a two part housing containing a stepper motor arrangement or other gauge movement which drives a pointer shaft. The front housing part consists of a transparent material for conducting light from a lamp to a facet which reflects light to a pointer for pointer illumination. The lamp is mounted inside or outside the housing. The front housing part includes an aperture for accommodating the pointer shaft and also has integral pins which serve as supports for rotary parts of the mechanism. The housing is mounted on a circuit board or a circuit board may comprise the rear housing part. Another embodiment uses a common light pipe member for the front housing of several gauges.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A gauge for an instrument cluster comprising:

a housing having first and second parts defining an enclosure;
a gauge mechanism within the enclosure including a pointer shaft extending through an aperture in the first part;
a pointer carried by the pointer shaft outside the enclosure;
the first part of the housing comprising a light pipe for illuminating the pointer;
the mechanism includes a motor having an armature drivingly coupled to the pointer shaft and mounted for rotation on the first part of the housing;
the first part has mounting means for receiving the armature;
and
the second part of the housing including electrical means for actuating the mechanism.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Integrated gauge mechanism and light pipe

Life of this patent

Integrated gauge mechanism and light pipe

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13