# US 7,612,683 B2 · Indication change instrument cluster

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- Number: US 7,612,683 B2
- Document ID: US7612683B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/583,530
- Filed: 2006-10-19
- Published: 2007-04-26
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2005-10-21
- Assignees: Continental Automotive Systems US, Inc.
- Inventors: Kenichi Takato
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612683B2

## CPC

- G01D 7/08: using a common indicating element for two or more variables
- 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 35/654: {the user being the driver}
- G01D 7/02: Indicating value of two or more variables simultaneously
- G01D 13/265: {Pointers which conduct light}
- G01P 1/07: Indicating devices, e.g. for remote indication (indicating working conditions of vehicles G07C5/00)
- B60K 2360/6992: Light conducting pointers
- G01D 2213/20: Gauges having a single pointer and two or more scales
- 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
- 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
- G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G})

## Abstract

An illuminated gauge includes a dial with at least first and second ranges of markings. The first range of markings indicates one type of vehicle information and the second range of markings indicates another type of vehicle information. A single motor is used to move a common pointer between the first and second ranges of markings. A selector is to be operated by a user to select between the different types of vehicle information.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An illuminated gauge for an instrument cluster comprising:
a dial including a first range of markings to identify a first type of vehicle information and a second range of markings to identify a second type of vehicle information, and wherein said first range of markings is formed from a first printing type and said second range of markings is formed from a second printing type different from said first printing type;
a pointer to be driven by a power source for movement relative to said dial, said pointer being selectively movable to operate within only one of said first range of markings and said second range of markings, wherein said power source comprises a motor that is electrically connected to a printed circuit board and wherein said pointer is coupled to said motor;
at least one light source to illuminate said pointers;
a light guide supported by said printed circuit board and surrounding said motor;
a light housing supported by said printed circuit board and surrounding said light guide at a location radially outward relative to said light guide, wherein said light housing and said light guide cooperate to direct light to illuminate said pointer; and
wherein said at least one light source comprises a first light source supported on said printed circuit board at first position located radially between said light guide and said light housing such that said first light source is only used to illuminate said dial and said pointer in an area of said first range of markings, and a second light source supported on said printed circuit board at second position located radially between said light guide and said light housing such that said second light source is only used to illuminate said dial and said pointer in an area of said second range of markings.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The illuminated gauge according to claim 1 including a selector to be actuated by a user to select one of said first type of vehicle information and said second type of vehicle information.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The illuminated gauge according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said first range of markings and said second range of markings is illuminated only when selected by said selector.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The illuminated gauge according to claim 1 wherein said first type of vehicle information comprises one of vehicle speed, fuel consumption, battery voltage, oil pressure, engine revolutions-per-minute, and temperature; and wherein said second type of vehicle information comprises another one of vehicle speed, fuel consumption, battery voltage, oil pressure, engine revolutions-per-minute, and temperature.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The illuminated gauge according to claim 1 wherein said motor provides movement for said pointer within both of said first and said second ranges of markings.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The illuminated gauge according to claim 1 wherein said pointer comprises a single arm that is to be coupled to the power source.

### Claim 7

An illuminated gauge for an instrument cluster comprising:
a dial including a first range of markings to identify a first type of vehicle information and a second range of markings to identify a second type of vehicle information, and wherein said first range of markings is formed from a first printing type and said second range of markings is formed from a second printing type different from said first printing type;
a pointer being selectively movable to operate within only one of said first range of markings and said second range of markings at a time;
a power source that drives said pointer, wherein said power source comprises a motor that is electrically connected to a printed circuit board, and wherein said pointer is directly coupled to said motor;
a light guide supported by said printed circuit board and surrounding said motor;
a light housing supported by said printed circuit board and surrounding said light guide at a location radially outward relative to said light guide, wherein said light housing and said light guide cooperate to direct light to illuminate said pointer;
a first light source that illuminates said pointer when operating in said first range of markings wherein said first light source is supported on said printed circuit, board at first position located radially between said light guide and said light housing such that said first light source is only used to illuminate said dial and said pointer in an area of said first range of markings;
a second light source that illuminates said pointer when operating in said second range of markings wherein said second light source is supported on said printed circuit board at second position located radially between said light guide and said light housing such that said second light source is only used to illuminate said dial and said pointer in an area of said second range of markings; and
a selector to be operated by a user to select one of said first type of vehicle information and said second type of vehicle information.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The illuminated gauge according to claim 7 wherein one of said first and said second printing types comprises smoke printing where smoke printed information is hidden from view under predetermined conditions and is illuminated only when selected by said selector.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The illuminated gauge according to claim 8 wherein said selector generates a signal that is communicated to said power source to move said pointer from operating between said first and said second range of markings.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The illuminated gauge according to claim 9 wherein said motor moves said pointer within a first range of movement when said first type of vehicle information is selected, and moves said pointer within a second range of movement, different than said first range of movement, when said second type of vehicle information is selected.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The illuminated gauge according to claim 7 wherein said selector comprises one of a button and a switch.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The illuminated gauge according to claim 7 wherein said dial comprises a single dial body including both said first and said second ranges of markings and wherein said pointer comprises a single arm that is coupled to said power source.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The illuminated gauge according to claim 1 wherein one of said first and said second printing types comprises smoke printing where smoke printed information is hidden from view under predetermined conditions and only becomes visible when selected by a selector that selects one of said first type of vehicle information and said second type of vehicle information.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The illuminated gauge according to claim 13 wherein another of said first printing type and said second printing type comprises black and white printing.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The illuminated gauge according to claim 8 wherein the other of said first and said second printing types comprises black and white printing.