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US 7,681,517 B2Granted
Actively lit pointer
AssigneeVisteon Global Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMatthew Ritthaler, Michael J. Luettgen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pointer for an instrument panel which is actively lighted and, more specifically, an actively lighted pointer including a flex circuit.
Claims31
A pointer for an instrument panel capable of moving between a first position and a second position, said pointer comprising:
- a base having an arcuate portion including an arcuate channel defined by sidewalls and a channel bottom;
- an elongated member extending from said base, said elongated member defining an elongated channel and a riser extending from said elongated member to a lighted pointer portion;
- and
- a lighting system including an LED and a flex circuit, said flex circuit having an arcuate flex member connected to an elongated flex member and wherein said arcuate flex member is configured to fit substantially in said actuate channel.
1 more element
A pointer for an instrument panel, said pointer comprising:
- a base having an arcuate portion including an arcuate channel and wherein said base is configured to rotate about a rotational axis;
- an elongated portion extending from said base and having a longitudinal axis;
- a flex circuit including an arcuate flex member at least partially arranged within said arcuate channel and wherein said arcuate flex member includes an inner and outer edge and a lateral extent between said inner and outer edges and wherein said inner edge is arranged a first distance away from said rotational axis and said outer edge is arranged a second distance away from the rotational axis wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance and wherein said lateral extent is substantially perpendicular to said rotational axis.
A pointer for an instrument panel, said pointer comprising:
- a base having an arcuate portion including an arcuate channel and wherein said base is configured to rotate about a rotational axis;
- an elongated portion extending from said base and having a longitudinal axis passing through the rotational axis;
- a flex circuit including an arcuate flex member at least partially arranged within said arcuate channel and wherein said arcuate flex member extends less than 365 degrees around the rotational axis, and an elongated flex member extending from said arcuate flex member along said longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.