# US 7,743,726 B2 · Indication instrument

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- Number: US 7,743,726 B2
- Document ID: US7743726B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/162,734
- Filed: 2006-12-13
- Published: 2009-03-05
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2006-01-30
- Assignees: Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Takaki Yoshida
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743726B2

## CPC

- G01D 11/28: Structurally-combined illuminating devices
- B60K 35/215: characterised by the combination of multiple visual outputs, e.g. combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
- 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 35/60: Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10)
- G01D 7/002: {giving both analog and numerical indication}
- B60K 2360/33: Illumination features
- B60K 2360/336: Light guides
- B60K 2360/6985: with only part of pointer being visible
- 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

## Abstract

An indication instrument with improved illumination efficiency. The indication instrument has an indication panel (100), an indication plate (200) on which index parts (201) are disposed along the outer periphery of the indication panel (100), a pointer (11) for indicating the index parts (201), a drive source (7) for driving the pointer (11), and an indication plate light source (light source) (700) for illuminating the indication plate (200). The pointer (11) is routed around the rear of the indication panel (100) to reach the front of the indication plate (200). The indication instrument further comprises a frame (300) for joining to each other the indication panel (100), the indication plate (200), and the light source (700). An illumination chamber (R1) for guiding the light of the light source (700) to the indication plate (200) is formed in the frame (300).

## Claims

### Claim 1

An indication instrument comprising:
a display panel;
a display plate on which index parts are disposed along the outer periphery of the display panel;
a pointer that indicates the index parts;
a drive source that drives the pointer; and
a light source that illuminates at least the display plate,
with the pointer being routed around the rear of the display panel to reach the front of the display plate,
wherein the indication instrument is provided with a frame that connects the display panel, the display plate and the light source together, and an illumination chamber that guides the light of the light source to the display plate is provided in the frame, and
wherein, the display plate is disposed along the outer periphery of the display panel, the display plate includes a window part, the frame connects the display panel and the display plate so that necessary parts of the display panel are viewed from the window part of the display plate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The indication instrument of claim 1, wherein the frame is coupled to a predetermined rigid body in a non-moving area of the pointer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The indication instrument of claim 1, further including a light source substrate to which the light source attaches, wherein the light source is united with the frame via the light source substrate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The indication instrument of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a light source that also illuminates the display panel in addition to the display plate or light sources that separately illuminate the display plate and the display panel, and the illumination chamber is partitioned into an illumination chamber that illuminates the display plate and an illumination chamber that illuminates the display panel.