Back to results
US 7,934,463 B2Granted
Free shape gauge by laser pointer
AssigneeDENSO International America, Inc.
InventorDavid Cook
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gauge can include a face plate and an indication area disposed about a gauge center. The indication area can have a shape that can be defined by a bottom boundary, a top boundary, and first and second ends joining respective ends of the top and bottom boundaries. The top and bottom boundaries can be spaced apart from the gauge center by first and second radial distances. The indication area can be angled rearward relative to the face plate with the top boundary being spaced rearward from the face plate. A plurality of indicia can be disposed on the face plate. The gauge can further include a laser system disposed behind a rear side of the face plate and arranged to rotate and reflect a laser beam to a position adjacent or relative to a specific one of the plurality of indicia based on a signal output from a sensor.
Claims20
A gauge, the gauge comprising:
- a face plate having a gauge center and an indication area disposed about the gauge center, the indication area having a bottom boundary and a top boundary spaced apart from the bottom boundary, the bottom boundary being spaced apart from the gauge center by a first radial distance, the indication area being angled rearward relative to a front side of the face plate such that the top boundary of the indication area is spaced rearward a distance from the front side of the face plate;
- a plurality of indicia disposed on one of the front side of the face plate and the indication area;
- a stationary laser diode positioned behind a rear side of the face plate and pointing away from the rear side of the face plate, the laser diode arranged to project a beam perpendicular to the face plate;
- a sensor arranged to monitor a parameter and output a signal indicative of a value of the parameter;
- and
- a drive system disposed behind the rear side of the face plate, the drive system arranged to rotate the projected beam from the laser to a position adjacent to a specific one of the plurality of indicia based on the signal output from the sensor.
3 more elements
A gauge, the gauge comprising:
- a face plate having a gauge center and an indication area disposed about the gauge center, the indication area having a shape defined by a bottom boundary, a top boundary, and first and second ends joining respective ends of the top and bottom boundaries, the bottom boundary being spaced apart from the gauge center by a first radial distance, the top boundary being spaced apart from the gauge center by a second radial distance greater than the first radial distance and thereby defining a width of the indication area, the indication area being angled rearward relative to a front side of the face plate such that the top boundary of the indication area is spaced rearward a distance from the front side of the face plate and the bottom boundary is contiguous with the front side of the face plate;
- a plurality of indicia disposed on one of the front side of the face plate and the indication area;
- a stationary laser diode positioned behind a rear side of the face plate and pointing away from the rear side of the face plate, the laser diode arranged to project a beam perpendicular to the face plate;
- a sensor arranged to monitor a parameter and output a signal indicative of a value of the parameter;
- and
- a drive system disposed behind the rear side of the face plate, the drive system including a reflector rotatably attached to a stepper motor, the reflector arranged to receive the projected beam from the laser diode and reflect the beam to the angled indication area, the motor arranged to rotate the reflector so as to reflect the beam to a position on the indication area adjacent to a specific one of the plurality of indicia based on the signal output from the sensor.
3 more elements
A gauge, the gauge comprising:
- a face plate having a gauge center and an indication area disposed about the gauge center, the indication area having a shape defined by a bottom boundary, a top boundary, and first and second ends joining respective ends of the top and bottom boundaries, the bottom boundary being spaced apart from the gauge center by a first radial distance, the top boundary being spaced apart from the gauge center by a second radial distance greater than the first radial distance and thereby defining a width of the indication area, the width of the indication area between the top and bottom boundaries being planar in cross-sectional shape, the indication area being angled rearward relative to a front side of the face plate such that the top boundary of the indication area is spaced rearward a distance from the front side of the face plate and the bottom boundary is contiguous with the front side of the face plate;
- a plurality of indicia disposed on one of the front side of the face plate and the indication area;
- a stationary laser diode positioned behind a rear side of the face plate and pointing away from the rear side of the face plate, the laser diode arranged to project a beam perpendicular to the face plate;
- a sensor arranged to monitor a parameter and output a signal indicative of a value of the parameter;
- and
- a drive system disposed behind the rear side of the face plate, the drive system including a reflector rotatably attached to a stepper motor, the reflector arranged to receive the projected beam from the laser diode and reflect the beam to the angled indication area, the reflector having a reflection surface substantially parallel to a rear side of the angled indication area facing the reflection surface, the motor arranged to rotate the reflector so as to reflect the beam to a position on the indication area adjacent to a specific one of the plurality of indicia based on the signal output from the sensor.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.