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US 9,589,677 B2Granted
Stepper pointer
AssigneeContinental Automotive Systems, Inc.
InventorsVyacheslav B. Birman, Richard Daniel Sanders, Guoqing Wang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gauge assembly which has a gauge surface including graphics representing a vehicle operating parameter. A pointer arm is provided which is made out of a light guide or light transmitting material. The pointer arm includes a step portion in an operative portion of the second bottom surface for reducing light received by said second surface adjacent the step portion and providing an overall even light throughout the operative illuminated viewing surface of the pointer arm.
Claims23
A gauge assembly comprising:
- a gauge surface including graphics representing a vehicle operating parameter;
- a pointer supported for movement about an axis to indicate a current condition of the vehicle operating parameter by pointing to a specific location on the gauge surface, said pointer including a pointer arm extending away from a hub;
- an illumination source for illuminating said pointer arm;
- and
- said pointer arm including a reflecting surface for reflecting light received from said illuminating source into the length of said pointer arm;
- said pointer arm also including a first illuminated viewing surface and a second surface to which light from said reflecting surface is at least partially reflected, the second surface including a step portion in an operative portion of the second surface for reducing light received by said second surface adjacent the step portion and providing an overall even light throughout the operative illuminated viewing surface.
3 more elements
An illuminated pointer assembly comprising:
- a pointer operative for being supported in a vehicle gauge for movement about an axis to indicate a current condition of a vehicle operating parameter by pointing to a specific location on the gauge surface, said pointer including a pointer arm extending away from a hub;
- an illumination source for illuminating said pointer arm;
- said pointer arm including a reflecting surface for reflecting light received from said illuminating source into the length of said pointer arm;
- said pointer arm also including a first illuminated viewing surface and a second surface to which light from said reflecting surface is at least partially reflected, the second surface including a step portion in an operative portion of the second surface for reducing light received by said second surface adjacent the step portion and providing an overall even light throughout the operative illuminated viewing surface.
1 more element
A gauge assembly comprising:
- a gauge surface including graphics representing a vehicle operating parameter;
- a pointer supported for movement about an axis to indicate a current condition of the vehicle operating parameter by pointing to a specific location on the gauge surface, said pointer including a pointer arm extending away from a hub;
- an illumination source for illuminating said pointer arm;
- said pointer arm including a reflecting surface for reflecting light received from said illuminating source into the length of said pointer arm;
- said pointer arm also including a first illuminated viewing surface and a second surface to which light from said reflecting surface is at least partially reflected, the second surface including a step portion in an operative portion of the second surface for reducing light received by said second surface adjacent the step portion and providing an overall even light throughout the operative illuminated viewing surface;
- said step portion including a first surface which is substantially normal to an axis of rotation of said pointer and a second angled surface at an angle which blocks at least a portion of the light to the second surface such that it provides a start of an illuminated surface closer to the axis of rotation than a comparative pointer not including the stepped portion.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.