POINTER CONFIGURATION FOR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/070,723 which was filed on March 25, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention generally relates to an illuminated pointer and instrument cluster for a vehicle. More particularly, this invention relates to an instrument cluster including a separately illuminated dial face and pointer.

[0003] A vehicle typically includes an instrument cluster including dials and gauges to communicate information. The instrument cluster is typically illuminated to provide for viewing in low light conditions. Many different illumination schemes can be implemented to provide desired viewing in low light conditions, and also to provide a desired aesthetic appearance. In many instances, unique cluster illumination schemes are utilized to generate consumer interest in a vehicle.

[0004] Accordingly, it is desirable to design and develop lighting schemes that provide the required function of communicating vehicle information and also to provide a desired and appealing aesthetic appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A disclosed example instrument cluster assembly includes a dial gauge with an illuminated pointer that illuminates portions of the dial gauge to provide a visual cue of a vehicle operating condition.

[0006] The example pointer is visible through an annular opening in the face of the dial gauge. The dial gauge includes a face that is backlight to provide a desired appearance. The dial face includes a plurality of tick marks that are at least partially transparent to receive light emitted from the pointer. When the pointer aligns with a tick mark, light from the pointer illuminates the tick mark to provide a visual cue of the vehicle operating parameter. The visual cue both aids in communicating information to a vehicle operator, but also provides a desires aesthetic appearance.

[0007] These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 is a front view of an example instrument cluster assembly.

[0009] Figure 2 is a schematic view of an example illuminated pointer and dial gauge assembly.

[0010] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the example illuminated pointer and dial gauge assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0011] Referring to Figure 1, an instrument cluster assembly 10 includes a dial gauge 12 with an illuminated pointer assembly 30 that rotates relative to a plurality of markings 20 indicative of a vehicle operating parameter, for instance vehicle speed in this example. The pointer 30 is visible through an annular opening 28 between an outer portion 24 and an inner portion 26. The example instrument cluster 10 includes additional gauges 25A and 25B that provide for the communication of other vehicle operating parameters such as temperature and fuel level.

[0012] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the pointer 30 rotates below a top surface 16 of dial gauge 12 and extends from a central axis 15 (Figure 3) to a point below the outer portion 24 at least to tick marks 22.

[0013] The dial gauge 12 includes a face 14 that is backlight to provide a desired appearance. Backlighting of the face 14 is provided by a light guide 42 that receives light from a first light source 46. The example light source 46 is a light emitting diode (LED) but may be any device providing light. The example light source 46 produces light of a first color into the light guide 42. The light guide 42 in turn transmits light onto a bottom surface 18 of the face 14 through a transmitting surface 44. The non- light transmitting surfaces of the light guide 42 can include a coating to prevent light leakage into other areas of the gauge assembly.

[0014] The light transmitting surface 44 extends toward the opening 28, but does not extend to the very edge of the outer portion 28. The pointer 30 extends underneath the face 14 along a bottom surface 18 a distance toward the markings and at least partially under the tick marks 22. The tick marks 22 are at least partially transparent to receive light emitted

from the pointer 30. When the pointer 30 aligns with a tick mark 22, light from the pointer 30 illuminates the tick mark 22 to provide a visual cue of the vehicle operating parameter. The visual cue both aids in communicating information to a vehicle operator, but also provides a desires aesthetic appearance.

[0015] The example pointer 30 includes a shaft 48 disposed along the axis 15 that is driven by a motor 50. The example shaft 48 is transparent to receive light from a second light source 52. Although light is shown being transmitted into the pointer 30 through a central shaft 48, the light source may also transmit light from a position not centered on the shaft 48.

[0016] The pointer 30 includes a reflective surface 38 that directs light into the pointer 30 where the light is eventually transmitted through a top surface 32. The top surface 32 provides the visual reference for the pointer 30 relative to the plurality of markings 20. The pointer 30 includes bottom surface 36 and side surfaces 34 that are coated with a material to prevent light from escaping or being transmitted through any but the top surface 32.

[0017] The pointer includes a transmitting surface 40 that is disposed under the outer portion 24 of the dial face 14 to illuminate the tick marks 22 when the pointer 30 rotates into alignment.

[0018] The example second light source 52 is of a different color than the first light source 46 such that once the pointer 30 aligns with a tick mark 22, the tick mark 22 is illuminated a color different than the backlight color produced by the first light source 46. This differential lighting provides a desired illumination effect for the example dial gauge 14.

[0019] The example tick mark 22 comprises a light pipe that is capable of receiving light from the pointer 30. The other surfaces of the dial gauge 14 do not illuminate the tick mark.

[0020] In operation, the pointer 30 is illuminated a second color that is different than the first color produced by the first light source. The second color produced by the second light source 52 provides a desired contrast with the backlight dial gauge 14. The markings 20 may be translucent to provide a desired appearance and to aid visibility to the driver. The pointer 30 is visible through the opening 28 to point to one of the markings 20 on the dial face 14. The dial face 14 is illuminated the first color by the light from transmitted onto the bottom surface 18 from the light guide 42.

[0021] The pointer 30 rotates about the axis 15 and aligns with one of the tick marks 22. When the pointer 30 is aligned with a tick mark 22, light from the pointer 30 transmitted through the surface 40 illuminates that aligned one of the tick marks 22. Because the pointer 30 is illuminated with a different color than the dial face, a contrast is provided that produces desired visual cue to the vehicle operator. Once the pointer 30 passes the tick mark 22 the illumination stops, until the pointer 30 aligns with another one of the plurality of tick marks 22.

[0022] Accordingly, the example disclosed instrument cluster assembly provides a dial face that highlights current operating parameters by sequentially lighting each tick mark with a color different than the background. The pointer provides for the lighting of select markings on the dial face to communicate and provide a visual cue of current vehicle operating conditions.

[0023] Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.