Abstract: A voltage power supply circuit is provided that uses the voltage output of an oscillator to provide a high voltage DC output to drive a liquid crystal display device. A controller IC opens and closes an FET to allow the EMF of an inductor to generate a DC voltage that exceeds the battery voltage source for the liquid crystal display device. Accordingly, the oscillator circuit that drives a back light display for a liquid crystal device is simultaneously used to generate the high voltage DC source for the liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: A voltage power supply circuit is provided that uses the voltage output of an oscillator to provide a high voltage DC output to drive a liquid crystal display device. A controller IC opens and closes an FET to allow the EMF of an inductor to generate a DC voltage that exceeds the battery voltage source for the liquid crystal display device. Accordingly, the oscillator circuit that drives a back light display for a liquid crystal device is simultaneously used to generate the high voltage DC source for the liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: A user controllable lighting system for a vehicle instrument cluster, including: selection apparatus to select a color scheme for individual gage area components of the vehicle instrument cluster; illumination apparatus to illuminate the individual gage area components in accordance with selections made by the selection apparatus; and control apparatus operatively connected to the selection apparatus and to the illumination apparatus to receive the selections made by the selection apparatus and to furnish instructions to the illumination apparatus.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, including: selection apparatus to select desired characteristics of individual gage elements of the vehicle instrument cluster; illumination apparatus to illuminate the individual gage elements in accordance with selections made by the selection apparatus; and control apparatus operatively connected to the selection apparatus and to the illumination apparatus to receive the selections made by the selection apparatus and to furnish instructions to the illumination apparatus.

Abstract: An electronic compass system using information on a communications bus to eliminate magnetic noise which is integrated with an instrument cluster. A vehicle accessory, such as a blower motor, generates a known, consistent, magnetic field of intensity sufficient to cause a static magnetic offset in the electronic compass for each of its' electrical states. An electronic controller commands the vehicle accessory to change electrical states and transmits a vehicle event message on a communications bus. A magnetic field sensor detects a combination of Earth's magnetic field and the stray magnetic field produced by the vehicle accessory. A controller is coupled to the communications bus and uses the vehicle event message to look up a predetermined correction factor, corresponding to the electrical state, to eliminate the effect of the static magnetic offset. The controller then displays a heading unaffected by the static magnetic offset.

Abstract: An electronic compass system for eliminating magnetic noise which is integrated with an instrument cluster. A vehicle accessory, such as a stepper motor, also located in the instrument cluster, generates a known, consistent, magnetic field of intensity sufficient to cause a static magnetic offset in the electronic compass for each of its' electrical states. A magnetic field sensor detects a combination of The Earth's magnetic field and this stray magnetic field. A controller uses a predetermined correction factor, corresponding to the electrical state, to eliminate the effect of the static magnetic offset. The controller then displays a heading unaffected by the static magnetic offset.

Abstract: An electronic compass system using magnetic signatures to detect a vehicle event which is integrated with an instrument cluster. A vehicle accessory, such as a rear defrost grid, generates a known, consistent, magnetic field of intensity sufficient to cause a static magnetic offset in the electronic compass for each of its' electrical states. This known consistent, magnetic field has a magnetic signature. A magnetic field sensor detects a combination of Earth's magnetic field and the stray magnetic field produced by the vehicle accessory. A controller is coupled to the magnetic field sensor and searches the magnetic field signal for the magnetic signature. The controller then looks up a predetermined correction factor, or uses an algorithm to determine a correction factor, corresponding to the magnetic signature, to eliminate the effect of the static magnetic offset. The controller then displays a heading unaffected by the static magnetic offset.