Abstract: The invention adjusts the spectral characteristics of a light emitting diode (LEDs) by placing a filter in the LEDs light emission path. The filter is printed on the lens of the LED or printed on a cap that is later attached to the LED via ink jet printing or another printing method. The specific ink colors selected for the filter depend on the deviation of each LED from a specified tolerance. The filters create a high degree of color and intensity uniformity without requiring labor and cost-intensive binning.

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: A method for controlling a two-phase stepping motor gauge for an instrument cluster includes the steps of: providing a two-phase motor for displaying information to a driver, determining a desired position of the two phase motor at a rate and in a manner consistent with an intended application; updating a waveform to the input of a first inverter coupled to one of the motor coils; integrating the waveform using a first and second inverter to energize one of the motor coils. Thus, the present invention allows the control of a conventional two-phase motor coil using only one control signal. Additionally, the present invention requires low actual current to maintain gauge position.

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 illuminated pointer member for an instrument panel. A hollow tubular shaft member conveys light from a light source through its hollow interior to the pointer member for illumination. A rotating mechanism, such as a gear mechanism and/or motor mechanism is connected to the tubular member for rotating the tubular member and pointer member.

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.

Abstract: A circuit board has an arcuate array of conductor segments each subject to a digital waveform differing in phase for the various segments, and a concentric pickup conductor. A rotary encoder disk has a conductive pattern which sums and couples the waveforms from selected segments, depending on rotary position, to the pickup conductor. A synchronous phase detector generates a phase signal from the summed waveforms and the zero crossing of the phase signal is detected. A counter develops count signals used to generate the digital waveforms. The count signals are input to a latch which is clocked at the zero crossing point to latch the count value which is a digital measure of the encoder angle.

Abstract: An automotive gauge has a two part housing containing a stepper motor arrangement or other gauge movement which drives a pointer shaft. The front housing part consists of a transparent material for conducting light from a lamp to a facet which reflects light to a pointer for pointer illumination. The lamp is mounted inside or outside the housing. The front housing part includes an aperture for accommodating the pointer shaft and also has integral pins which serve as supports for rotary parts of the mechanism. The housing is mounted on a circuit board or a circuit board may comprise the rear housing part. Another embodiment uses a common light pipe member for the front housing of several gauges.

Abstract: A coil is wound on a bobbin having posts extending from the bobbin body, the end of the coil wire being wrapped on the posts to form wire terminations. The coil is mounted on a circuit board with the coil either above the board or suspended alongside the board edge. The periphery of each post is positioned against a solder pad of the circuit board and the wire termination is soldered to the pad. Each post has a flexible neck portion to relieve stress due to coil thermal expansion. A recess in the side of the post facing the solder pad enhances solder interaction with the wire termination.

Abstract: A high frequency AC probe signal is applied to one coil of a stepper motor to induce a signal on the other coil. The induced signal varies in amplitude according to rotor position. The stepper motor is driven by a microprocessor in microsteps. The position of a mechanical stop is determined by monitoring the induced signal while driving the rotor to the stop. When the induced signal no longer changes in amplitude the number of the last microstep yielding movement is recorded as the rotor position corresponding to the stop position. Also by measuring the induced signal at each microstep over a whole rotor rotation and the signal when the rotor stops, a more precise value of the stop position is determined by interpolation. Alternatively, the flip back position of the gauge and thus the stop position is determined on the basis of the induced signal.

Abstract: A circuit board has an arcuate array of conductor segments each subject to a digital waveform differing in phase for the various segments, and a concentric pickup conductor. A rotary encoder disk has a conductive pattern which sums and couples the waveforms from selected segments, depending on rotary position, to the pickup conductor. A synchronous phase detector generates a phase signal from the summed waveforms and the zero crossing of the phase signal is detected. A counter develops count signals used to generate the digital waveforms. The count signals are input to a latch which is clocked at the zero crossing point to latch the count value which is a digital measure of the encoder angle.

Abstract: A circuit board has an arcuate array of conductor segments each subject to a digital waveform differing in phase for the various segments, and a concentric pickup conductor. A rotary encoder disk has a conductive pattern which sums and couples the waveforms from selected segments, depending on rotary position, to the pickup conductor. A synchronous phase detector generates a phase signal from the summed waveforms and the zero crossing of the phase signal is detected. A counter develops count signals used to generate the digital waveforms. The count signals are input to a latch which is clocked at the zero crossing point to latch the count value which is a digital measure of the encoder angle. Two encoders mounted on orthogonal horizontal axes are used as an accelerometer or attitude sensor. Each disk is eccentrically weighted to seek a position vertically below the axis to serve as an attitude sensor when the unit is stationary.

Abstract: A rotary gauge driven by a stepper motor has a stop near the zero point of the gauge graphics. A factory calibration procedure rotates the gauge field in reverse direction to move the gauge pointer against the stop and continues field rotation until the rotor becomes unstable and flips back in the forward direction, and then moved to a rotor rest position. The angle of flip back, the rest position and the number of steps to the zero position are stored in non-volatile memory. In the vehicle, when the ignition is off, the microprocessor or the stepper motor wakes periodically and exercises the gauge, using the stored values to reset the gauge to the stable position. When ignition is turned on, the microprocessor moves the gauge directly to the zero position.