Abstract: An instrument panel has a front side for facing toward a driver and a back side for facing away from the driver, a light source, a subdial surface in front of the light source, and a transparent cover in front of and spaced away from the subdial surface. The transparent cover is substantially (preferably, at least 50%) rounded outwardly toward the driver. The instrument panel may include graphics on or in the cover. Due to the curvature of the cover, the graphics may have an outermost portion which is closest to the driver and an innermost portion which is further from the driver. Preferably, the outermost portion of the graphics is narrower relative to the innermost portion so that the graphics appear to be in a plane parallel with the driver.

Abstract: A transreflective instrument display has a generally planar reverse image light emitting display panel, a transflector surface positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to the display panel. The transflector has a P-plane reflectance and S-plane reflectance. A illuminated pointer is positioned behind the transflector. The display is formed of light transmitted from the pointer and reflecting light from said display panel simultaneously to form an image. The transflector is preferably coated with a coating that increases the reflectivity of the P-plane polarization of the transflector.

Abstract: Electrical instrument gage that has a pointer indicator member mounted on a rotatable shaft extending from the gage and including an electrically energizable light source mounted on and extending along the pointer portion of the indicator member. The light source is preferably an electroluminescent lamination that contains a pair of flex circuit terminal contacts extending from its base end. The light source is adhesively attached to the pointer portion of the indicator member. The base element of the indicator member contains a socket portion with a cylindrical opening configured to provide a friction fit to the axial shaft extending from the gage. The outer cylindrical surface of the socket contains an electrically conductive area and the gage contains an electrical wiper contact that makes continual electrical interconnection with the conductive portion of the socket over its rotational range.

Abstract: An ambiguous dial indicator intuitively communicates the relative value of setpoints to an operator. The ambiguous dial indicator includes an ambiguous scale and a pointer or needle. The setpoints are represented by "bugs" which are adjacent to the ambiguous scale. The bugs are limited to a predetermined range about the pointer such that when a setpoint is outside of the predetermined range the associated bug is limited to an edge of the range. When several setpoints are outside of the predetermined range the several associated bugs saturate or park at the edges of the range. The invention is particularly useful in head-up displays and helmet mounted displays.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide an indicating instrument useful to a speedometer for a vehicle. An internal driving unit (2) is secured to a printed circuit board (1), and a cylindrical rotating shaft (6) is carried by bearings (4, 5) of the internal driving unit (2). A pointer (9) is secured to the rotating shaft (6) and rotated via the rotating shaft (6) by the internal driving unit (2). A light emitting diode (12) is disposed inside the rotating shaft (6) and secured to the printed circuit board (1). Light emitted by the light emitting diode is collected by a light collecting portion (9a) of the pointer (9), reflected by a reflecting portion (9b) and illuminates the pointer (9).

Abstract: An instrument panel includes analog gauges with pointers illuminated independently of the light source illuminating the scale indicia. Light is transmitted into the pointer via a facet having an inclined reflective surface through which a gauge motor output shaft passes. The facet may be integrally formed in the light distribution layer which illuminates the scale indicia or a separate discreet component. A novel telltale used in conjunction with an instrument panel having a light distribution layer is also provided which illuminates the telltale indicia by passing light through the light distribution layer without affecting the illumination of other indicia in the graphic layer. Method of manufacturing analog gauges as well as method for using an analog gauge to transmit information to a viewer is also molded.

Abstract: A gauge assembly for a vehicle instrument cluster is provided. The gauge assembly includes a plate member and a pointer assembly that is rotatable relative to the plate member about a first axis. The pointer assembly includes a pointer cap having an internal surface and a pointer arm fixed relative to the cap. A driven surface is provided on at least a portion of the internal surface of the cap. The gauge assembly further includes a motor having a drive shaft. A driver is coupled to the drive shaft for drivingly engaging the driven surface of the pointer cap and rotating the pointer assembly.

Abstract: A weighing apparatus including a load receiving platform, a dial, and a moving indicator. The dial includes a face bearing various indicia for indicating the weight of a load placed upon the platform. A magnifier is operatively associated with the indicator for magnifying only a limited portion of the face of the dial in proximity to the indicator. A lamp, carried by the indicator, illuminates a limited portion of the face of the dial in proximity to the indicator. A switch actuates the lamp upon placement of a load upon the platform.

Abstract: A self-luminescent indicator which may be employed in a tachometer, a speedometer, or other such gauges in automotive vehicles. The self-luminescent indicator comprises an indicating pointer, a luminescent element for emitting light, and a lens. The luminescent element is disposed in the indicating pointer. The lens is arranged in the indicating pointer and includes a flat surface through which light emitted from the luminescent element enters and a corrugated surface which projects the light entering the flat surface out of the indicating pointer. With this arrangement, the indicating pointer projects the light having uniform and high brightness to an observer for improving the visibility of pointer deflection over a dial plate.

Abstract: A gauge includes a transparent pointer driven through gears by a stepper motor offset from the pointer axis. An output gear on the pointer axis is transparent and has a first hub supporting the pointer and a second hub aligned with a lamp, so that light is passed through the output gear to the pointer. The first hub has retention pads molded onto its side. The pointer has a tubular sleeve with axial slots to allow expansion and has retention ribs which ride over the pads upon assembly and snap over the pads to secure the pointer in an axially fixed position. The sleeve also has tapered axial ribs which slide between the pads during assembly to angularly orient the pointer.

Abstract: An on-vehicle display apparatus includes an analog meter mounted with a display surface facing downwardly within a meter hood of an instrument panel of a vehicle. A reflector is disposed below the meter to reflect a display image of the analog meter through an opening of the instrument panel into a driver's eyes so that the driver views a virtual image of the analog meter behind the reflector. The on-vehicle display includes a movement which has a rotating shaft and is positioned such that the movement is above the display surface. A pointer shaft rotatably is eccentric with the rotating shaft and is supported by a bearing. The pointer shaft has a pointer attached to a distal end thereof projecting below the display surface. The pointer angularly moves over the display surface together with the pointer shaft. A rotation transmitting means is provided between the rotating shaft and the pointer shaft for transmitting rotation of the rotating shaft to the pointer shaft.

Abstract: There is provided a vehicular display device in which a dial and a pointer are made to glow by a single light source other than a cold-cathode tube to reduce costs. The vehicular display device includes a dial and a disk pointer located at an opening of the dial. A movement having a decentered rotation shaft is mounted on the rear side of the disk pointer, and five bulb light sources are arranged around the movement. A first conical reflector for reflecting and guiding light from the light sources to the disk pointer is disposed between the light sources and the movement. Furthermore, a second reflector having reflecting curved surfaces for respectively guiding light from the light sources to the first reflector is disposed outside the light sources.

Abstract: A gauge mounted on one side of a face plate by mounting ears drives a light conducting pointer on the other side via a spindle extending through a hole in the plate, and has terminal pins coupled to a circuit board. An LED holder has a transverse bridge extending across the gauge and has mounting ears also secured to the face plate. The holder supports an LED in the hole adjacent the spindle for directly illuminating the pointer. The holder has legs which extend toward the circuit board and contain terminal pins coupled at one end to the board. LED leads are connected to the other end of the terminal pins. Alternatively, the terminal pins are omitted and rigid LED leads extend down the legs to directly couple to the circuit board. The pointer is illuminated with different colors in different ranges of movement by using LEDs of different colors of light emission and positioned to selectively light the pointer.

Abstract: It is object of the present invention to provide a car-carried indicating device which provides a clear indication by the needle and a good readability are secured, and which looks larger than the actual one, leading to improvement of the valid of commodity. In a car-carried indicating device, a character plate 1 includes a substantially circular transparent portion 2 at the indicating position, transparent numerals 3a and a scale 3b being circularly arrayed around the transparent portion 2. A disk-like needle plate 8, which is driven to turn in accordance with given measuring quantities, is made of light diffusion base material. The needle plate 8 is disposed on the front side of the character plate 1. A transparent slit 9 as a needle shining when it receives back-light, which is formed on the needle plate, is extended up to the circumferential outer end of the needle plate 8.

Abstract: An instrument pointer assembly driven by a spindle and illuminated by a light source adjacent the spindle includes a pointer and a central cap covering the spindle region of the assembly. The pointer conducts light from the source toward its tip for illumination. A window in the cap aligned with the pointer is covered by a filter colored to resemble the pointer. The window overlaps the pointer and extends sufficiently in the direction away from the tip to provide a pointer tail contiguous with and illuminated the same as the pointer.

Abstract: A self-luminescent indicator is provided. This indicator includes a pointer, a pointer support shaft rotatably supporting the indicating pointer, a luminescent element arranged in the indicating pointer, and a flexible circuit plate connecting with the luminescent element serving as a lead wire. The flexible circuit plate is arranged around the pointer support shaft in a scroll fashion so that it allows the indicating pointer to rotate about the pointer support shaft.

Abstract: Disclosure is a luminous pointer made of a light emission element of the inorganic substance dispersion type, high in accuracy of reading, and low in cost. The light emission element of the inorganic substance dispersion type is shaped as a rod, and includes a linear metal core, an electrically-insulating reflective layer made of an enamel and disposed on the core, a fluorescent light emission layer which is made of an enamel and a fluorescent substance dispersed therein and is disposed on the reflective layer, an electroconductive film disposed on the light emission layer and capable of being electrically connected to the core, and an outer electrically-insulating layer disposed on the film. The film has at least one slit which has a width smaller than the diameter of the luminous pointer and extends as a luminously visible portion in the longitudinal direction of the film. An intermediate electrically-insulating layer made of an enamel may be provided between the light emission layer and the film.

Abstract: An illuminated apparatus comprises a fixedly mounted air core gage having a spindle which rotates in response to signals provided to the air core gage, a first coil fixably mounted with respect to the air core gage having a first axis coaxial with the spindle, a power source coupled to the first coil, providing power to the first coil, which responsively generates a magnetic flux, a pointer body mounted to the spindle and rotating in response to rotation of the gage spindle, a second coil mounted to the pointer body adjacent to the primary coil, a light source mounted on the pointer body, coupled to and receiving the electric current from the second coil, the electric current illuminating the light source, and a light pipe pointer arm receiving light from the light source and emitting light out of an exit surface to appear as an illuminated pointer to an observer.

Abstract: An instrument preferably employable for a vehicle includes a dial and at least one pointer for indicating the present operative state of the vehicle such as a running speed, an engine speed or the like through a window glass. The dial is illuminated from the rear side by activating a dial illuminating unit, while the pointer is illuminated indirectly via a reflective coating film formed thereon by activating a pointer illuminating unit. The pointer is rotated in a normal direction via a stepping motor when an ignition key is shifted to ON, while it is rotated in a reverse direction when it is shifted to OFF. The instrument is additionally provided with a pointer mask plate made of an opaque plate-shaped material and placed between the window glass and the pointer. The pointer mask plate is located below a zero calibration on the dial and at least the window glass side of the pointer mask plate is blackened without any optical brightness like a frosted glass.

Abstract: An automobile meter device of the type having a self-acting light-emitting needle or pointer is disclosed in which first and second current supply terminals connected with first and second electrodes of a light-emitting element are disposed on opposite side of a pointer boss. The current supply terminals include plug-in sockets extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pointer shaft. When the pointer boss is fitted over a meter shaft to assemble the pointer with a pointer drive unit, the sockets are automatically fitted over connector pins of fourth current supply terminals which are connected with a power source. With this construction, the meter can be assembled efficiently with utmost ease. The pointer boss may be electrically conductive and connected with one of the electrodes of the light-emitting element in which instance one of the current supply terminals may be omitted.

Abstract: An illuminable pointer comprising an at least translucent pointer staff and an at least translucent boss suitable for illumination by a light source, wherein the boss includes a staff hole adapted for mounting the pointer for rotation on a spindle and a cavity for holding a known mass to counterbalance the pointer staff, the boss having reflecting surface shaped so to reflect substantially parallel incoming light along the pointer staff towards a focus point outside the distal end of the pointer that the pointer staff is evenly illuminated.

Abstract: A pointer receives light from a light source and reflects it out of the pointer tip providing a brightly lit pointer suitable for miniaturization and HUD image sources. The pointer has a first reflective surface for directing light from a source into a longitudinal portion of the pointer, and a second reflective surface, parallel to the first surface, for non-dispersively reflecting light out of a tip of the pointer.

Abstract: The light emitting diode to illuminate the indicating portion of the pointer and the face plate through the light conductive member is fixedly mounted on a drive unit that rotates the pointer shaft according to the amount of a measured quantity. The light emitting diode is installed in center openings formed in the pointer, face plate and light conducting member, the light conducting member being attached to the underside of the face plate to illuminate letters on the face plate. The light emitting portion of the diode is formed cylindrical so as to allow the pointer shaft to be fixed to the pointer inside the hollow portion of the cylindrical light emitting portion, so that light radiated from the light emitting portion is reliably introduced into the indicator portion of the pointer and also to the light conducting member. Thus construction simplifies the power supply path leading from the drive unit to the light emitting diode.

Abstract: Described herein is an illuminant pointer needle assembly for a vehicular instrument, which is adapted to display the index portion of a pointer needle in the color of a coloring layer applied on the surface of the index portion in the day time, in a color of illumination of a light-emitting element in the nighttime when the pointer needle is lighted up, and in a mixture color in the dusk by superposing the color of illumination of the color of coloring layer reflecting incident external light. The pointer assembly essentially includes: a pointer needle having a base end portion fixedly mounted on a pointer needle shaft of a movement unit of a meter or the like and provided with a transparent index portion; a coloring layer formed on the bottom surface of the transparent index portion to reflect incident external light; a light-emitting element fixedly mounted on the base end portion of the pointer needle to light up the index portion in a color different from that of the coloring layer.

Abstract: A transparent pointer for an indicating instrument has a light receiving surface centered on the axis of rotation of the pointer and a light bulb is positioned on the axis adjacent the light receiving surface to brightly illuminate the pointer at the same brightness for all pointer positions. A gage mechanism drives the pointer through a pointer support which is in part laterally offset from the axis to permit bulb location on the axis.

Abstract: In an indicator instrument, at least one light-emitting diode (8, 9) which lights up in different colors depending on the manner in which it is controlled is provided in a light guide (5). In this way, the pointer instrument can be illuminated in simple fashion in different colors, for instance as a function of the position of the pointer.

Abstract: A gauge for a vehicle has a spontaneous light-emission type pointer with a built-in light-emitting device. The pointer is fixed to a pointer shaft rotatably driven in accordance with a measured value. A solid circuit member for supporting a light-emitting device and for coupling the light-emitting device to the pointer shaft is fixed to the pointer. The solid circuit member has a first plated conductive layer for electrically connecting one of the terminals of the light-emitting device to the pointer shaft, and a second plated conductive layer for electrically connecting the other of the terminals to a spring abutment fixed to the pointer shaft in an insulating fashion. The solid circuit member is connected to a power source for lighting the light-emitting device. Consequently, a number of parts required for supplying power to the light-emitting diode can be reduced.

Abstract: A self-luminescent pointer device for a gauge has the pointer which is fitted on a pointer shaft and includes an elongated discharge tube. A constricted portion is formed on a part of an outer surface of its elongated hollow rod bulb of the discharge tube. An interior electrode is provided at the end of the bulb and an exterior electrode is provided on the outer surface of the bulb in its axial direction. The constricted portion of the bulb is engaged with a cut-away portion of a holding plate so that the discharge tube is positioned and fixed in its longitudinal direction. Electric power is supplied to the interior electrode and the exterior electrode of the discharge tube through each power supply terminal.

Abstract: In a pointer instrument, a light guide (3) serves as support for electronic components (7). The light guide (3) therefore assumes the function of a printed circuit board. The electronic components (7) are preferably arranged on the outer wall surface (6) of the light guide (3) which is developed in the shape of a conical frustum so that space which is in any event present in the housing can be used for them. The light guide serves to illuminate a dial of the instrument.

Abstract: In an indicating instrument, a channel (4) of light-opaque material is fastened on a cap (2) held on a pointer shaft (1), the channel being open towards the observer, a pointer (5) of light-conducting material being inserted into it. The pointer (5) has a detent projection (6) by which it is secured to the cap (2).

Abstract: An improved vehicle display apparatus in which both the display and pointer are illuminated for low ambient driver viewing by a common lightpipe apparatus positioned on the rear face of the display. The display comprises a generally opaque applique having a translucent region in registry with an emissive region of the lightpipe apparatus, and bright opaque graphic symbols painted or deposited onto a surface of the applique within the translucent region. A pointer disposed in proximity to the front surface of the applique is provided with juxtaposed bright opaque and transparent regions. In high ambient lighting conditions when the lightpipe apparatus is not lit, a viewer of the display perceives the bright opaque graphic symbols and pointer stripes against the relatively dark translucent background regions of the applique.

Abstract: To uniformly illuminate a needle and a dial plate coated with fluorescent substance by ultraviolet rays, the illuminate meter comprises an ultraviolet ray emitting lamp and a meter cover coated with a film for reflecting only ultraviolet rays emitted from the lamp but transmitting visible light emitted from the fluorescent substance on the needle and the dial plate, thus improving the illuminate intensity and uniformity for providing better indication recognizability and reading accuracy. Further, it is preferable to dispose one or plural reflector plates between the dial plate and the meter cover.

Abstract: A solid state thickfilm electroluminescent lamp illuminates a pointer for viewing automotive instrument clusters during low ambient light conditions. A solid state ThFEL lamp is placed between the faceplate of a vehicle dashboard and the air core mechanism. An instrument cluster pointer is situated on the opposite side of the faceplate from the ThFEL lamp. The ThFEL lamp is donut-shaped with a hole in its center to allow the pointer to connect to the air core mechanism. The lamp has a reflectie electrode and a transparent electrode situated such that the reflective electrode directs the ThFEL light towards the pointer where it is needed and away from the air core mechanism. The pointer is designed to collect a large area of dim light, focusing that light down the pointer shaft and reflecting it to an observer viewing the instrument cluster.

Abstract: To unvisualize the mechanical indicating instrument for an automotive vehicle when the ignition switch is turned off, the pointer is covered by a pointer cover below zero indication when the meter is deactivated, or a semitransparent front cover is disposed in front of the dial. In this case, the meter is offset by an offset magnet from a zero position to under the pointer cover when deactivated. On the other hand, to visualize the same instrument, when the ignition switch is turned on, lamps disposed in front and/or back of the dial are illuminated and a colored transparent pointer is illuminated by another or the same lamp in linkage with the ignition switch.

Abstract: A meter is disclosed wherein a light source is disposed behind the face thereof. A light path from the light source is defined in part by a reflective surface on the needle which directs light from the light source onto a portion of the face that is in the immediate vicinity of the needle. The reflecting surface is opaque which causes the needle to appear as a silhouette over the illuminated portion of the face.

Abstract: To improve bright needle recognizability on a dial for a bright meter, a needle made of a light transmissible material and brightened by a light source comprises a lower light reflecting layer formed at a lower surface of the needle; a first side light reflecting layer formed on a first side surface of the needle; and an upper semitransparent layer for brightening an upper surface of the needle. Therefore, when the needle is brightened, light is transmitted from a second side surface opposing the first side surface of the needle obliquely onto the dial to illuminate the lower indication display area side from the needle on the dial, for instance.

Abstract: A pointer illuminating structure in a measuring instrument. A pointer of the measuring instrument is of a generally elongated structure and transparent. At an intermediate portion thereof, a light inducing section is provided to extend substantially perpendicularly to the generally elongated structure to form a T shape. The pointer has a flat upper surface and lower surfaces extending from about both side of the light inducing section. A reflective material is applied to the lower surfaces. Beneath the upper surface and above levels of the lower surface, cavities laterally extend to open sideways. Said cavities are defined by reflective surfaces. In alternative form, said elongated pointer is formed with a truncated conical portion at the light inducing section. Said truncated conical portion has a truncated conical reflective surface. The reflective material is applied to the side surfaces instead of the lower surface thereof.

Abstract: A support (2) which serves for fastening a pointer (1) on a pointer shaft has, towards the top, a holding part (12) which is developed as an expansion rivet. The pointer (1) has a central passage (13) through which the holding part (12) engages. A cap (3) is provided with an expansion pin (14) which is adapted to be pushed from above into the holding part (12) when the cap (3) is mounted. In this way, the expansion rivet is expanded and the pointer (1) is thereby attached firmly to the support (2). A projection (16) on the holding part (12) which engages into a recess (17) in the pointer (1) determines the exact angular position of the pointer (1) with respect to the holding part (12).

Abstract: A luminant pointer for use in a meter is disclosed, which comprises a finger portion having a trapezoidal sectional shape with the transverse width of its upper face being selected to be longer than that of its lower face, and a layer of color paint provided on the lower face of the finger portion. The entire upper face of the finger portion of the pointer having such a construction can thus glow with the color of the paint in spite of the fact that the color paint layer is provided merely on the lower face having a considerably smaller area than that of the upper face of the finger portion of the pointer. Therefore, the amount of the paint required for the luminant indication purpose is decreased to reduce the rate of absorption of light by the paint, thereby obviating the tendency of sharp reductions in the intensity of light advancing from the radially inner end toward the radially outer end of the finger portion of the pointer on the meter dial.

Abstract: The hub section of a pointer is provided with first and second light reflecting curved surfaces which are arranged on opposite portions with respect to the axis of the spindle of the movement. The first light reflecting curved surface is formed on a part of walls defining a recess formed in the hub portion.

Abstract: A meter useful in vehicles, having a dial plate, a swivel pointer made of a transparent material and an electrical light source such as a miniature light bulb to illuminate the pointer by light transmitted therethrough. A root portion of the pointer is bored to provide therein a cavity, and a hood member mounted on the dial plate has a shade portion above the cavity. The light source is attached to the hood member so as to be disposed in the cavity in the pointer. The hood member is detachably secured to the dial plate by a set of metal connectors which serve also as electric connectors to establish a circuit for energizing the light source.

Abstract: A first light reflecting surface is formed at either the back side of a hub section of a transparent pointer or an hole formed in a transparent dial board and a second light reflecting surface is formed on a front side of the hub section of the pointer. Light rays transmitting entirely within the dial board in a direction parallel to the longer dimensions of the dial board are reflected toward the second light reflecting surface by the first light reflecting surface and then reflected toward the pointing section of the pointer by the second light reflecting surface to illuminate the pointer.

Abstract: An indicator pointer is arranged between a dial board and a viewing window so as to swingably move over the face of the dial board in response to rotation of a spindle of a movement of the indicator gauge. Illuminating means such as a light emitting diode (LED) is disposed in the pointer to illuminate a relatively large portion of the pointer. Opaque paint is coated on the front surface of the pointer to conceal the illuminating means.