Speedometer (e.g., Odometer) Patents (Class 116/62.1)
  • Patent number: 7034495
    Abstract: An output port open control device (65) allows a port (P3) which outputs PWM signals of a Cos+ side to be in a high impedance state in a period in which respective PWM signals of Cos+ and Cos? supplied to a S-phase coil (22) of a stepping motor (2) are in a ground level, induced voltage corresponding to a magnetic flux variation caused in accordance with rotation of a magnet rotor (23) is generated in the S-phase coil (22), a voltage comparator (72) compares the induced voltage with a previously set threshold value and outputs presence or absence of the induced voltage, and a zero-reset judging device (66) determines that a pointer (4) is in the middle of rotation when the induced voltage is detected, and determines that the pointer (4) is in contact with a stopper mechanism (5) when it is not detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6983717
    Abstract: An indicator assembly with a dial face, a pointer and a lamp. The dial face has an opaque portion and defines a shaft aperture. The pointer has a connecting portion, a pointer portion and an opaque boot portion. The connecting portion is disposed in-line with the aperture. The pointer portion is coupled to and extends radially outwardly from the connecting portion. The boot portion extends about the connecting portion and contacts the dial face in a zone that encircles the aperture. The lamp is disposed rearwardly of the dial face and provides a source of light. A method for reducing or eliminating a halo effect is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Yazaki North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ching Fong
  • Patent number: 6981464
    Abstract: An illuminated pointer includes an outer pointer that surrounds an inner pointer. The outer pointer extends from a base and is generally elliptical. The inner pointer extends from the base into the void of the outer pointer. The illuminated pointer utilizes a single light source for illuminating both the outer and inner pointer. The inner pointer provides easier reading of a dual scale gauge such as with a speedometer having both English and Metric speed scales.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Birman, Werner Eckardt, Christian Tanguy
  • Patent number: 6956351
    Abstract: A driving device, includes a stepping motor having an exciting coil and a rotor; a driven member driven in accordance with a rotation of the rotor; a stopper mechanically stopping the driven member at a zero position; a controller controlling the state of excitation of the exciting coil; an induced voltage detector detecting an induced voltage generated by a change of magnetic flux according to the rotation of the rotor; and a zero position detector detecting a stoppage of the driven member at the zero position. The controller supplies an exciting pattern to the exciting coil at the time of processing of zero position detection. The exciting pattern includes a first exciting step for detecting the induced voltage and a second exciting step for rotation. Total periods of the first exciting step is greater than that of the second exciting step during an electrical angle 90° in the one cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Yamada
  • Patent number: 6925959
    Abstract: The invention relates to an indicating instrument, particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising an approximately circular scale (12), which is placed on a dial (5), provided for a physical quantity, and along which a pointer (10) can be displaced whereby being able to be rotatably driven about an axis of rotation. Additionally provided is a marking that indicates a particular area of the scale (12). The marking is placed on a part (27), which is situated underneath the plane of the dial (5) whereby enabling it to be rotatably driven about the axis or rotation of the pointer (10) into a control position. The dial (5) comprises, along the movement path of the marking, a window (13) through which the marking can be viewed from the front of the indicating instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Manfred Wehner
  • Patent number: 6910439
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicular meter, which can suppress the complication of structures of peripheral parts, when an operation shaft and an elastic member are to be supported, thereby to realize the cost reduction. The vehicular meter comprises: an indication element D3; a circuit board 5 arranged on the back of the indication element D3; and a manipulation mechanism S for switching pieces of information to be indicated by the indication element D3. The manipulation mechanism S includes: a switch element 11; an operation shaft 12 for activating the switch element 11; and an elastic member 13 for returning the operation shaft 12. This operation shaft 12 includes a push portion 161 for actuating the switch element 11; hook portions 171 and 172 inserted into a through hole 52 of the circuit board 5 to come into engagement with the back face of the circuit board 5; a flange portion 16 opposed to the circuit board 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideto Baba, Atsushi Fujita, Norihiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6904866
    Abstract: An indicator having a character plate capable of making indicative characters emit light is provided, wherein a metal character plate 30 is provided with cut-out portions 30a being cut out along the peripheries of respective indicative characters, a back light source emits light on the back of the metal character plate 30, and a light-transmissive plate 40 are provided with projecting portions 40a to fit in cutout portions 30a of the metal character plate 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Furuya
  • Patent number: 6889626
    Abstract: A meter for a motor vehicle includes a meter case 4 for protecting components of the meter which are incorporated therein, and a front cover 9 composed of a prism which is a part of a convex lens and provided in front of the meter case 4. A dial plate 5 of the meter has an outer contour in a substantially elliptical shape so that a virtual image of the dial plate as seen through the front cover 9 may look like a substantially perfect circle. Since the virtual image of the dial plate 5 is expanded in a vertical direction due to magnification inherent in the prism 9, the dial plate 5 formed in a substantially elliptical shape will be deformed into a substantially perfect circle in sight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Furuya, Tetsuya Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 6827034
    Abstract: An illuminated dial and pointer assembly wherein a movable pointer is illuminated with a tracking external directed light source as the pointer moves relative to a display dial. A plurality of systems are disclosed for moving said pointer and illuminating said pointer with a directed light source, including a system wherein magnetic attraction allows the pointer to track a motorized light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Yazaki North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Sergio Alexandre Paulo
  • Publication number: 20040221790
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for optical odometry are disclosed which inexpensively facilitate diverse applications including indoor/outdoor vehicle tracking in secure areas, industrial and home robot navigation, automated steering and navigation of autonomous farm vehicles, shopping cart navigation and tracking, and automotive anti-lock braking systems. In a preferred low-cost embodiment, a telecentric lens is used with an optical computer mouse chip and a microprocessor. In a two-sensor embodiment, both rotation and translation are accurately measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Sinclair, Pace Gaillard Willisson, Jay Loring Gainsboro, Lee Davis Weinstein
  • Patent number: 6802276
    Abstract: A meter apparatus and a character plate thereof is provided. A vehicle-use combination meter 1 as a meter apparatus has a casing 3, a speedometer 4a, an inside-cover plate 10, and a bulb 15. The speedometer 4a has a movement 7a accommodated in the casing 3, a pointer 12a attached to an output shaft 8a of the movement 7a, and a vehicle speed indication character plate 6a. The vehicle speed indication character plate 6a as a character plate of the meter apparatus has a circular plate member 20 and a ring-like framing member 21. A numerical scale 9b is formed on the surface 20a of the plate member 20. A morning sun expression 26 is provided on the surface 20a of the plate member 20. A peripheral scale 9a is formed on a second surface 21a of the framing member 21. A metal layer 31 is overlaid on the second surface 21a of the framing member 21. Grooves 32 are formed on the metal layer 31. The inside-cover plate 10 is attached to the casing 3. The bulb 15 is attached to the inside-cover plate 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Hidetaka Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 6771038
    Abstract: A method and system for calibrating a motor-driven instrument pointer (8) against a stop (5) without using feedback includes, in a first power state, driving the pointer (8) at full torque against the stop (5), then driving the pointer (8) against the stop at a reduced torque for a predetermined radial distance so at the pointer (8) is caused to be held against the stop (5). A third driving step, at reduced torque for a further predetermined radial distance, may be used in a second power state to move the pointer (8) against the stop (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Australian Arrow Pty Ltd
    Inventor: David McIntyre Fyfe
  • Patent number: 6674497
    Abstract: A display device, in particular for a motor vehicle, having a pointer, a scale and an electrooptic display, it being possible to represent measured values on the scale in an analog fashion using the pointer, and at least one area of the electrooptic display being arranged along the movement path of the pointer. In order to provide a high level of information density while simultaneously making the display easy to read, the electrooptic display has a first display field which runs along at least one section of the movement path of the pointer and has display segments which can be actuated, and a second display field which can be actuated in an unrestricted way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Peter Brandt
  • Patent number: 6640743
    Abstract: A pointer of a meter is driven by a driving unit disposed behind a scale plate. A wiring board for supplying electric current to a stepping motor included in the driving unit is placed between the scale plate and the driving unit. Plural light sources for illuminating the pointer are placed on the wiring board around a pointer shaft in the vicinity thereof. Terminal pins for supplying electric current to the stepping motor are positioned on the wiring board apart form the light sources to avoid wiring congestion around the pointer shaft. Since the light sources are freely placed around the pointer shaft, the light from the light sources can be uniformly distributed around the pointer shaft with high luminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Hideyuki Nakane
  • Patent number: 6599049
    Abstract: An indicating instrument (4) has a housing (3) having an external thread (7) by which it can be inserted in a recess (2) of a dashboard (1). A housing nut (9) which can be screwed onto the external thread (7) and has an internal thread (8) fixes the housing (3) on the dashboard. Either the external thread (7) and the internal thread (8) are provided only in at least two subregions of the circumference of the housing (3) and of the housing nut (9), respectively, the subregions each having a shorter length than the subregions which lie between them and do not have a thread, so that the housing nut (9) can be pushed in at least one angular position completely onto the housing (3) without engaging in the external thread (7), or instead only the external thread (7) or the internal thread (8) is provided in at least two subregions of the circumference, which subregions are of resilient design radially, so that the internal thread (8) and external thread (7) can become disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Thomas Erben
  • Patent number: 6522381
    Abstract: A invention relates to a display device, in particular for a motor vehicle, having a pointer, a scale and an electrooptic display, it being possible to represent measured values on the scale in an analog fashion using the pointer, and at least one area of the electrooptic display being arranged along the movement path of the pointer. In order to provide a high level of information density while simultaneously making the display easy to read, the electrooptic display has a first display field which runs along at least one section of the movement path of the pointer and has display segments which can be actuated, and a second display field which can be actuated in an unrestricted way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Peter Brandt
  • Patent number: 6499422
    Abstract: A periodic pattern of colors is applied to a vehicle tire. The periodic pattern provides an indication of relative vehicle speed to an observer. The periodic pattern will appear to blend into a single color above a predetermined speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventor: Grant Petersen
  • Patent number: 6490507
    Abstract: Computer for a bicycle includes a speed change with a chain transmission, including a plurality of front crown wheels (16) which can be driven in rotation by a pair of pedal cranks (18) and a plurality of rear sprockets (20), a first sensor (30) for providing an electric signal indicating the speed of rotation of one wheel of the bicycle, a second sensor (32) for providing an electric signal indicating the speed of rotation of the pedal cranks (18), and a third sensor (38) for providing an electric signal indicating which is the selected front crown wheel. The computer has a display (24) for displaying riding information of the bicycle, and an electronic control programmed so as to determine the number of teeth (Zp) of the selected rear sprocket as a function of said signals and as a function of stored data indicating the number of teeth (Zc) of the front crown wheels (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Campagnolo Srl
    Inventor: Valentino Campagnolo
  • Patent number: 6484663
    Abstract: In a pointer instrument (1), a pointer drive (3) is used to deflect a pointer (4) arranged on a supporting element (2). The supporting element (2) is shaped essentially like a circular ring and is mounted by bearing points (7) equally distributed over its circumference. The central area of the pointer instrument (1) is therefore free of apertures and, as a result, permits the arrangement of a display (9), for example an LCD display, which can be read irrespective of the angular position of the pointer (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Stephan Zech, Bernd Ludewig, Gerhard Friepes, Hermann Haas
  • Patent number: 6470822
    Abstract: For an indicating device with a pointer, in which the pointer comprises a rotary pointer spindle 2 and a pointer vane 1 arranged radially on the pointer spindle 2, the pointer vane 1 being deflected according to a rotation of the pointer spindle 2, in addition to its ability to pivot as a result of the rotation of the pointer spindle 2, the pointer vane 1 is also rotatable about the axis 13 of its radial extent and the pointer vane 1 has at least two boundary surfaces 11a, 11b or 12a, 12b and 12c which can be distinguished from one another in their appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Adams, Anton Kolar, Elmar Neugart
  • Publication number: 20020108554
    Abstract: In a pointer instrument (1), a pointer drive (3) is used to deflect a pointer (4) arranged on a supporting element (2). The supporting element (2) is shaped essentially like a circular ring and is mounted by bearing points (7) equally distributed over its circumference. The central area of the pointer instrument (1) is therefore free of apertures and, as a result, permits the arrangement of a display (9), for example an LCD display, which can be read irrespective of the angular position of the pointer (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: STEPHAN ZECH, BERND LUDEWIG, GERHARD FRIEPES, HERMANN HAAS
  • Patent number: 6408783
    Abstract: In a pointer instrument (1) having a disk pointer (3) which can be illuminated by a light source (6) and is mounted at its periphery, a flexible lead (8) is used for the power supply. For this purpose, the lead (8) has a 180° bend (9), so that a first leg (10) rests against a rear (11) of the disk pointer (3) and a second leg (12) rests against a rear component (13). When the disk pointer (3) is deflected, the lead (8) is able to roll on the rear (11). As it does so, only slight restoring forces are produced and, at the same time, the space requirement is low, it being possible in particular for the central area to be used for further components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Bernd Ludewig
  • Patent number: 6404333
    Abstract: An eyes up instrument having a transparent display is disclosed which is mountable on or above the dashboard of a vehicle to allow the instrument to be read by a vehicle operator without lowering his eyes to the vehicle instrument panel. The display of the instrument is transparent and therefore does not interfere substantially with the view of the operator. The compact design of the instrument and use of a miniature crossed coil gauge supported in the display itself allow it to be mounted unobtrusively on a dashboard even in applications where transparency is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Invotronics Manufacturing
    Inventors: Craig A. Ayres, John A. Ayres, Thomas Blossom
  • Patent number: 6389896
    Abstract: A vehicular meter unit includes an analog meter fixed only to a circuit board. A pointer connected to a shaft of the analog meter points a scale printed on a dial plate. A housing has a top plate and a peripheral wall perpendicularly extending from a periphery of the top plate. The dial plate is connected to the top plate without using screws. This arrangement improves the productivity and the luminance characteristic of the vehicular meter unit and suppresses the influence due to the thermal deformation of the dial plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Tomita, Masahiko Suzuki, Kinya Tamura
  • Patent number: 6382127
    Abstract: A display device, in particular for a vehicle, having a pointer which can be actuated by a measuring mechanism for analog representation of measured values, the display device including fixed scale marks which are assigned to the pointer, and a display, arranged in a region over at least part of which the pointer travels, for representing variable information, it being possible to represent scale labeling on the display. In order to reduce the manufacturing costs of the display device and to improve its legibility, the scale marks are arranged outside a display region which can be actuated, and at least one region of the display extends along the scale marks so that it is possible to represent the scale labeling in this region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Manfred Wehner
  • Patent number: 6356046
    Abstract: An instrument panel for use in an automobile includes a speedometer, an engine rotational speed meter and other indicators. A pointer of each meter is driven by a stepping motor via a reduction gear train made of synthetic resin. Terminals of the stepping motor field coils are soldered on a circuit board. After the heat of the soldering is dissipated, the heat-sensitive gear train is assembled to the circuit board. Thus, the resin gears are protected from being damaged by the soldering heat. The soldering is performed under an automatic refolw-soldering or flow-soldering process. As long as the soldering is performed before assembling the resin gears, all the components of the stepping motor and the reduction gear train may be contained in a casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Koumura, Hideki Asano
  • Publication number: 20020017232
    Abstract: The invention relates to a display device, in particular for a vehicle, having a pointer, which can be actuated by a measuring mechanism, for the analog representation of measured values, fixed scale marks which are assigned to the pointer, and a display, arranged in a region over at least part of which the pointer travels, for representing variable information, it being possible to represent scale labeling on the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventor: MANFRED WEHNER
  • Patent number: 6286618
    Abstract: An engine has a drive shaft fastening a first sprocket wheel. A transmission gear box is disposed on a vehicle frame. The transmission gear box has a driven shaft fastening a second sprocket wheel. A chain surrounds the first sprocket wheel and the second sprocket wheel. A hexagonal nut is disposed on the driven shaft. A milometer device is disposed on the driven shaft. The drive shaft is disposed on a transmission gear box. A bolt fastens the milometer device and the hexagonal nut together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Jenn Jianq Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Tai-Yang Luh