Patent ID: 9568344
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: B60K,F21V,G01D,G01P

Claim:
1. A vehicle instrument panel assembly, said assembly comprising: a light source configured to emit light from a display surface of the assembly; a pointer that overlies the display surface and is movable about an axis to an angle to point to indicia on the display surface, wherein the pointer defines a hub portion and a needle portion that extends from the hub portion, wherein the hub portion overlies the light source and includes a light-guide that guides light from the light source into the needle portion whereby the needle portion is illuminated; a sensor located proximate to the hub portion, said sensor configured to detect that the hub portion is present; and a controller electrically coupled to the light source and the sensor, wherein the controller is configured to turn-off the light source when the sensor indicates that the pointer is not present.