Patent ID: 7501939
Filing Date: 2009-03-10
Classification: B60K,G01D

Abstract:
1. A display device having a plurality of indicia indicative of a vehicle parameter, the display device comprising: a plurality of dimmable segments, each of said dimmable segments having a lower end point location associated with a first value of the vehicle parameter and an upper end point location associated with a second value of the vehicle parameter, each of said dimmable segments having an independently adjustable intensity and adapted to illuminate at least a portion of the indicia; a control module that receives a signal indicative of an actual value of the vehicle parameter, said control module adjusting said intensity of at least one of said dimmable segments based on said signal, wherein said intensity is at a first intensity when said actual value of the vehicle parameter is about equal to said first value and said intensity is at a second intensity when said actual value of the vehicle parameter is about equal to said second value; and a pointer moveable relative to the indicia to indicate said actual value of the vehicle parameter, when said pointer is disposed at said lower end point location, said intensity is equal to said first intensity, when said pointer is between said lower end point location and said upper end point location, said intensity of said dimmable segment increases as said pointer travels above said dimmable segment toward said upper end point location and away from said lower end point location, when said pointer is between said lower end point location and said upper end point location, said intensity of said dimmable segment decreases as said pointer travels above said dimmable segment toward said lower end point location and away from said upper end point location, when said pointer is disposed at said upper end point location, said intensity is equal to said second intensity, and when said pointer is not disposed above said dimmable segment, said intensity of said dimmable segment remains constant.