Patent ID: 6655209
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: B60K,G01D

Abstract:
A meter for use in an automotive vehicle comprising:a scale plate having scale positions aligned circularly from a zero-scale position to a full-scale position in a clockwise direction; a pointer adapted to rotate along a front surface of the scale plate; and a pointer driver disposed behind the scale plate and connected to the pointer to rotate the pointer under control of an electronic controller, wherein: the pointer is adapted to rotate counter-clockwise beyond the zero-scale position up to a rest position; the scale plate includes a pointer cover that partly covers the pointer when the pointer is positioned between the zero-scale position and the rest position; when a key switch of the automotive vehicle is at an off state, the pointer is positioned at the rest position and a tip portion of the pointer is covered by the pointer cover; upon turning on the key switch, the pointer is illuminated and rotated clockwise from the rest position to the zero-scale position, and the portion of the pointer covered by the pointer cover gradually decreases in a course of rotation and the pointer is fully exposed from the pointer cover at the zero-scale position; and upon turning off the key switch, the pointer further rotates counter-clockwise from the zero-scale position to the rest position while keeping the pointer illuminated, and the portion of the pointer covered by the pointer cover gradually increases in the course of the rotation, and the illumination of the pointer is turned off at the rest position.