Abstract:
An operator configurable vehicle instrument panel with the ability to provide both analog and digital style outputs, and more particularly to an instrument panel configured to provide a digital style display in a first state and an analog state display in a second state using a physical pointer that was not visible in the first state.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention is directed to an operator configurable vehicle instrument panel with the ability to provide both analog and digital visual style outputs, and more particularly to an instrument panel configured to provide a digital style display in a first state and an analog style display in a second state, using a physical pointer in the second state that was not visible in the first state. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion 
         [0004]    Vehicle manufacturers continually strive to differentiate vehicles in the market place by providing unique styling and aesthetic features. As part of this differentiation, many manufacturers attempt to provide a unique cockpit look and feel for the operator of the vehicle. As part of this unique look and feel, each vehicle manufacturer attempts to have a different appearance to the instrument panel and gauges; however, manufacturers have been limited in differentiating instrument panels and gauges by the types, sizes and requirements that are available for producing a visually attractive appearance that also efficiently provides information to the operator of the vehicle in a clear, concise manner. In addition most instrument panels and in particular most gauges generally have limited available space for customization and the amount of space required for each pointer of the gauge sweeping about its rotational axis and in particular for speedometer pointers also limited available design options. In addition, designers have been limited to either a digital gauge or an analog gauge, which did not allow operators to pick their described preference. 
         [0005]    Traditionally, instrument panels and gauges were backlighted, which limited the number of design options for instrument panels. The pointers also were generally located above the surface plate of the instrument panel with the axis of the pointer being located approximately in the center of the gauge with a fixed and nonchangeable display underneath. At most, a small LCD window was located in a blank area of the gauge that provided scrolling or selectable content such as vehicle information, trip odometer, odometer, direction of travel, clock and other information useful to the operator of the vehicle. However, the main gauges such as speed, rpm and others were always static and were not able to be customized by the user, while maintaining analog style pointers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is directed to an operator configurable vehicle instrument panel with the ability to provide both analog and digital style outputs, and more particularly to an instrument panel configured to provide a digital style display in a first state and an analog style display in a second state using a physical pointer that was not visible in the first state. 
         [0007]    The instrument panel generally includes a visible surface which is digitally rendered, such as by an LCD, e-ink or OLED display. The display allows customization by the user, such as selecting different styles or skins for appearances. These styles or skins may be completely digital or incorporate physical pointers with the backplate digital display providing the normal indicia for the physical pointers. Unlike prior instrument panels and gauges, the pointers in the present invention are capable of being hidden from view of the user and do not have an axis of rotation passing through the visible portion of the backplate display. 
         [0008]    As vehicles add functionality and additional electronic devices and sensors, many manufacturers have been constrained by limited display space in the gaze-forward position. In addition, many manufacturers have been constrained in displaying new types of information not previously found in vehicles, especially in the gaze-forward position. Manufacturers and designers strive to maximize the amount of information that may be clearly communicated to the vehicle operator in the gaze-forward position. The gaze-forward position generally refers to the area approximately in view of the operator as they gaze through the windshield in the direction of travel. Traditionally, the instrument cluster or instrument panel substantially behind the steering wheel is in the gaze-forward position. Therefore, manufacturers and designers desire to clearly communicate without confusion as much information as possible in this limited display area. In addition, manufacturers desire to allow consumers to configure the display in this gaze-forward position such that the display communicates efficiently the information desired by the operator of the vehicle. In addition, customers were not able to customize the look and feel of gauges, and in particular, were not able to select which gauges to include or customize the arrangement or style of the gauges. 
         [0009]    Almost all gauges, whether independent gauges or gauges within an instrument panel or cluster, include a pointer or needle that is mounted on a pin or shaft that extends through the backplate forming the display surface of the central display of the gauge. The pointer on these prior art gauges generally rotated about an axis of a shaft to point to various painted indicia. As the pointer was generally located at any radial point, the central display area across which the pointer swept only allowed for limited unobstructive functionality. In addition, the backplate with its indicia for the pointer was static and not able to be customized or changed by the user, and the user was not able to select which gauges to view. 
         [0010]    Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, claims, and drawings. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given here below, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an exemplary instrument panel in an exemplary full digital style mode; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the instrument panel of  FIG. 1  in an exemplary full analog style mode with the indicia and gauge styles being provided by the digital display; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a partial cut-away view of an exemplary instrument panel with the digital display of the present invention showing the location of a single pointer; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a partial cut-away view of an exemplary instrument panel with the digital display of the present invention showing the locations of multiple pointers of different sizes; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a partial sectional view of the instrument panel in  FIG. 3  along lines  5 - 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    The present invention is generally directed to a customizable instrument panel  10 , exemplarily illustrated in the Figures. The instrument panel  10 , and digitally displayed gauges  18  as well as digitally produced indicia  36  are only exemplary illustrations and each may be formed in any desired style, shape, size or configuration. In addition, the present invention is particularly unique, as the style and configuration is intended to be customized by the end-user, such as an operator of a vehicle. It is important to note that the present invention allows a high degree of customization not previously possible. 
         [0018]    As used herein, the term instrument panel  10  generally refers to an instrument panel  10  including multiple gauges, but one skilled in the art would recognize that the present invention may have only a single gauge  18 , the style, selection of output, or configuration thereof being customizable by the user. Also, as the gauges  18  in the present invention are digitally rendered, the instrument panel may include any type of gauge, so long as the relevant information can be provided to the instrument panel. As further used herein, analog style refers to a configuration wherein the gauge  18  incorporates a physical pointer  42  over a digitally displayed background and digitally produced indicia  36  providing markings for the pointer  42 . Digital style refers to digitally-produced gauge where the analog style or physical pointer is not used. Of course, the present invention may have an instrument panel  10  that includes both digital style and analog style gauges  18 . Analog style gauges  50  are clearly illustrated in  FIG. 2  and digital style gauges  70  are illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0019]    As illustrated in the Figures, the instrument panel  10  generally includes a housing  12  in which the gauge(s)  18  are arranged. The gauge(s)  18  generally include a backplate  20  with a digital display  30 , and a pointer assembly  40  having a pointer  42  that is capable of extending outward over the digital display  30  to point to digital indicia  36  provided by the digital display  30 . 
         [0020]    The housing  12  may be formed in any style, shape, size and configuration and is generally adaptable to fit mechanically and aesthetically with the other interior components and with the desired location. Although not illustrated, the housing in some circumstances may be formed from any desired portion of a vehicle dashboard. The housing  12  also may be hidden from the operator view (not illustrated). In other embodiments, the housing  12  may include a trim cover or border  16 , which is visible to the operator of the vehicle, as illustrated in the Figures. 
         [0021]    The trim cover  16  may be formed from any desirable material in any style, shape, size or configuration. The purpose of the trim cover  16  is to allow the pointer assembly  40  to remain hidden, including hiding from view the pointer  42 . Of course, the trim cover  16  in some embodiments may be integrally formed with the housing  12  or backplate  20  or in some embodiments, the trim cover may not exist due to the configuration of the backplate  20  or housing  12  which can hide the pointer assembly  40  from view without the need for a trim. 
         [0022]    The backplate  20  is secured within the housing  12  or as further illustrated in the Figures, secured within the trim cover  16 . The backplate  20  may extend across multiple gauges  18 , including multiple displays  30 , a combination of traditional gauges and at least one display  30  or a single gauge  18  with a single display  30 . In some circumstances, a single or multiple display  30  may be located in the backplate  20 , and in other circumstances, the display  30  can form a substantial portion or all of the backplate  20 . More specifically, the display  30  can be the backplate  20 . Although not illustrated, the trim cover  16  may be around the display  30  located on the backplate  20  or the backplate  20  may form the trim cover with the display  30  recessed. When the display  30  forms the backplate  20 , it extends slightly under the trim cover  16 . 
         [0023]    The present invention is described below with a single gauge  18  formed from the display  30 . The display  30  may be any display  30  configured to provide the relevant information on a display surface  34 , including the digital indicia  36 . The display  30  has an outer circumferential edge  32  having an outer circumference. The display  30  may be coupled into the instrument panel  12  by any known method. The display  30  may be any type of display, such as an LCD, OLED or e-ink display. 
         [0024]    The instrument panel  10 , specifically the gauge  18 , further includes at least one pointer assembly  40 . The pointer assembly  40  generally includes a pointer  42  rotatable about an axis  44  and extending longitudinally from the axis, the majority of which forms a visible portion  46 , with the rest forming a hidden portion  48 . The axis of rotation  44  is within the hidden portion  48 . The gauge  18  may include a single pointer assembly  40  as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , or multiple pointer assemblies  40  as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . The pointers  42  may vary in size as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . The locations of the pointer assemblies  40  may be varied as desired, however, the axis of the pointer  42  is adjacent to the display surface  34  and does not pass through the visible portions of the display surfaces  34 . The pointer assembly is also generally located in a cavity  26  formed by the display, trim cover, and backplate, with the ability of the pointer  42  to extend over the display  30  or retract behind the trim cover  16 . 
         [0025]    The display  30  can provide digital style gauges  70  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , or analog style gauges  50  as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , or a combination of them as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the digital display  30  on the display surface  34  can include a digital gas gauge  72 , digital rpm gauge  74 , digital temperature gauge  76 , digital battery gauge  78 , digital speedometer gauge  80 , digital oil pressure gauge  82 . As further illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the display may output digital indicia  36  and related graphics for the gauges onto the display surface, in combination with a pointer assembly  40  forming an analog style gauge  50 . The analog style gauges  50  illustrated in  FIG. 2 , include an analog style age gauge  52 , an analog style rpm gauge  54 , an analog style temperature gauge  56 , an analog style battery gauge  58 , an analog style speedometer  60  and an analog style pressure gauge  62 . 
         [0026]    Other exemplary gauges or information displays may include an odometer  84 , clock  86 , outside temperature  88  and a radio information area  94  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Also illustrated in phantom lines in  FIG. 3  is a traction control warning  92  and bright lights status  90 . 
         [0027]    During operation, the pointer  42  may be configured to be positioned out of view behind the trim cover  16 . This allows the gauges to provide, if desired, clean unobstructed digital gauges, yet if desired, provide a pointer  42  to point to digitally produced indicia to create an analog style gauge. 
         [0028]    The present invention provides the possibility for the user to customize both the digital style gauge as well as the analog style gauges and selected combinations of various analog and digital styled gauges. This customization on the fly of what gauges to display whether to display analog or digital style versions and the look and feel or applied skin for the gauges has not be previously available. 
         [0029]    It is expected that the user or operator may download additional content regarding styles and in some instances create their own graphical representation of gauges. 
         [0030]    The foregoing discussion discloses and describes an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the true spirit and fair scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.