Abstract:
A vehicle may utilize a faceplate, such as a non-circular faceplate, as part of an indicating instrument, such as a speedometer, in a dashboard. The speedometer utilizes a laser to direct laser light onto or through indicia, adjacent a numerical scale, of the faceplate. A first motor mounted to a printed circuit board is used to rotate the laser in a first plane, and a second motor is used to rotate the laser in a second plane. The laser may reside in a housing having a slit or slot for the laser light to pass through to illuminate the faceplate indicia. The first motor is mounted between the printed circuit board and the second motor while a connecting post may be utilized between the first and second motors to position the laser closer to the faceplate indicia, depending upon spatial packaging requirements and the laser light of the laser.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to an indicating instrument with a pointer mechanism that is capable of directing concentrated light, such as laser or LED light, around the periphery of a faceplate to indicate positions of a scale. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. Indicating instruments or gauges, such as speedometers, for viewing by drivers of vehicles are generally analog in construction and display operational information such as vehicle speed. An analog gauge may also typically include a faceplate having a numerical scale, such as mile per hour (“mph”) markings, and indicia to denote levels of the scale and a corresponding mechanical pointer, which rotates around the scale to indicate precise positions of the scale. While such analog indicating instruments have generally proven satisfactory for their intended purposes, they have been associated with their share of limitations. 
         [0003]    One such limitation of current analog indicating instruments is their inability to indicate markings on non-circular gauges. Because many analog indicating instruments are circular with a rigid pointer disposed at the center of the circular scale, with the rigid pointer or indicator rotating about the gauge center, gauges and their associated numerical scales must be constructed in a circular shape. If such gauges were non-circular, pointers located at the circular center of the gauge may move outside of the gauge boundary as a pointer of a fixed length rotates about the numerical scale. More specifically, using an elliptical gauge with an elliptical faceplate as an example, if a rigid pointer is constructed with a pointer extending from a center of the ellipse to an end of the major axis of the ellipse, the pointer will extend outside of the boundary of the elliptical faceplate as the rigid pointer moves toward and past an end of the minor axis of the elliptical gauge. Because the pointer must move beyond an end of the minor axis, it may strike another part of the gauge or another adjacent structure and posses an unbecoming appearance. 
         [0004]    Another limitation of current vehicles employing circular analog indicating instruments relates to gauge packaging in a vehicle dash. More specifically, when all gauges installed in a vehicle dash are constructed in a circular fashion, the remaining dash area is not of a convenient shape to package other items, whether they are additional gauges, LCD displays, etc. 
         [0005]    What is needed then is a device that does not suffer from the above disadvantages. This, in turn, will provide a non-circular indicating instrument, with a corresponding pointer, that may be conveniently packaged in a vehicle dash. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In a vehicle dashboard, an indicating instrument may utilize a faceplate, such as a non-circular faceplate, along with a numerical scale, corresponding indicia, and a laser that directs laser light onto the faceplate to illuminate the indicia. In such an instrument, the laser is a pointer. To control the direction of the laser light about the face of the gauge, a first motor may be employed to rotate the laser in a first plane, while a second motor may be employed to rotate the laser in a second plane. Through the coordinated rotations of the motors, the laser light may be directed to any indicia about a non-circular faceplate. 
         [0007]    Regarding motor mounting, the first motor may mount to a printed circuit board, while the second motor may be mounted on top of the first motor, or alternatively, a connecting post may be utilized between the first and second motors to position the laser closer to the faceplate indicia, depending upon spatial packaging requirements and the laser light of the laser. The laser may reside within a housing, which may also house the second motor, that defines a slit or slot for passage of laser light. 
         [0008]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an interior dash of a vehicle depicting a location of an indicating instrument; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a non-circular indicating instrument in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a non-circular indicating instrument in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a non-circular indicating instrument in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a non-circular indicating instrument in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged side view of a rotational mechanism of a non-circular indicating instrument in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged top view of a rotational mechanism of a non-circular indicating instrument in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. Turning now to  FIGS. 1-7 , the teachings of the present invention will be explained. With initial reference to  FIG. 1 , depicted is a vehicle  10  having a dash  12  and an instrument cluster  14 , both of which may be situated in front of a driver&#39;s seat  16  in the interior cabin  18  of a vehicle  10 . As part of the instrument cluster  14 , a viewed component  20 , also known as an indicating instrument or gauge, is depicted. It should be appreciated that the viewed component  20  may be exemplified by other gauges or indicating instruments, such as a tachometer. Hereinafter, for exemplary purposes and ease of reference, the viewed component  20  will be referred to as a speedometer. 
         [0018]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , a speedometer  20  is depicted in accordance with the present invention. More specifically, a speedometer faceplate  22  is formed in the shape of, or that closely approximating, an ellipse having a minor axis  24  and a major axis  26 , which will be used as reference lines for purposes of explaining the invention. Continuing, the speedometer  20  has a numerical scale  28  and indicia  30 , which are individual markings that denote specific positions of the numerical scale  28 . For illustrative purposes and clarity, the markings of the laser pointer  34  on  FIG. 2  are depicted slightly aside of the actual indicia  30 . Furthermore, throughout the description, the light emitted from the laser  36  may be referred to as laser light, a laser beam or simply as a laser pointer; such references are meant to refer to the same light emitted from a laser, LED or other concentrated light source. A faceplate center  32  denotes the intersection of the minor axis  24  and the major axis  26 . The laser pointer  34  illuminates the indicia locations on the faceplate  22  that correspond to specific locations on the numerical scale  28 . For instance, exemplary illuminated locations by the laser pointer  34  are noted at the indicia  30  at the “0” mph location and the “60” mph location on the faceplate  22 . 
         [0019]    Turning to  FIG. 3 , a side view of the non-circular indicating instrument of  FIG. 2  is depicted. More specifically,  FIG. 3  depicts positioning of the laser pointer  34  when a laser  36  ( FIG. 6 ) directs light through the faceplate  22  to the position “0” of  FIG. 2 , which appears as a lit area  33  to a viewer, while  FIG. 4  depicts positioning of the laser pointer  34  when the laser  36  ( FIG. 6 ) directs light through the faceplate  22  to the position “60” of  FIG. 2 , which appears as a lit area  35 . The lengths of the laser beams  34  in  FIGS. 3 and 4  are shown as different lengths because of the elliptical shape of the faceplate of  FIG. 1 . That is, in the side view of  FIG. 3 , the length of the laser pointer  34  is the straight line from the gauge center  32  to the indicia  30  at “0” mph, while in the side view of  FIG. 4 , the length of the laser pointer  34  is the straight line from the gauge center  32  to the indicia  30  at “60” mph. 
         [0020]    As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the laser light is visible through the faceplate  22  at the specific indicia at which the laser pointer  34  is directed and provides clear, definitive illumination of the indicia  30  in daytime and nighttime lighting conditions. To view the laser pointer  34  through the faceplate  22  and experience a “virtual pointer” on the surface of the faceplate  22  at the indicia  30 , the faceplate  22  or appliqué, also known as a display lens, may be manufactured from a semi-transparent or transparent material such as semi-transparent or transparent polycarbonate, which as a flexible plastic, offers strength, heat resistance, moisture resistance, and impact resiliency. Although a laser  36  is used as the source of light for the present invention, a light emitting diode (“LED”), or other confined, non-scattering, concentrated light beam may be employed. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 3 and 4  generally depict a rotational mechanism  38  that directs the light from a light source  36 , such as a laser. More specifically, the rotational mechanism  38  employs, in part, a first or lower motor  40 , a second or upper motor  42 , and a vertical or connecting post  44 , which may be provided for proper spacing between the laser and the faceplate  22 , depending upon gauge configuration.  FIG. 4  depicts a rotational arrow  46  and a rotational arrow  48  that indicate rotational motions of the motors  40 ,  42 . More specifically, the rotational arrow  46  depicts rotational movement generated by motor  40  about the vertical or “Z” axis in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions, while rotational arrow  48  depicts rotational movement generated by the motor  42  about the horizontal or “X” axis in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Furthermore, although rotations of the motors are depicted, such rotations result in like rotations or movements of the laser pointer  34 . Such rotations or movements of the laser pointer  34  permits the laser pointer  34  to be directed about the periphery of a non-circular faceplate  22 , such as that depicted in  FIG. 1 .  FIGS. 3 and 4  also depict a printed circuit board (“PCB”)  52  to which rotational mechanism  38  and more specifically, the first motor  40 , are attached. The PCB  52  is a source of electricity for the motors  40 ,  42  and the laser  36 . 
         [0022]    Although not specifically depicted, upon the PCB  52  a control module or controller may be mounted and connected to the motors  40 ,  42  to direct the rotational movements of the motors  40 ,  42 . The controller would receive instructions, which would be passed onto the motors  40 ,  42  in the form of motion instructions, in accordance with the changing speed of a vehicle to change the indicated speed on the faceplate  22 . 
         [0023]    Turning now to  FIG. 5 , a side view of the non-circular speedometer  20 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, is depicted. The embodiment of  FIG. 5  is similar to that depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , with an alternate configuration of the motors  40 ,  42 . That is, one difference between the rotational mechanism  38  of  FIGS. 3-4  and the rotational mechanism  50  of  FIG. 5  is that the connecting post  44  is removed in the embodiment of  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  depicts a lower profile rotational mechanism  50  that provides the same rotational movements as the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 3-4 . The use of the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 3-4  and  FIG. 5  may depend upon the distance between the faceplate  22  and PCB  52  and the strength of the light source used to generate the pointer  34 . 
         [0024]    Details of the rotational mechanism  50  of  FIG. 5  will now be presented with reference to  FIGS. 5-7 . As in the embodiment of  FIGS. 3-4 , the rotational mechanism  50  draws electrical power from a printed circuit board  52  (“PCB”) to power the motors  40 ,  42  and a pointer light source, such as a laser  36 . When power is supplied to the motor  40  in the base unit  51 , the motor  40  may rotate the base unit  51  clockwise or counterclockwise in accordance with arrow  54  in accordance with the speed of the vehicle  10 . With reference to  FIG. 1 , when the base unit  51  rotates in accordance with arrow  54 , the laser pointer  34  rotates about the periphery of the speedometer  20 , for example, clockwise from “0” to “60” mph. However, because the speedometer  20  has an elliptical faceplate  22 , with only the motor  40 , the laser pointer  34  would rotate outside of the perimeter of the faceplate  22  and away from the indicia  30 , beyond an end of the minor axis  24 . To compensate for the elliptical shape of the faceplate  22 , the laser  36 , which resides within an upper unit  56 , also rotates or moves to compensate for the elliptical shape of the faceplate  22 . More specifically, the laser  36  may be moved along a full range of the minor axis  24  and major axis  26  noted on the faceplate  22  ( FIG. 1 ), and axis between the minor and major axis, in accordance with the rotation of the first motor  40 . Such movement of the laser  36  is facilitated by second motor  42 . 
         [0025]    Continuing with a description of the laser  36  and its motion, the laser  36  resides within a drum or cylinder  58 , shown in phantom as an example, although other shapes are conceivable, within the upper unit  56 . The cylinder  58  is capable of rotating on an axis that may be coincident with the entry point or attachment point of the support post  60  on the cylinder  58 . The support post  60  may mount to a surface of the base unit  51 , similar to the motor  42 . The motor  42 , powered from the PCB  52 , may rotate a motor gear  62 , which in turn rotates a cylinder gear  64 . The upper unit  56  may be divided into two halves  66 ,  68  with a gap  70  between the halves  66 ,  68  ( FIG. 6 ). Alternatively, the upper unit  56  may not be divided, but rather a slit or slot  72  may be formed in the upper unit  56 , such as over the top of the upper unit  56 . It is through the gap  70  or slot  72  that the laser pointer  34  of the laser  36  may be directed. More specifically, with the laser  36  rotating with the cylinder  58  when the motor  42  is activated in concert with the motor  40  in accordance with the speed of the vehicle  10 , the laser  36  may be directed to specific indicia  30  on the faceplate  22 . That is, the motors  40 ,  42  may both be activated at the same time as a vehicle speed increases or decreases. 
         [0026]    Continuing with indicia lighting, to light specific indicia  30  of the faceplate  22  depicted in  FIG. 2 , the laser  36  may be situated under the faceplate center  32  on the PCB  52  such that if the laser pointer  34  were directed directly upward, laser light would pass through the center  32  of the faceplate  22 . Continuing, it follows that with the same positioning of the rotational mechanism  50  and accompanying laser  36  under the faceplate  22 , and on the PCB  52 , regardless of how the base unit  51  and upper unit  56  is rotated, the laser pointer  34  may be aligned with the faceplate center  32  and any particular indicia  30 . In moving about the faceplate periphery, the laser  36  may rotate within the upper unit  56  in accordance with arrow  74 . Such a mounting is but one possible configuration on the PCB  52 ; other mountings, such as off-center, or not directly under the center of the faceplate  22 , are foreseeable. 
         [0027]    There are many advantages to the teachings of the present invention. With the use of a laser pointer  34 , a multitude of faceplate  22  and indicating instrument shapes are possible because no mechanical, moving pointer is necessary to indicate speeds on the faceplate  22 . Additionally, because the motors  40 ,  42  are small, micro-motors, they have a small package, permitting such to be used even in small gauges, such as traditional vehicle fuel gauges and temperature gauges. Additionally, by using a concentrated beam of light, such as a laser or LED, the faceplate  22  will have an aesthetically pleasing, progressive appearance as a “virtual pointer.” Furthermore, sophisticated light directing techniques generally associated with lighting mechanical pointers are not required. Finally, because of the flexibility in directing concentrated laser light from one location on a PCB, gauge packaging within a vehicle dash may be more flexible regarding gauge placement and more efficient in terms of dash space utilized. 
         [0028]    The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.