Abstract:
A display system for an automotive vehicle indicates a state of the vehicle by the position of an indicator bar. The indicator bar moves as the state of the vehicle changes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to display systems for automotive vehicles. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion 
         [0004]    A vehicle may include an engine operatively connected with at least one wheel to drive the wheel and thus move the vehicle. 
         [0005]    A driver of an automotive vehicle may desire feedback on vehicle performance. Vehicle speed and engine speed may be parameters that influence vehicle performance. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Embodiments of the invention may take the form of a display system for an automotive vehicle. The system includes a sensor arrangement configured to determine a state of the vehicle and a display including indicia indicative of the state of the vehicle. The system also includes an indicator element associated with the display and operatively connected with the sensor arrangement such that the indicator element indicates the state of the vehicle by its position relative to the indicia. The indicator element translates in a first direction as the state of the vehicle increases, if the state of the vehicle is less than a first predetermined threshold, rotates as the state of the vehicle increases, if the state of the vehicle is greater than the first predetermined threshold and less than a second predetermined threshold, and translates in a second direction as the state of the vehicle increases, if the state of the vehicle is greater than the second predetermined threshold. 
         [0007]    Embodiments of the invention may take the form of a speedometer system for an automotive vehicle. The system includes a display including indicia indicative of vehicle speed and an indicator element associated with the display and configured to indicate vehicle speed by its position relative to the indicia. The system also includes a looped belt attached with the indicator element and configured to cause the indicator element to translate in a first direction as vehicle speed increases, if the vehicle speed is less than a first predetermined vehicle speed, to rotate as the vehicle speed increases, if the vehicle speed is greater than the first predetermined vehicle speed and less than a second predetermined vehicle speed, and translate in a second direction as the vehicle speed increases, if the vehicle speed is greater than the second predetermined vehicle speed. 
         [0008]    Embodiments of the invention may take the form of a tachometer system for an automotive vehicle having an engine. The system includes a display including indicia indicative of engine speed and an indicator element associated with the display and configured to indicate engine speed by its position relative to the indicia. The system also includes a looped belt attached with the indicator element and configured to cause the indicator element to translate in a first direction as engine speed increases, if the engine speed is less than a first predetermined engine speed, to rotate as the engine speed increases, if the engine speed is greater than the first predetermined engine speed and less than a second predetermined engine speed, and translate in a second direction as the engine speed increases, if the engine speed is greater than the second predetermined engine speed. 
         [0009]    While exemplary embodiments in accordance with the invention are illustrated and disclosed, such disclosure should not be construed to limit the claims. It is anticipated that various modifications and alternative designs may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a display system for a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an elevation view of a display system for a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention and shows its associated control system in block diagram format. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of display system  10  for vehicle  12 . As will be described below, display system  10  provides users a visual indicator of a state, e.g., speed, of vehicle  12 . 
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is an elevation view of display system  10  showing its associated control system in block diagram format. Display system  10  includes speedometer  14  and tachometer  16 . 
         [0014]    Speedometer  14  includes speed markings  18 , which indicate vehicle speed, speed bar  20 , belt  22 , and pulleys  24 . Speed bar  20  is mechanically connected, at its base, with belt  22  which forms a continuous loop around pulleys  24 . By moving belt  22  in the counterclockwise (or clockwise) direction, as indicated by the arrows, speed bar  20  moves around speedometer  14  depending on the vehicle speed as will be explained below. Speedometer  14  also includes designated range  26  which, for example, can visually indicate undesirable speeds for vehicle  12 . 
         [0015]    Tachometer  16  includes tach markings  28 , tach bar  30 , belt  32 , and pulleys  34 . Tach bar  30  is mechanically connected with belt  32  which forms a continuous loop around pulleys  34 . Tach bar  30 , belt  32 , and pulleys  34  are configured to operate in a manner similar to that described with reference to speed bar  20 , belt  22 , and pulleys  24 . Tachometer  16  also includes designated range  36  which, for example, may indicate undesirable speeds for engine  38  of vehicle  12 . 
         [0016]    In some alternative embodiments, speed bar  20  and tach bar  30  may not be mechanically connected with belts  22 ,  32  respectively. Rather, belts  22 ,  32  may each have a magnetic feature, e.g., magnet, and bars  20 ,  30  may each have a magnetic feature, e.g., magnet, such that, for example, as the magnetic feature of belt  22  moves, speed bar  20  moves in response around display system  10 . In other alternative embodiments, system  10  may lack belts  22 ,  32 . Bars  20 ,  30 , instead, may be connected to respective tracks each defining a path for the movement of bars  20 ,  30 . Other configurations are also contemplated. 
         [0017]    Engine speed sensor  38  of engine  39  and vehicle speed sensor  40  are in communication with controller  42  via, for example, a car area network. Vehicle speed sensor  40  senses vehicle speed, in any conventional fashion, and communicates the vehicle speed information to controller  42 . Engine speed sensor  38 , likewise, senses engine speed, in any conventional fashion, and communicates the engine speed information to controller  42 . 
         [0018]    Controller  42 , e.g., processors and associated control motors, is operatively connected with pulleys  24 ,  34 , such that pulleys  24  will move counterclockwise as vehicle speed increases and clockwise as vehicle speed decreases. Likewise, pulleys  34  will move clockwise as engine speed increases and counterclockwise as engine speed decreases. 
         [0019]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , speed bar  20  will translate from right to left as vehicle speed increases from 0 miles per hour to 50 miles per hour, will rotate counterclockwise as vehicle speed increases from 50 miles per hour to 90 miles per hour, and will translate from left to right as vehicle speed increases from 90 miles per hour to 140 miles per hour. Speed bar  20  will move in directions opposite to those described above as vehicle speed decreases. Tach bar  30  will translate from left to right as engine speed increases from 0 revolutions per minute to 250 revolutions per minute, will rotate clockwise as engine speed increases from 250 revolutions per minute to 460 revolutions per minute, and will translate from right to left as engine speed increases from 460 revolutions per minute to 700 revolutions per minute. Tack bar  30  will move in directions opposite to those described above as engine speed decreases. In other embodiments, indicator bars, e.g., speed bar  20 , may translate and/or rotate as desired. 
         [0020]    Display system  10  may include fewer or more indicators, e.g., engine temperature, ambient temperature, etc. 
         [0021]    While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.