Patent ID: 7357095

Claim:
An instrument cluster for providing information concerning the operation condition of a vehicle, comprising: a transparent dial having indicia engraved thereon to collectively provide an unobstructed view from a first side of the instrument cluster to a second side of the instrument cluster through said transparent dial and engraved indicia; a motor operatively connected to a pointer; a plurality of light emitting diodes positioned in a center portion of a channel formed in said transparent dial; a front mask positioned in front of said transparent dial, said front mask including an appliqué positioned thereon over said plurality of light emitting diodes, said appliqué includes one or more symbols thereon and said symbols are positioned over cutouts formed through said front mask such that at least one of said plurality of light emitting diodes illuminates said symbols in response to signals from the vehicle; and at least one controller for receiving a signal indicative of a condition of the vehicle, said controller controlling said motor based on said signal to move said pointer and turning said plurality of light emitting diodes on; wherein at least some of said plurality of light emitting diodes are oriented to emit light in a same direction of a plane of said transparent dial, said light being receivable by said transparent dial so as to illuminate said indicia engraved in said transparent dial, said illuminated engraved indicia being visually discernable from said transparent dial.