Patent Document

FIELD 
   The present invention relates to instrument panel gauges in vehicles and more particularly to an instrument panel gauge presenting a three-dimensional viewing arrangement. 
   BACKGROUND 
   The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
   Instrument clusters on automobiles generally include a plurality of gauges for displaying operational information such as vehicle speed, engine RPM, engine temperature, fuel level and other information related to driving or vehicle conditions. The gauges may include analog or digital readings for displaying the information depending on manufacturer and styling preferences. An analog gauge typically includes a faceplate having indicia thereon such as numbers and a pointer for rotating to the appropriate number. 
   One design consideration for an instrument cluster and related gauges is the ability of a vehicle operator to easily view and read the gauges in all driving environments. In particular, nighttime driving requires the instrument cluster to illuminate in some fashion such that the numbers and indicia are quickly and easily discernible. 
   SUMMARY 
   In one configuration, a gauge of an instrument cluster may have a base structure with an integrally molded dial structure with a transparent portion. Mounted to the base structure is a separate, translucent dial structure through which a first light source emits light that passes from a first side of the base structure through the transparent portion. Relative to a gauge pointer, inboard indicia in one dial structure denote vehicle speeds, while outboard graduations in another dial structure demark the indicia. The transparent portion of the base structure may be an integrally molded horizontal, angular or vertical portion within the base structure. 
   In another configuration, a gauge of an instrument cluster has a base structure, a first dial structure with indicia mounted as a separate piece on the base structure, and a second dial structure with graduations that demark the first indicia. Additionally, the second dial structure may be integrally formed as part of the base structure, outboard of the first dial structure. A transparent portion may be an integral portion of the base structure, in which case it may be located under the first dial structure to pass light from a light source. The first dial structure, which includes the first indicia, may be angled relative to the base structure and transmit light onto the second dial structure. The second dial structure may also be angled relative to other portions of the base structure. A light source under the first dial structure and a transparent portion of the base structure under the first dial structure may transmit light into the first dial structure, which may be translucent or transparent. 
   In yet another configuration, a gauge of an instrument cluster may have a base structure with an integrally molded first dial structure, a first light source, and a transparent portion in the base structure that passes light from the first light source to a second dial structure. Translucent indicia in the first dial structure are illuminated from the first light source. The second dial structure may be a separate, translucent, detachable piece from the base structure and have graduations that demark indicia on the first dial structure. The second dial structure is outboard of the first dial structure, with respect to a pointer located at their center. Graduations in the second dial structure demark indicia on the first dial structure, while a second light source may pass light through the translucent second dial structure to the graduations. 
   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 
     The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an interior dash of a vehicle depicting a location of a gauge; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of a gauge constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 3   a  is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the gauge component of  FIG. 2 ; and 
       FIG. 3   b  is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the gauge component of  FIG. 2 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   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. 
   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 the vehicle  10 . As part of the instrument cluster  14 , a viewed component  20  is depicted. Hereinafter, the viewed component is exemplified by a gauge, such as a speedometer. It is appreciated that the viewed component  20  may be exemplified by other gauges, dials or instruments such as, but not limited to, tachometers, fuel gauges, temperature gauges, oil pressure gauges, etc. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 2 , the speedometer  20  generally includes a first dial  22 , a second dial  24 , a pointer  26 , and an outer casing  27  or housing. The first dial  22  denotes miles per hour (mph) to a driver using indicia  28  and the pointer  26 . The second dial  24  denotes graduations  30  that demark the indicia  28  of the first dial  22 . The first dial  22  and second dial  24  may be displayed on different viewing levels, or at least different angles, relative to a common base structure. The dials  22 ,  24  are separated by an outboard surface  32 , which may lie at an edge of the first dial  22 . Continuing with  FIG. 2 , an inner dial  34  utilizes inner dial graduations  38  to demark indicia  36  of a scale representing kilometers per hour (km/h). Because the inner dial  34  is an auxiliary or secondary scale, it is located immediately adjacent to the pointer  26  and has indicia  36  that are smaller in size than the indicia  28  of the first dial  22 . As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the speedometer  20  is a typical US configuration insofar as the first dial  22  has mph indicia  28  larger than the corresponding Km/h indicia  36 , which apply to countries using metric measurements, such as Canada. 
   As will now be described in greater detail with reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  3   a  and  3   b , the speedometer  20  provides a layered viewing surface offering an observer an easy to view and read instrument.  FIG. 2  will continue to be referenced while the embodiment of  FIG. 3   a  is presented first.  FIG. 3   a  depicts an embodiment of the invention in cross-section in which a forming dial  40  or base structure, which may be molded from an acrylic material, provides a base structure from which the first and second dials  22 ,  24  are based. Before moving into details of the dials  22 ,  24  themselves, dial lighting will be presented. A printed circuit board (“PCB”)  42  behind the forming dial  40 , with reference to a viewer&#39;s perspective, may have a light source, such as light emitting diodes (“LEDs”)  44 ,  46  mounted to the PCB. The LEDs  44 ,  46  provide light to the first and second dials  22 ,  24  such that a viewer, such as a vehicle driver, may comfortably and easily view the indicia  28  and corresponding graduations  30 . Additionally, the viewer may also view indicia  36  and corresponding graduations  38  in an inner area  46  of the forming dial  40  with the LED  44 ,  46  lighting. 
   Continuing with  FIGS. 2 and 3   a , in order for a nighttime viewer to see the indicia  28 , such as mph marking “ 140 ,” of the first dial  22 , the LED  44  emits a beam of light  48  through the forming dial  40  at location  50 . Location  50  represents a clear or transparent portion  50  around the forming dial  40  upon which the first dial  22  is mounted. The first dial  22  may be a separate piece apart from the forming dial  40  and attach using adhesives, mechanical fasteners or the like. Continuing, the first dial  22  is a circular, wedge-shaped piece that provides angularity to the indicia  28 . More specifically, the first dial  22  is, in one example, a transparent or translucent ring that is painted or printed on its angular, top surface  52  so that light does not pass, except through the indicia  28 , which are translucent. Such indicia  28  may be made in a multitude of colors. In such a manner, the nighttime viewer is able to clearly see the indicia  28  upon the darkened, or otherwise contrasting surface  52 , through which light does not pass, or through which light may be restricted. 
   Continuing with the top surface  52  of  FIG. 3   a , although light does not pass through the top surface  52 , light may reflect from the interior surface  54  of the first dial  22  when the LED  44  projects light  48  through the area  50 . The light beam  48  projecting from the interior surface  54  is directed as floodlighting toward the second dial  24 , which contains the graduations  30  for the indicia  28  of the first dial  22 . To successfully reflect part of the light beam  48  to the surface  56  as floodlighting, the rear wall  59  of the first dial  22  may be of the same translucent material as the first dial  22 ; that is, with no light-blocking coatings. The surface  56  of the second dial  24  may be coated or sheet molded in a fashion to prevent light rays  48 ,  58  from passing through the surface  56 , with the exception of through graduations  30 , regarding light ray  58 . As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the graduations  30  are the identifying marks for the indicia  28 . In addition to the beam of light  48 , a second beam of light  58  may emit from LED  46  to provide back lighting for the graduations  30 . To take advantage of such backlighting at the graduations  30 , the forming dial  40  is translucent or otherwise constructed of a light-passing material to pass the light beam  58 . The surface  32  provides visible, lighted separation between the first dial  22  and second dial  24 . Additionally, the surface  80  of the forming dial, provides a lighted, visual outer boundary for the graduations  30 . 
   Regarding the embodiment of  FIG. 3   a , multiple advantages are evident. First, the first dial  22  may be a separate piece, apart from the forming dial  40 . With such a structure, the angle of the surface  52  of the first dial  22  can easily be changed by substituting a different piece. This substitution advantage provides the opportunity to place the gauge  20  into various applications with only a slight change. With a different first dial  22 , the indicia  28  may be changed in addition to the part angle. Second the one-piece forming dial  40 , which acts as a base from which the gauge  20  is constructed, provides rigid support for the first dial  22 . Adding to this advantage, the second dial  24  is actually part of the forming dial  40  and thus, in this regard, there are no thin “bridges” or pieces of material that otherwise may be necessary to join a dual dial structure. A third advantage is that because the LED  44  provides a dual function of providing backlighting for the indicia  28  and providing floodlighting to illuminate the surface  56  of the second dial  24 , the light emitted from the LED  44  is used very efficiently in a dual role. A fourth advantage is that during nighttime viewing of the illuminated gauge  20 , the multi-level, multi-angle structure of the gauge  20  is easier and more relaxing to view because the three-dimensional effect is enhanced. This makes the gauge  20  more aesthetically pleasing than other designs, such as a flat gauge  20 , regardless of whether it is backlit or lit with floodlighting. 
   Turning now to the embodiment of  FIG. 3   b , a forming dial  60 , which may be made from a molded acrylic, has a first dial  62  and a second dial  64 . In this embodiment, the first dial  62  is formed as an integral part of the forming dial  60  in which the indicia  28 , depicted as “ 140 ” in  FIG. 3   b , is a translucent area of the first dial  62 . The balance of the first dial  62  immediately surrounding the indicia  28  does not transmit light. In such a fashion, light from a light beam  72 , which originates from an LED  69  or similar light source, illuminates the translucent indicia  28  of the surface  66  of the first dial  62 . Continuing, the forming dial  60  has the second dial  64 , which is a separate structure, mounted to it. The second dial  64  may be a separate piece apart from the forming dial  60  and attach using adhesives, mechanical fasteners or the like. Continuing, the second dial  64  may be a circular, wedge-shaped piece that provides angularity and the appearance of depth to the graduations  30  formed into its surface  68 , especially when viewed in conjunction with the indicia  28  of the first dial  62 . 
   Lighting the first and second dials  62 ,  64  is accomplished by LEDs  69 ,  70 . More specifically, the LEDs  69  and  70  emit light beams  72  and  74 , respectively. It is light from light beam  72  that assists in illuminating the indicia  28 . Additionally, light beam  72  passes through the wall  76  of the forming dial  60  via transparent structure  78 , which is integrally molded into the forming dial  60 . To pass light through the wall  76 , which is nearly perpendicular to the forming dial  60 , the LED  69  may be angled slightly toward such wall  72 . Because the light beam  72  passes through the vertical wall  72 , the light beam  72  provides floodlight illumination to the surface  68  of the second dial  64 . The surface  68  of the second dial  64  may be painted, printed or molded in a particular color to take aesthetic advantage of the floodlighting  72  that illuminates the surface  68  after the light beam  72  passes through the wall  76 . 
   The embodiment of  FIG. 3   b  also has an LED  70  that emits a light beam  74  that passes through the forming dial  60  under the second dial  64  via a transparent region  84 . The second dial  64  may be made of a molded translucent or transparent acrylic that permits light to pass into the second dial  64  and illuminate the second dial  64  to provide back lighting for the graduations  30  in the surface  68  of the second dial  64 . Such graduations  30  may be made in a variety of translucent colors for aesthetic satisfaction. In such a fashion, the second dial  64  receives floodlighting for the surface  68  and backlighting for graduations  30 . Similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 3   a , the forming dial  60  under the second dial  64  is provided with a clear or transparent area  84  so that light may pass into the second dial  64 . To provide an enhanced visual effect, the first dial  62  defines a surface  33  that divides the first dial  62  and the second dial  64 . Additionally, surface  82  of the second dial  64  provides a lighted, outboard boundary for the graduations  30  and gauge  20 . 
   The embodiment of  FIG. 3   b  has multiple advantages. First, the second dial  64  is a separate piece, apart from the forming dial  60 . With such a structure, the angle of the surface  68  of the second dial  64  can easily be changed by substituting a piece with a different angle. This substitution advantage provides the opportunity to place the gauge into various applications with a slight change in effectively, only one part, the second dial  64 . Second, the one-piece forming dial  60 , which acts as a base from which the gauge  20  is constructed, provides rigid support for the second dial  64 . Adding to this advantage, the first dial  62  is actually part of the forming dial  60  and thus, in this regard, there are no thin “bridges” or pieces of material that otherwise may be necessary to join a dual dial, such as a dual ring structure, which may require gaps between rings to pass light to subsequent rings. A third advantage is that because the LED  69  provides a dual function of providing backlighting for the indicia  28  and providing floodlighting for the second dial  64 , the light emitted from the LED  69  is used very efficiently in such a dual role. A fourth advantage is that during nighttime viewing of the illuminated gauge  20 , the multi-level structure of the gauge  20  is easier and more comfortable to view because the three-dimensional effect is enhanced. Finally, the angular, multi-level gauge of the present invention it is more aesthetically pleasing than other designs, such as a flat gauge  20 , regardless of whether it is backlit or lit with floodlighting. 
   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.

Technology Category: b