Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01D—MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G01D11/00—Component parts of measuring arrangements not specially adapted for a specific variable
  • G01D11/28—Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
  • B60K35/00—Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
  • B60K35/20—Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
  • B60K35/21—Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor using visual output, e.g. blinking lights or matrix displays
  • B60K35/215—Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor using visual output, e.g. blinking lights or matrix displays characterised by the combination of multiple visual outputs, e.g. combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G12—INSTRUMENT DETAILS
  • G12B—CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF INSTRUMENTS, OR COMPARABLE DETAILS OF OTHER APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G12B11/00—Indicating elements; Illumination thereof
  • G12B11/04—Pointers; Setting-mechanisms therefor

Definitions

• the invention relates to a display instrument with an illuminated pointer according to the preamble of the main claim.
• a display instrument with an illuminated pointer is known, a light-conducting plate being arranged under the pointer, into which light from a lamp is coupled.
• the light-conducting plate guides the light from the lamp to the pointer hub, where it is coupled into the pointer.
• the pointer also acts as a light guide and deflects the light directed into it towards an observer.
• the pointer is also mounted on a shaft which is guided to a pointer drive mechanism which rotatably drives the pointer.
• the display instrument according to the invention with the characterizing features of the main claim has the advantage that no light guide must be provided in addition to the pointer in order to couple the light illuminating the pointer into the pointer.
• the housing serves as a light chamber and guides the light to the light coupling point of the pointer. This creates the further advantage that the shaft between the pointer drive mechanism and the pointer can be kept very short, which improves the pointer behavior due to the reduced effects of the pointer and shaft elasticity on the pointer drive mechanism and thus the display accuracy.
• the measures listed in the subclaims enable advantageous developments and improvements of the display instrument specified in the main claim.
• the arrangement of the pointer drive unit together with the light source in a common housing has the advantage that no separate housing has to be provided for the pointer drive unit in order to protect it from environmental influences.
• the arrangement of a passage of the shaft through the housing for the light source is avoided, which is equivalent to reduced expenditure.
• the housing has reflection surfaces which reflect the light towards the light coupling surface, the amount of light entering the pointer through the light coupling point is thereby advantageously increased.
• the coating of the housing with a reflective layer once again increases the amount of light available for illuminating the pointer.
• the arrangement of a scatter foil below the LCD display improves the uniformity of the illumination of the LCD display. Reflection surfaces in the housing, which reflect the light towards the recess, increase the amount of light available below the LCD display for illuminating it.
• the arrangement of an opaque cap on the pointer on its side facing the viewer plane has the advantage that the light illuminating the pointer emerges only from the pointer flag and not from its hub, which improves the legibility of the display instrument.
• FIG. 1 shows a display instrument with a pointer
• Figure 2 is a display instrument with pointer and LCD display.
• FIG. 1 shows a display instrument in which a pointer drive mechanism 15 is arranged on a base plate 17.
• a shaft 14 protrudes from the pointer drive mechanism 15, on which a pointer 12 is attached.
• the pointer comprises a hub which is on the shaft 14 and a pointer flag which is formed in one piece with the hub.
• a cap 13 is placed on the pointer 12 above the area of the hub.
• a light source 18 is arranged on the base plate 17 on the side of the pointer drive mechanism 15.
• the light source 18 and the pointer drive mechanism 15 are jointly enclosed by a housing 16, which is also attached to the base plate 17.
• the housing 16 has an opening on its top through which the shaft 14 protrudes together with the hub of the pointer 12.
• a dial 11 is arranged between the pointer 12 and the upper side of the housing 16 and has a first recess 24 in the region of the hub of the pointer 12, through which the hub of the pointer 12 projects.
• the lower region of the hub of the pointer 12, which lies within the housing 16, serves as a light coupling point 26.
• the housing 16 has on its inside in the region above the light source 18 a reflection surface 27 which is inclined so that the light reflected on it to the light coupling point 26 of the pointer 12 is steered.
• the housing 16 has a reflective layer 28 on the reflection surface 27.
• the light 22 coupled into the pointer by the light coupling point 26 is guided from the hub to the pointer flag and is deflected in the pointer flag towards a viewer plane.
• the space within the housing 16 around the pointer hub and thus also the light coupling point 26 are illuminated by the light source 18 and the light 22 emitted by it is guided to the light coupling point 26 by means of the walls of the housing 16 and above all the reflection surface 27.
• the coupled light 22 is forwarded within the pointer 12 to the viewer level.
• the cap 13 serves to avoid the emission of light 22 in the area of the pointer disc.
• the reflective layer 28 serves to amplify the reflection towards the light coupling point 26.
• the housing is designed to be opaque and at the same time prevents the unwanted escape of the light 22 of the light source 18 and the entry of dirt into the housing 16. Since the pointer drive mechanism 15 is also arranged in the housing 16, this is also protected from environmental influences.
• FIG. 2 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a display instrument with an illuminated, movable pointer.
• the numbering from FIG. 1 was retained.
• the exemplary embodiment shown here differs from the arrangement from FIG. 1 in that the housing 16 additionally has a further recess 20, above which an LCD display 19 is arranged.
• the dial 11 covers the LCD display 19 and, above the display area of the LCD display 19, has an aperture 21 which allows the light 23 of the LCD display 19 to pass through.
• the LCD display 19 also has a scattering film 25 on its underside.
• the housing 16 is shaped in such a way that it has a further reflection surface 29, on which part of the light 22, which is emitted by the light source 18, is reflected toward the further recess 20.
• the reflection surface 27 is not provided with a reflective layer 28.
• the light source 18 thus illuminates the light coupling point 26 on the one hand via the reflection surface 27 and the LCD display 19 on the other hand via the reflection surface 29.
• the light 22 of the light source 18 impinging on the scattering film 25 penetrates the LCD display 19 in part, as a result of which the Readability of the LCD display 19 is improved, especially in the dark.
• the light 22 coupled into the pointer hub via the light coupling point 26 exits the pointer 12 and likewise serves to improve the visibility of the pointer 12 when values are displayed on the dial 11.
• a reflective layer 28 can also be provided here.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Details Of Measuring Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=6528467

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (12)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 1994
  • 1994-09-17 DE DE4433150A patent/DE4433150A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 1995
  • 1995-08-19 WO PCT/DE1995/001095 patent/WO1996008696A1/de not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1995-08-19 JP JP8509795A patent/JPH10505678A/ja active Pending
  • 1995-08-19 EP EP95928950A patent/EP0782698A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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