Backlit graduated gauge including means for super-illuminating a portion of the graduations
US8943996B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 5, 2009 |
| Grant date | Feb 3, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 9, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60K2360/33
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention relates to a backlit motor vehicle gauge such as a speedometer or a revolution counter, which gauge has a wall provided with translucent graduations disposed over a circular arc, one or more light-emitting elements (16) carried by a support plate (13), and a light guide (18) interposed between the support plate (13) and the graduated wall so as to diffuse the light emitted by the light-emitting elements (16) towards a back face of the graduated wall in order to illuminate all of the graduations. According to the invention, the light guide (18) is mounted to pivot IO about an axis (AX) passing through the center of the circular arc while having its position servo-controlled, and said light guide (18) carries a spot lighting member (28) situated radially at the same level as the circular arc so as to highlight a portion of the region carrying the graduations. The invention is applicable to gauges designed to equip motor vehicles.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.