Instrument panel pointer with transparent section

• Main Authors: BLACKMAR, STEPHEN C, CLUGSTON, MARK J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 15.06.2016
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS INVEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OFTRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVEREDIN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GASEXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS, IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; MEASURING; MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; TESTING; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL

A vehicle (10) instrument panel assembly (12) that includes a display surface (20) and a pointer (30) equipped with an electro-optical cell (34). The display surface (20) is equipped with a graphical indicator (24). The graphical indicator (24) is selectively operable to an off-state and an illuminated-state. The pointer (30) is operable to move about an axis to point to indicia (22) on the display surface (20). The pointer (30) is operable to a position that obstructs the graphical indictor from view. The electro-optical cell (34) is operable to a transparent-state and located on the pointer (30) to overlay the graphical indicator (24) when the pointer (30) is at the position that obstructs the graphical indictor from view. The cell is operated to the transparent-state when the graphical indicator (24) is operated to the illuminated-state.