This application claims priority to Indian Patent Application No. 971/KOL/2015, filed Sep. 10, 2015 and entitled “INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WITH POINTER EMBEDDED WITH PROJECTOR,” which is herein incorporated by reference.
The instrument cluster is an essential component in today's automotive vehicles. The instrument cluster may include a pointer, an applique, cap assembly, cluster lens, Printed Wiring Board (PWB), assembly and so on.
In conventional clusters, complex designs are adopted for pointer mechanisms. Further in most clusters, only half of the pointer is visible. A complex assembly process may be realized for the assembly of the different components of the cluster. As such, the cost of the conventional clusters becomes higher because of complex components and complex assembly processes. Furthermore, most conventional clusters are configured for two-dimensional (2D) image display.
Examples of instrument clusters shown employing conventional designs are shown in
The primary object of the present disclosure is to provide an automotive instrument cluster gauge having pointer embedded with projector.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an automotive instrument cluster gauge having pointer embedded with projector, which provides real time analog and digital displays with a full pointer. A full pointer is defined as an appearance that a line associated with the indication of information is shown via the complete display screen of the instrument cluster.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an automotive instrument cluster gauge having pointer embedded with projector. By combining the two, a lower cost associated with the manufacture of the project/cluster may be realized.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an automotive instrument cluster gauge having a pointer embedded with a projector.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an automotive instrument cluster gauge having pointer embedded with projector, which may be capable of display information, such as a warning on the screen projected directly on the screen.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an automotive instrument cluster gauge having pointer embedded with projector, wherein graphics are customize-able.
In order to achieve the above mentioned objects, the present disclosure includes an instrument cluster having a pointer embedded with a projector assembly, including a cluster lens for providing protective cover, a display such as a projection thin film for providing electronic content, a cap assembly for holding the magnifying lens, an applique, a pointer for indicating the current measurement, projector assembly for projection of the objects on the cluster lens, and a PWB assembly for controlling instrument cluster operation. The pointer may be shaped similar to “Z” and the projector assembly includes space to carry the pointer.
In one embodiment, the cap assembly includes a cap and magnifying lens.
In one embodiment, a safe air gap is provided between the pointer and the projector.
In one embodiment, the applique comprises speed markings.
In one embodiment, the instrument cluster includes a LCD screen to display the digital information.
In one embodiment, the projector assembly is fixed on the PWB assembly with the help of projector holder and connected thereto with the help of a flex cable.
In one embodiment, the projector assembly comprises a pico projector assembly.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present embodiments of the disclosure are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the disclosure as it is claimed The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation of the disclosure.
The above-mentioned and other features and other advantages of the disclosure will be better understood and will become more apparent by referring to the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible same numerals will be used to refer to the same or like parts.
Disclosed herein is an automotive instrument cluster having pointer embedded with the projector assembly In the present disclosure, the pointer has embedded with projector on moving subsystem and information is produced on the lens of cluster
The instrument cluster includes a cluster lens (602), a projector thin film (604), a cap assembly (606), an applique (608), pointer blade (610), projector assembly (612), and a PWB assembly (not shown). The cap assembly (606) further may include cap and magnifying lens.
Also shown in
The pico projector assembly (612) is fixed on the PWB (614) by employing a mechanical fastening device such as a projector holder, and connected with a flex cable to the PWB board.
Like the instrument clusters described in the prior art, the pointer is configured to rotate around an axis. However, as explained in
Thus, through center of the pointer 610, information and content is projected onto the lens screen providing a secondary indication of information from the same assembly, while being integrated with a conventional pointer design.
non-rotating graphic with mechanical pointer (information like navigation or tell-tale graphic reference proposal 1 and 2);
The present disclosure does not include any complex mechanism only the existing pointer technology is used with bit modification. The present disclosure is simple in construction and is cost effective. Another advantage of the present disclosure is that full pointer is visible with cap assembly.
It is to be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications and variations provided they come within the ambit of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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971/KOL/2015 | Sep 2015 | IN | national |