Patent Application
20160041011
The present disclosure is related generally to instrument clusters for vehicles.
Vehicles include instrument clusters and gauges for communicating desired operating parameters such as vehicle speed, engine rpm and direction indicators. Different methods and devices are known for communicating this information. Each method and device provides not only the function of communicating operating information to a driver, but also form and contribute to the style and aesthetic appearance of a vehicle interior. Accordingly, it is desirable to develop new and unique devices and methods for communicating and representing vehicle operating information to contribute to a desired appearance.
An instrument cluster assembly with electromagnetic arrangements is disclosed and includes at least one gauge. The gauge includes a dial having a slot and a pointer assembly disposed in the slot. The pointer assembly moves linearly via a linear motor. A controller is configured to generate a signal in response to a vehicle operating condition to move the pointer assembly.
One example linear motor includes a plurality of permanent magnets arranged at the dial. The pointer assembly includes a drive coil configured to interact with the plurality of permanent magnets to move the pointer assembly to indicate on dial graphics on the dial.
In one application, the controller generates the signal to a driver that drives the coils with currents. The position of the pointer assembly is thus controlled by the current driven through the coils by the driver after receiving a signal from the controller. The pointer assembly is moved to indicate on dial graphics associated with the vehicle operating condition. The coil may be a three phase coil creating current vectors in the direction of the pointer motion.
These and other features disclosed herein can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.
Referring to
The example dial graphics 20 are above the slot 16 and extend parallel with the slot 16. The example dial graphics 20 indicate speed, but other measurements indicated in instrument clusters may be used as well. Alternatively, the dial graphics 20 may be disposed below the slot 16.
The example gauge 12 utilizes a linear motor arrangement 21 to drive the pointer assembly 14. In the example linear motor arrangement 21, electromagnetic components move the pointer assembly 14 to a desired position. As shown schematically in
In the example linear motor 21, the pointer assembly 14 further comprises an electromagnetic drive coil arrangement 24 configured to interact with the permanent magnets 22. In one example, the coil 24 is encapsulated substantially within the interior of the pointer assembly 14. As shown in
To move the pointer assembly 14, a controller 26 receives information indicative of a vehicle operating condition from a sensor 27 associated with the vehicle operating condition. Example vehicle operating conditions include speed, RPMs, fuel level, and various temperatures. Additional conditions are contemplated. The controller 26 then generates a signal in response to the received vehicle operating condition information to move the pointer assembly 14. The controller 26 thus translates the information received into a command to move the pointer assembly 14. The example controller 26 generates the signal to a driver 28 of linear motor 21 that drives the three phases of coils 24 with three interrelated sets of sinusoidal drive currents. The position of the pointer assembly 14 is thus controlled by the current driven through the coils 24 by the driver 28 after receiving a signal from the controller 26. The pointer assembly 14 is moved to indicate on dial graphics 20 that are associated with the vehicle operating condition.
In one application, as shown in
The example gauge 12 thus allows for a linear gauge without the complicated gear system that would be required if the gauge were mechanical, giving a designer additional options when designing an aesthetically pleasing instrument cluster.
The disclosed linear motor is exemplary. Other linear motor arrangements are contemplated.
A second example linear motor 121 is shown in
The electromagnets 140, 142 comprise field windings 152, 154. When current is generated in a field winding 152, 154, the resulting magnetic field will reinforce magnetic flux at one pole face and cancel magnetic flux at the other. The face receiving highest flux will align its teeth with the platen 150. Thus, selectively applying current to the field windings 152 and 154 can concentrate flux at any of the four poles 154, allowing movement of the forcer in the desired direction.
A controller 126 receives information indicative of a vehicle operating condition from a sensor 127 associated with the vehicle operating condition. The controller 126 then generates a signal in response to the received vehicle operating condition information to move the pointer assembly 114. The controller 126 thus translates the information received into a command to move the pointer assembly 114. The example controller 126 generates the signal to a driver 128 of linear motor 121 that drives the field windings 152 and 154. The pointer assembly 114 is moved to indicate on dial graphics 120 that are associated with the vehicle operating condition.
Although the different examples have a specific component shown in the illustrations, embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from one of the examples in combination with features or components from another one of the examples.
Although embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
