FIELD OF INVENTION
I
I The present invention relates to an illuminated pointer in a vehicle
information display instrument and more particularly to an analog based vehicle
information display instrument with color changing pointer for indicating the various
ranges of parameters (such as speed, RPM, fuel indicator, temperature, etc) in
vehicles such as two wheelers, three wheelers, four wheelers, and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The statements in this section merely provide background information related
to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art(s).
Generally, the vehicle information display instruments in the automotive
vehicles are equipped with a pointer configured to indicate parameters such as speed
of the vehicle, level of the fuel remaining in a fuel tank of the vehicle, engine
temperature, time, and the like. In many cases, the pointer can be rotated about a
rotational axis and is in many cases connected to a stepper motor by means of a
rotating shaft. The pointer generally comprises an axial portion extending
substantially parallel to the rotational axis about which the pointer can be rotated. The
pointer generally further comprises a radial portion extending substantially in a
direction perpendicular to the axial portion and perpendicular to the rotational axis.
In modem vehicle information display instruments for vehicles, various
proposals have been made to improve the visibility of these pointers, especially
during night time. For instance, the recent trend is to mold the pointer from a
transparent acrylic resin or like material and to guide light from a light sovrce toward
and into the transparent pointer for illuminating the pointer itself, besides the usual
means for illuminating the meter dial. Additionally, it has become to light the
pointer using light sources such as LEDs (light emitting diodes). In general, LEDs
might be arranged around the outskirts of the shaft. Moreover, recently the
researchers have come up with the idea of striking the colorful light, may be by a
- -
RGB LED via a light guide structure to the pointer. However, these aforesaid
concepts are merely an incomplete way of transferring the light to the pointer. This is
because, the lights emitted by si~ch LED are not so efficicnt in transfelrir~g 100%
light to the pointer and thus results in wastage of light. Henceforth, the arrangement
requires multiple LEDs to achieve the necessary amount of illuminance for glowing
the pointer to indicate the corresponding data in the vchicle infor~~lalivdni splay
instrument. This results in an increased cost of the whole arrangement of supplying
the light into the pointcr in the uelricle information display instruments. Furthermore,
such an arrangement is not commercially, acceptable due to its fcnsibility and
robustness.
~encet,h ere is an urgent need for an improved and efficient arrangement for
transferring sufficient light to the pointer in the vehicle information display
instrument without losing the basic requirements of reliability, less cost, customers'
satisfaction and the like.
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTIWS OF THE INVENTION
The present subject matter relates to a vehicle information display instrument
with a variable color pointer that includes an actuator positioned on a rear side of a
printed circuit board having an actuator shaft rotatble with the rotation of the wheels
of the vehicle. The subject matter is also provided with the pointer fixedly attached .to
the actuator shaft on the fiont side of the printed circuit board wherein the pointer is
adapted to be internally illuminated. The, vehicle information display instrument is
uniquely provided with an RGB light emitting diode positioned on the rear side of the
printed circuit board to produce a plurality of colors. Further, the structure is also
provided with a U-shaped passage provided within the actuator to transfer the
plurality of colors produced fiom the RGB (RED, GREEN, BLUE) light emitting
diode through first end of the U-shaped passage to internally illuminate the pointer
through the second end of the U-shaped passage, wherein the color of the pointer
changes according to the instantaneous speed of the. vehicle.
An object of the present subject matter is to provide the vehicle with the fuel
tank, an engine mounted ahead of a rider's seat, brake lights, tail lights, and other
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necessary components of the vehicle.
An object of the present subject matter is to provide the fuel tank with a fuel
supply 'port formed on the upper surface of the fuel tank.
An object of the present subject matter is to provide a'vehicle information
display instrument wilh a color changing pointer.
An object of the present subject matter is to provide the vehicle information
display instrument with a printed circuit, board with a fiont side and a rear side.
An object of the present subject matter is to provide the rear side of the
'printed circuit board with an actuator operably connected to an electronic circuit
structure (not shown) that rcceives signals snsed by external sensors (mechanical
andlor electronic).
An object of the present subject matter is to hold the pointer with a hub.
An object of the present subject matter is to mount the hub with an actuator
shaft extending through the actuator.
An object, of the present subject matter is to illuminate the pointer with an
RGB (RED, GREEN, BLUE) light emitting diode to internally illuminate the pointer.
An object of the present subject matter is to produce multiple colors of the
\ permutations and combinations of the three primary colors i.e. Red, green and blue.
An object of the present subject matter is to transmit the light from the RGB
light emitting diode via first end of a U-shaped passage to the pointer via the second
end of the U-shaped passage.
Another object of the present subject matter is to provide the governing of the
vehicle information display instrument with an electronic circuit structure provided
with a rnicrocontroller.
Another object of the present subject matter is to provide the vehicle with a
wheel speed sensor to sense the speed of the vehicle.
Another object of the present subject matter is to enable the rnicrocontroller to
decide the color of the pointer according to the instantaneous speed sensed by the
wheel speed sensor.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an easy, compact,
less costly and advanced vehicle information display instrument.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The summary narrated above and the following detailed description of the
invention can be understood with the drawings appended to this claim. The
illustrations provide the details of the invention. However, it should be understood
that the invention is not limited to the arrangements shown. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 shows perspective views of a two wheeler in an embodiment of the present
subject matter.
FIG. 2 illustrates a line diagram of the front side of a printed circuit board showing a
pointer and an RGB LED in an embodiment of the present subject matter.
FIG. 3 illustrates a line diagram of the rear side of the printed circuit board showing
an actuator on the printed circuit board in an embodiment of the present subject
matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The embodiments of the present subject matter are described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present subject matter is not
limited to these embodiments which are only provided to explain .more clearly the
present subject matter to the ordinarily skilled in the art of the present disclosure. In
the accompanying drawings, like reference alphabets and numerals are used to
indicate like components. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to the scale, and in
some instances the drawings have been exaggerated and/or' simplified in places for
illustrative purposes. only.
The present invention relates to a multi-color .painter in a 'vehicle information
display instrument and more particularly to an analog based vehicle information
display instrument with color changing pointers for indicating the various ranges of
pmmctcrs (such as speed, RPM, fuel irldicator, temperature, etc) in vehicles such as
two wheelers, three wheelers, four wheelers, and the like. The following description
is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure,
application, or uses. The present invention will hereinafter be described in detail
below as applied to a motor cycle 100. However, the principles of the present
invention are also applicable .to other vehicles 100 such as three wheelers, four
wheelers, and the like. Upward, lower, front and rear directions (see the directions
. .
indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1) will be described with respect to directions as
seated by the rider on. the motorcycle 100. Further, the present subject matter is
explained with reference to the pointer in vehicle information display instrument.
However, the scope of the present subject matter may be extended to pointers in other
kind of meters such as, but not restricted to, a tachometer, a fuel level meter, a
coolant water temperature meter, an oil pressure meter, a voltmeter, an ammeter, a
vacuum gauge, an alarm indicator, and the like.
FIG. 1 illustrates a two wheeler 100 that may include a fuel tank 102 and an
engine mounted ahead of a rider's seat 104, a frame 106 and two relatively large sized
wheels 108 on which the frame 106 rides. The structure is necessarily provided with a
pair of left and right front fork members rotatably supported by a head pipe 110 on
the front end of the vehicle frame. The steering 'of the two wheelers 100 is possible
via a front wheel which is mounted on the front fork member whereas the rear wheel
(drive wheel) is at the rear end. FIG. 1 shows a handlebar 112 secured to an upper
portion of the front fork member, and the front and rear portion of the handle bar 112
is covered with a handle cover which. is further divided into forward and backward
portions. The two wheeler 100 are also provided with various lights mounted
externally on the vehicle to indicate certain information about the vehicle to other
drivers and pedestrians. These lights mainly include brake lights and tail lights
besides indicator light bulbs which are provided to indicate the driving direction of
the two wheelers. The two wheeler 100 is further provided with the intel1,igent vehicle
information display instrument (also known as a speedometer) located between the
handle bars 112 of the two ;heeler 100. The vehiclc information display illslrument
114 may be viewable by the rider 'of the motor cycle 100 when the rider is seated on
the seat 104 and operating the vehicle 100. The vehicle information display
instrument 114 may be disposed generally in front of the rider so that the rider can
inspect or view a variety of information that form part of the vehicle information
display instrument '114, which information may indicate an operating condition or
conditions of the vehicle. The vehicle information display instrument 114 may be
provided with audiolvisual warning indicators comprising information such as speed,
the fuel level, telephone, bluetooth, rpm of the engine, tell tale symbols, turn signal
indicator, hazard warning indicator and 1 or other indicators. FIG. 1 further shows a
headlight 116 provided, as an attachment to the top middle of the handlebar of the
motor cycle, to light the road ahead.
In an embodiment of the present subject matter, FIG. 2 discloses a line
diagram of a printed circuit board 200 assembled on a basic outer body of the vehicle
information display instrument 114 of the vehicles 100. The printed circuit board 200
comprises of a fiont side 200A and a rear side 200B. In an embodiment of the present'
subject matter, the rear side 200B of the printed circuit board 200 is provided with an
actuator 202 operably connected to an electronic circuit structure (not shown) that
receives signals sensed by external sensors (mechanical andlor electronic). In an
embodiment of the present subject matter, the actuator 202 may be a stepper motor,
analog magnetic movement, or any other similar functioning actuator. In an
embodiment of the present subject matter, the front side 200A of the printed circuit
board 200 is provided with the pointer 208 positioned with a hub 206. The hub 206 is
mounted on a shaft 210 extending thorough the actuator 202 provided on the rear side
200B of the printed circuit board 200. The pointer 208 is uniquely positioned to be
internally illuminated by a light emitting diode 212 placed on the rear side 200B of
the printed circuit board 200 as shown in FIG. 2. In an embodiment of the present
subject matter, the light emitting diode 212 is an RGB (abbreviated for RED GREEN
and BLUE) light emitting diode which is characterized in producing a plurality of
selected illuminated colors. In a unique embodiment of the present subject matter, the
light from the RGB light emitting diode 212 is transmitted into the pointer 208
through a U-shaped passage 214 structured within the actuator 202 as shown in FIG.
3. The two ends of the said U-shaped passage 214 are protruded to the front side
200B of the printed circuit board 200 wherein one end receives the light fiom the
RGB light emitting diode 212 while the other transfers the same to the pointer 208, as
is clearly illustrated in FIG. 3. The shape of the passage is not restricted to the
concept of the present subject matter.
Operationally, the RGB light emitting diode 212 placed on the rear side of the
printed circuit board 200 is operated by a microcontroller (not shown) provided with
the electronic circuit structure. The microcontroller receives the instantaneous speed
of the vehicle 100 through a wheel speed sensor placed near the wheel of the vehicle
100, in an embodiment of the present subject matter. The sensed speed is fed to the
microcontroller through the electronic circuit structure wherein the microcontroller
accordingly decides the .color of the pointer 208, in a unique embodiment of the
present subject matter. ~dditionally, the microcontroller also governs the analog
display of the instantaneous speed by the pointer 208 on the vehicle information
display instrument 114 of the vehicle 100. Once, the RGB light emitting diode 212 is
lit by the microcontroller, the colorful light produced by the RGB light emitting diode
212 is transmitted into the'pointer 208 through the U-shaped passage 214 structured
within the actuator 202 positioned on the printed circuit board 200 in the vehicle
information display instrument 114. In an embodiment of the present subject matter,
the RGB light emitting diode 212 can be programmed to produce multiple colors on
the basis of various permutation'and combination of three primary colors i.e. RED,
GREEN and BLUE. Hence, the any color corresponding to any particular speed (or
speed range) of the vehicle may be assigned .to draw the attention of the rider or
driver. The colored analog display of the speed of the vehicle may also be illustrated
in a liquid crystal panel, if required, in an embodiment of the present subject matter.
'The below table will explain an illustrative concept of speed and its colored analog
display by pointer 208 also.
The vehicle information display instrument provided with color changing
. pointer according to the present subject matter advantageously facilitates a variable
colorful display of the pointer in the vehicle information display instrument according
Optional Color
GREEN
- . . ...~...' -.. -
BLUE
ORANGE
VIOLET
RED
S. No.
1
2
3
4
5
to various ranges of the speed of the vehicles. This demands less attention fiom the
Speed Range (in KMPH)
0 to 20
20 to 50
50 to 80
80 to 100
100 and above
rider to monitor the speed of the vehicle and thus more focus on his driving and the
road ahead. Additionally, the provision of the U-shaped passage diminishes the
unnecessarily scattering of light emitted fiom 'the light emitting diode which
consequently decreases the wastage of light emitted fiom the light emitting diode.
Further, this also reduces the unnecessary need of multiple light emitting diodes and
any special arrangement to focus the light required to project into the pointer. This, as
a result, reduces the overall cost of the arrangement too. Furthermore, the
arrangement according to the present subject matter improves the visibility of the
pointer especially during night. Thus, the present subject matter ensures least
requirement of servicing and maintenance that subsequently lowers the overall cost of
any vehicle information display instruments for vehicles. Moreover, the present
subject matter discloses an improved, advanced, reliable, and customers' friendly
vehicle information display instrument provided with color changing pointer.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to
the embodiments described above without departing fiom the broad inventive conc'ept
thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as
illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the
appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all variations,
substitutions and changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency
of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
WE CLAIM:
1. A vehicle information display instrument 114 with a variable color pointer 208
comprising:
an actuator 202 positioned on a rear side 200B of a printed circuit board 200
having an actuator shaft 210 rotatble with the rotation of the wheels of the
vehicle 100;
the pointer 208 fixedly attached to the actuator shaft 210 on the fiont side
200A of the printed circuit board 200 wherein the pointer 208 is adapted to be
internally illuminated;
an RGB light emitting diode 212 positioned 'on the rear side 200B of the
printed circuit board 200 to produce a plurality of colors;
a U-shaped passage 214 provided within the actuator 202 to transfer the
plurality of colors produced fiom the RGB (RED, GREEN, BLUE) light
emitting diode 212 through first end of the U-shaped passage 214 to internally
illuminate the pointer 208 through the second end of the U-shaped passage
214; wherein
the color of the pointer 208 changes according to the instantaneous speed of
the vehicle 100.
2. The vehicle information display instrument 114 with the variable color .pointer
208 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the RGB light emitting diode 208 is placed
exactly on the top of first end of the U-shaped passage 214.
3. The vehicle information display instrument 114 with the variable color pointer
208 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pointer 208 is exactly placed exactly
above the second end of the U-shaped passage 214.
4. The vehicle information display instrument 114 with the variable color pointer
208 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle information display instrument
114 is provided with an electronic circuit structure comprising a microcontroller
that receives the signals of the instantaneous speed of the vehicle 100 sensed by
an external sensor.
5. The vehicle information display instrument 114 with the variable color pointer
208 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator 202 may be a stepper motor,
analog magnetic movement, or any other similar functioning actuator.
6. The velicle irlrvrmation display instrument 114 with the variable color pointer
208 as claimed in claim 1. wherein the pointer 208 Is positioned with a hub 206
fixed on the actuator shaft 210 of the actuator 202.
7. The vehicle information display instrument 114 with the variable color pointer
208 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the RGB light emitting diode 212 is
programmed to produce multiple colors on the basis of various permutation and
combination of three primary colors i.e. RED, GREEN and BLUE.
8. The vehicle information display instrument 114 with the variable color pointer
208 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the speed of the vehicle may be displayed in a
light crystal panel in addition to the analog display of the speed of the vehicles.
9. . The vehicle information display instrumens 114 with the variable color pointcr
208 as claimed in claim '1, wherein the microcontroller decides the color of the
pointer based on the instantaneous speed of the vehicle 100.
10. The vehicle information display instrument 114 with the variable color pointer
208 as claimed in claim 1 may be implemented in a tachometer, a fuel level
meter, a coolant water temperature meter, an oil pressure meter, a voltmeter, an
ammeter, a vacuum gauge, an alarm indicator, and the like.