Analog image information display
View Patent ↗An example display assembly includes a first and second dial face with a first pointer and a second pointer. An information display is disposed between the second scale and the second axis that generates data to communicate information about the vehicle. The second pointer includes a transparent portion to provide uninterrupted viewing of an information display within the second dial face.
1. An instrument display device comprising:
a gauge face,
a first pointer movable about a first axis relative to the gauge face;
a changeable display device disposed within the gauge face; and
a second pointer that is movable about a second axis spaced apart from the first axis to point to a first portion of the changeable display device, wherein the second pointer includes a disk with an outer perimeter spaced radially from the second axis, and the changeable display device includes a second portion that displays information different than that displayed in the first portion in the space between the second axis and the outer perimeter of the second pointer.
2. The display device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the changeable display device displays a scale indicative of an operating condition, and said second pointer moves relative to the scale to indicate a current operating condition.
3. The display device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the disk comprises a transparent portion disposed between the axis and the outer perimeter.
4. The display device as recited in claim 3 , wherein a pointer portion extends from the transparent portion at the outer perimeter.
5. The display device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the transparent portion covers the at least part of the second portion of the changeable display device.
6. The display device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the transparent portion is circularly shaped.
7. The display device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the first portion of the changeable display device displays a scale radially disposed about said transparent portion.
8. The display device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the changeable display device comprises an LCD display.
9. The display device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the second portion of the changeable display device includes information at least partially displayed behind said transparent portion.
10. An instrument dial assembly comprising:
a first gauge representing a first measured value;
a first pointer rotatable relative to the first gauge about an axis;
a second gauge representing a second measured value disposed within the first gauge;
a second pointer rotatable relative to the second gauge about a second axis; and
an information display disposed within a radial space between the second axis and an end of the second pointer, wherein the information display is capable of displaying information different than the first measured value and the second measured value, wherein the second pointer includes a transparent surface portion through which the information display is visible.
11. The assembly as recited in claim 10 , wherein the second pointer comprises a disk pointer including a pointer disposed on an outer perimeter of the transparent portion.
12. The assembly as recited in claim 11 , wherein the second pointer rotates about the second axis and the information display is disposed within the radial space between the second axis and an outer perimeter of the second pointer.
13. The assembly as recited in claim 10 , wherein the second gauge is selectable between a plurality of desired measurement scales and the second pointer indicates a value on the desired measurement scale.
14. The assembly as recited in claim 10 , wherein said second gauge comprises an LCD display that is changeable to define a desired scale onto which the second pointer indicates a current value.
15. The assembly as recited in claim 14 , wherein the information display comprises a digital LCD display.