Continental Automotive Systems Corporation

Kevin Dyer

Vyacheslav B Birman

Taochuan Wang

Curt Ollila

Daniel Pasquale Tollis

Michael E Carrel

Johan Gomez Martinez

Matthew Scott Sherman

Aldo Sainz Hernandez

Tian Bai

Francisco Bolanos Ramirez

Fernando De Anda Gonzalez

Augusto Guillermo Figueroa Tamayo

A gauge assembly includes a gauge surface including at least one graphic, which may be a plurality of graphics defining a scale in a generally circular pattern on the gauge surface. A light guide has a main body portion disposed adjacent to the gauge surface and corresponding to the shape of the gauge surface. The light guide has a plurality of raised tick marks extending from the main body portion. The light guide is configured to provide illumination to the illuminable graphic(s) and the plurality of tick marks. A light housing disposed a light housing disposed adjacent to the light guide, the light housing having at least one light housing opening disposed adjacent to at least one of the plurality of raised tick marks.

Tick mark luminance adjustment tool

An integrated fastener for an instrument cluster assembly, where multiple integrated fasteners are used to connect the front cover of the assembly to the back cover. The instrument cluster assembly includes at least one fastener integrated into the back cover, a first recessed portion formed as part of the back cover, and a separation wall formed as part of the back cover in proximity to the first recessed portion. A first mounting aperture is formed as part of the separation wall, and the integrated fastener attached to the back cover and located in the first mounting aperture when the integrated fastener is in a first configuration. The integrated fastener is detached from the back cover and rotated such that the integrated fastener is placed in a second configuration, securing the front cover to the back cover.

Integrated fastener for instrumentation cluster

A gauge assembly includes a dial face including a plurality of printed indicia. A plurality of illuminable chaplet tick marks extend through openings in the dial face. The dial face includes dark outlines around a perimeter of each of the openings for reducing a luminance of each of the chaplet tick marks. A method is also disclosed.

Dial gauge with chaplet tick mark illumination

Vehicle instrument gauges and an instrument cluster with warning telltales each having a gauge surface area with two or more indicia on a viewing surface area. At least one of the indicia is a warning indicia with an illuminated marker positionable between the indicia. The illuminated marker has a nominal luminescence mode when positioned in an area of the viewing surface area to indicate optimal vehicle operating conditions, a range of increased luminescence mode when indicating changing vehicle operating conditions and the illuminated marker will begin to brighten as the position of the illuminated marker moves toward the warning indicia, a maximum luminescence mode when in a caution zone area and used to indicate that the vehicle operating conditions need attention soon, and flashing mode indicating that the vehicle operating conditions need immediate attention.

Increasing pointer brightness to indicate warning level

An example instrument cluster includes a light guide having a first end portion and a display located adjacent the first end portion of the light guide for emitting light into the light guide.

Light guide for an instrument cluster

Systems, vehicles, and methods include an instrument mask that is configured to shield at least one instrument from external light and a graphic displayed on a surface of the instrument mask.

Growing community of inventors

Macomb Township, MI, United States of America

Kevin Dyer