A gauge assembly having a pointer and gauge surface area with a scale representing operating parameters. The pointer has a first half and second half that are illuminated by light sources. The second half selectively changes color according to the portion of the scale that the pointer is indicating. This is accomplished by light isolation between the first and second halves as well as a prism to direct light from the midpoint of the pointer to the tip of the second half of the pointer. As the pointer moves about an axis, the prism for second half illumination aligns with respective chambers formed in a reflector to direct illumination from the different color lights. The second half color changes whenever the light source color under the prism is different. When the pointer is within predetermined ranges on the scale, the second half illumination changes color to represent that respective range.

A vehicle instrument panel assembly includes a light source, a pointer, and a sensor. The light source is configured to emit light from a display surface of the assembly. The pointer overlies the display surface and is movable about an axis to an angle to point to indicia on the display surface. The pointer defines a hub portion and a needle portion that extends from the hub portion. The hub portion overlies the light source and includes a light-guide that guides light from the light source into the needle portion whereby the needle portion is illuminated. The sensor is located proximate to the hub portion. The sensor is configured to detect that the pointer is present regardless of the angle of the pointer.

A gauge assembly having a pointer arm extending away from a hub is supported for movement about an axis to indicate a current vehicle condition. This is accomplished when the pointer points to a specific location and telltales on the gauge surface. The pointer arm has a pointer arm viewing surface with one or more clear portions and one or more illuminated portions along the length of the pointer arm viewing surface. The pointer arm further includes one or more raised steps formed on a bottom surface of the pointer arm located opposite the viewing surface of the pointer arm. The one or more raised steps is aligned with the one or more illuminated portions and the one or more raised steps have a reflective surface for reflecting light through the one more illuminated portions on the viewing surface.

A pointer to indicate gradations formed in a dial of a vehicle instrument cluster includes: a pointer blade to receive and emit light received from the lower portion of the dial when a blade body formed integrally with a blade arm is rotatably supported above the dial; a pointer weight disposed adjacent to a rear surface of the blade body and having a light through-hole to allow light received from the lower portion of the dial to pass through the pointer weight; a light pin part extending to the rear surface of the blade body from one end of the blade arm and inserted into the light through-hole; and a weight supporter, fit between the pointer blade and the pointer weight and below the light through-hole to receive light from the lower portion of the dial and transfer the light to the pointer blade.

A control device may include a processor. A control device may include a communication device operable to data communicate with the processor. A control device may include a positional sensor operable to data communicate with the processor. A control device may include an orientation sensor operable to data communicate with the processor. A control device may include a ranging device operable to data communicate with the processor. A control device may include a hardware storage device operable to data communicate with the processor, the hardware storage device having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the control device to, based at least partially on receiving a pointer request: determine pointer information relative to the control device from the ranging device and the orientation sensor, and transmit the pointer information to a base device.

A control device may include a processor. A control device may include a communication device operable to data communicate with the processor. A control device may include a positional sensor operable to data communicate with the processor. A control device may include an orientation sensor operable to data communicate with the processor. A control device may include a ranging device operable to data communicate with the processor. A control device may include a hardware storage device operable to data communicate with the processor, the hardware storage device having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the control device to, based at least partially on receiving a pointer request: determine pointer information relative to the control device from the ranging device and the orientation sensor, and transmit the pointer information to a base device.

Disclosed is an electronic scale ruler, having a scale ruler main body, a main control board, an input, a display screen, a light source, a vernier base, and a distance conversion assembly. The scale ruler main body has an outer edge side. The light source is mounted on the outer edge side of the scale ruler main body, having a plurality of light beads and being capable of displaying scale. The vernier base is removably mounted on the outer edge side of the scale ruler main body, being capable of moving along a length direction of the outer edge side of the scale ruler main body. The distance conversion assembly is configured to calculate a movement of the vernier base from an origin on the outer edge side of the scale ruler main body.