An indicator indicates a vehicle state value in accordance with a rotational position between a zero position and a maximum position. A step motor rotationally drives the indicator on application of a drive signal in accordance with an electrical angle to a field winding. A control unit that controls the electrical angle of the drive signal applied to the field winding performs a leave-zero control operation which varies the electrical angle to rotate the indicator from the zero position to the maximum position and determines presence or absence of abnormal rotation of the indicator based on the electrical angle at the time of detecting the stopping of the indicator during the leave-zero control operation.

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.

An instrument cluster for a motor vehicle includes a dial surface having a plurality of indicia located thereon. A pointer contacts the dial surface and is configured to rotate with respect to the dial surface. Piezoelectric material is disposed on one of the dial surface and the pointer. The piezoelectric material is configured to deform due to contact between the pointer and the dial surface.

Provided is an information provision apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus capable of providing information that fits the situation of the vehicle to a user. An information provision apparatus for a vehicle is provided with a vehicle-mounted device which comprises a report means for reporting various kinds of information including vehicle information to a user, and a control means for operating the report means, and is connected to an external device via a connection means. Upon receiving a manipulation input signal indicating that a start switch of the vehicle is turned on, the control means operates the report means in order to report to the user that a communication connection between the vehicle-mounted device and the external device is not established, until the communication connection is established.

A control panel for a vehicle and having: a main digital screen having at least one through opening made within it and completely surrounded by the main digital screen; a secondary digital screen, which is arranged behind the main digital screen in the area of the through opening of the main digital screen so that it is visible through the through opening; a pointer, which can be arranged between the main digital screen and the secondary digital screen and is mounted in a movable manner so as to move on the secondary digital screen; and an actuator device configured to move the pointer on the secondary digital screen.

A display panel is adapted to display at least one meter image including a pointer image constituting a pointer and a mark image constituting a mark that the pointer is adapted to point to. A processor controls the display state of the pointer image. The processor causes the pointer image to be displayed on the display panel when the pointer image does not point to the mark image and causes the pointer image to be displayed on the display panel in a second display mode when the pointer image points to the mark image. The first display mode and the second display mode are different.

A control panel for a vehicle and having: a digital screen; a pointer, which can be arranged on the digital screen and is mounted in a movable manner so as to move on the digital screen; and an actuator device configured to move the pointer on the digital screen. The pointer is movable so as to be arranged on the digital screen and to be arranged beside the digital screen and without overlap on the digital screen. The actuator device transmits the motion to the pointer through a contactless magnetic coupling.