A pointing device includes a pointer having light guiding properties, a cap that is attached to the pointer and has light blocking properties, a pointing shaft that is vertically formed on a proximal end portion of the pointer, and a light blocking member. The light blocking member includes a cylindrical main body having both end portions for inserting the pointing shaft and a rotary shaft of a motor having light guiding properties respectively thereinto to prevent illuminating light propagating through the rotary shaft from a light source and entering the pointing shaft from leaking from an outer peripheral surface of the pointing shaft.

A head-up display apparatus includes light emission units, a first reflection unit, a second reflection unit, a first diffusion unit, a second diffusion unit, and a driver unit. The light emission units are disposed along one end surface of an upper or lower end surface of a combiner, and emit light. The first reflection unit is disposed to a part of the light emission units, and reflects the light. The second reflection unit is disposed to a part of the light emission units, and reflects the light. The first diffusion unit is disposed in the first side end surface, and diffuses the light. The second diffusion unit is disposed in the second side end surface, and diffuses the light. The driver unit selectively drives one of the light emission unit, and causes to emit the light. The combiner includes an invisible region.

A gauge assembly which has a gauge surface including graphics representing a vehicle operating parameter. A pointer arm is provided which is made out of a light guide or light transmitting material. The pointer arm includes a step portion in an operative portion of the second bottom surface for reducing light received by said second surface adjacent the step portion and providing an overall even light throughout the operative illuminated viewing surface of the pointer arm.

To provide an inexpensive indicator member which can prevent a dark area from being formed at a location above a reflection part, an indicator unit having the indicator member and an indicator instrument having the indicator unit. A hollow reflection part provided to an indicator part of an indicator main body of a light-emitting indicator includes a plurality of partial reflection parts having at least an pointing direction reflection face, a rear end direction reflection face and a corner formed at an intersection of the pointing direction reflection face and the rear end direction reflection face and arranged at a location opposed to the base part. The corners of the respective partial reflection parts adjacent to each other are displaced in a pointing direction or in a rear end direction.

To provide an inexpensive indicator member which can prevent a dark area from being formed at a location above a reflection part, an indicator unit having the indicator member and an indicator instrument having the indicator unit. A hollow reflection part provided to an indicator part of an indicator main body of a light-emitting indicator includes a plurality of partial reflection parts having at least an pointing direction reflection face, a rear end direction reflection face and a corner formed at an intersection of the pointing direction reflection face and the rear end direction reflection face and arranged at a location opposed to the base part. The corners of the respective partial reflection parts adjacent to each other are displaced in a pointing direction or in a rear end direction.

A strip lighting device includes a main body having front and rear sides extending along a length of the main body. The front side is disposed towards a viewer of the device and the rear side includes a light scattering layer for scattering light from a source of illumination towards the viewer when the device is illuminated. The main body has a front and rear cladding layer each of which is made of a first light transmissive material. The strip lighting device includes a light pipe made of a second light transmissive material sandwiched between the front and rear cladding layers at interfaces extending along the length of the main body. A rear interface of the light pipe has a plurality of angled portions which allow some light to escape into the rear cladding layer to impinge on the light scattering layer and scatter light towards the viewer.

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 device is provided for the purpose of displaying the instantaneous fuel economy of a motor vehicle. That device includes an indicator having indicia on a fascia and an indicator needle. That indicator needle includes an outline which contrasts with the fascia and a plurality of differently-colored segments. The controller determines the instantaneous motor vehicle fuel economy and illuminates the plurality of differently-colored segments to provide a visual indication of instantaneous motor vehicle fuel economy.

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.