A contextual based control interface system for a driver of a vehicle allowing a user to provide user input to more than one function, or sub-system, of the vehicle using a single input device. A display shows the selectable options for a present vehicle sub-system based on a present usage context. If a vehicle sub-system or a specific function is selected, the selectable control options for that vehicle sub-system is shown on the display. The displayed selectable options are visually distributed in the same way as the at least two user input zones. The user does not have to direct his/her line of sight directly onto the input device in order to understand how to move the finger to select one of the selectable options. The user input zones may be separated by 3-dimensional structures that provide guidance for the user's finger when moving it across the input device.

A method for displaying a pointer in an instrument panel is described. The method comprises retrieving a current instrument status of an instrument of the instrument panel that is to be displayed, determining a pointer form on the basis of the current instrument status, retrieving of the determined pointer form from a texture atlas, and rendering the pointer in the instrument panel with the retrieved pointer form. There is further described a device for displaying an instrument panel, which device comprises a display module configured to display at least one instrument panel having at least one pointer instrument, and a controller configured to carry out the method using the display module. A vehicle having such a device is also disclosed.

Systems and methods are disclosed and include an instrument cluster assembly, which includes a printed circuit board (PCB). A first motor assembly is coupled to the PCB, and the first motor assembly is configured to drive a first screw. A second motor assembly is coupled to the PCB, and the second motor assembly is configured to drive a second screw. The instrument cluster assembly includes a floating ring pointer assembly, and at least one of a position and an orientation of the floating ring pointer assembly is configured to be adjusted in response to at least one of the first motor assembly and the second motor assembly driving the first screw and the second screw, respectively. The instrument cluster assembly includes a display screen configured to generate a display based on at least one of the position and the orientation of the floating ring pointer assembly.

A display apparatus includes multiple display portions each of which displays a content different from one another, a decoration member which decorates one of the multiple display portions, an actuator which moves the decoration member, and a control portion which controls the actuator to move the decoration member to a position at which the decoration member decorates one display portion selected among the multiple display portions.

An indicator instrument for a vehicle includes a rotational indicator that indicates a vehicle state parameter, and a stepper motor that rotates the rotational indicator. The stepper motor includes an output gear, a reduction mechanism, a motor casing housing the output gear and the reduction mechanism. The output gear includes an output shaft rotatable together with the rotational indicator, and a last-stage gear extending radially outward from the output shaft. The reduction mechanism includes a reduction gear engaged with the last-stage gear. The rotational indicator includes a rotational shaft press-fitted to a specified portion of the output shaft in the motor casing. The specified portion is displaced from the last-stage gear in an axial direction of the output shaft.

Systems and methods are disclosed and include an instrument cluster assembly, which includes a printed circuit board (PCB). A first motor assembly is coupled to the PCB, and the first motor assembly is configured to drive a first screw. A second motor assembly is coupled to the PCB, and the second motor assembly is configured to drive a second screw. The instrument cluster assembly includes a floating ring pointer assembly, and at least one of a position and an orientation of the floating ring pointer assembly is configured to be adjusted in response to at least one of the first motor assembly and the second motor assembly driving the first screw and the second screw, respectively. The instrument cluster assembly includes a display screen configured to generate a display based on at least one of the position and the orientation of the floating ring pointer assembly.

A method, system, and devices for implementing a selectively lighted instrument cluster are disclosed herein. The aspects employ a light house layer (or collection of light house layers) using a combination of light and dark materials to provide individually lit indicia on a cover layer (i.e. applique layer) of an instrument cluster. The combination of light and dark layers selectively applied prevents light leakage into other non-intended portions on the viewable surface of the instrument cluster.

A pointer device has a light-guiding body, including a shaft, a hub coaxial with the shaft and having a rear surface covered by a shield, and a pointer, which projects radially from the hub. A cap is defined by at least one piece separate from the light-guiding body and is mounted on the hub in a fixed position. The hub has an emitting surface, a first reflecting surface configured to reflect and direct a first light flow from the shaft to the pointer, and at least a second reflecting surface, which is configured to reflect and direct a second light flow from the shaft to the emitting surface and is, at least in part, set apart from the first reflecting surface. The cap has at least one light-permeable area, aligned with the emitting surface, and a barrier arranged radially between the emitting surface and the first reflecting surface.

The present invention ascertains an action schedule of an automatic driving system when a host vehicle is travelling in an automatic driving mode, and uses an indirect weak expression to convey the action schedule to a driver, at an action schedule presentation start location (P2) which has more leeway with respect to a scheduled action location (P1) (steps S16, S18). In the case of an acceleration/deceleration action schedule, an illuminance distribution of the speedometer dial plate, a virtual pointer or the like is used to express the action schedule such that the driver is able to intuitively ascertain the acceleration or deceleration. In the case of a steering action schedule, the steering direction is expressed using a change in illumination near the steering wheel representing the direction of steering or the like is used.

A step motor that rotationally drives a rotating body includes: an output gear having an output shaft that rotates around a rotation center line together with the rotating body, and a final gear extending radially outward from the output shaft; a radial bearing having an inner circumference side that radially supports the output shaft, on one side of the final gear in an axial direction; a reduction gear mechanism having a first reduction gear meshed with the final gear, and a second reduction gear meshed with the first reduction gear on the one side of the final gear in the axial direction; and a protrusion protruding from the radial bearing toward the other side in the axial direction, in a specific area extending from a longitudinal cross section of the output gear including the rotation center line to an opposite side away from the first reduction gear.