Takahira Kato

7108531, Sep 19, 2006

Jul 27, 2004

10/899731

Takahira Kato - Novi MI, US

Denso International America, Inc. - Southfield MI

H01R 13/64

439248

A viewed component of a vehicle instrument cluster includes a planar sheet including a first face and a second face. The first and second sheet are offset by a predetermined thickness. The planar sheet defines a plurality of passages formed entirely through the thickness and extending between the first face and the second face. A translucent layer of material includes an inboard face and an outboard face. The inboard face is disposed on one of the first and second face of the planar sheet and covers the plurality of passages thereat. Markings are arranged on the outboard face of the translucent layer. The markings correspond to identifiable designations on the viewed component.

7275497, Oct 2, 2007

Mar 16, 2005

11/081981

Takahira Kato - Novi MI, US

Denso International America, Inc. - Southfield MI

G01D 13/04
G01D 13/12

116304, 116 621, 116DIG 36

A viewed component of a vehicle instrument cluster includes a housing and a first dial structure. The first dial structure includes an outer boundary presenting a first radial portion supported by the housing and a face portion presenting a second radial portion offset within the first radial portion. The face portion includes a series of indicia thereon. A second dial structure is supported between the housing and the first dial structure. The second dial structure presents an inboard plurality of graduations. A plurality of connecting portions extend between and couple the outer boundary and the face portion of the first dial structure.

7404374, Jul 29, 2008

Nov 7, 2006

11/593825

Takahira Kato - Novi MI, US

Denso International America, Inc. - Southfield MI

G01D 11/28
G12B 11/02

116286, 116288, 116DIG 36, 362 29

A gauge with indicating pointer has three light sources on a printed circuit board. A rear dial plate has rear markings such as MPH indicia. The first light source illuminates the pointer length, which points to the rear indicia. The second light source illuminates a front dial assembly located on an opposite side of the indicator as the rear dial plate by passing light through the thickness of the indicator. The front dial assembly is cantilevered over the rotating pointer to permit pointer rotation. The third light source illuminates the rear indicia. The front dial assembly has a front dial plate with front indicia illuminated by the second light source and to which the pointer points. The three light sources may be different colors since each illuminates a specific area of the gauge. The front dial assembly may display a separate lighted scale, such as KPH from the rear markings.

7520693, Apr 21, 2009

Feb 15, 2007

11/708167

Reben Werman - Sterling Heights MI, US
Takahira Kato - Novi MI, US

DENSO International America, Inc. - Southfield MI

F16D 1/00

4034081, 403 14, 403329, 403337

A connection joint employs a first piece defining a protruding boss and a threaded hole. A second piece resides over the first piece and has a through hole that corresponds to the boss and aligns with the hole in the first piece. A bevel at the end of the second piece is utilized to initially contact the boss during installation of the second piece over the first piece. The second piece biases and then snaps into place to permit a tight and secured fit of the second piece on the first piece. A third piece that lies upon the second piece, the third piece defining a third hole that is aligned with the first and second holes. In aligning the hole of the third piece with that of the first and second, the third piece may abut the boss. A threaded screw through the holes holds the three pieces together.

7537354, May 26, 2009

Dec 21, 2006

11/644023

Takahira Kato - Novi MI, US

DENSO International America, Inc. - Southfield MI

G01D 11/28
G01D 11/24

362 23, 362 29, 362488, 362489, 116 621, 116305

In one configuration, a gauge of an instrument cluster may have a base structure with an integrally molded dial structure and a separate, attached dial structure. A transparent area of the base structure may pass light from one side of the base structure to another side. This provides the ability to supply backlighting and floodlighting to the gage structure with just a single LED. The separate dial structure may be translucent to provide floodlighting or to supply light to graduations. Relative to a gauge pointer, inboard indicia in one dial structure denote vehicle speeds, while outboard graduations in another dial structure demark the indicia. The transparent portion of the base structure may be an integrally molded horizontal, angular or vertical portion within the base structure. Multiple levels and angles of the gauge provide a viewed component that is aesthetically pleasing and soothing to a viewer's eyes.

7537363, May 26, 2009

Mar 1, 2007

11/713109

Takahira Kato - Novi MI, US

DENSO International America, Inc. - Southfield MI

B60Q 1/26

362489, 362471

A vehicle instrument cluster gauge may have a dial plate with an inner dial, an outer dial, indicia and graduations. The graduations may originate on a dial plate rear surface near or at the center of the gauge and traverse radially outward toward the outer or peripheral edge of the dial plate and wrap from the rear surface, around the peripheral edge and onto the front surface of the dial plate thereby creating a three-dimensional gauge structure with the dial plate. When on the dial surface, the front graduation part protrudes above and away from the outer dial face of the dial plate. The graduation may also create an overhang or cantilever by protruding over a front surface of the outer dial, and have edges formed by 90 degree surfaces and have a projected centerline directed radially through a geometric center of the dial plate, where a pointer may mount.

7771069, Aug 10, 2010

Mar 5, 2008

12/074597

Reben Werman - Sterling Heights MI, US
Takahira Kato - Novi MI, US

DENSO International America, Inc. - Southfield MI

H04M 1/22

362 29, 362 23, 362 26, 362 30, 362511

A gauge assembly that is illuminable by a light source is provided. The gauge assembly may include a dial face having a translucent portion forming at least a perimeter of the dial face and a cover disposed behind the dial. The cover may define a plurality of graduated lines, at least one of the graduated lines having a first portion extending behind the translucent portion and a second portion extending outward from the perimeter of the dial face. The first portion may be visible through the translucent portion when the gauge is illuminated by the light source and obscured by the translucent portion when the gauge is not illuminated by the light source.

8016442, Sep 13, 2011

Jan 27, 2009

12/360629

Takahira Kato - Novi MI, US

DENSO International America, Inc. - Southfield MI

G01D 11/28

362 30, 362 26

An illuminated indicating device includes a dial plate, a pointer, a first light source, a light guide and a light filter. The first light source emits a beam of light and the light guide diverts the beam of light into a first light to the pointer and a second light to a front side of the dial plate. The light filter includes a first filtering portion and a second filtering portion. The first filtering portion is located in a path of the first light to allow a first color of light to pass through and the second filtering portion is located in a path of the second light to allow a second color of light to pass through.