Integrated Motor Pointer Layout for High-Speed Vehicle Instruments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies fail to efficiently indicate values with high speeds and accelerations, limiting their use to slowly changing physical quantities.

Innovation Solution

A digital and analogue instrument with a rotary electric motor and low-friction coating supports a pointer for high-speed movement, using magnetic interaction between a stator and rotor without direct contact, integrated with a digital screen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If contactless magnetic coupling is used to move the pointer, then the pointer can be moved without mechanical contact, but the pointer can only be moved with relatively limited speed and acceleration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontactless operationVSAvoidpointer movement speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the contactless magnetic coupling system with a direct mechanical drive system where the pointer is directly coupled to the motor shaft. This mechanical connection allows for direct transmission of torque and motion, enabling high speeds and accelerations while maintaining reliability through proper mechanical design and lubrication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the instrument into distinct functional modules: the display module (digital screen), the indication module (pointer with mechanical drive), and the housing. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently - the mechanical drive system can be designed for high performance while the display module maintains its contactless advantages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If pinion-rack coupling is used to rotate the pointer, then the pointer can be rotated mechanically, but the pointer can only be moved with relatively limited speeds and accelerations due to transmission limits and noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical rotationVSAvoidpointer rotation speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the pinion-rack coupling mechanism and replaces it with a direct mechanical connection from the motor shaft to the pointer. This removes the intermediate transmission stages that limited speed and generated noise, allowing the pointer to achieve high rotation speeds and accelerations directly from the motor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes the pinion-rack transmission components from the system, keeping only the essential motor-to-pointer connection. This simplification eliminates the transmission limits and noise associated with the pinion-rack coupling while maintaining the desired mechanical rotation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Extent of automation

If a motorized pointer is mounted on the side of the screen facing the observer, then the pointer can be driven by magnetic field, but the overall device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemagnetic field drivingVSAvoiddevice volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the motorized pointer assembly with the digital screen assembly, positioning the motor behind the screen and integrating the pointer shaft through the screen structure. This integration allows the magnetic field driving capability to be maintained while reducing the overall device volume by eliminating separate mounting structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent repositions the motorized pointer assembly from a side-mounted configuration to a rear-mounted configuration behind the digital screen. This dimensional change allows the magnetic field driving mechanism to be compactly integrated within the screen thickness, significantly reducing the overall device volume while maintaining full automation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables safe high-speed and high-acceleration pointer movement, suitable for indicating sudden changes, with compact design and low production costs.

Implementation Method 1

a stator winding (12) configured to generate a rotating magnetic field when it is powered with electric current

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic interaction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

The lateral surface of rotor (7) and/or the lateral surface of containing ring (9) are coated with a low-friction coating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction reduction: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentEP4671026A1Digital and analogue instrument for a vehicle with an integrated electric motor

Publication Date: 2025.12.31 FERRARI SPA

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AI summary

Digital and analogue instrument (1) for a vehicle and comprising: a digital screen (3); a pointer (2) which is movably mounted to move in front of the digital screen (3); and an actuator device (4) which is configured to move the pointer (2) by transmitting motion to the pointer (2) and comprises an electric motor (5) provided with a stator (6) and a rotor (7) rotatably mounted around a central rotation axis (8). The rotor (7) of the electric motor (5) has a centrally-holed ring shape and is arranged in front of the digital screen (3) SO that the digital screen (3) is visible through a central through hole of the rotor (7). The pointer (2) is integral with the rotor (7) and protrudes cantilevered inwards from the rotor (7).