This invention is to provide a display device for a vehicle with the pointer portion of light transmission type placed over characters etc, the value indicated by the pointer portion can be accurately read with high visibility. A display device for a vehicle comprises a dial and an indicating board laid on the dial. The dial includes a disk-shaped light transmitting portion, light transmitting characters and graduations outside the light transmitting portion, and an annular light transmitting portion outside the characters and the graduations The indicating board includes a light transmitting pointer's inner end portion and a light transmitting pointer's outer end portion which overlap the light transmitting portions of the dial, respectively, and an annular light transmitting portion which is laid over the characters and the graduations. The indicating board further includes a light transmitting pointer's outer end portion which is in alignment with the pointer's inner end portion and the pointer's outer end portion.

An instrument gauge is described of the pointer output type, especially a tachometer, that includes a display cover limiting observation of the pointer by a first window cut into the cover in the shape of a graphical representation of a proportional relationship between engine performance and revolutions per minute or vehicle speed. The window is oriented such that the pointer position indicates RPM or speed on a cover scale. Engine performance is indicated by the relative position of the pointer with respect to the curved shape of the window established by the proportional relationship. The cover includes a second window of such size and orientation that it permits observation of the pointer only when a critical RPM or speed is reached. A flag fixed to the pointer appears in the second window only at the critical value.

An improved gauge design is presented wherein the tendency of fogging of the lenses is eliminated or reduced. The gauge of this invention includes an inner lens spaced between the dial and outer lens and a surronding baffle which is disposed between the lens and the inner surface of the gauge case. The baffle restricts air flow into and out of the space between the two lenses. In addition, both the inner and outer lens preferably are coated with a clear anti-fog coating. Finally, the port in the gauge within which the needle is mounted is surrounded with a sleeve to further restrict air flow.

An object of the present invention is to provide a display device for a vehicle which assures that visual recognizability can be improved by using a circular disc-shaped pointer while the pointer and characters, calibrations or the like on a dial overlap each other. A circular disc-shaped pointer composed of a polarized plate and including a slit-shaped indicating portion radially extending from the central part and the outer peripheral part of the pointer is arranged in front of a dial composed of a polarizing plate and having characters, calibrations or the like placed thereon. In addition, a light source is arranged behind the dial so as to illuminate the pointer with the light beam emitted therefrom. A movement is disposed at the central part of the light source to turn the pointer. The polarizing direction of the dial and the polarizing direction of the pointer are determined such that the light beam emitted from the light source permeates through the limited region where the characters, calibrations or the like on the dial overlap the indicating portion 1a of the pointer.

An LED display device has an indicator having a housing. The housing has at least one incident portion which receives light from at least one LED. The incident portion has a reflection surface at its inside surface. LEDs emit light from one side or one longitudinal end of the incident portion. A refraction plate may be provided to direct emission of the incident light for viewing by a user.