Importance

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Abstract

A compass display or a low cost construction includes a display coupled to compass sensing and calibration devices to illuminate a portion of the display to indicate a specific heading. The display is mounted beneath a finish covering surface and includes indicia representing compass directional headings attached or printed thereon and the finish covering is supported by a substrate having a plurality of openings spaced relative to a center point and a plurality of light sources such as LED lights located in the holes of the substrate to be located behind the finish covering and aligned with the directional headings. When a light is illuminated, it is visible behind the finish covering to a driver or other occupant of the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, twelve openings and associated light sources are provided in the substrate and spaced at 30-degree increments to provide a more precise indication of the vehicle heading. The compass display may be located on the instrument panel, in the headliner, on the A-pillar, on a visor or in any other advantageous location within the passenger compartment. For a movable object like the visor location, a switch is provided to disconnect a power source for the compass display when the visor is moved from its stowed, operating position.

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First Claim