Automatic transmission lever position indicating device

Claim 1

A visual indicating device for an automotive vehicle having an automatic transmission operatively shiftable by a lever that is movable to anyone of a parking position, a reverse position, a neutral position and a plurality of forward driving speed positions, and means for generating input signals indicative of the position the lever is in, said visual indicating device comprising: a housing including a face wall structure having an inner side and a visible outer side, said face wall structure having a first plurality of spaced transmission position indicators which permit light to transmit therethrough, each of which corresponds to one of the position of the transmission lever, said face wall further having a second plurality of spaced position indicators which permit light to transmit through said face wall structure, corresponding in number to said first indicators and positioned adjacent said first indicators; a plurality of light emitting diodes corresponding in number to said second indicators, each of said second indicators having one of said light emitting diodes positioned in close proximity thereto and adjacent said inner side such that light emitting therefrom transmits through said wall face structure; illumination-confining structure confining illumination of each light emitting diode to only one of said second indicators; a separate light source positioned opposite said inner side for simultaneously illuminating all of said first indicators through said first indicators; and a circuit for receiving signals from the automotive transmission and connected to said light emitting diodes and said separate light source for activating said separate light source, and for illuminating one of said second indicators with one of said light emitting diodes that corresponds to the position of the transmission to provide a visual indication thereof.