Study of meter cluster location for visibility performance

This paper describes a study to improve visibility of meters on a vehicle instrument panel. In order to improve meter cluster visibility, the vertical angle to the meter cluster referenced from a horizontal line at eyepoint level should be small and the viewing distance to the meter cluster should be long, based on human vision characteristics. The appropriate location has been studied for good meter cluster visibility with consideration of annoyance. In a confirmation using actual vehicles, the recognition time for the speedometer was decreased by using the recommended location of the meter cluster, especially for the drivers in their fifties'.