US Patent 7173506 Dial assembly with magnetically biased reed switch

A dial assembly for a magnetically driven gauge. The dial assembly, including a rotatable dial magnet, a reed switch and a bias magnet. The bias magnet and reed switch being positioned such that when the poles of the bias magnet and the dial magnet are in a first orientation the reed switch be held in a first position (such as a closed contact position) and that when the dial magnet rotates to a second position such that the poles of the dial magnet and bias magnet are in a second orientation, the reed switch will be held at a second orientation (such as an open, non-contact orientation).