JP2001066166A - Display device for measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of light sources, and to illuminate excellently a transmission light-emitting part of an indicator panel and an indicator light- emitting part. SOLUTION: A light guide plate 31 is arranged close to the back of an indicator panel 3. A liquid crystal display device (LCD panel) 6 is arranged on the front of the indicator panel 3. A light source for an LCD 11 for illuminating the LCD panel 6 in the daytime and a light source for the indicator panel 9 for illuminating a transmission light-emitting part of the indicator panel 3 in the night-time are arranged on the back side of the LCD panel 6. A light source for an indicator 50 for illuminating an indicator light-emitting part 47 of the indicator panel 3 is arranged on the rear side of the light guide plate 31 corresponding to the indicator light-emitting part 47. A reflecting film 69 is installed on the back of the indicator panel 3, and a hole for guiding light of the light source for an indicator 50 to the indicator light-emitting part 47 is formed on a spot corresponding to the indicator light-emitting part 47 of the film 69.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device for an instrument mounted on an automobile or the like, and more particularly, to a display device for an instrument provided with a light source for illuminating a transmission light emitting portion and an indicator light emitting portion of a transmission illumination type display panel. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Instrument display devices used in automobiles are:
A combination meter that includes various instruments, indicators for displaying warnings and shift positions, a liquid crystal display device (hereinafter, referred to as an LCD panel), and transmits various information to a driver while the vehicle is running is generally used. It is a target. Such a display device for an instrument includes a transmission illumination type display panel of an analog display type instrument and an LC type of a digital display type instrument.
A light source is provided for individually illuminating the light emitting portions of the D panel and the indicator.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a conventional instrument display device used for an automobile. The instrument display device 1 includes a case 2, a display plate 3, a return plate 4, a transparent cover 5, an LCD panel 6, and the like. A display panel light source 9 and an indicator light source 10 for illuminating the transmission light-emitting portion 7 and the indicator light-emitting portion 8 formed on the display plate 3, respectively;
An LCD light source 11 that illuminates the display surface of the D panel 6 with backlight is provided. The display panel 3 and the light source 9 for the display panel, together with the pointers and the driving device thereof, which are not shown, constitute, for example, an analog display instrument for displaying a traveling speed. The LCD panel 6 and the LCD light source 11 constitute a digital display instrument for displaying time, fuel consumption, and the like.

The display panel light source 9 illuminates the transmissive light-emitting section 7 of the display panel 3 at night. The LCD light source 11 illuminates the LCD panel 6 day or night. Therefore, LC
A partition wall 12 is formed between the display panel light source 9 and the LCD light source 11 so that the light from the D light source 11 does not illuminate the transmission light-emitting portion 7 of the display panel 3. Also, when the indicator light source 10 is turned on, the light illuminates the transmission light emitting unit 7 or the display plate light source 9 and the indicator light source 9 so that the display plate light source 9 does not illuminate the indicator light emitting unit 8. The light source 10 is defined by a light shielding wall 13. In this case, a plurality of display panel light sources 9 are used in order to prevent the shadow of the light shielding wall 13 from occurring when the transmission light emitting section 7 is illuminated by the display panel light source 9.

[0005]

As described above, the conventional instrument display device 1 uses the display panel light source 9 to control the display panel 3.
It is necessary to use a plurality of display panel light sources 9 in order to prevent the shadow of the light-shielding wall 13 from being generated when the transmission light-emitting portion 7 is illuminated. Therefore, there is a problem that the number of light sources and power consumption increase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. It is an object of the present invention to reduce the number of light sources and to separate a transmission light-emitting portion and an indicator light-emitting portion of a display panel. It is an object of the present invention to provide an instrument display device capable of illuminating clearly and clearly.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a display panel having a transmissive light emitting section and an indicator light emitting section, a light source for a display panel for illuminating the transmissive light emitting section of the display panel, A light guide plate that is disposed in close contact with the back surface of the display plate and guides light emitted from the display plate light source to the transmissive light emitting unit, and is disposed behind the light guide plate so as to correspond to the indicator light emitting unit. A light source for the display panel, wherein the light source for the display panel is disposed on the side of the light guide plate, and the light reflected from the light source for the display panel is reflected on the back surface of the light guide plate toward the front surface side of the light guide plate. The reflective layer is formed by removing the reflective layer at a position corresponding to the indicator light emitting portion of the reflective layer.

In the present invention, the light emitted from the light source for the display panel enters the light guide plate from the light incident surface, is reflected by the reflection layer on the back surface side, and is emitted to the front surface side, thereby illuminating the transmission light emitting portion.
Light emitted from the light source for the indicator passes through the light guide plate through the hole in the reflective layer, and illuminates the indicator light emitting unit.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of an instrument display device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1 at the time of daytime illumination, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG.
FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are front views of the light guide plate, and AA.
6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part during nighttime illumination. The same components as those shown in the section of the prior art are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In these figures, an instrument display 20 is shown.
Is a combination meter that is mounted on a dashboard located on the front side of a driver's seat of a car to transmit various kinds of information to a driver while the car is running, and includes a case 2, a display plate 3, and a facing plate. 4. Printed wiring board 21 mounted on the back side of case 2;
And a transparent cover 5 for covering the front opening of the first embodiment. In addition, a tachometer 22 for displaying the number of revolutions of the engine, an analog speedometer 23 for displaying the traveling speed, various warnings such as a half-door, no seat belt, low battery, etc. are displayed by a picture (indicator light-emitting unit) 25. Warning indicator 24, a transmission indicator 2 for displaying the shift position of the select lever of the transmission with Roman characters such as “P”, “R”,.
6, an LCD panel 6 for displaying time, running distance, remaining fuel amount, and the like. Further, the LCD light source 1 illuminates the display surface of the LCD panel 6 with backlight during the daytime.
1. The Roman letters and numerals 2 on the display board 3 at night
7, a transmission light emitting unit 30A, 30B (hatched portion in FIG. 1), a display panel light source 9 for illuminating the display surface of the LCD panel 6, a light guide plate 31, and the like.

The case 2 is formed of a synthetic resin, the display panel 3 is disposed at the center of the front surface via a light guide plate 31, and is fixed to the dashboard together with the return plate 4 by set screws. A plurality of female connectors 32 are mounted on the front surface of the case 2 below a portion where the return plate 4 is mounted, and the various connectors, indicators, light sources and the like are mounted on these female connectors 32. Is connected via a male connector. A back cover 33 is attached to the back side of the case 2.

In FIG. 1, the display plate 3 is formed in a sheet shape from a translucent material such as polycarbonate resin and has a tachometer 22 and a speedometer in addition to the picture 25, Roman characters and numerals 27 on the surface. 23, warning indicator 24, direction indication of signal lamp, numerals 35 and 36 necessary for beam switching of headlight, etc., scale 3
9a, 39b, symbols 37, 38, etc. are displayed as display units. Of these display units, numerals 35 and 36 and scales 39a and 3 are display units of the tachometer 22 and the speedometer 23.
The peripheral portions 40a and 40b of 9b form light non-transmissive portions by being formed on the same circumference around the axes of the hands 41 and 42 by printing a light shielding film or other methods, respectively. Further, in the display areas 43A and 43B of the tachometer 22 and the speedometer 23, the numerals 35 and 36 and the scale 39
a, 39b except for the peripheral portions 40a, 40b, that is, the transmissive light-emitting portions 30A, 30B and the scale 39.
A and 39b are translucent white and translucent prints, and are illuminated by the display panel light source 9 during nighttime illumination.

A region 46 (white portion in FIG. 1) outside the display regions 43A and 43B is formed with black printing to form a light opaque portion.
5, Roman letters and numbers 27, and symbols 37 and 38 are displayed. The pattern 25, the Roman character and the numeral 27, and the symbols 37 and 38 all form a transmissive light emitting portion. In addition, a small circular indicator light emitting portion 47 is formed near each Roman character and the numeral 27.

The picture 25 of the warning indicator 24 is formed by a light source 48 disposed on the front side of the case for each picture when a warning is generated by the picture.
(FIG. 4). The light source 48 is composed of a light bulb, an LED, or the like, and is housed in a light source housing recess 49 defined for each picture 25 on the front surface of the case 2, whereby each light source 48 illuminates a picture other than the picture. I try not to.

The transmission indicator 26
Roman letters such as "P", "R",..., "2" and the numerals 27 are illuminated by the display panel light source 9 during nighttime illumination. On the other hand, the circular indicator light-emitting portions 47 formed close to the Roman characters and the numerals 27 are selectively illuminated by the light sources 50 (FIG. 3) arranged on the front side of the case for each light-emitting portion. It is configured. The light source 50 is preferably made of an LED having a high directivity, and a light source storage recess 51 defined for each light source on the front surface of the case 2.
By being housed in each of them, only the indicator light emitting section 47 is illuminated, and the other light emitting sections are not illuminated.

Similarly, a direction indication of the signal lamp,
The symbol 3 forming a display for beam switching of the headlight;
7, 38 are also light sources 5 arranged on the front side of the case for each symbol.
3 (FIG. 4).
Each light source 53 is disposed in a light source storage recess 54 defined for each light source on the front surface of the case 2 so that each light source 53 does not illuminate a symbol other than the symbol.

Referring to FIG. 2 to FIG.
Has a light-transmitting diffusion plate 55 on the rear surface side, is held by an LCD holder 56, and is arranged along the lower edge of the front central portion of the display panel 3. The LCD panel 6 is connected to the printed wiring board 21 by a flexible printed wiring board 57 (FIG. 3).

The LCD holder 56 is formed of a white resin material and is formed in a rectangular frame which is long in the left-right direction and is opened back and forth, and is screwed into the case 2 through the display plate 3 and the light guide plate 31. (See FIG. 2). LCD holder 56
Has a reflective surface 56a.

The display panel light source 9 and the LCD light source 11
Are formed on the back side of the LCD panel 6 so as to be located in the LCD holder 56, respectively. The LCD light source 11 is disposed in the case 2 via a socket 60 so as to be located in the center of the inside of the LCD holder 56, and the distal end of the LCD light source 11 is formed in an insertion hole 61 formed in the light guide plate 31 and the display plate 3. , 62 through the LCD holder 5
6 protrudes. Also, on the surface of the case 2,
A cylindrical light-shielding wall 63 fitted into the insertion hole 61 is integrally protruded, thereby preventing light from the LCD light source 11 from entering the light guide plate 31.

On the other hand, the display panel light source 9 is composed of two light bulbs 9.
A, 9B. These bulbs 9A, 9B
Are provided on the case 2 via the sockets 60 so as to be located on the left and right sides of the LCD light source 11 at substantially equal distances, and the distal ends thereof are formed in the light guide plate 31 and the display plate 3. LCD holder 5 through holes 64 and 65
6 protrudes. Each of the light bulbs 9A and 9B is covered with a cap 66 (FIG. 6) which is colored blue and has translucency. The light bulb 9A is mainly used for illuminating the transmission light emitting unit 30A of the tachometer 22, and the light bulb 9A
B is mainly used for illumination of the transmission light emitting portion 30B of the speedometer 23 and Roman characters and numerals 27.

In FIG. 5 and FIG.
Is a substantially semicircular convex portion 3 formed of a synthetic resin having excellent translucency such as acrylic resin or glass or a flat plate and covering the display areas 43A and 43B (FIG. 1) of the display panel 3 on the upper surface side.
1a and 31b are integrally formed, and shaft holes 67 and 68 through which the shafts of the hands 41 and 42 are inserted are formed at the centers of these convex portions, respectively. The protrusion 31a is smaller than the protrusion 31b. The lower surface of the light guide plate 31 is formed in a trapezoidal shape protruding downward so as to substantially coincide with the lower edge of the display plate 3. A reflection film 69 is adhered to substantially the entire back surface of the light guide plate 31. As the reflective film 69, Japanese Patent Application No. 11-148 filed earlier by the present applicant.
No. 328 can be used. In a portion of the reflective film 69 corresponding to the indicator light emitting portion 47 of the display panel 3, a hole 69a slightly larger than the light emitting portion is formed. Note that the reflection film 69 does not need to be attached to the entire back surface of the light guide plate 31.

The insertion holes 61 and 64 of the light guide plate 31
Are formed close to each other along the lower edge at the center in the left-right direction of the light guide plate 31. Of these insertion holes, the light bulb 9
The wall surface of the insertion hole 64 through which the A, 9B is inserted is
A part of the light emitted from A and 9B forms a light incident surface 64a through which light enters the light guide plate 31.

In such an instrument display device 20,
During daytime illumination, as shown in FIG. 2, the LCD light source 11 is turned on, and the light is diffused by the diffusion plate 55 to illuminate the display surface of the LCD panel 6 with backlight. At this time, the display panel light source 9 is turned off.

On the other hand, at night, the two light bulbs 9A and 9B, which are the light source 9 for the display panel, are turned on and the transmission light emitting section 30 of the display panel 3 is turned on.
A, 30B, Roman letters and numerals 27, and the display surface of the LCD panel 6 are illuminated. At this time, the LCD light source 1
1 is off.

Illumination of the display panel 3 by one of the bulbs 9A (similar to the bulb 9B) will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, light 72a emitted forward from the bulb 9A is diffused by the diffusion plate 55 to be diffused by the LCD panel. The display surface of No. 6 is backlit. The light 72b emitted from the bulb 9A in the lateral direction enters the light guide plate 31 from the light incident surface 64a, is reflected by the reflection film 69 on the rear surface side, and exits from the front surface side, thereby transmitting and emitting light 30A of the tachometer 22 ( 1 is illuminated. The illumination at nighttime is different from the illumination color of the LCD panel 6 at daytime, and the display panel 3 and the LCD panel 6 are illuminated by the cap 66 with blue illumination light.

When the selector lever is switched from, for example, neutral "N" to drive "D", the indicator light source 50 corresponding to this shift position "D" (FIG. 3)
Lights up. The light of the light source 50 passes through the light guide plate 31 through a hole 69a (FIG. 5) formed in the reflection film 69, and illuminates the indicator light emitting section 47 corresponding to the above "D", whereby the select lever is neutral. "N"
To drive "D". The light emitted in the horizontal direction from the light sources 9A and 9B enters the light guide plate 31, is reflected by the reflection film 69 on the rear surface side, and is emitted from the front surface side. Although the light is illuminated, a hole 69a is formed in a portion of the reflective film 69 corresponding to the indicator light emitting portion 47, so that the light is not reflected in the direction of the indicator light emitting portion 47 at this portion. It does not illuminate 47.

As described above, in the present invention, the light guide plate 31
The light of the light bulbs 9A and 9B is transmitted by the transmission light-emitting portion 3 of the display panel 3.
0A, 30B and the alphabet 27 and the numeral 27 are arranged so that the light shielding wall 7 that partitions the light source 50 for the indicator is provided.
3 (FIG. 3) can be satisfactorily illuminated without causing shadows in the illumination of the transmissive light-emitting portions 30A and 30B and the Roman characters and numerals 27. If no shadow is produced, the light source 9 for the display panel is used.
Can be reduced.

The light emitted from the indicator light source 50 passes through the hole 69a of the reflection film 69, and passes through the light guide plate 31.
Since the light is incident on the inside substantially perpendicularly and transmitted therethrough, only the indicator light emitting portion 47 corresponding to the hole 69a is illuminated, and the other light emitting portions are not illuminated.

In the above-described embodiment, an example is described in which a light bulb is used as each of the light source 9 for the display panel and the light source 11 for the LCD. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
D may be used. Further, the reflection layer of the light guide plate 31 is formed by the reflection film 69, but is not limited thereto and may be formed by printing. Further, halftone printing may be performed to adjust the brightness of the transmission illumination unit.

[0030]

As described above, according to the instrument display device of the present invention, the light-shielding wall partitioning the light source for the indicator does not become a shadow when the light source for the display panel illuminates the transmission light-emitting portion. The number of light sources and power consumption can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of an instrument display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 1;

5 (a), (b), (c) are front views of a light guide plate,
It is an AA line sectional view, and a BB line sectional view.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part at the time of night illumination.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a conventional instrument display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... case, 3 ... display panel, 6 ... LCD panel, 9 ... display panel light source, 11 ... LCD light source, 20 ... instrument display device, 22 ... rotometer, 23 ... speed meter, 30A, 30B ... transmission light emission Unit, 31: light guide plate, 47: indicator light emitting unit,
50: light source for indicator, 64a: light incident surface, 69: reflective film, 69a: hole.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2F074 AA02 BB01 CC02 DD02 DD03 EE03 FF01 GG06 3D044 BA21 BB01 BD02 5C096 AA28 BA01 CB01 CB07 CC03 CD01 CE12 CJ13 FA11

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A display panel having a transmissive light-emitting portion and an indicator light-emitting portion, a light source for a display plate illuminating the transmissive light-emitting portion of the display plate, and a light source for the display plate disposed on a back surface of the display plate. A light guide plate for guiding the emitted light to the transmission light-emitting portion; and an indicator light source disposed behind the light guide plate so as to correspond to the indicator light-emitting portion. Disposed on the side of the light plate, a reflection layer is formed on the back surface of the light guide plate to reflect the light of the display panel light source to the front surface side of the light guide plate, and a portion of the reflection layer corresponding to the indicator light emitting portion is formed. A display device for an instrument, wherein a reflection layer is removed.