JP2006292485A - Meter device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve reduction of costs, improvement in space efficiency, stabilization of lighting degree of illumination, and secure lighting brightness, in a meter device performing display having stereoscopic effect. <P>SOLUTION: The meter device is provided with a dial 8 having a light transmission part 8a having light transmission properties and a light emitting diode 11 as a light source provided behind the dial 8, wherein a transparent display member 12 formed of a transparent material is overlaid on the light transmission part 8a on the surface of the dial 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a meter device suitable for use in an automobile or the like, and more particularly to a technique for performing a display with a stereoscopic effect.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a meter device that performs display with a stereoscopic effect is known. Such a meter device includes a dial, a first light source provided on the back of the dial, a light guide provided on the dial, and a second light source for entering light into the light guide. And a reflective portion provided on the light guide, and in addition to the planar scale display by the dial, the scale display by the light guide provided on the dial is performed in three dimensions. There is an apparatus to perform (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

In addition, a reflector is provided on the back side of the dial with an air layer interposed between them. Therefore, there is a device that gradually reduces the brightness of a predetermined portion of the dial and gives a gradation that gradually changes the brightness in a plane direction to display a stereoscopic effect (for example, Patent Document 2). reference).
JP 2003-302262 A JP 2004-177372 A

  However, in the former prior art, in addition to the dial illuminated by the first light source, the light guide that is illuminated by the second light source is provided. In addition, there is a need for a space for installing them, which leads to an increase in the size of the unit, which may deteriorate the space efficiency. Further, in the light guide, the light from the second light source is refracted and led to the scale solid part, so that the distance from the light source to the scale solid part is long, and the distance between each display and the light source differs due to refraction. Illuminance is not stable.

  Also, in the latter prior art, since an air layer and a reflector are provided on the back side of the dial to perform gradation illumination, a depth is required on the back side of the dial, resulting in an increase in unit size and space efficiency. In addition to the possibility of deterioration, the distance between the light source and the scale solid portion of the dial becomes long, and the illumination brightness decreases.

  In view of this, the present invention aims to reduce costs, improve space efficiency, stabilize illumination illuminance, and ensure illumination brightness in a meter device that displays a stereoscopic effect.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is a meter device including a dial having a light-transmitting light-transmitting portion and a light source provided behind the dial, which is a transparent material. The meter device is characterized in that the transparent display member formed in (1) is provided on the surface of the dial so as to overlap the light transmitting portion.

  According to the present invention, the light of the light source displays the light transmitting part of the dial by shining, and further passes through the light transmitting part and enters the transparent display member to display the surface of the transparent display member. To do.

  Therefore, the display on the light transmitting portion of the dial and the display on the surface of the transparent display member are made with different heights, and a display with a sense of depth and a stereoscopic effect is possible.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a three-dimensional display having a sense of depth and a stereoscopic effect can be achieved with a simple configuration in which the transparent display member is provided so as to overlap the light transmitting portion of the dial. Therefore, there is no need to add a new light source, the number of parts can be reduced, which is advantageous in terms of cost, and the space efficiency is improved by the reduced number of parts. In addition, there is an air layer behind the dial. Since there is no need to provide a space for the reflector, it is possible to suppress an increase in size and improve space efficiency.

  Moreover, since the transparent display member is directly incident from the light transmitting portion of the dial, the distance between the transparent display member and the light source is short, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in illumination luminance and to suppress complicated refraction of light. The illumination illuminance can be stabilized.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The meter device of this embodiment includes a dial 8 having a light transmissive light transmitting portion 8a, and a light emitting diode 11 provided behind the dial 8, and a transparent display member 12 formed of a transparent material. Is provided on the surface of the dial 8 so as to overlap the light transmitting portion 8a.

  FIG. 2 is a front view of meter device A according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the driver side.

  The meter device A according to the first embodiment is a so-called combination meter including a vehicle speedometer 1, a tachometer 2, a fuel meter 3, and a water temperature meter 4, and is visually recognized by the driver in front of a driver seat (not shown). It is installed in a position where it can be done.

  The vehicle speedometer 1, the revolution meter 2, the fuel meter 3, and the water temperature meter 4 are respectively calibrated portions 1 a, 2 a, 3 a, 4 a and indicator portions 1 b, 2 b, 3 b, 4 b in order to make the information visible to the driver. And pointers 1c, 2c, 3c, 4c, and decorative rings 1d, 2d, 3d.

  The scale parts 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a are formed by arcing the main scale 5 and the other thin sub scales 6 with a predetermined interval along the rotation trajectory of the tip of the pointers 1c, 2c, 3c, 4c. Arranged. The main scale 5 is arranged corresponding to the positions to which numerals and symbols of index parts 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b described later are attached.

  The indicator parts 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b are arranged inside the scale parts 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, and display numbers, alphabetic characters, or figures not shown.

  The decorative rings 1d, 2d, 3d are ring-shaped along the outer periphery of the scale parts 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a.

  Each of the scale parts 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, the indicator parts 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b and the decoration rings 1d, 2d, 3d described above illuminate and display by the illumination of the light-emitting diode 11 described later. It is like that.

  Therefore, a configuration for performing this illumination display will be described. This illumination display is performed using the existing translucent dial 8 and the new transparent display member 12. First, the characters are displayed. A configuration for performing illumination display by the panel 8 will be described.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the meter device A according to the first embodiment includes a dial 8 supported by the casing 7 and a meter cover 9 that is spaced apart from the surface of the dial 8, that is, the vehicle rear side. And. Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 3-6, the circuit board 10 is spaced apart and arrange | positioned in parallel at the back side (vehicle front side) of the dial 8.

  The circuit board 10 is provided with a plurality of light emitting diodes 11 as light sources for meter illumination.

  The dial 8 is a transparent plate material that transmits light, for example, a substrate made of a synthetic resin such as polycarbonate, acrylic, or vinyl chloride, and scale portions 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, a decorative ring by hot stamping or screen printing. Numbers, alphabets, and figures for 1d, 2d, and 3d and index sections 1b, 2b, 3b, and 4b are printed. These printed portions are colored such as white or red that can be transmitted, and constitute a light transmitting portion 8a that can transmit light. On the other hand, other than the light transmitting portion 8a (the scale portions 1 and 2 of the scale portions 1a, 2a, 3a, and 4a, the numbers, alphabets and figures of the indicator portions 1b, 2b, 3b, and 4b, and the decorative rings 1d, 2d, and 3d) The background portion is colored, for example, matte black, and constitutes a light shielding portion 8b that cannot transmit light.

  The meter cover 9 is a transparent plate made of a translucent material such as acrylic polycarbonate, and the driver can see the display of the dial 8 through the meter cover 9 from the front of the meter. it can.

  Therefore, when the light emitting diode 11 is caused to emit light, the dial 8 transmits light only through the light transmitting part 8a, and the scale parts 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a and the index parts 1b, 2b. , 3b, 4b, numbers, alphabets and figures, and decorative rings 1d, 2d, 3d are illuminated and displayed so that the driver can visually recognize them.

  Next, the transparent display member 12 which is a characteristic structure of the meter apparatus A of Example 1 is demonstrated.

  In the meter device A of the first embodiment, a transparent display member 12 is fixed to the surface of the dial 8 (surface on the driver side) as shown in FIG. The transparent display member 12 is made of a colorless and translucent synthetic resin such as vinyl chloride or acrylic.

  Further, the transparent display member 12 is arranged so as to overlap the light transmission portion 8a of the dial 8, and as can be understood from a comparison between FIG. 2 and FIG. 7, the scale portions 1a, It is formed in a size that overlaps 2a, 3a, 4a and the decorative rings 1d, 2d, 3d. The transparent display member 12 includes a scale three-dimensional portion 12a, 12a, 12a that forms the scale portions 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a integrally with the dial 8, and a decorative ring 1d, integrally with the dial 8. The three-dimensional parts 12b, 12b, 12b for decorating rings forming 2d and 3d and the outer frame part 12c outside the three-dimensional parts 12b for decorating rings are included.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the scale three-dimensional portion 12 a is formed in a cross-sectional shape whose height increases toward the outer diameter direction side of the hands 1 c and 2 c, and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, At a position corresponding to the main scale 5, a main scale three-dimensional portion 12e having a height higher than the surroundings is formed.

  The three-dimensional parts 12b, 12b, 12b for the decoration ring are themselves formed higher than the surroundings as the three-dimensional part of the present invention, and the height is higher than that of the main scale three-dimensional part 12e and the outer frame part 12c. And is higher than the hands 1c, 2c, 3c, although not shown.

  And, as shown in FIG. 3, the height h1 of the decorative ring solid portion 12b provided in the vehicle speedometer 1 is higher than the height h2 of the decorative ring solid portion 12b provided in the revolution meter 2, Highly formed.

  Further, in the decorative ring three-dimensional part 12b, the inner peripheral vertical wall 12f and the outer peripheral vertical wall 12g located inside and outside in the meter radial direction have an angle a and an angle b that are expanded toward the proximal end side as shown in FIG. An inclination is provided. Similarly, in the main scale three-dimensional portion 12e, the inner vertical wall 12h and the outer vertical wall 12j located in the meter radial direction are provided with inclinations of an angle c and an angle d that expand toward the base end side, and the pointers 1c, 2c, The horizontal vertical walls 12k and 12k, which are the rotation direction of 3c, are provided with an inclination that expands toward the base end side.

  Further, a back surface printing unit 13 is provided on the back surface of the transparent display member 12. The back surface printing unit 13 includes a colored layer 13a having translucency and a light shielding layer 13b having light shielding properties. The colored layer 13a is disposed so as to overlap the light transmitting portions 8a that form the scales 5 and 6 of the dial 8 and the decoration rings 1d, 2d, and 3d. In the first embodiment, the decoration ring 1d, The parts corresponding to 2d and 3d are colored red, and the parts corresponding to the scales 5 and 6 are colored blue.

  And each light emitting diode 11 provided in the circuit board 10 has arrange | positioned all the distance L with the installation surface to the dial 8 of the transparent display member 12 uniformly, respectively, as shown in FIGS. .

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

  When the light emitting diode 11 is turned on, the light transmitting portion 8a of the dial 8 is illuminated. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the light e that has passed through the light transmitting portion 8a of the dial 8 passes through the colored layer 13a and is guided in the transparent display member 12 as indicated by an arrow f, so that the transparent display member Twelve surfaces are illuminated.

  At this time, the display on the light transmitting portion 8a of the dial 8 (the scales 5a and 6a of the scale parts 1a, 2a, 3a and 4a, the numbers, alphabets and figures of the index parts 1b, 2b, 3b and 4b, the decoration ring 1d) , 2d, and 3d) and the display on the transparent display member 12 (the scales 5 and 6 of the scale portions 1a, 2a, 3a, and 4a, and the display of the decorative rings 1d, 2d, and 3d) are different in height. Therefore, it can be visually recognized with a three-dimensional effect and depth.

  The visibility with a sense of depth and stereoscopic effect is proportional to the height of the vertical walls 12f, 12g, 12h, 12j of the three-dimensional parts 12a, 12b, and the height of the vertical walls 12f, 12g, 12h, 12j. The higher it is, the stronger it appears.

  This will be described with reference to FIG. 8. As shown in the first embodiment, the transparent display member 12 is provided, and the viewing area g1 when the height of the decorative ring solid portion 12b and the main scale solid portion 12e is increased, and transparent Comparing the visual recognition area g2 with only the dial 8 not provided with the display member 12, in Example 1, the visual recognition area g1 spreads in proportion to the height of the transparent display member 12, and the visibility is improved.

  In the first embodiment, since the height of the decorative ring solid portion 12b and the main scale solid portion 12e of the transparent display member 12 is set higher than the surrounding area, the three-dimensional feeling and the depth feeling in these portions. Is more emphasized.

  Furthermore, in the present Example 1, the main scale 5 and the sub scale 6 displayed on the surface of the scale solid part 12a are reflected on the inner peripheral vertical wall 12f of the decorative ring solid part 12b, and for the main scale. The height of the reflection (12e) of this portion is increased by the height of the three-dimensional portion 12e.

  Therefore, each of the scales 5 and 6 appears to be present in the reflection part on the inner peripheral vertical wall 12f of the decorative ring three-dimensional part 12b, and can be made larger in diameter than the actual distance. A gradation is produced by the difference, and high visibility and innovative appearance are obtained. In addition, the main scale 5 can display the depth and the stereoscopic effect more emphasized as much as the height of the main scale solid portion 12e is increased.

  In addition, by reflecting the inner and outer vertical walls 12f and 12g of the decorative ring solid portion 12b, the reflection of the scales 5 and 6 on the vertical walls 12f and 12g can be amplified. That is, the length of the reflection can be made longer than when the inner and outer vertical walls 12f and 12g are upright, and the above-described effect of increasing the scale diameter and the gradation effect can be further enhanced.

  Further, since the decorative ring three-dimensional portion 12b is formed higher than the pointers 1c, 2c, 3c, and 4c, the decorative ring 2d appears to be lifted compared to the case where the decorative ring 3d is lower than the pointer, thereby providing a sense of depth and three-dimensionality. Is further increased.

  Furthermore, in the three-dimensional part 12b for the decoration ring, the height of the three-dimensional part 12b for the decoration ring of the vehicle speedometer 1 is formed higher than the height of the three-dimensional part 12b for the decoration ring. A display effect with a different sense of depth and three-dimensionality can be achieved by the decorative ring 1 d on the outer periphery of the total 1 and the decorative ring 2 d on the outer periphery of the revolution meter 2.

  In the first embodiment, since the back surface printing unit 13 is provided directly on the transparent display member 12, gloss and gloss can be produced on the entire meter device A, the quality can be improved, and the decoration ring The texture can be improved by preventing printing misalignment between the positions of the solid portion 12b and the main scale solid portion 12e and the colored layer 13a for coloring the same. In addition, when the colored layer 13a is provided in the back surface printing portion 13, when the positional deviation occurs between the light transmitting portion 8a of the dial 8 and the transparent display member 12, the deviation is absorbed by the colored layer 13a. Thus, the occurrence of color misregistration can be prevented, and this can also improve the texture.

  In addition, since the back surface printing portion 13 is provided on the transparent display member 12 and an air layer is not interposed between the transparent display member 12, the colored layer 13a, and the light transmission portion 8a, a decrease in luminance can be suppressed, Light refraction can be suppressed to stabilize illumination illuminance, and texture can be improved.

  As described above, the meter device A according to the first embodiment has a configuration in which the transparent display member 12 is simply added to the surface of the existing translucent dial 8, and the meter device A from the light transmitting portion 8a of the dial 8 By allowing light to enter the transparent display member 12 as it is, a three-dimensional display having a sense of depth and a stereoscopic effect can be performed. Therefore, it is not necessary to add a new light source or to provide a reflector or an air layer on the back surface of the dial 8, which is advantageous in terms of cost by reducing the number of parts and having a space efficient configuration. There is an effect that a dimensional display becomes possible.

  Further, in the first embodiment, when the transparent display member 12 is provided, it is provided not only on the entire dial 8 but only on the scale portions 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a and the decoration rings 1d, 2d, 3d. The cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the dial 8 is provided as a whole, the reflection of the dial 8 can be prevented, and the visibility can be improved.

  Next, a meter device according to Example 2 of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. Parts that are the same as or equivalent to those in the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted, and different parts will be mainly described.

  The meter device according to the second embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to a meter device that performs high contrast display.

  That is, the meter device according to the second embodiment uses a meter cover that suppresses the light transmittance and enhances the contrast as the meter cover 9 shown in FIG. In addition, the light emitting diode 11 is always turned on when the ignition switch (not shown) is turned on.

  Therefore, in the meter device B according to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, when the light emitting diode 11 is turned on, a display with a sense of depth and a stereoscopic effect is achieved.

  In this way, only by adding the transparent display member 12 to the dial 8, high-contrast display for three-dimensional recognition, which has not been possible in the past, is possible.

  As described above, the embodiment of the present invention and each of Examples 1 and 2 have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment and each of Examples 1 and 2, and Design changes that do not depart from the gist of the invention are included in the present invention.

  That is, the relationship between the shape and height of the scale solid portion 12a, the decorative ring solid portion 12b, and the main scale solid portion 12e as the solid portion of the present invention is the same as that of each of the first and second embodiments. It is not limited to the shape and height shown by the meter device, but can be set arbitrarily so that the optimal depth, stereoscopic effect and gradation can be obtained according to the driver's viewpoint position. Good.

  Moreover, in the meter apparatus A of Example 1, although the inner peripheral vertical wall 12f and other vertical walls 12g, 12h, and 12j of the decorative ring solid portion 12b are inclined, the decorative ring solid portion 12b is As in the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to emphasize a display with a sense of depth and a stereoscopic effect only by forming it higher than the three-dimensional portion 12a for scale, and each vertical wall 12f provided with an inclination. , 12g, 12h, 12j, or all of them may be provided with no inclination.

  Moreover, the color of the light transmission part 8a or the colored layer 13a is not limited to the color shown in Example 1 or 2, and may be set arbitrarily.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the meter apparatus A of Example 1 of embodiment of this invention. It is the front view seen from the driver | operator side which shows the meter apparatus A of Example 1 of embodiment of this invention. This is due to the line S3-S3 in FIG. This is due to the line S4-S4 in FIG. This is due to the line S5-S5 in FIG. This is due to the line S6-S6 in FIG. It is an exploded view which shows the transparent display member 12 and the back surface printing part 13 in the meter apparatus A of Example 1 of embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the appearance in the meter apparatus A of Example 1 of embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

A Meter device 8 of Example 1 Dial 8a Light transmitting portion 9 Meter cover 10 Circuit board 11 Light emitting diode (light source)
12 Transparent display member 12a Scale solid part 12b Decorating ring solid part 12e Main scale solid part 12f Inner vertical wall (inner peripheral side)
13 Back side printing section

Claims (9)

A dial having a light transmissive portion,
A light source behind the dial,
A meter device comprising:
A meter device, wherein a transparent display member made of a transparent material is provided on a surface of the dial so as to overlap a light transmitting portion.   2. The meter device according to claim 1, wherein in the transparent display member, a three-dimensional part having a height higher than that of the surroundings is formed in a portion overlapping the light transmission part. A light transmitting portion of the dial includes a scale portion arranged corresponding to the turning trajectory of the pointer, and a decoration ring provided in an arc shape on the outer periphery of the scale portion,
The three-dimensional part includes a three-dimensional part for a decoration ring superimposed on a decoration ring, and a three-dimensional part for a scale superimposed on a scale part,
The meter device according to claim 2, wherein the decorative ring solid portion is formed higher than the scale solid portion.   4. The meter device according to claim 3, wherein an inner peripheral side surface shape of the decorative ring solid portion is inclined such that the higher the position is, the farther away from the scale solid portion.   The meter device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the back surface of the transparent display member is colored and printed. A plurality of the three-dimensional parts for the decorative ring are provided,
The meter device according to claim 5, wherein the heights of the plurality of three-dimensional portions for the decoration ring are made different.   The meter device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a plurality of the light sources are provided, and a distance between each light source and an installation surface of the transparent display member is made uniform.   The meter device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the dial is a dial of a dial translucent meter device.   The dial of the meter device according to claim 1, wherein the dial is a dial of a meter device that has a meter cover for suppressing contrast and enhancing contrast on a front surface of the device to perform a high contrast display that is always lit. A meter device given in any 1 paragraph.

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