JP2012208047A - Pointer type instrument device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pointer type instrument device capable of reducing a manufacturing cost.SOLUTION: The pointer type instrument device includes: a dial plate 50 formed with index parts 51 and 52; a pointer 60 rotating on the dial plate 50 and having a tip end indicating the index parts 51 and 52; a drive body 20 having a rotating shaft 21 fitted to the pointer 60 and rotating the rotating shaft 21 based on a value measured by the instrument device to rotate the pointer 60; a light guide body 40 formed of a translucent material into a substantially rod shape and having a light incidence surface and a light emission surface for emitting light to the dial plate 50; and a light source 15 for emitting the light towards the light incidence surface of the light guide body 40. The light guide body 40 further includes a reflecting surface 42 for distributing the light incident from the incidence surface to the longitudinal direction of the light guide body 40 and the pointer 60.

Description

  The present invention relates to a pointer-type instrument device used for an instrument or the like.

  Various pointer-type instrument devices used for instruments such as vehicles have been developed and put into practical use. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a pointer including a pointer light guide, a dial light guide, and a first light source and a second light source disposed at positions corresponding to the respective light guides. A type instrument device is disclosed. The pointer-type instrument device guides the light emitted from the first light source to the pointer by the guide light guide and guides the light emitted from the second light source to the dial by the dial light guide. As a result, it is possible to realize a pointer-type instrument device that is less susceptible to layout restrictions.

JP 2002-296079 A

  In the pointer-type instrument device disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to provide a light source for irradiating the pointer and a light source for irradiating the dial. Further, when a liquid crystal display element for performing various displays is provided in the pointer-type instrument device, a light source for irradiating the liquid crystal display element with light is further required. Thus, when irradiating light to the dial plate, the pointer, and the liquid crystal display element, a plurality of light sources corresponding to the respective light sources are required, and thus there is a problem that manufacturing costs are increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a pointer-type instrument device capable of reducing the manufacturing cost.

  In order to achieve the above object, a pointer-type instrument device according to the present invention includes a dial plate on which an indicator portion is formed, a pointer that rotates on the dial plate and points to the indicator portion, and a rotation shaft. A driving body that rotates the pointer by rotating the rotating shaft, a light incident surface, a light guide that guides and emits light incident from the light incident surface, and the light guide A light source that emits light toward the light incident surface, the light guide is substantially rod-shaped, and reflects a part of the light incident from the incident surface in the extending direction of the light guide. The light plate has a reflecting surface that transmits a part of the light incident from the incident surface, and the light reflected in the extending direction is guided to the light guide body and the dial from the outer peripheral surface of the light guide body. The transmitted light is emitted toward the pointer, and is emitted toward the pointer.

  In order to achieve the above object, a pointer-type instrument device according to the present invention includes a dial plate on which an indicator portion is formed, a pointer that rotates on the dial plate and points to the indicator portion, and a rotation shaft. And a driving body for rotating the pointer by rotating the rotating shaft, a light guide having a light incident surface, and guiding and emitting light incident from the light incident surface, and the light guide. A light source that emits light toward the light incident surface, and the light guide is annular, and reflects a part of the light incident from the incident surface in the extending direction of the light guide. And a reflection surface that transmits a part of the light incident from the incident surface, and the light reflected in the extending direction is guided to the light guide and the characters from the outer peripheral surface of the light guide. It is emitted toward the plate, and the transmitted light is emitted toward the pointer.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the pointer type instrument apparatus which can aim at reduction of manufacturing cost can be provided.

The top view of the pointer type instrument apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The disassembled perspective view of the pointer type instrument apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the pointer type instrument apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is sectional drawing shown by arrow IIa-IIa in FIG. 1, (b) is arrow IIb in FIG. Sectional drawing shown by -IIb. It is the schematic which showed the path | route of the light in the pointer type instrument apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is the schematic which paid its attention to the "IVa" part in Fig.3 (a), (b) FIG. 4 is a schematic view focusing on an “IVb” portion in FIG. The disassembled perspective view of the pointer type instrument apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a pointer-type instrument device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pointer-type instrument device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the pointer-type instrument device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is sectional drawing of the pointer type instrument apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of invention, (a) is sectional drawing shown by arrow IIa-IIa in FIG. 1, (b) is arrow IIb- in FIG. The cross-sectional view shown by IIb is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the pointer-type instrument device 1 according to the first embodiment is viewed in plan, a dial plate 50 is provided in front of the circuit board 10 (on the user side, on the front side in the figure, the same applies hereinafter). Yes. On the dial plate 50, a scale 51 for displaying a measured value measured by the pointer-type instrument device 1 or a measured value supplied from the outside (for example, an ECU), or a character 52 (hereinafter referred to as the scale 51 and the measured value) is associated. The scale 51 and the character 52 are collectively referred to as an index portion). In addition, a rectangular display window 53 is formed in the dial plate 50 in a lower region in the figure than the center. A liquid crystal display element 70 is disposed in the display window 53. Thereby, the user can visually recognize the display content of the liquid crystal display element 70.

  A dial 60 that rotates about the center of the dial 50 is attached to the dial 50. As will be described later, the pointer 60 rotates on the dial plate 50 in response to the drive of the drive main body 20 and points to the index portion printed on the dial plate 50.

  Such a pointer-type instrument device 1 is housed, for example, in a housing in which a light-transmitting cover is formed in front and is accommodated in front of a driver's seat of a vehicle or a ship. The user can visually recognize various measurement values (vehicle speed, engine speed, etc.) displayed by the pointer-type instrument device 1 from the driver's seat.

  Next, the configuration of the pointer-type instrument device 1 according to the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The pointer-type instrument device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a circuit board 10 having various circuits and light sources 15, a drive body 20 that rotates the pointer 60, and a reflector 30 that houses a light guide 40 and a liquid crystal display element 70. And a light guide 40 that receives light emitted from the light source 15, a dial plate 50 on which an indicator for displaying a measurement value is printed, and a pointer 60 that rotates on the dial plate 50. .

  The circuit board 10 is a rectangular rigid printed circuit board made of, for example, glass epoxy resin, and is mounted with electronic / electrical circuits that control and drive various electrical components such as the drive body 20 and the light source 15. Further, a shaft through hole 10 a for inserting the rotation shaft 21 of the drive main body 20 is formed in the approximate center of the circuit board 10.

  The light source 15 is mounted on the circuit board 10 and emits light toward the light guide 40. The light source 15 is made of a light emitting diode, for example, and in the present embodiment, the two light sources 15 are attached in the vicinity of the shaft through hole 10a.

  The drive main body 20 is mounted on the rear side of the circuit board 10 (on the right side in FIG. 2 and below in FIG. 3), and the rotating shaft 21 is inserted through the shaft through hole 10 a of the circuit board 10. The drive main body 20 is composed of a stepping motor type gauge or an air core gauge that rotates the rotating shaft 21 around the axis in response to signal supply to a coil (not shown).

  The reflector 30 is made of, for example, a light-colored, preferably white-colored synthetic resin, and is attached to the front surface of the circuit board 10. The reflector 30 has a substantially circular reflecting surface 31 in a plan view and a flange 32 erected from the outer edge of the reflecting surface 31. As shown in FIG. 3A, when the cross section cut in the lateral direction (left-right direction in FIG. 1) of the pointer-type instrument device 1 is viewed, the reflecting surface 31 is formed in a straight line (no bending or the like). ing. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the cross section cut in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1) of the pointer-type instrument device 1 is viewed, the reflecting surface 31 approaches the dial plate 50 as the distance from the center increases. Is bent. As shown in FIG. 2, a light guide attachment part 33 for attaching the light guide 40 and a liquid crystal display element attachment part 34 for attaching the liquid crystal display element 70 are formed on the reflection surface 31. Yes. The liquid crystal display element mounting portion 34 is formed with a liquid crystal element reflection surface 31a.

  The light guide 40 is made of, for example, a light-transmitting synthetic resin, and is attached to the light guide attachment portion 33 of the reflector 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the light guide 40 is formed in a rod shape having a substantially circular cross section and extending in one direction. In addition, a circular opening 41 through which the rotation shaft 21 of the drive main body 20 is inserted is formed at the center in the longitudinal direction of the light guide 40. In addition, a reflective surface 42 that is a chamfered corner is formed so as to connect the opening 41 and the outer peripheral surface of the light guide 40. The reflecting surface 42 reflects a part of the light incident from the light source 15 into the light guide 40 and guides the light in the longitudinal direction of the light guide 40, and emits the remaining part of the light toward the pointer 60. Is. A path along which light incident on the light guide 40 travels will be described later.

  In addition, the light guide 40 is subjected to graining, and a large number of fine grooves are formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. Thereby, the light emitted from the light guide 40 is emitted as diffused light.

  The liquid crystal display element 70 is a transmissive liquid crystal display element or an anti-transmissive liquid crystal display element, and performs a predetermined display in response to signal supply. The liquid crystal display element 70 is attached to the liquid crystal display element attachment portion 34 of the reflector 30 formed at a position corresponding to the display window 53 of the dial 50. Thereby, the user can visually recognize the liquid crystal display element 70 from the display window 53 formed on the dial plate 50.

  The dial plate 50 has a scale 51, characters 52, and the like formed on a substrate made of, for example, a translucent synthetic resin by printing a translucent colored layer by screen printing or the like. In other areas, a light-shielding colored layer is printed. Thereby, the light irradiated from the back of the dial plate 50 can be emitted from the scale 51 or the character 52 and made visible to the user. The dial plate 50 is attached to the reflector 30 so as to cover the light guide 40 accommodated in the reflector 30.

  The pointer 60 is fitted to the rotary shaft 21 of the drive main body 20 inserted from the circuit board 10 to the dial plate 50. Thereby, the pointer 60 rotates on the dial plate 50 by the rotation of the rotary shaft 21 of the drive main body 20, and indicates the scale 51 and the character 52 corresponding to the measurement value. The pointer 60 includes an instruction portion 61 made of a light-transmitting synthetic resin and a pointer cover 62 made of a light-shielding synthetic resin (for example, black) that covers the periphery of the rotation center portion of the pointer 60.

  Next, in the pointer-type instrument device 1 according to the present embodiment, a path along which light emitted from the light source 15 travels will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating how light travels in the pointer-type instrument device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and (a) focuses on the “IVa” portion in FIG. 3 (a). Schematic view, (b) is a schematic view focusing on the “IVb” portion in FIG. 3 (b). In FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the state of light traveling is indicated by arrows, but cross-sectional lines in the drawings are omitted for easy understanding of the arrows. Also, the arrows in the figure do not necessarily indicate the progress of all light.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the light emitted from the light source 15 enters the light guide 40 from the light incident surface 44 of the light guide 40 (arrow a). The light incident from the light incident surface 44 eventually reaches the reflecting surface 42 formed on the light guide 40.

  The light reflected by the reflecting surface 42 (arrow b) travels in the light guide 40 toward the longitudinal direction of the light guide 40. A part of the light traveling inside the light guide 40 travels inside the light guide 40 while being reflected by the reflecting surface 31 of the reflector 30 (arrow d). The light traveling inside the light guide 40 is emitted from the light guide 40 and is emitted from the scale 51 and the character 52 formed of a light-transmitting colored layer formed on the dial 50. At this time, as described above, since a large number of fine grooves are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the light guide 40, the emitted light from the light guide 40 is emitted as diffused light (arrow e). .

  On the other hand, light (arrow c) emitted from the reflecting surface 42 of the light guide plate 40 toward the pointer 60 is incident on the instruction unit 61 made of a translucent material. The light incident on the instruction unit 61 is reflected toward the distal end side of the pointer 60 by the reflecting surface 63 formed on the pointer 60. And the light reflected by the front end side of the pointer 60 is emitted outside while repeating the reflection inside the indicating unit 61. Thereby, the pointer 60 can be irradiated with a predetermined luminance.

  Next, a path along which light travels in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the light guide 40 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As described above, the light emitted from the light guide 40 is emitted as diffused light by the numerous grooves formed on the outer peripheral surface of the light guide 40 (arrow a ′). A part of the light emitted from the light guide 40 is emitted in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the light guide 40. And the light radiate | emitted toward the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the light guide 40 is reflected by the reflective surface 31 to which the bending process was given to the dial 50 (arrow b '). Thus, the light reflected to the dial plate 50 enters the liquid crystal display element 70, the scale 51, and the character 52, and is emitted to the outside (arrow c '). Thereby, the user can visually recognize the display contents of the liquid crystal display element 70, the scale 51 and the characters 52 irradiated with light.

  As described above, in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the light guide 40, the reflecting surface 31 is bent so as to approach the dial plate 50 or the liquid crystal display element 70 as the distance from the center thereof increases. This solves the problem that the light emitted from the light guide 40 becomes difficult to reach and the light emitted from the scale 51 and the like decreases as the distance from the light guide 40 increases. That is, the amount of light that reaches as the distance from the light guide 40 decreases, but the amount of light emitted from the dial 50 or the like increases by bringing the reflecting surface 31 closer to the dial 50 or the liquid crystal display element 70. I will try to let you.

  By using the pointer-type instrument device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention as described above, the following operations and effects are achieved.

  In the pointer-type instrument device 1 according to the above-described embodiment, the light that enters the light guide 40 on the reflection surface 42 of the light guide 40 and the light that travels toward the pointer 60 are guided to the inside of the light guide 40. Can be sorted. Therefore, the dial plate 50, the pointer 60, and the liquid crystal display element 70 can be irradiated by providing the light source 15 corresponding to one light guide 40. Therefore, since many light sources 15 are not required, manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the light guide 40, bending is performed so that the reflection surface 31 approaches the dial plate 50 or the liquid crystal display element 70 as the distance from the center increases. Therefore, although the amount of light that reaches as the distance from the light guide 40 decreases, the distance between the reflective surface 31 and the dial plate 50 or the distance between the reflective surface 31 and the liquid crystal display element 70 can be reduced efficiently. In addition, the liquid crystal display element 70 can be irradiated with light. Thereby, light can be uniformly emitted by the dial plate 50 and the entire liquid crystal display element 70.

  Next, a pointer type instrument device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a pointer-type instrument device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The pointer-type instrument device 100 according to the present embodiment has a function of displaying a plurality of warnings. Therefore, the configuration of the reflector 130, the light guide 140, and the like is a pointer-type instrument device according to the first embodiment. 1 and different. The pointer-type instrument device 100 according to the present embodiment and the pointer-type instrument device 1 according to the first embodiment have many common points. Therefore, in describing the pointer-type instrument device 100 according to the present embodiment, the points different from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the same members will be described with the same reference numerals.

  Six warning displays 54 are provided on the dial plate 150 of the pointer-type instrument device 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. These warning indications 54 are various warning lamps such as brakes and seat belts, and are formed by printing a transparent colored layer on the dial plate 150.

  On the circuit board 10, six warning display light sources 16 are separately provided at positions corresponding to the six warning displays 54. Similar to the light source 15, these warning display light sources 16 are made of, for example, light emitting diodes.

  The reflector 130 includes six warning display illumination chambers 37 corresponding to the six warning display light sources 16. The warning display illumination chamber 37 is an independent space formed by being partitioned. Therefore, the light emitted from the warning display light source 16 is emitted from the corresponding warning display 54 and is not emitted from the other warning displays 54. Thereby, display / non-display of each warning display 54 can be controlled independently.

  In the pointer-type instrument device 100 according to the present embodiment, as shown in the figure, a warning display illumination chamber 37 is provided in the vicinity of the center of the reflector 130, and the rod-shaped portion 43 of the light guide 140 is It is installed between the warning display illumination chambers 37 divided into three. Therefore, the progress of light is blocked in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped portion 43. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the light guide 140 is formed in a substantially “8” shape in which two annular portions are connected, and is disposed so as to avoid the warning display illumination chamber 37. The reflector 130 is provided with a light guide attachment member 36 for fixing the light guide 140 at a predetermined interval, and an area corresponding to the shape of the light guide 140 (substantially eight characters). A reflection surface 131 is formed.

  Also in the pointer type instrument device according to the present embodiment, a part of the light emitted from the light source 15 is reflected by the reflecting surface 42 formed on the light guide 140 and guided to the inside of the light guide 140. The remaining part of the light is emitted from the reflecting surface 42 toward the pointer 60. The light guided into the light guide 140 is emitted from the outer peripheral surface of the light guide 140 while being guided. The light emitted from the outer peripheral surface of the light guide 140 enters and exits the scale 51, the characters 52, and the liquid crystal display element 70. Thereby, the user can recognize the display contents of the scale 51, the characters 52, and the liquid crystal display element 70.

  By using the pointer type instrument device 100 according to the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the pointer type instrument device 1 according to the first embodiment can be obtained. In particular, in this embodiment, even when the warning display illumination chamber 37 is provided on the reflector 130, the dial plate 150, the pointer 60, and the liquid crystal display element 70 are provided only by the light source 15 corresponding to the light guide 140. Can be irradiated.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and improvements can be made. For example, in the above-described embodiment, two light sources are attached to the circuit board. However, for example, one light source may be attached in the vicinity of the shaft through hole of the circuit board if the light source emits a sufficient amount of light.

  In the above-described embodiment, a pointer-type instrument device having a reflective surface that has been subjected to bending processing and a light guide that has been subjected to embossing processing so that irradiation to a dial or a liquid crystal display element is uniform will be described. did. However, even if such a configuration is adopted, display of the dial plate or the like may inevitably occur. In order to solve this problem, it is possible to eliminate display unevenness on a dial plate or the like by using translucent inks used for printing characters and scales having different transmittances at the printing locations. For example, when a part of the scale is displayed brightly, the scale of the part is printed with a light-transmitting ink having a low transmittance, or when a part of the scale is displayed darkly, the scale of the part is Printing can be performed with a highly translucent ink.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,100 Indicator type instrument apparatus 10 Circuit board 15 Light source 16 Warning display light source 20 Drive main body 21 Rotating shaft 30, 130 Reflector 31 Reflection surface 37 Warning display illumination chamber 40, 140 Light guide 41 Opening 42 Reflection surface 44 Light Incidence surface 50, 150 Dial plate 51 Scale 52 Character 53 Display window 54 Warning display 60 Pointer 70 Liquid crystal display element

Claims (9)

A dial plate on which an indicator portion is formed;
A pointer that rotates on the dial and indicates the indicator portion;
A drive main body having a rotation shaft and rotating the pointer by rotating the rotation shaft;
A light guide having a light incident surface and guiding and emitting light incident from the light incident surface;
A light source that emits light toward the light incident surface of the light guide,
The light guide is substantially rod-shaped, and reflects a part of the light incident from the incident surface in the extending direction of the light guide and transmits a part of the light incident from the incident surface. The light reflected in the extending direction is guided to the light guide and emitted from the outer peripheral surface of the light guide toward the dial, and the transmitted light is directed toward the pointer. Emitted,
A pointer-type instrument device characterized by that. Further comprising a reflector having a light reflecting surface to which the light guide is attached;
The pointer-type instrument according to claim 1, wherein the dial is attached to the reflector so as to cover the light guide and accommodates the light guide between the dial and the light guide. apparatus. The light guide is provided at substantially the center of the reflective surface,
The said reflective surface is bent so that it may approach the said dial as it leaves | separates from the said light guide in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the said light guide. 2. The pointer-type instrument device according to 2. A circuit board on which the driving body and the light source are attached;
The rotating shaft of the drive body is inserted into an opening formed in each of the circuit board, the reflector, the light guide, and the dial, and is fitted with the pointer. The pointer-type instrument device according to claim 2 or 3. The opening formed in the light guide is an opening opened in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the light guide,
5. The pointer-type instrument device according to claim 1, wherein the reflection surface of the light guide is a connection surface that connects an outer peripheral surface of the light guide and the opening. 6.   The pointer-type instrument device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the light guide is subjected to a textured process. A dial plate on which an indicator portion is formed;
A pointer that rotates on the dial and indicates the indicator portion;
A drive main body having a rotation shaft and rotating the pointer by rotating the rotation shaft;
A light guide having a light incident surface and guiding and emitting light incident from the light incident surface;
A light source that emits light toward the light incident surface of the light guide,
The light guide is annular, and reflects a part of the light incident from the incident surface in the extending direction of the light guide, and a reflective surface that transmits a part of the light incident from the incident surface. The light reflected in the extending direction is guided to the light guide and emitted from the outer peripheral surface of the light guide toward the dial, and the transmitted light is emitted toward the pointer. To be
A pointer-type instrument device characterized by that.   The pointer-type instrument device according to claim 7, wherein the light guide has an approximately eight-letter shape in which two portions formed in an annular shape are connected. Further comprising a reflector to which the light guide is attached;
The reflector has a light reflecting surface in a region corresponding to the shape of the light guide behind the light guide,
The said dial is attached to the said reflector so that the said light guide may be covered, The said light guide is accommodated between the said light guides, The Claim 7 or Claim 8 characterized by the above-mentioned. Pointer-type instrument device.

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