JP3781249B2 - Display switch - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a display switch that displays characters, graphics, and the like, and more particularly, to a display switch that is suitable for a device that needs to clearly display complicated operation contents such as a display panel of an automobile, and that develops color by a light source at night. .
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, a display panel provided with various switches and instruments used in an automobile or the like is provided on the instrument panel or the like. About these various switches, it is necessary to clearly grasp the operation status as well as the location regardless of whether it is daytime or nighttime. Therefore, the lighting means is provided to prevent erroneous operation.
[0003]
Hereinafter, an example of a conventional automobile display panel will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 shows an installation state of a conventional display panel 10 in an automobile. A small ultraviolet lamp 16 is provided in the grip 15 at the upper end of the mission lever 14 or in the mission lever 14. Then, the light exit 17 is opened toward the display panel 10 so as to guide the ultraviolet light to the surface of the display panel 10 or the ultraviolet lamp 16 is installed on the console box 18 or the dashboard 19 in the passenger compartment, Alternatively, the display panel 10 is configured to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays from above.
[0004]
As shown in FIG. 8, the display panel 10 has a black escutcheon 11 provided with push buttons 12 and the like. Each push button 12 has a surface 13 printed with characters, symbols, and the like. A so-called bright paint is used as the paint for the display 13, and a fluorescent ink that emits light when irradiated with ultraviolet rays is used, or a self-light-emitting material containing a pigment that absorbs and accumulates sunlight and artificial light and emits it for a long time. A type of phosphorescent paint is used.
9 is a cross-sectional view of a portion where the display 13 is formed directly on the surface of the escutcheon 11, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure where the display 13 is formed on the surface of the push button 12.
[0005]
When the display panel 10 shown in FIG. 7 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet lamp 16, the display 13 emits light so that characters and symbols can be visually recognized. Can be operated.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional display panel 10, if the ultraviolet lamp 16 is mounted in the vehicle interior, it becomes a design-intrusive protrusion, which becomes a design constraint factor. Further, if the hand is extended to operate the push button 12, the ultraviolet rays are blocked, and in this case, there is a problem that the display content of the push button 12 is not known immediately before the operation.
Further, in the conventional push button 12, white characters and figures are often displayed on a black ground color, and it is easy to operate while visually checking the outline and display contents of the push button during the day. At night, it is visually recognized by the display that is raised by ultraviolet rays, so the contour cannot be judged. Therefore, the conventional display panel 10 and the push button 12 are not easy to use in terms of visibility and operability.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to provide a display switch that is excellent in visibility and operability both during the day and at night.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above-described problems relating to the present invention include a switch body that becomes black based on white light irradiated from the outside, and a display of characters, symbols, and the like formed by laminating two colors of paint on the outer surface of the switch body. A white fluorescent layer formed on the entire inner back surface of the display surface of the switch body, and a high-intensity light source that irradiates the fluorescent layer from within the switch body, and the fluorescent layer is irradiated by the light source. Thus, the problem can be solved by a display switch characterized in that the switch body and the display are colored in a color different from that during the white light irradiation. In the display switch, the light source is preferably an ultraviolet lamp. Further, in the display switch, the upper layer of the display is preferably a white paint and the lower layer is formed of a blue paint.
[0009]
According to the display switch having the above-described configuration, when irradiated with white light such as sunlight, the switch body is colored black and white characters, graphics, and the like are displayed on the surface thereof. Further, at night, the fluorescent layer emits light by the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet lamp of the light source, and by this light emission, the entire switch body is brightly displayed and the display portion is colored blue.
Accordingly, the entire display switch is displayed brightly, and the display portion changes from white to blue, so that a display switch with excellent visibility and operability can be obtained.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a display switch to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the display switch and the daytime display mode of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the nighttime display mode of the display switch, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the main part in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is an explanatory view at the time of light emission in FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the main part in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the display switch 1 of the present embodiment has a white display character (A / C in the figure) on the black switch body 2 in a situation where sunlight is irradiated in the daytime and the surroundings are bright. ) 4 is formed. As shown in FIG. 2, when a light source 5 described later is turned on, the switch body 2 emits white light and the display character 4 is displayed in blue.
[0011]
First, the structure of the display switch 1 of this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the switch body 2 of the display switch 1 is formed by molding a black smoke material such as acrylic or polycarbonate into a box shape, and has light transmittance. A fluorescent layer 3 printed or coated with a fluorescent paint is formed on the entire inner back surface of the display surface of the switch body 2.
[0012]
An A / C display character 4 is printed on the outer surface of the switch body 2. The display character 4 has a structure in which a blue layer 4a made of a light-transmitting blue paint and a white layer 4b made of a light-transmitting white paint are stacked on the lower layer.
Further, an ultraviolet lamp 5 as a light source is disposed below the inside of the switch body 2. The ultraviolet lamp 5 is turned on by an operation of a combination switch or the like disposed on a steering column or the like.
[0013]
In a bright situation where daylight sunlight is radiated, sunlight (white light) is radiated from outside the switch body 2, so the ultraviolet lamp 5 is not lit. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, since the surface of the display character 4 is the white layer 4b, the A / C display character 4 is displayed in white and visibly visible on the surface of the switch body 2 made of the smoke material.
[0014]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the surroundings are dark at night or rainy weather and the display characters 4 are difficult to see, when the ultraviolet lamp 5 of the switch body 2 is turned on, the fluorescent layer 3 becomes the ultraviolet lamp 5. Irradiates with fluorescence 3a by emitting light from the ultraviolet rays 5a irradiated from.
The fluorescent light 3a is transmitted from the inner side of the switch body 2 toward the outer surface, but also passes through the blue layer 4a and the white layer 4b on which the display characters 4 are formed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. The whole is displayed brightly, and the display character 4 is displayed in blue.
[0015]
That is, the display switch 1 of the present embodiment has a switch body 2 made of a black smoke material, so that it looks black when the ultraviolet lamp 5 is not turned on, but turns white when the ultraviolet lamp 5 is turned on. Change.
Therefore, the display character 4 appears white on the black switch body 2 when the ultraviolet lamp 5 is not lit, and is displayed in blue on the switch body 2 that is brightly displayed when the ultraviolet lamp 5 is lit. . Therefore, the contrast of the switch body 2 and the display character 4 is reversed depending on whether the ultraviolet lamp 5 is turned on, the contrast becomes clear, and when the ultraviolet lamp 5 is turned on, the outline of the display switch 1 is also clear. Excellent visibility and operability.
[0016]
The display switch of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the light source is not limited to an ultraviolet lamp, and a light source such as a light emitting diode (LED) or an electric field can be used as long as it is a high-intensity light source. A light emitting element (EL) or the like may be used. In addition, the paint constituting the display characters and the like can be replaced with another color.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the display switch of the present invention, a switch body that becomes black by white light irradiated from the outside, and a display formed by laminating two colors of paint on the outer surface of the switch body Since it has characters, a white fluorescent layer formed on the entire inner back surface of the display surface of the switch body, and a high-intensity light source that irradiates the fluorescent layer from within the switch body, the fluorescent layer is irradiated by the light source. As a result, the entire display switch is displayed brightly, and the switch body and display characters can be colored in a color different from that when white light is irradiated. Therefore, the display characters and the switch body can be visually recognized both during the day and at night, and even if the hand is extended for the operation, it does not disappear, so that a display switch excellent in visibility and operability is obtained. be able to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a daytime perspective view showing an embodiment of a display switch of the present invention.
2 is a plan view showing a display mode at night of the display switch in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.
4 is a partial enlarged view of a main part in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram at the time of light source emission in FIG. 3;
6 is a partial enlarged view of a main part in FIG. 5. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a layout diagram in a vehicle showing a configuration of a conventional display panel.
FIG. 8 is a front view showing a configuration of a conventional display panel.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an escutcheon showing a configuration of a conventional display panel.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a switch showing a configuration of a conventional display panel.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display switch 2 Switch body 3 Fluorescent layer 3a Fluorescent 4 Display character 4a Blue layer 4b White layer 5 Ultraviolet lamp (light source)
5a UV

Claims (3)

A switch body that becomes black by white light irradiated from the outside, a display of characters, symbols, etc. formed by laminating two-color paints on the outer surface of the switch body, and a display surface of the switch body A white fluorescent layer formed on the entire inner back surface, and a high-intensity light source that irradiates the fluorescent layer from within the switch body, the fluorescent layer being irradiated by the light source, A display switch characterized in that the display is colored in a color different from that during the white light irradiation.   The display switch according to claim 1, wherein the light source is an ultraviolet lamp.   2. The display switch according to claim 1, wherein the upper layer of the display is a white paint and the lower layer is a blue paint.

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