JP2000039340A - Pointer measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To freely cope with change in the outer shape of a light-guiding plate and an instrument plate by emitting light onto the upper surface by an emission pointer for displaying indications due to the incidence light while light is emitted by the incidence light of a dial. SOLUTION: Light from a one-side light-emitting diode 41 of light-emitting bodies 40a-40d enters each light-guiding plate 20 through the inner-periphery surface of cut-outs 21-24, is mutually reflected in the light-guiding plate 20, and is directed to an instrument plate 10 as planar light. The directed planar light is transmitted through light transmission scale parts 11-14 of dials 10a-10d, and the light transmission scale parts 11-14 emit light. On the other hand, light from the other-side light-emitting diode 41 enters the rotation base part of light emission pointers 60a-60d from a lower part, light is emitted on the upper surface of each pointer part, and the light emission pointers 60a-60d emit light by each pointer part. In this manner, when the light transmission scale parts 11-14 of the instrument plate 10 emit light, and the light emission needles 60a-60b emit light, the light emission pointers 60a-60b display an indication corresponding to the rotation of a pointer axis 52 of driving devices 50a-50d.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pointer instrument for vehicles and other various pointer instruments.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a pointer instrument of this type, for example, there is a pointer instrument as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-188844. In this pointer instrument, a light guide plate is provided along the back surface of the instrument panel, and a cold cathode tube is disposed along the incident end face of the light guide plate. Then, light incident from the cold cathode tube into the light guide plate from the incident end face is incident on the instrument panel from the back face.

[0003]

However, it is difficult to bend the cold-cathode tube freely in the pointer instrument.
For this reason, it is difficult to cope with a free change in the outer shape of the light guide plate or the instrument panel, and, consequently, there is a problem in that the design freedom of the pointer instrument is low. Therefore, in order to cope with such a problem, the present invention effectively utilizes a structure in which a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements are fixed to a flexible circuit board, and can freely respond to a change in the outer shape of the light guide plate or the instrument panel. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pointer instrument adapted to do so.

[0004]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a translucent dial (1).
0a to 10d) and through-holes (11a,
12a, 13a, 14a) through which a pointer shaft (52) is rotatably extended and driven (50a to 50d);
A light guide plate (20) having a notch (21 to 24), which is a light guide plate attached to the dial and whose end surface is cut out in a curved shape at a portion corresponding to the through hole;
A luminescent hand supported at the tip of the pointer shaft so as to extend from the tip along the surface of the dial, the extension base (62a) passing through the through hole of the dial and into the notch. An extended light emitting pointer (60a to 60d) and a flexible circuit board having a curved shape (31 to 34) along the inner peripheral surface of the notch, which is a strip-shaped flexible circuit board attached to the end face of the light guide plate. A circuit board (30) is fixed along both sides of the curved portion of the flexible circuit board, receives power through the circuit board, makes light incident on the dial through the light guide plate, and extends the light emitting pointer through the notch. A plurality of luminous bodies (40a to 40d) which are incident on the base, and under the luminescence by the incident light on the dial, the luminous pointer emits light on the upper surface by the incident light to indicate and display. A pointer instrument is provided .

In this manner, a plurality of light emitters are fixed to both sides of the curved portion of the circuit board, and the circuit board is moved so that the curved portion follows the inner peripheral surface of the notch of the light guide plate. Attached to the end face. Thereby, both the incidence of light on the light emitting pointer for emitting the light emitting pointer and the incidence of light on the dial through the light guide plate can be efficiently performed.

Further, since the circuit board has flexibility, even if the outer shape of the light guide plate is changed by changing the outer shape of the dial, the shape of the circuit board can be freely changed in accordance with the change. As a result, the degree of freedom in design of the dial and the light guide plate, and consequently the degree of freedom in the design of the pointer instrument, is significantly improved.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, a translucent dial (10a to 10d), a light guide plate (20A) provided along with the dial, and a through-hole portion of the light guide plate (20A). 2
5a to 25d) and through-holes (11a, 12) of the dial.
a, 13a, 14a) and a driving device (50a to 50d) which rotatably extends the pointer shaft (52) through the distal end of the pointer shaft and extends from the distal end along the surface of the dial. The luminescent hands supported as described above, and the extension base (6
2a) through the through-hole of the dial, into the through-hole of the light guide plate and into the through-hole of the light guide plate (60a to 60d); and a strip-shaped flexible circuit board (30A) attached to the end face of the light guide plate
And a plurality of light sources fixed along the side surface of the light guide plate of the circuit board and supplied with power through the circuit board to make light enter the light guide plate and to enter the extension base of the light emitting pointer through the through hole of the light guide plate. The light guide plate is provided with luminous bodies (90a to 90c), and the incident light is made incident on the dial, and the light emitting pointer emits light based on the incident light on the extension base, and the light is emitted on the dial. A pointer instrument adapted to indicate is provided.

As described above, a flexible circuit board to which the light-emitting members are fixed is employed, and the circuit boards are arranged side by side along the end face of the light guide plate. For this reason, the light from each illuminant is emitted from the light guide plate to the dial, and is also emitted to the extension base of the light emitting pointer through the through hole of the light guide plate. Thus, the same effect as that of the first aspect can be achieved also in the second aspect of the invention.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a translucent dial (10a to 10d), a light guide plate (20A) provided along with the dial, and a through-hole portion ( 2
5a to 25d) and through-holes (11a, 12) of the dial.
a, 13a, 14a) and a driving device (50a to 50d) which rotatably extends the pointer shaft (52) through the distal end of the pointer shaft and extends from the distal end along the surface of the dial. A light emitting pointer (60a to 60d) having a base extending from the dial through the through hole of the dial and extending into the through hole of the light guide plate, and a concave shape formed on the surface of the light guide plate. Strip-shaped flexible circuit board (70A) provided on the back surface of the light guide plate along the longitudinal groove (28) formed in
And a plurality of luminous bodies (90a to 90c) fixed along the back side surface of the light guide plate of the circuit board and supplied with power through the circuit board and incident light into the light guide plate toward the groove. The groove reflects the light incident on the light guide plate in the light guide plate by the both side walls thereof, and the light guide plate makes each reflected light by the both side walls of the groove enter the dial,
One of the reflected lights from both side walls of the groove is incident on the extension base of the light emitting pointer through the through hole of the light guide plate, and the light emitting pointer emits light based on the incident light on the extension base, and the light is emitted on the dial. There is provided a pointer instrument indicated by the following.

As described above, the flexible circuit board to which each light emitting body is fixed may be provided along the longitudinal direction of the groove at a position facing the groove of the light guide plate and on the lower surface of the light guide plate. Accordingly, the same function and effect as the invention described in claim 2 can be achieved. Further, as in the invention according to claim 4, in the pointer instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 3, each of the light emitters includes a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements (41, 91).
May be used.

Further, as in the invention according to claim 5, in the pointer instrument according to claim 4, each of the semiconductor light emitting elements may be a light emitting diode. Thereby, while achieving the operation and effect of the invention described in claim 4,
Novel visibility can be ensured by the combination of the emission colors of the light emitting diodes.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 3 show an example of a pointer instrument as a vehicle combination meter according to the present invention. The pointer instrument is provided on an instrument panel provided in a vehicle compartment of the vehicle. Have been.

The pointer instrument includes an instrument panel 10,
As shown in FIG. 1, the instrument panel 10 has two dials 10a and 10b arranged at the center thereof, and both dials 1a and 10b.
Both dials 10c, 10d arranged on both sides of 0a, 10b
And Here, each of these dials 10a to 10a
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, each of the dials 0d includes arcuate translucent scales 11 to 14, and the center of each of the dials 10a to 10d has a through hole 11a to 14a. Are formed as shown in FIG.

The scale 11 is a scale for the engine speed of the vehicle, and the scale 12 is a scale for the vehicle speed of the vehicle. The scale 13 is a scale for the water temperature of the engine cooling system of the vehicle, and the scale 14 is a scale for the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank of the vehicle. In addition, the pointer instrument includes a light guide plate 20, and the light guide plate 20 is provided along the back surface of the instrument panel 10. The light guide plate 20 includes notches 21 to 24 as shown in FIG.
1 to 24 respectively connect the light guide plate 20 to its end face 20a.
It is formed by notching in a semi-circular shape from the top.

The center of each of the notches 21, 22, 23, and 24 is located at the through hole 11a of the dial 10a, the through hole 11b of the dial 10b, and the through hole 11 of the dial 10c.
c and the center of the through hole 11d of the dial 10d. The radius of each of the notches 21, 22, 23 and 24 is the same as that of each of the notches 21, 2 and
From each of the peripheral portions of 2, 23 and 24, each translucent scale portion 11
14 to 14 are selected so that light is sufficiently incident thereon as described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pointer instrument is a strip-shaped flexible printed circuit board 30 (hereinafter referred to as an FPC).
30), and each of the luminous bodies 40a, 40b, 40c and 40d. The FPC 30 is the end face 2 of the light guide plate 20.
The light guide plate 20a is bent along with the inner peripheral surface of the notches 21 to 24 and provided along with the light guide plate 20 (see FIG. 2).

More specifically, the FPC 30 includes semicircular substrate portions 31 to 34. The FPC 30 includes the notches 2 of the light guide plate 20 in the semicircular substrate portions 31 to 34.
1 to 24, each semicircular substrate portion 31
The light guide plate 20 is bent along the end surface 20a of the light guide plate 20 at other portions than the light guide plate 20.
A connector 35 is electrically connected to the base end of the FPC 30.

Each luminous body 40a, 40b, 40c and 40
Each of d includes a plurality of light emitting diodes 41, and these light emitting diodes 41 are fixed to both surfaces of each of the semicircular substrate portions 31 to 34 of the FPC 30 at intervals (FIGS. 2 and 3). reference). Here, taking each of the light emitting diodes 41 fixed to the semicircular substrate portion 31 as an example, the light emitting diodes 41 (hereinafter referred to as one-side diode) fixed to one side surface of the semicircular substrate portion 31 among these light emitting diodes 41. 41) emits light toward the inner peripheral surface of the notch 21 of the light guide plate 20. On the other hand, the light emitting diode 41 fixed to the other side surface of the semicircular substrate portion 31 (hereinafter, referred to as the other side diode 41) emits light toward the radial center of the semicircular substrate portion 31.

Here, all the light emitting diodes 41 have their F
Each of the light emitting diodes 41 is electrically connected to the FPC 30 at a fixing position with respect to the PC 30, and emits light by being supplied with power through the connector 35 and the FPC 30. Each of the light emitting diodes 41 of the remaining semicircular substrate portions 32 to 34 has substantially the same function except that the notch of the light guide plate 20 is different. Also, both light emitters 40c,
The number of each light emitting diode 41 of 40 d
The number is smaller than the number of each light emitting diode 41 of a and 40b.

In addition, the pointer instrument is provided with each driving device 50a.
To 50d (see FIG. 2) and the respective light emitting hands 60a to 60d.
d (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Each drive 5
Reference numerals 0a to 50d each include a device main body 51 and a pointer shaft 52 rotatably extending from the device main body 51. Device main body 5 of each drive device 50a to 50d
Numerals 1 are provided on the lower surface side of the light guide plate 20 at positions corresponding to the respective dials 10a to 10d.

As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the pointer shaft 52 of the driving device 50a has a notch 21 of the light guide plate 20, a radial center of the semicircular substrate portion 31 of the FPC 30, and a through hole of the dial 10a. It extends through the portion 11a. The pointer shaft 52 of the driving device 50b extends through the notch 22 of the light guide plate 20, the radial center of the semicircular substrate portion 32 of the FPC 30, and the through hole 12a of the dial 10b.

The pointer shaft 52 of the driving device 50c is provided at the center in the radial direction of the notch 23 of the light guide plate 20, the semicircular substrate portion 33 of the FPC 30, and the through hole 13 of the dial 10c.
a. The pointer shaft 52 of the driving device 50d extends through the notch 24 of the light guide plate 20, the radial center of the semicircular substrate portion 34 of the FPC 30, and the through-hole portion 14a of the dial 10d.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the luminous hands 60a to 60d are provided corresponding to the dials 10a to 10d, respectively.
“d” includes a light-shielding cap 61 and a pointer main body 62. In the light emitting pointer 60a, the cap 6
1. The pointer shaft 5 of the driving device 50a is mounted on the boss 61a.
2 is coaxially supported by the tip.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pointer main body 62 includes a rotating base 62a having a circular cross section and a pointer 62b. The rotation base 62a is
The pivot base 62a passes through the through hole 11a of the dial 10a at its lower end, and the semicircular substrate 31 of the FPC 30 and the boss of the cap 61 at its lower end. 61a.

Here, a reflecting surface 62c is formed at the lower end of the rotating base 62a so as to be inclined so as to face both the reflecting surface 62d and the other side surface of the semicircular substrate portion 31 of the FPC 30. . For this reason, the light from the other side light emitting diode 41 enters the rotation base 62a from the lower part thereof, and then passes through the inside of the rotation base 62a by the reflection surface 62c and the reflection surface 62d.
Reflected toward.

The pointer portion 62b is bent in an L shape from the rotation base portion 62a and extends along the upper surface of the dial 10a through the peripheral wall of the cap 61. The pointer portion 62b reflects light reflected from the reflection surface 62d. And emits light on its upper surface. The reflecting surface 62d is provided on the pivot base 6 of the pointer 62b.
2a, a pivot base 62a and a pointer 62
b is formed to be inclined so as to face both insides,
The reflecting surface 62d reflects light reflected from the reflecting surface 62c through the inside of the rotating base 62a into the pointer 62b.

As a result, the light emitting hands 60a are moved by the light emission on the upper surface of the hands 62b, so that the light guide plate 2 of the dial 10a is turned on.
0 on the scale 11 through which light is transmitted.
The number of rotations of the engine is indicated and displayed in accordance with the rotation of the pointer shaft 52 by 0a. The remaining light emitting hands 60b to 60b
The configuration and function of d are the same as those of the light emitting pointer 60a, although the pointing target is different.

In FIG. 1, reference numerals 70 and 80 indicate an annular dial plate and a front cover, respectively. In the first embodiment configured as described above, each illuminant 4
0a, 40b, 40c and 40d light emitting diodes 4
When 1 is supplied with power through the connector 35 and the FPC 30, each of these light emitting diodes 41 emits light. Then, the light from each one-side light emitting diode 41 of each of the light emitters 40a to 40d enters the light guide plate 20 through the inner peripheral surface of each of the notches 21 to 24.

The light incident as described above is mutually reflected in the light guide plate 20 and emitted from the light guide plate 20 toward the instrument panel 10 as planar light. The planar light emitted in this manner passes through the translucent scale portions 11 to 14 of the dials 10a to 10d. Thereby, the translucent scale portions 11 to 14 emit light. On the other hand, the light from the other side light emitting diode 41 of each of the light emitters 40a to 40d enters the rotation base 62a of the pointer main body 62 of each of the light emitting pointers 60a to 60d from below.

Here, taking the light emitting pointer 60a as an example, light incident on the pivot base 62a from below is reflected by the reflection surface 62c in the pivot base 62a and reflected by the rear reflection surface 62d. Then, the light enters the pointer 62b.
Therefore, the pointer 62b emits light on its upper surface.
The remaining light emitting hands 60b to 60d emit light in the same manner by the hands.

As described above, when the translucent scales 11 to 14 of the instrument panel 10 emit light and the light emitting hands 60a to 60b emit light, the light emitting hands 60a to 60b emit light.
“b” indicates an instruction according to the rotation of the pointer shaft 52 of each of the driving devices 50a to 50d. As described above, FPC3
A plurality of light emitting diodes 41 are fixed to both surfaces of each of the semicircular substrate portions 31 to 34 of the light guide plate 20 so that the semicircular substrate portions 31 to 34 are formed in the respective notches 21 to 24 of the light guide plate 20. The light guide plate 20 is provided alongside the end face 20a along the peripheral surface.

Thus, each of the light emitting hands 60a to 60d
The light of each of the light emitting pointers 60a to 60d for emitting the light and the light incident on the instrument panel 10 via the light guide plate 20 can both be efficiently made. Also, since the FPC 30 has flexibility, the outer shape of the light guide plate 20 is
Even if it is changed by changing the outer shape of 0a to 10d,
The bending shape of the FPC 30 can be freely changed according to this change.

This means that the degree of freedom in designing the instrument panel 10 and the light guide plate 20, and consequently, the degree of freedom in designing the indicating instrument is significantly improved. In addition, since a combination of the FPC 30 and each of the light-emitting members 40a to 40d including the light-emitting diodes 41 is used, it is not necessary to use a high-voltage power supply, and it is not necessary to use a separate circuit board.

Further, since a plurality of light emitting diodes 41 are employed as the light emitting elements of each of the light emitting bodies 40a to 40d, the emission color of each light emitting diode 41 can be freely selected. Therefore, the emission colors of the translucent scales 11 to 14 of the dials 10a to 10d and the emission colors of the light emitting hands 60a to 60d are combined by making the emission colors of the light emitters 40a to 40d different from each other. Thus, novel visibility of the indicating instrument can be secured.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the light guide plate 2
0A, the FPC 30A and each of the luminous bodies 90a to 90c,
The light guide plate 20, the FPC 30, and the light emitters 40a to 40d described in the first embodiment are used instead.

The light guide plate 20A is provided along the back surface of the instrument panel 10, and the light guide plate 20A is formed in a substantially trapezoidal plate shape. Further, in the light guide plate 20A, the through holes 25a to 25d are formed so as to face the through holes 11a to 14a of the dials 10a to 10d. As a result, the pointer shafts 52 of the driving devices 50a to 50d described in the first embodiment are respectively connected to the through holes 25a to 25d of the light guide plate 20A and the dials 1a.
It extends through the through holes 11a to 14a of 0a to 10d. In addition, the hands of the light emitting hands 60a to 60d extend through the through holes 11a to 14a of the dials 10a to 10d at their rotation bases and into the through holes 25a to 25d of the light guide plate 20A. .

The FPC 30A is connected to the end surface 26 of the light guide plate 20A.
It is bent along the both side surfaces 27a and 27b and is provided alongside the light guide plate 20A. In particular,
The FPC 30A has a distal end 36 along the side surface 27a of the light guide plate 20, an intermediate portion 37 along the end surface 26 of the light guide plate 20A, and a base end 38 at the light guide plate 20A.
Is bent along the side surface 27b of the light guide plate 2
It is attached to 0A. The base end 3 of the FPC 30A
8 is electrically connected to a connector 39.

The luminous bodies 90a to 90c are respectively
It is composed of a plurality of light emitting diodes 91 and includes a light emitting body 90.
The light emitting diodes 91a are fixed to one side surface of the intermediate portion 37 of the FPC 30A (the surface on the side of the end surface 26 of the light guide plate 20A) at intervals. The light emitting diodes 91 of the light emitting body 90b are fixed to one side surface of the front end portion 36 of the FPC 30A (the surface on the side surface 27a side of the light guide plate 20A) at intervals.
Is a side surface of the base end portion 38 of the FPC 30A (the light guide plate 20A).
(The surface on the side surface 27b side) of the second member.

Here, each light emitting diode 91 of the light emitting body 90a emits light toward the end face 26 of the light guide plate 20A, and each light emitting diode 91 of the light emitting body 90b emits light toward the side surface 27a of the light guide plate 20A. Each light emitting diode 91 of the light emitting body 90c emits light toward the side surface 27b of the light guide plate 20A. This means that the light guide plate 20A receives light from the light emitting diodes 91 of the light emitting bodies 90a to 90c from the end face 26 and both side faces 27a and 27b, and emits the light into the through holes 25a to 25d. This means that the light is emitted as planar light toward the back surface of the instrument panel 10.

Note that all the light emitting diodes 91 are
Each of the light emitting diodes 91 is electrically connected to the FPC 30A at a fixing position with respect to the C30A.
Power is supplied through the connector 39 and the FPC 30A to emit light. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.
In the second embodiment thus configured, when the light emitting diodes 91 of the light emitting bodies 90a, 90b, and 90c are supplied with power through the connector 39 and the FPC 30A, the light emitting diodes 91 emit light together. Then, the light from each light emitting diode 91 enters the light guide plate 20A through its end face 26 and both side faces 27a, 27b.

The light incident as described above is mutually reflected in the light guide plate 20A, emitted from the upper surface of the light guide plate 20A to the instrument panel 10 as planar light, and each of the through holes of the light guide plate 20A. The light is emitted into the portions 25a to 25d. Then, the planar light emitted from the light guide plate 20A to the instrument panel 10 passes through the translucent scale portions 11 to 14 of the dials 10a to 10d. Thereby, the translucent scale portions 11 to 14 emit light.

The light emitted from each light emitting diode 91 into each through hole 25a to 25d is
The light enters the rotation base 62a of the pointer main body 62 from 0a to 60d from below. For this reason, the hands of the light emitting hands 60a to 60d emit light on their upper surfaces. This allows
Each of the light emitting hands 60a to 60b displays an instruction in accordance with the rotation of the pointer shaft 52 of each of the driving devices 50a to 50d.

As described above, the FPC 30A to which the luminous bodies 90a to 90c are fixed is employed.
0A, the intermediate portion 37, the distal end portion 36, and the proximal end portion 38.
, The end surface 26, the side surface 27a, and the side surface 2 of the light guide plate 20A.
7b. Therefore, light from each light emitting diode 91 of each light emitting body 90a to 90c is emitted to the instrument panel 10 from the upper surface of the light guide plate 20A, and each light emitting pointer 60a to 60d passes through each through hole 25a to 25d of the light guide plate 20A. Is emitted to the turning base of the pointer body.

Thus, also in the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the light enters the light emitting hands 60a to 60d for emitting the light emitting hands 60a to 60d and the light guide plate 20A is moved. Both of the light incident on the instrument panel 10 can be made efficiently. In addition, FPC30A
Is flexible, so that even if the outer shape of the light guide plate 20A is changed by changing the outer shape of the dials 10a to 10d, the bent shape of the FPC 30A can be freely changed in accordance with this change.

Other functions and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a modification of the second embodiment. In this modification, unlike the second embodiment, the FPC 30A is not located at the end surface 26 and both side surfaces 27a and 27b of the light guide plate 20A, but at the position facing the V-shaped groove 28 formed on the upper surface of the light guide plate 20A. This V-shaped groove 2
8 along the longitudinal direction of the light guide plate 20A.

Here, the FPC 30A is provided on the lower surface of the light guide plate 20A so that the light emitting diodes 91 of the light emitters 90a to 90c enter the light guide plate 20A from the lower surface thereof toward the V-shaped grooves 28. It has been done. Also,
The V-shaped groove 28 is formed at the center in the width direction on the upper surface of the light guide plate 20A, along the left-right direction in FIG. For this reason, the light that each light emitting diode 91 has entered into the light guide plate 20A from its lower surface is directed by the two walls 28a of the V-shaped groove 28 in the light guide plate 20A in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. , The direction of the end surface 26 of the light guide plate 20A and the end surface 2
6 and the light guide plate 2
The light is emitted toward the lower surface of the instrument panel 10 from the upper surface of the light guide plate 10A and is emitted into the through holes 25a to 25d of the light guide plate 20A. Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment.

In this modified example configured as described above,
Each light emitting diode 91 has a connector 39 and an FPC 30A.
When the power is supplied through the light-emitting diodes 91, each of the light-emitting diodes 91 emits light. Then, the light from each light emitting diode 91 enters the light guide plate 20A from its lower surface and enters the light guide plate 20A.
Within A, the light is reflected toward both sides by both walls 28a of the V-shaped groove 28.

The light reflected as described above is applied to the light guide plate 20A.
The light is interreflected within the light guide plate 20A, and is emitted as planar light from the upper surface of the light guide plate 20A toward the instrument panel 10, and is emitted into each of the through holes 25a to 25d of the light guide plate 20A. As a result, the luminous hands 60a to 60d are illuminated by the hands and the respective dials 10a and 60b, as in the second embodiment.
Based on the light emission of the translucent scale portions 11 to 14 of a to 10d, an instruction is displayed according to the rotation of the pointer shaft 52 of each of the driving devices 50a to 50d.

As described above, in this modification, the FPC 3 having the light-emitting members 90a to 90c fixed thereto is fixed.
0A along the longitudinal direction of the V-shaped groove 28 at a position facing the V-shaped groove 28 of the light guide plate 20A.
Even if it is provided on the lower surface of the second embodiment, substantially the same operation and effect as the second embodiment can be achieved. In each of the above embodiments and modifications, each dial 10
Although the example in which only each of the scale portions 11 to 14 of a to 10d is made translucent has been described, instead of this, each of the scale portions 11 to 14 may be made non-translucent and each of the dials 10a to 10d may be made translucent. A portion other than the scale portions 11 to 14 in 10d may be light-transmitting.

In the first embodiment, the FPC 30
The light emitting diode 41 is fixed to both sides of
Instead, each light emitting diode is fixed to only one of both surfaces of the FPC 30, and these light emitting diodes are used as a light source for incident light to the instrument panel 10 and one of the light emitting hands 60a to 60d. , Instrument panel 10
Alternatively, a light source incident on the other of the light emitting hands 60a to 60d may be separately employed.

In practicing the present invention, each luminous body 4
The light-emitting diodes 0a to 40d and 90a to 90c are not limited to light-emitting diodes, and may employ semiconductor light-emitting elements. In the embodiment of the present invention, the pointer instrument is not limited to a vehicle, but may be a pointer instrument used in ships, aircraft, and various industrial devices.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially broken front view showing a first embodiment of a vehicle pointer instrument according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an instrument panel, a light guide plate, and an FP of the pointer instruments of FIG.
FIG. 3C is an exploded perspective view of each light emitting body and each driving device.

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

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing a second embodiment of the vehicle pointer instrument according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing a modification of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10a to 10d: Dial, 11a, 12a, 13a,
14a, 25a to 25d ... through-hole portion, 20, 20A ...
Light guide plate, 21 to 24: Notch, 28: V-shaped groove, 3
0, 30A: FPC, 31 to 34: semicircular substrate part, 4
0a to 40d, 90a to 90c: luminous body, 50a to 50d: driving device, 52: pointer shaft, 60a to 60d
... Light-emitting pointer, 62a ... Rotating base.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A translucent dial (10a to 10d) and through-holes (11a, 12a, 13a, 14) of the dial.
a) a driving device (50a to 50d) extending rotatably through the pointer shaft (52) through a), a light guide plate provided alongside the dial, the end face of which corresponds to the through hole. Light guide plate (20) having cutouts (21 to 24) cut out in a curved shape at
And a light emitting pointer supported at the tip of the pointer shaft so as to extend from the tip along the surface of the dial, and extending the extension base (62a) through a through hole of the dial. Light emitting pointers (60a to 60a) extending into the notches
d) a flexible portion of the flexible printed circuit board provided along the end face of the light guide plate, the curved portion extending along the inner peripheral surface of the notch (31 to 3).
4) a flexible circuit board (30), which is fixed along both surfaces of the curved portion of the flexible circuit board, receives power through the circuit board, and enters light through the light guide plate into the dial. And a plurality of luminous bodies (40a to 40d) that enter the extension base of the luminous pointer through the notch, and the luminous pointer emits light under the light emitted by the incident light on the dial. A pointer instrument that emits light on its upper surface by light and displays instructions. 2. A translucent dial (10a to 10d), a light guide plate (20A) attached to the dial, a through hole (25a to 25d) of the light guide plate, and a through hole of the dial. A driving device (50a to 50d) that rotatably extends a pointer shaft (52) through portions (11a, 12a, 13a, and 14a); and a distal end portion of the pointer shaft from the distal end portion of the dial. A luminescent hand supported so as to extend along the surface, wherein the extending base (62a) extends through the through hole of the dial and into the through hole of the light guide plate (60a to 60a). 60d); a strip-shaped flexible circuit board (30A) provided alongside the end face of the light guide plate; and a power supply through the circuit board, which is fixed along the side face of the end face of the light guide plate of the circuit board and guides the light. Light incident on the light plate and the light guide And a plurality of luminous bodies (90a to 90c) that enter the extension base of the light emitting pointer through the through hole of the light guide plate, and the light guide plate makes the incident light incident on the dial and emits the light. The pointer instrument emits light based on the light incident on the extension base and indicates the pointer on the dial. 3. A translucent dial (10a to 10d), a light guide plate (20A) attached to the dial, a through hole (25a to 25d) of the light guide plate, and a through hole of the dial. A driving device (50a to 50d) that rotatably extends a pointer shaft (52) through portions (11a, 12a, 13a, and 14a); and a distal end portion of the pointer shaft from the distal end portion of the dial. A luminescent hand supported so as to extend along the surface, the luminescent hand (60a to 60d) having its base extending through the through hole of the dial and into the through hole of the light guide plate.
A strip-shaped flexible circuit board (70A) provided on the back surface of the light guide plate along a longitudinal groove (28) formed concavely on the surface of the light guide plate; A plurality of light emitters (90a to 90a) that are fixed along the back side surface and receive power supplied through the circuit board and enter light into the light guide plate toward the groove.
c), the groove reflects light incident on the light guide plate in the light guide plate by both side walls thereof, and the light guide plate reflects each reflected light by both side walls of the groove in the light guide plate. While entering the dial, one of the respective reflected lights by both side walls of the groove enters the extension base of the light emitting pointer through the through hole of the light guide plate, and the light emitting pointer is directed to the extension base. A pointer instrument that emits light based on the incident light of the dial and indicates an instruction on the dial. 4. The pointer instrument according to claim 1, wherein each of the light emitters comprises a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements (41, 91). 5. The pointer instrument according to claim 4, wherein each of the semiconductor light emitting elements is a light emitting diode.