JP2000039341A - Illumination device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an illumination device capable of improving commodity and design performance despite of simple constitution. SOLUTION: A light transmission part 17 for transmitting light from a light source 1 is formed into dial plate (indication plate). A front plate 19 arranged in the front of the dial plate 5 has a light transmission characteristic. A light transmission part 20 is provided close to the light transmission part 17 from the facing surface side of the dial plate 5 of the front plate 19 and guides the transmitted light from the light transmission part 17 to the front plate 19.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lighting device such as an instrument for a vehicle or a timepiece, and more particularly to a lighting structure thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional lighting device will be described with reference to FIG. 6 taking a lighting device for a vehicle instrument as an example. An illumination device in a vehicle instrument stores a plurality of light sources 1 including LEDs, bulbs, and the like in a case body 2 and an opening 3 in the case body 2.
A dial 5 as a display plate on which a transparent display index 4 such as letters, numbers, and scales is formed is provided.
Is configured to be transmitted and illuminated by the light source 1 from behind.

[0003] Behind the dial 5 provided in the opening 3, a light receiving unit 8 for guiding the light emitted from the light source 1 to a pointing unit 7 of a pointer 6 for pointing a display index 4 is provided. Further, a light guide 9 for uniformly transmitting and illuminating the display index 4 of the dial 5 with the light of the light source 1 is provided. A printed circuit board 10 is provided in the case body 2. The printed circuit board 10 is provided with, for example,
An instrument main body 11 composed of a cross-coil instrument, a light source 1, electronic components (not shown), and the like are mounted. The instrument body 11
A rotating magnet (not shown) is provided as a movable portion that follows a change in a magnetic field generated by a drive signal to the cross coil, and a light emitting type indicator 7 is provided at the tip of a rotating shaft 12 erected from the rotating magnet. The pointer 6 is fixed. Therefore, the indicator 7 of the pointer 6 operated by the instrument body 11
By comparing and reading the display index 4 formed on the dial 5 and the display index 4, it is possible to know a change in the measured amount.

On the other hand, on the front face of the dial 5, a facing plate 12 provided at the upper end of the case body 2 and an elastic member (for example, rubber packing) 13 made of rubber or the like are disposed above the facing plate 12. And a translucent front plate 14 made of acrylic, polycarbonate, or the like. The facing plate 12 and the front plate 14 are each provided with a fixing member 15 having a substantially U-shaped cross section at the upper end of the case body 2. For example, it is arranged and fixed by swaging.

[0005]

The illuminating device for a vehicle instrument having such a configuration has a structure in which only the display index 4 of the dial 5 and the indicator 7 of the pointer 6 are illuminated during night driving, and There is a problem that it lacks in design properties. Therefore, there is a demand for a lighting device that can improve the merchantability and design.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device which has a simple structure and can improve the merchantability and design.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a display plate provided with display indices such as characters, numerals, and scales is emitted from a light source provided behind the display plate. An illuminating device that transmits and illuminates with light, transmitting light from the light source, a light transmitting portion formed on the display panel, and a light transmitting front plate disposed on a front side of the display panel. A light guide unit provided near the light transmitting unit from the side of the front plate facing the display plate, and guiding light transmitted from the light transmitting unit to the front plate. Things.

Further, a light diffusion portion is formed inside the light guide portion.

Further, a light irradiating portion having a light emitting surface in the form of a concave portion or a convex portion is formed on a surface of the front plate corresponding to a position where the light guide portion is formed.

Further, a light guide is provided behind the display panel.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates to a lighting device for transmitting and illuminating a display plate provided with display indices such as characters, numerals, and scales with light emitted from a light source provided behind the display plate. It is. The light from the light source 1 is transmitted, and the light transmitting portion 17 is formed on the dial 5 serving as a display plate.
By extending the light guide 20 from the light-transmitting front plate 19 provided on the front side of the dial 5 so as to approach the light-transmitting portion 17, light transmitted from the light-transmitting portion 17 is guided. Optical part 2
Since it is possible to guide the front panel 19 by 0 and illuminate the front panel 19, not only the display index 4 of the dial 5 and the indicator 7 of the hands 6 but also the front panel 19 is illuminated. Therefore, it is possible to improve the merchantability and design of the lighting device.

By forming the light diffusing portion 26 inside the light guide 25, the dial 5 can be illuminated indirectly.

The light emitting surfaces 21 and 23 having concave and convex shapes are formed on the surface of the front plate 19 corresponding to the positions where the light guides 20 are formed.
By forming the light irradiating portions 22 and 24 having the width, the width of the illumination light S radiated from the surface of the front plate 19 can be changed.

By arranging the light guide 9 behind the dial 5, light can be efficiently emitted from the light transmitting portion 17, so that the illumination on the front plate 19 can be clearly recognized. .

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the same or corresponding parts as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, a lighting device for a vehicle instrument will be described as an example in the same manner as in the prior art.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a lighting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a vehicle instrument viewed from above, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a second embodiment of the device, FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a third embodiment of the illumination device of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a fourth embodiment of the illumination device of the present invention. It is a principal part expanded sectional view which shows.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In such a lighting device, a printed circuit board 10 is disposed on the bottom of the case body 1, and on the printed circuit board 10,
The light source 1 and the meter main body 11 are mounted, and the light emitted from the light source 2 illuminates the dial (display panel) 5 disposed in the opening 3 of the case body 1 and the indicator 7 of the pointer 6.

The instrument device 11 has a pointer 6 having a light-emitting indicator 7 fixed to the tip of a rotating shaft 12. The indicator 6 is formed between the display index 4 formed on the dial 5 and the indicator 7 of the indicator 6. It is a well-known method in which a change in a measured amount can be known by comparison reading. The instrument main body 11 is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 10 via a terminal (not shown) provided at a lower part thereof.

The dial 5 has a circular shape, and is obtained by printing a light-transmissive colored layer made of, for example, red or green on a transparent substrate 16 made of polycarbonate or the like as shown in FIG. A display index 4; and a light transmitting portion 17 formed on the entire periphery of the dial 5 corresponding to a position where a light guide portion of the front plate described later is formed, and for guiding light emitted from the light source 1 onto the dial 5; And a light shielding portion 18 for shielding light emitted from behind the dial 5 on the other surface of the transparent substrate 16 by printing. The light transmitting portion 17 is formed of a light transmitting colored layer as in the case of the display index 4.

A light guide 9 is disposed behind the dial 5, and the light guide 9 receives light for efficiently guiding the light emitted from the light source 1 to the indicator 7 of the pointer 6. The portion 8 is formed to extend toward the light source 1 located on the lower side, and uniformly illuminates the display index 4 and the light transmitting portion 17 of the dial 5. In order to obtain a predetermined luminescent color in the indicator 7 of the pointer 6, the indicator 7 is colored in a predetermined color, or a hot stamp of a predetermined color is applied to the upper and lower end surfaces of the indicator 7. Things are used.

On the other hand, on the front face of the dial 5, a front plate 19 made of a light-transmitting circular shape such as acrylic or polycarbonate is disposed on the upper end of the case body 2 via an elastic member 13 '. The face plate 19 is fixed to the upper end of the case body 2 by, for example, caulking a fixing member 15 having a substantially U-shaped cross section. The front plate 19 has a light guide portion 20 formed around the entire periphery thereof, and the light guide portion 20 is formed to extend so as to be close to the light transmitting portion 17 of the dial 5. The elastic member 13 ′ extends the lower end on the case body 2 side and covers the outside of the light guide 20 to prevent light leakage from the gap between the case body 2 and the dial 5.

The illuminating device according to the first embodiment is significantly different from the conventional illuminating device in that the light transmitting portion 17 is formed on the periphery of the dial 5, the dial 12 is not provided, and the light of the front plate 19 is not provided. The point is that the light guide section 20 is formed on the periphery corresponding to the position where the transmission section 17 is formed. Such a lighting device,
At the time of nighttime illumination of the vehicle instrument, light emitted from the light source 1 illuminates the display index 4 of the dial 5 and illuminates the indicator 7 of the hands 6, and also transmits light from the light transmitting portion 17 of the dial 5. Since the light corresponding to the color of the colored layer is irradiated on the surface of the front plate 19 as the ring-shaped illumination light S as shown in FIG. It is visually recognized as if the front panel 19 emits light. Therefore, the front plate 19 is not limited to the illumination of only the display index 4 of the dial 5 and the indicator 7 of the hands 6, but has a simple configuration in which the front plate 19 is provided with the light guide 20.
Can also be illuminated, so that it is possible to improve the merchantability and design of the conventional illuminating device.

Further, by arranging the light guide 9 behind the dial 5 as in the present embodiment, the light can be efficiently emitted from the light transmitting portion 17, so that the illumination on the surface of the front plate 19 becomes clear. Can be visually recognized.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the first embodiment is used as a basic structure, and a modified example from this basic structure will be described. The parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and their detailed description is omitted.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the lighting device according to the second embodiment, a concave-shaped light is formed on the surface of the front plate 19 corresponding to the position where the light guide 20 is formed. A light irradiation unit 22 having an emission surface 21 is formed.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In the lighting device according to the third embodiment, the surface of the front plate 19 corresponding to the position where the light guide 20 is formed has a convex shape. A light irradiation unit 24 having a light exit surface 23 is formed.

FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the lighting device according to the fourth embodiment, the lighting device has a divergent shape from the lower end face on the dial 5 side to the upper end face on the front plate 19 side. A light guide 25 having a substantially trapezoidal cross section is provided, and a light diffusing portion 26 is formed inside the light guide 25 (in the direction of the pointer 6).

In the above-described second and third embodiments, the light irradiating section 2 having the light emitting surfaces 21 and 23 in the form of concave portions and convex portions is used.
By providing 2, 24 on the front plate 19, respectively,
The illumination pattern of the illumination light S can be changed by changing the width of the ring-shaped illumination light S as shown in FIG. That is, when the light emitting surface 22 having the concave shape is provided, the width of the illumination light S emitted from the front plate 19 can be visually recognized as a fine ring shape, and the light emitting surface 23 having the convex shape can be seen. When the illumination light S is provided, the illumination light S emitted from the front plate 19 can be visually recognized as a thick ring.

In the fourth embodiment, the light emitted from the light transmitting portion 17 of the dial 5 is transmitted to the light guide 2 of the front plate 19.
5 illuminates the surface of the front plate 19 as ring-shaped illumination light S, and irradiates from the light transmitting portion 17 of the dial 5 by providing the light diffusing portion 26 inside the light guide portion 25. The light is irradiated toward the inside of the light guide section 25 by the light diffusion section 26, so that the dial 5 can be indirectly illuminated.

In each of the above-described embodiments, not only illumination of only the display index 4 of the dial 5 and the indicator 7 of the pointer 6 but also illumination of the front panel 19 and indirect illumination of the dial 5 can be obtained. Therefore, the merchantability and design of the lighting device can be improved.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the elastic member 1 is used to prevent light leakage from the gap between the case body 2 and the dial 5.
Although the lower end of 3 ′ is extended to cover the outside of the light guides 20 and 25, as another method, the upper surface of the fixing member 15 is located above the light guides 20 and 25 of the front plate 19. A non-transparent material may be formed on the end of the front plate 19 by two-color molding or double-coating so as to be provided near the irradiation surface or to cover the outside of the light guides 20 and 25 from the end of the front plate 19. By molding, light leakage from the gap between the case body 2 and the dial 5 can be prevented.

In the second, third, and fourth embodiments described above, the illumination pattern showing the illumination pattern on the front panel 19 and the indirect illumination of the dial 5 has been described. By combining the fourth embodiment, the third embodiment, and the fourth embodiment, it is possible to further improve the merchantability and design. Further, the present invention provides a third method.
The light emitting surface 23 having the convex shape of the light irradiation unit 24 in the embodiment.
A light diffusing portion (texture) is formed in the
May be different from each other.

Further, in this embodiment, a description has been given using a vehicle instrument for displaying one vehicle state. However, for example, a speedometer, a tachometer, a fuel gauge, a thermometer, and the like are housed in one case. It can also be applied to combination meters, in which case the light transmitting part is formed in a ring shape on the dial of each instrument,
By forming a ring-shaped light guide portion on the front plate corresponding to the position where the light transmitting portion is formed, a lighting device having the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

Further, the present invention can be applied not only to a lighting device for a vehicle instrument but also to a lighting device such as a clock.

Further, in this embodiment, the light transmitting portion 17 and the light guiding portion 20 are formed on the entire periphery of the dial 5 and the front plate 19, but in the present invention, only predetermined portions are provided. The light transmission part 17 and the light guide part 20 may be formed on the front plate to obtain a partial illumination on the front plate.

In the present embodiment, the light transmitting portion 17 is formed by a colored layer. However, in the present invention, the light transmitting portion is formed only by the transparent substrate 16 without using the colored layer. May be configured by an LED or the like having an emission color such as red or green, so that the front plate 19 is illuminated according to the emission color of the light source.

[0037]

The present invention relates to an illuminating device for transmitting and illuminating a display plate provided with display indices such as characters, numerals, and scales with light emitted from a light source provided behind the display plate. By providing the light transmitting portion on the dial and providing the light guiding portion on the front plate, not only the illumination of only the indicator of the display panel and the indicator of the pointer, but also the illumination of the front panel and the illumination of the display plate. Since indirect lighting is obtained, it is possible to improve the merchantability and design of the lighting device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part showing a lighting device for a vehicle instrument according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the vehicle instrument according to the first embodiment as viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing a lighting device for a vehicle instrument according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing a lighting device for a vehicle instrument according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing a lighting device for a vehicle instrument according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a main part showing a conventional lighting device for a vehicle instrument.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 light source 2 case body 4 display index 5 dial 6 pointer 7 indicator 9 light guide 17 light transmitting portion 19 front plate 20, 25 light guiding portion 21, 23 light emitting surface 22, 24 light emitting portion 26 light diffusing portion S Illumination light

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A lighting device for transmitting and illuminating a display plate provided with display indices such as characters, numerals, and scales with light emitted from a light source disposed behind the display plate, A light transmitting portion formed on the display panel, transmitting light; a light transmitting front panel disposed on a front side of the display panel; and a light transmitting front side of the front panel facing the display panel. And a light guide unit provided near the light transmission unit and guiding light transmitted from the light transmission unit to the front plate. 2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein a light diffusing portion is formed inside the light guiding portion. 3. A light irradiator having a concave or convex light emitting surface is formed on a surface of the front plate corresponding to a position where the light guide is formed. The lighting device according to claim 2. 4. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein a light guide is provided behind the display panel.