JP2000247163A - Lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting system capable of improving the illuminating light ratio. SOLUTION: This lighting system comprises a display panel 3 having a translucent display part, a translucent rotating display part 3, a light guide, and a light source 6. The light guide has an emission part 83 for supplying an illuminating light to the rotating display part 4, a first reflection part 84 located on the emitting light axis L of the light source 6 to reflect the illuminating light to the emission part 83, a first light inlet part 87 extended from the first reflection part 84 to the light source 6 side along the emitting light axis L to guide the illuminating light to the first reflection part 84, a second reflection part 85 extended around the first reflection part 84 to radially reflect the illuminating light, a second light inlet part 88 extended from the second reflection part 85 to the light source 6 side so as to surround the first light inlet part 87 to guide the illuminating light to the second reflection part 85.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illuminating device used for vehicles such as automobiles and motorcycles, and more particularly to an illuminating device suitable as a pointer-type indicating instrument for displaying to a driver vehicle conditions such as vehicle speed and engine speed. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, in vehicles such as automobiles and motorcycles, for example, a rotating display unit serving as a pointer provided rotatably by a movable magnet type driving device or a stepping motor, a scale, numerals, and characters. A display panel formed with a display section such as a display section indicates the physical information such as speed, engine speed, radiator water temperature, fuel quantity, and the like, which are vehicle information, by interpreting the rotation display section and the display section of the display panel. Many pointer-type indicating instruments are used.

In such a pointer-type indicating instrument, both a rotating display unit and a display unit of a display panel are formed to be translucent, and a light guide and a light source are arranged on the back of the display panel. ,
There is a type in which both the transmissive rotating display unit and the display unit are configured as a lighting device that illuminates from behind through a light guide.

In this type of lighting device, most of the light guides extend in the direction in which the display panel extends, and illuminate a display portion and a rotating display portion of the display panel. A light introducing portion extending from a predetermined portion of the substrate portion to the light source side, illuminating light from the light source is taken into the light guide through the light introducing portion, and the illuminating light thus taken is transmitted to the light introducing portion and the substrate portion. The display unit and the rotary display unit are illuminated by reflecting and supplying the light to the substrate unit through the reflection unit formed at the connection part with the display unit.

In addition, the light guide has a relatively large area such as a display panel and, because of the rotation member, has a specific position such as a rotation display portion which is disposed at an appropriate distance from the light guide. Various improved structures have been proposed for efficient illumination. As one of them, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-1336
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-2007, a light introducing portion is formed extending directly above the light source (on the light emitting axis), and the light introducing portion is introduced into a portion including the substrate portion on the display panel side in the extension direction of the light introducing portion. A planar reflector that reflects the illumination light to the rotating display unit side and a radiation reflector that radially reflects the illumination light to the surroundings are disposed so as to face each other so that the cross section has a “V” shape. By reflecting and supplying illumination light to the rotating display unit, the efficiency of light introduction to the rotating display unit located at a specific location is increased, and
A lighting device has been proposed in which the illumination light is reflected and supplied in the radiation direction through the radiation reflection unit to increase the lighting efficiency of a display panel requiring illumination of a relatively large area. In the case of this example, each of the reflection units is configured. The vertex of the wall surface having the V-shaped cross section (the center point between the reflecting portions) coincides with the light emission axis of the light source.

[0006]

However, in the prior art disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, although improvement in illumination efficiency can be expected by devising the shape of the reflecting portion of the light guide, the flat reflecting portion and the radiation reflecting portion are connected. The center point (the vertex of the “V” -shaped wall surface) of the two coincides with the light-emitting axis of the light source, and the central axis in the extending direction of the light introducing section also coincides with the light-emitting axis of the light source. The amount of light per area is substantially equal, and therefore, it is not possible to supply sufficient illumination light to the rotating display unit, which is arranged at a distance from the light guide and has a large light amount loss in the light guide path, and the rotation display In some cases, satisfactory brightness may not be obtained in the lighting conditions of the part, and there is room for improvement in this respect.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an illuminating device capable of increasing the illumination efficiency on the rotating display unit side without sacrificing the display panel side, thereby improving the overall illumination efficiency. With the goal.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a display panel having a translucent display unit, a translucent rotating display unit disposed on the display panel, and A light guide disposed along the back surface of the display panel, and the display unit and the rotation display unit disposed behind the light guide and away from the rotation display unit through the light guide; A light source for illuminating the light source, the light guide body supplying illumination light to the rotating display unit, and a first light source positioned on a light emitting axis of the light source and reflecting the illumination light to the irradiation unit. A reflecting portion, a first extending from the first reflecting portion to the light source side along the light emitting axis and guiding the illumination light to the first reflecting portion;
A light introducing portion, a second reflecting portion that extends around the first reflecting portion as a reference, and radially reflects the illumination light, and the light source side surrounding the light source from the second reflecting portion. A second light introducing portion extending to guide the illumination light to the second reflecting portion.

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides
A display panel having a translucent display unit, a translucent rotating display unit disposed on the display panel, a light guide disposed on the back of the display panel, and a rear of the light guide A light source that is disposed at a position distant from the rotation display unit and illuminates the display unit and the rotation display unit through the light guide, and the light guide extends along the display panel. A substrate section; a light introducing section extending from the substrate section to the light source side; an irradiating section for supplying illumination light to the rotating display section; A first reflecting portion for reflecting the illumination light to the irradiating portion; and a second reflecting portion extending to the periphery with respect to the first reflecting portion and reflecting the illumination light in a radial manner, and the light is formed. The introduction section extends from the first reflection section to the light source side along the light emission axis, and A first light introducing portion for guiding the illumination light to the reflecting portion; and a second light introducing portion extending from the second reflecting portion to surround the light source and guiding the illumination light to the second reflecting portion. And a part.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the first reflecting surface is formed as a flat surface, and the second reflecting portion is formed as a conical surface.

Further, according to the present invention, a third reflecting portion is formed on an end face located in the extension direction of the substrate section, for reflecting the illumination light going outside the substrate section through the end face to the inside of the substrate section. It is characterized by.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the third reflecting portion is set so as to reflect the illumination light guided through the second light introducing portion in the direction of the extension axis of the substrate portion.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the surfaces of the first and second light introducing portions facing the light source are formed as light collecting surfaces.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the rotating display portion is formed of a translucent pointer which is driven to rotate through a predetermined driving device.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 7 show an illumination device according to the present invention applied to a pointer-type instrument for a vehicle. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the pointer-type instrument, and FIG. 2 is an assembled view AA of FIG. 3 is a front view showing the front side of the light guide of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a front view showing the back of the light guide of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a BB line of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are front views of main parts of a light introducing unit showing second and third embodiments of the present invention, respectively.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a pointer-type instrument includes a transmissive illumination type display panel 3 in which an area excluding a translucent display section 1 is a light shielding section 2, and a pointer positioned on the display panel 3. And a driving device 5 that is disposed behind the display panel 3 and that is, for example, a stepping motor that drives the rotation display unit 4 disposed on the display panel 3 according to a measured value. A circuit board 7 on which a plurality of light sources 6 are electrically connected, and an illumination of the light source 6 mounted on the circuit board 7 between the circuit board 7 and the display panel 3 along the back surface of the display panel 3. A light guide 8 that guides light to the display unit 1 and the rotation display unit 4 of the display panel 3 to illuminate them from behind.
It is composed of

The rotation display unit 4 is made of a light-transmitting synthetic resin material such as acrylic or polycarbonate, and is connected to the drive shaft 51 of the drive unit 5 through a through hole formed in the display panel 3 and the light guide 5. Thus, the display unit 3 is rotated around the axis on the display panel 3, thereby instructing the display unit 1 arranged in accordance with the measured value, thereby enabling comparison reading.

In this case, a required portion at the center of rotation of the rotation display section 4 is covered with a cover 41 having light-shielding properties.

The light source 6 is composed of a plurality (four) of chip-type light emitting diodes corresponding to a light introducing portion of the light guide 8 which will be described later.

The light guide 8 is, as shown in FIGS.
A substrate portion 81 made of the same light-transmitting synthetic resin material as the rotating display portion 4 and extending in a flat shape along the display panel 3, and a light introducing portion extending continuously from the substrate portion 81 to the light source 6 side 82.

The substrate portion 81 is located at a position corresponding to the position behind the drive shaft 51 and the rotation center of the rotation display portion 4, and applies illumination light guided inside the substrate portion 81 to the rotation of the rotation display portion 4. An irradiating unit 83 that reflects and supplies the light to the moving center, and is separated from the irradiating unit 83 in the extending direction of the substrate unit 81 and its center is located on the light emitting axis L of the light source 6 and reflects the illumination light to the irradiating unit 83. First
A reflecting portion 84, a second reflecting portion 85 adjacent to the first reflecting portion 84 and radially reflecting illumination light in the substrate portion 81, and an end surface in the extension direction of the substrate portion 81. The illumination light directed to the outside of the substrate unit 81 through the
A third reflection portion 86 that reflects the light inside 1 and returns is formed.

In this case, the irradiating section 83 is positioned
The first reflecting portion 84 is approximately 4 ° with respect to the extension axis of the substrate 81, and the first
The second reflecting portion 85 is formed on an inclined plane inclined at 5 degrees.
Is formed on an inclined surface having a conical surface extending all around the first reflecting portion 84 with the first reflecting portion 84 as a reference, and the inclined angle is guided through a second light introducing portion described later. The illumination light is set so as to be reflected in parallel with the extension axis of the substrate portion 81, and the third reflection portion 86 is configured to return the illumination light traveling outside the substrate portion 81 to the inside of the substrate portion 81. To enable, it consists of a pair of reflective surfaces that are "V" shaped in cross section.

The light introducing portion 82 extends from the first reflecting portion 84 toward the light source 6 along the light emission axis L, and the first light whose extended end face facing the light source 6 is a spherical condensing surface. Introduction section 8
7, the first light introducing portion 87 and the second reflecting portion 85 are extended toward the light source 6 so as to surround the first light introducing portion 87 and the light source 6, and the extended end face facing the light source 6 becomes a concave light collecting surface. The first light introducing unit 87 is formed so as to be divided into a second light introducing unit 88 and a first central axis of the first light introducing unit 87 in the extending direction is substantially equal to the light emitting axis L of the light source 6, and the first light introducing unit 87 has a first axis. The second light introducing portion 8 is formed so that illumination light can be introduced into the reflecting portion 84.
8 is formed so that illumination light can be introduced into the second reflecting portion 85.

Therefore, the main path of the illuminating light reaching the rotary display unit 4 is: the light source 6 → the first light introducing unit 87 → the first reflecting unit 8
4 → irradiation unit 83 → rotation display unit 4, which is a light guide path suitable for guiding illumination light to a specific location on display panel 3 (position of rotation display unit 4). The illumination light that has entered the center of rotation of the rotation display unit 4 along such a path is reflected by the pointer reflection unit at approximately 45 degrees, and the indicator extending in the longitudinal direction of the rotation display unit 4 shines. Let it. The main route to the display section 1 of the display panel 3 is the light source 6 → the second light introducing section 88 → the second reflecting section 85 → the display section 1, and is arranged over a relatively wide range of the display panel 3. A light guide path suitable for guiding illumination light to the display unit 1 is provided. At this time, the illumination light traveling from the end face in the extending direction of the substrate portion 81 to the outside of the light guide 8 is reflected through the third reflecting portion 86 and returns to the inside of the substrate portion 81 to contribute to the illumination of the display portion 1. become.

As described above, in this embodiment, the display panel 3 having the translucent display unit 1, the translucent rotating display unit 4 disposed on the display panel 3, and the display panel 3 A light guide 8 disposed along the back surface; and a light guide 8 disposed behind the light guide 8 and away from the rotation display unit 4.
A light source 6 that illuminates the display unit 1 and the rotating display unit 4 through the light source 8. The light guide 8 includes a substrate 81 extending along the display panel 3 and a light receiving unit 82 extending from the substrate 81 to the light source 6 side The substrate unit 81 includes an irradiating unit 83 that supplies illumination light to the rotating display unit 4 and a first reflection unit that is located on the light emitting axis L of the light source 6 and reflects the illumination light to the irradiating unit 83. A portion 84 and a second reflecting portion 85 that extends around the first reflecting portion 84 as a reference and radially reflects illumination light are formed, and the light introducing portion 82 emits light from the first reflecting portion 84. A first light introducing portion 87 that extends toward the light source 6 along the axis L and guides the illumination light to the first reflecting portion 84, and a first light introducing portion 87 from the second reflecting portion 88 and on the light source 6. A second light introducing unit 88 that extends to the light source 6 side and guides the illumination light to the second reflecting unit 85.
And the rotation display unit 4
The lighting efficiency on both sides can be increased, thereby improving the overall lighting efficiency.

That is, the illumination light emitted on the periphery of the light emitting axis L of the light source 6 is taken in by the second light introducing portion 88 extending so as to surround the periphery of the light source 6, and the second reflection portion 85 is provided.
With the first light guide path radially reflected by the light source, it is possible to guide the illumination light to the display panel 3 in a wide range to increase the light guide efficiency to the display unit 1 and to provide the light emission axis L of the light source 6 The illumination light emitted most intensely along is taken in by the first light introducing portion 87 extending on the light emitting axis L, and is reflected by the first reflecting portion 84 to the rotating display portion 4 side. By the optical path, the illumination light can be spot-guided to the rotation display unit 4 side, and the light guide efficiency to the rotation display unit 4 can be increased,
As a result, the overall lighting efficiency can be improved.

In this embodiment, the irradiation section 83 is formed as a substantially 45 inclined surface. However, the shape of the irradiation section 83 can be appropriately set according to the structure of the rotation display section 4.

In this embodiment, the first reflecting portion 84 is a flat surface and the second reflecting portion 85 is a conical surface.
The first reflecting portion 84 made of a flat surface can guide the illuminating light spot-like to the rotating display portion 4 side, and the second reflecting portion 85 made of a conical surface can guide the illuminating light over a wide range, so that it can cover a wide range. Efficient illumination of the display unit 1 and the rotating display unit 4 located at a specific site is enabled. The shape of the second reflecting portion 85 is not limited to a conical surface as in the present embodiment, but may be appropriately shaped as long as the reflecting portion is configured to reflect illumination light in a radial manner. A suitable shape may be selected in consideration of the structure and shape, the layout of the illumination target, and the like.

In this embodiment, the light guide 8 is connected to the substrate 81.
And a light introducing portion 82, and a third reflecting portion 86 that reflects illumination light toward the outside of the substrate portion 81 through the end surface to the inside of the substrate portion 81 is provided on an end surface located in the extension direction of the substrate portion 81. With the formation, the illumination light traveling to the outside of the light guide 3 can be returned to the inside of the light guide 3, which is extremely useful in improving the illumination efficiency.

Further, in the present embodiment, the third reflecting portion 85 reflects the illumination light guided through the second light introducing portion 88 so as to become a light beam parallel to the direction of the extension axis of the substrate portion 81, so that the light is guided. Efficiency can be increased.

Further, in this embodiment, since the surfaces of the first and second light introducing portions 87 and 88 facing the light source 6 are formed as condensing surfaces, respectively, the illumination light received from various points on each of the facing surfaces is provided. Can be guided substantially parallel to the direction of the extension axis of each of the light introducing portions 87 and 88, whereby the reflecting portions 84 and 85 can be guided.
The illumination light reflected in the direction of the extension axis of the substrate portion 81 can be increased, and the light guide efficiency can be increased.

In the present embodiment, the second reflecting portion 85 and the second light introducing portion 88 are formed so as to surround the first reflecting portion 84 and the first reflecting portion 87. 2nd, 3rd
As an embodiment, for example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the second reflecting portion 85 or the light introducing portion 8 surrounding the light emitting axis L of the light source 6.
If it is formed as 8, the first reflector 84 and the first reflector 87 need not be surrounded.

In this embodiment, the light source 6 is a light emitting diode. However, it is needless to say that an appropriate light source such as an incandescent bulb can be used. This makes it possible to improve the assemblability and suppress the heat generation of the light source 6 so that the display unit 1
In addition, the illumination state of the rotation display unit 4 can be maintained in a good state.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the illuminating device according to the present invention is applied to the pointer-type indicator is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to the pointer-type indicator, and the rotating display unit and the display panel are illuminated through the light guide. The lighting device can be applied to various lighting display devices, for example, the operating condition of the air conditioner is displayed to the operator, and the air conditioner can be controlled by the operator with a dial-type rotating display unit. The present invention can also be applied to a lighting device provided with a display panel as described above.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, a display panel having a translucent display unit, a translucent rotating display unit disposed on the display panel, and a display panel along the back surface of the display panel. And a light source that is disposed behind the light guide and away from the rotation display unit and illuminates the display unit and the rotation display unit through the light guide. An irradiating unit, wherein the light guide supplies illumination light to the rotating display unit, a first reflecting unit positioned on a light emitting axis of the light source and reflecting the illumination light to the irradiating unit, A first light introduction unit extending from the first reflection unit to the light source side along the light emission axis and guiding the illumination light to the first reflection unit;
A second reflector extending radially around the reflector with respect to the reflector and reflecting the illumination light radially; extending from the second reflector to the light source side so as to surround the light source; By having the second light introducing portion for guiding the illumination light, it is possible to provide an illumination device capable of improving illumination efficiency.

According to the present invention, a display panel having a translucent display unit, a translucent rotating display unit disposed on the display panel, and a light guide disposed on the back surface of the display panel are provided. A light source, and a light source disposed behind the light guide and away from the rotation display unit and illuminating the display unit and the rotation display unit through the light guide, A body part extending along the display panel, and a light introducing part extending from the substrate part to the light source side; and an irradiating part for supplying illumination light to the rotating display part on the substrate part. A first reflector positioned on the light-emitting axis of the light source and reflecting the illumination light to the irradiator; and a second reflector extending radially around the first reflector and reflecting the illumination light radially.
And a first light introducing portion extending from the first reflecting portion to the light source side along the light emission axis and guiding the illumination light to the first reflecting portion. And a second light introducing portion extending from the second reflecting portion so as to surround the light source and guiding the illumination light to the second reflecting portion, so that the illumination efficiency can be improved. Possible lighting devices can be provided.

Also, the present invention is characterized in that the first reflecting surface is formed in a plane and the second reflecting portion is formed in a conical surface, so that a wide-range display portion and a rotating display portion located at a specific portion are provided. Efficient illumination is possible.

Further, according to the present invention, a third reflecting portion is formed on an end face located in the extension direction of the substrate section, for reflecting the illumination light traveling outside the substrate section through the end face to the inside of the substrate section. Accordingly, the illumination light traveling to the outside of the light guide can be returned to the light guide, which is extremely useful for improving the illumination efficiency.

Further, according to the present invention, the third reflecting portion is set so as to reflect the illumination light guided through the second light introducing portion in the direction of the extension axis of the substrate portion, so that the light guiding efficiency is improved. Can be increased.

Further, according to the present invention, the light guiding efficiency can be enhanced by forming the surfaces of the first and second light introducing portions facing the light source as light collecting surfaces.

Further, the present invention is particularly useful when the rotation display section is formed of a light-transmitting pointer which is driven to rotate through a predetermined driving device.

Further, according to the present invention, since the light source is formed of a light emitting diode, the light source is excellent in assemblability, and it is possible to suppress the heat generation of the light source and maintain a good illumination state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a pointer-type instrument.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA showing the assembled state of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the front side of the light guide of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the back of the light guide of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a main part of a light introducing unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a main part of a light introducing unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display part 3 Display panel 4 Rotation display part 6 Light source 8 Light guide 83 Irradiation part 84 1st reflection part 85 2nd reflection part 86 3rd reflection part 87 1st light introduction part 88 2nd light Introduction part L Light emitting axis

Claims (8)

[Claims] A display panel having a light-transmitting display portion;
A translucent rotating display unit disposed on the display panel,
A light guide disposed along the back surface of the display panel, and the display unit and the rotation display disposed behind the light guide and at a location away from the rotation display unit through the light guide; A light source for illuminating the light source, wherein the light guide is configured to supply illumination light to the rotating display unit, and a first light source is located on a light emission axis of the light source and reflects the illumination light to the light emission unit. A first light introducing unit extending from the first reflecting unit to the light source side along the light emitting axis and guiding the illumination light to the first reflecting unit; and a first reflecting unit. A second reflector that extends to the periphery with respect to the light source and radially reflects the illumination light; and a second reflector that extends from the second reflector to the light source side so as to surround the light source. And a second light introducing section for guiding the light. 2. A display panel having a translucent display portion,
A translucent rotating display unit disposed on the display panel,
A light guide disposed on the back surface of the display panel, and the display unit and the rotation display unit are disposed behind the light guide and at a position away from the rotation display unit through the light guide. A light source for illuminating, the light guide having a substrate portion extending along the display panel, and a light introducing portion extending from the substrate portion to the light source side; An irradiating unit that supplies illumination light to the display unit; a first reflecting unit that is located on a light emitting axis of the light source and reflects the illuminating light to the irradiating unit; and spreads around the first reflecting unit as a reference. A second reflecting portion that radially reflects the illumination light is formed, the light introducing portion extends from the first reflecting portion to the light source side along the light emitting axis, and the first light reflecting portion is formed on the first reflecting portion. A first light introduction unit for guiding illumination light and the second reflection unit surround the light source. Lighting apparatus characterized by a second light introduction unit which urchin extending guides the illumination light to the second reflecting part. 3. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first reflecting surface is formed as a flat surface, and the second reflecting portion is formed as a conical surface. 4. A third reflecting portion, which is formed on an end surface of the substrate portion extending in an extending direction, for reflecting the illumination light traveling toward the outside of the substrate portion through the end surface to the inside of the substrate portion. The lighting device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third reflecting section is set so as to reflect the illumination light guided through the second light introducing section in a direction of an extension axis of the substrate section. The lighting device according to claim 4. 6. The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second light introducing portions each have a surface facing the light source formed on a light-collecting surface. The lighting device according to the above. 7. The illuminating device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating display unit comprises a light-transmitting pointer that is rotated and driven through a predetermined driving device. . 8. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.