JP2002002331A - Dial plate of vehicular instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a dial plate of a vehicular instrument clearly visible without regard to whether it is bright or dark outside the vehicle, which depends on the time of the day. SOLUTION: In the dial plate 10a, an opening 15a in a dark-colored layer 15 is wider than an opening 13a in a corresponding shading layer 13 and is positioned to overlie the entire opening 13a. Graduations 16a are formed of a translucent material over the interior of the opening 13a corresponding to the interior of the opening 15a and over the outer peripheral portion of the surface thereof.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a scale for a vehicle instrument.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a graduation plate of a vehicle speedometer for passenger cars usually has graduations on a surface of a transparent substrate made of a resin material such as polycarbonate, and letters and numbers are formed in an arc shape by using a white translucent printing material. Is printed as a vehicle speed display portion, and portions of the surface of the transparent substrate other than the scales, characters and numerals are printed with a black opaque printing material.

[0003] Then, a light source for illumination is arranged on the back side of the scale plate, and in the daytime, the scale plate reflects external light on a vehicle speed display unit to visually recognize the scale, characters and numerals,
At night, the scale, characters and numerals can be visually recognized by transmitting the light of the light source through the vehicle speed display unit.

[0004]

By the way, in the above-mentioned vehicle speedometer, the scale, characters and numerals of the vehicle speed display section of the dial are represented by
Apparently, they are visible at the same size regardless of day or night.

[0005] However, the vehicle speedometer is usually arranged in a hood of an instrument panel provided in a passenger compartment of a passenger car to avoid direct sunlight during the day. For this reason, in the daytime, the inside of the hood of the instrument panel becomes considerably darker than the outside of the vehicle. Therefore, it is easier to see the scale, characters, and numbers on the scale board as if they were large. On the other hand, at night, since the outside of the vehicle becomes dark, if the scale, characters, and numbers are too bright, the scale plate becomes dazzling and obstructs the view. Therefore, at night, the dial is
It is desirable to make letters and numbers look small.

Therefore, as described above, the scales, characters, and numerals of the vehicle speed display section of the scale board may be apparent day or night.
If they are visually recognized with the same size, a problem arises in that the visibility of the scale cannot be ensured satisfactorily.

In view of the above, the present invention has been made to make it possible to visually recognize a graduation plate of an instrument for a vehicle without being affected by the brightness of the outside of the vehicle due to day and night. With the goal.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a graduation plate for a vehicle instrument according to the first aspect of the present invention has a transparent substrate (11) and a transparent plate formed on the surface of the transparent substrate. Scale (16a), numeral (16
b) a substantially arc-shaped analog display portion (16) having characters and characters (16c), and respective openings (13a) corresponding to scales, numbers and characters (hereinafter referred to as respective light-shielding layer openings (13a)) A light-shielding layer (13) formed on the surface of the transparent substrate so as to position corresponding scales, numerals and characters in the respective light-shielding layer openings, and respective openings corresponding to the respective light-shielding layer openings (15a) (hereinafter the dark layer opening (15
a) is formed on the surface of the light-shielding layer so as to have a dark color layer (15).

In the scale plate, each dark-colored layer opening is wider than each corresponding light-shielding layer opening, and overlaps with each corresponding light-shielding layer opening. The light-transmitting material is formed over the outer periphery of the surface of each light-shielding layer opening corresponding to the corresponding dark-color layer opening.

Accordingly, when the vehicle is in a bright environment such as the daytime and external light is incident on the surface of the dial,
The scales, numbers, and characters on the analog display reflect the external light, so that they are brighter than the dark layer. In addition, the scale, the number, and the character reflection for the incident external light are specified by the opening area of the dark-colored layer opening that is wider than the light-shielding layer opening. Therefore, the scales, numbers and letters on the scale board will be larger,
Even if the area near the dial is darker than the outside of the vehicle, it is easy to see.

On the other hand, when the vehicle is in a dark environment such as at night, if light is incident from the back side of the dial, this light passes through the transparent substrate and is read from the graduations of the analog display section, numerals and characters. The light is emitted toward the surface of the board. The emitted light is regulated to be small by the opening area of the light shielding layer opening narrower than the dark color layer opening. Therefore, the scales, numbers, and characters of the dial are smaller, and are dazzling and easy to see even when the outside of the vehicle is as dark as the vicinity of the dial.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a scale for a vehicle instrument, comprising: a transparent substrate (11); and a plurality of scales (16a) formed on a surface of the transparent substrate and made of a translucent material. Substantially arc-shaped vehicle speed display section (16) comprising:
And each opening (13a) corresponding to each scale (hereinafter referred to as each light-shielding layer opening (13a)) on the surface of the transparent substrate such that each corresponding scale is located in each light-shielding layer opening. The light-shielding layer (13) was formed and formed on the surface of the light-shielding layer so as to have openings (15a) corresponding to the respective light-shielding layer openings (hereinafter, referred to as dark-colored layer openings (15a)). A dark layer (15).

In the scale plate, each dark-colored layer opening is wider than each corresponding light-shielding layer opening, and is displaced from the corresponding light-shielding layer opening toward the high vehicle speed side of the vehicle speed display section. Each of the light-shielding layer openings is positioned so as to overlap with the entire opening.

Thus, it is possible to achieve substantially the same operation and effect as the first aspect of the present invention, and when the vehicle is in a dark environment such as at night, the scale is set to a bright environment such as daytime. In this case, the vehicle speed is shifted to the higher vehicle speed side of the vehicle speed display unit, so that the vehicle speed can be prevented from excessively increasing in a dark environment.

The reference numerals in parentheses of the above-mentioned means indicate the correspondence with the concrete means described in the embodiments described later.

[0016]

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

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 6 show an example in which the present invention is applied to a vehicle speedometer for passenger cars. The vehicle speedometer is attached to an instrument panel (not shown) provided in the passenger compartment of the passenger car. In the present embodiment, the vehicle speedometer is located inside the hood of the instrument panel in order to avoid direct incidence of external light from outside the vehicle.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the speedometer includes an instrument panel 10, and the instrument panel 10 is placed in a casing 40 together with an inner unit main body 21 and a light source 30 of the rotating inner unit 20. Is housed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the instrument panel 10 is attached to the annular bottom wall 51 of the annular dial plate 50 from the back side in the opening 41 of the casing 40. It is positioned so as to face the driver's seat side from the inside of the hood through the front panel 60 provided at the opening end 52 of the dial plate 50. The front panel 60 is substantially transparent.

The instrument panel 10 is, as shown in FIG.
Transparent substrate 1 made of transparent resin material such as polycarbonate
On the back surface of the transparent substrate 11, a light-transmitting layer 12 is formed by printing with a white light-transmitting printing material.
Further, on the surface of the transparent substrate 11, a light-shielding layer 13 is formed by printing with a black opaque printing material except for portions corresponding to graduations, numerals, and characters described below by masking.

As shown in FIG. 1, the instrument panel 10 is provided with a scale plate 10a.
Is composed of a scale plate layer 14 and corresponding portions of the transparent substrate 11, the light transmitting layer 12, and the light shielding layer 13 corresponding to the scale plate layer 14. The scale plate layer 14 includes a substantially disk-shaped dark color layer 15 and a vehicle speed display section 16 provided in an arc shape on the outer periphery of the dark color layer 15. The dark layer 15
A portion corresponding to each scale 16a, each number 16b, each character 16c, and a symbol 16d (described later) of the vehicle speed display section 16 is removed by a masking process, and the light-shielding layer 1 is made of a dark printing material.
3 is formed by printing in a layer on the surface.

The vehicle speed display section 16 has a plurality of scales 16a,
A plurality of numbers 16b, characters 16c, and symbols 16d are printed and formed on the corresponding portions of the light shielding layer 13 and the transparent substrate 11 by using a transparent printing material. However, the vehicle speed display section 16 is formed after the light shielding layer 13 is formed and before the dark color layer 15 is formed.

Here, each scale 16a, each number 16b,
A method for forming each of the characters 16c and the symbols 16d will be described. As described above, each scale 16a of the light shielding layer 13
Each portion corresponding to each numeral 16b, each character 16c, and the symbol 16d is not formed due to the mask processing, and forms an opening 13a. The contour shape of each opening 13a is a shape corresponding to the contour shape of each corresponding scale 16a, each number 16b, each character 16c or symbol 16d.

Here, a method of forming the scale 16a shown in FIG. 3 will be described. The scale 16
As shown in FIG. 3, the opening 13a forming a is formed in a strip shape according to the shape of the scale 16a.
Then, the scale 16a is, as shown in FIG.
Printing is performed with a transparent printing material over the inside of the opening 13a and the outer peripheral portion on the front side of the opening 13a.

Thereafter, the dark color layer 15 is formed as described above, and the portions of the dark color layer 15 corresponding to the graduations 16a, the numerals 16b, the characters 16c, and the symbols 16d are subjected to mask processing. For each of the openings 15
a is formed. In addition, the contour shape of each opening 15a is a shape corresponding to the contour shape of the corresponding scale 16a, each number 16b, each character 16c or symbol 16d.

Here, taking the scale 16a shown in FIG. 3 as an example, the opening 15a forming the scale 16a is
As shown in FIG. 3, the scale 16a has a strip shape in accordance with the shape of the scale 16a. The opening 15a is formed longer and wider than the corresponding opening 13a.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the center of the opening 13a in the left-right direction coincides with the center of the opening 15a in the left-right direction. The left and right inner walls a and b of the opening 13a are located closer to the center in the left and right direction of the opening 15a than the left and right inner walls d and e of the opening 15a.
Further, the illustrated lower inner wall c of the opening 13a is connected to the opening 15a.
Is located above the illustrated lower inner wall f. Thereby, the outline shape of the scale 16a is changed to the two openings 15a,
13a, doubly specified by each contour shape. The other scales 16a, numbers 16b, characters 16c, and symbols 16d are formed substantially in the same manner.

The rotating inner unit 20 includes an inner unit main body 21 and a pointer shaft 22. The pointer shaft 22 is rotatably extended from the inner unit main unit 21 through a through hole of the instrument panel 10. ing.
The light source 30 illuminates the instrument panel 10 from the back side by turning on the light source 30. The pointer 70 is held at the pivot base by the pointer shaft 2.
2 is supported at the tip.

Next, an electric circuit configuration of the vehicle speedometer will be described with reference to FIG. The control circuit 80 operates by being supplied with power from the battery Ba via the ignition switch IG of the passenger car, drives and controls the rotating inner unit 20 in accordance with the detected vehicle speed of the vehicle speed sensor 90, and operates the tail switch S of the passenger car.
The light source 30 is turned on (or turned off) when W is turned on (or off). The vehicle speed sensor 90 detects the vehicle speed of the passenger car. Further, the control circuit 80 includes a tail switch S
When W is turned on (or off), the tail lamp of the passenger car is turned on (or turned off).

In the first embodiment configured as described above, the light source 30 is turned off by the control circuit 80 when the passenger car is traveling in a bright daytime environment. The rotation inner unit 20 is driven and controlled by the control circuit 80 according to the detection output of the vehicle speed sensor 90, and rotates the hands 70.

In such a state, the outside of the passenger car is considerably brighter than the inside of the hood of the instrument panel, and external light enters the interior of the passenger car from the window and is reflected in the hood of the instrument panel. While passing through the front panel 60, the instrument panel 10 of the speedometer
Incident on.

Then, of the external light incident on the instrument panel 10, the light incident on the dark layer 15 of the scale 10 a and the outer periphery of the scale 10 a is absorbed by the light shielding layer 13. In addition, among the external light incident on the instrument panel 10, each scale 16a, each number 16b, each character 16c, and the symbol 1 of the dial 10a are displayed.
The incident light part to 6d has these scales 16a and each numeral 1
6b, each character 16c and symbol 16d is reflected.
In this case, taking the scale 16a of FIG. 3 as an example, the light reflected by the scale 16a
3a, not the dark layer 15 corresponding to the outside thereof
Of the corresponding opening 15a.

Therefore, the instrument panel 10 is connected to the front panel 60.
When viewed through, each scale 16a, each number 16b, each character 16c, and the symbol 16d in the vehicle speed display unit 14 of the scale board 10a are, as shown in the solid line of FIG. 1 and FIG. ,growing. Therefore, even if the inside of the hood of the instrument panel is considerably darker than the outside brightness of the car in the daytime, each scale 16a, each number 16b, each character 16c, and the symbol 16d.
But very easy to see. As a result, the scale plate 1 based on the pointer 70
The instruction on 0a can be visually recognized well.

On the other hand, when the passenger car is traveling in a dark environment such as at night or in a tunnel, the tail lamp SW is turned on to turn on the tail lamp L. Accordingly, when the light source 30 is turned on by the control circuit 80, the light from the light source 30 is incident on the scale 10a from the back surface. Then, the incident light passes through the white light transmitting layer 12 and enters the transparent substrate 11 as white light.

As described above, of the white light incident on the transparent substrate 11, the portion of the light incident on the light shielding layer 13 is absorbed by the light shielding layer 13. Also, of the white light incident on the transparent substrate 11, each scale 16a of the scale 10a, each number 16b,
The light incident on each of the characters 16c and the symbols 16d passes through each of the scales 16a, each of the numerals 16b, each of the characters 16c and the symbols 16d, and is emitted to the front side of the scale 10a. In this case, taking the scale 16a in FIG. 3 as an example, this scale 1
The white light emitted through 6a is not the corresponding opening 15a of the dark color layer 15, but the light shielding layer 1 located corresponding to the inside thereof.
The third opening 13a is regulated by the opening area and the opening shape.

Therefore, the instrument panel 10 is connected to the front panel 60.
When viewed through, each scale 16a, each number 16b, each character 16c, and the symbol 16d in the vehicle speed display unit 14 of the scale board 10a are, as shown in the broken line in FIG. 1 and FIG. , Become smaller. Therefore, even if the outside of the passenger car is as dark as the inside of the hood of the instrument panel, each scale 16a and each number 16
b, each character 16c and symbol 16d is dazzling and very easy to see. As a result, the instruction on the scale 10a by the pointer 70 can be visually recognized well.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 7, each scale 16a of the vehicle speed display unit 14 of the scale board 10a described in the first embodiment is formed narrower than the case described in the first embodiment. Regarding this point, the scale 16a shown in FIG.
For example, the opening 15a of the dark color layer 15 corresponding to the scale 16a is formed to be narrow unlike the first embodiment. Specifically, the opening 15a
As shown in FIG. 8, different from the first embodiment, the left inner wall d is masked so as to match the left inner wall a of the opening 13a of the corresponding light shielding layer 13, so that the scale 16a is It is formed narrow. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment configured as described above,
Taking the scale 16a of FIG. 8 as an example, when the passenger car is traveling in a bright environment such as the daytime, the light reflected by the scale 16a is the same as described in the first embodiment. In addition, it is specified by the opening area and the opening shape of the corresponding opening 15a of the dark color layer 15 which is located corresponding to the outside, not the corresponding opening 13a of the light shielding layer 13. Therefore, even if the inside of the hood of the instrument panel is considerably darker than the brightness of the outside of the passenger car in the daytime, each scale 16 is similar to the first embodiment.
a, each numeral 16b, each character 16c, and the symbol 16d are very easy to see, and as a result, the instructions on the dial 10a by the hands 70 can be seen well.

On the other hand, when the passenger car is traveling in a dark environment such as at night, the white light transmitted through the scale 16a is transmitted to the dark layer 15 as described in the first embodiment.
7 and 8, the opening 13a of the light shielding layer 13 is narrowed so as to shift to a higher vehicle speed side, as indicated by the broken line in FIG. 7 and FIG. Is done.

Therefore, the instrument panel 10 is connected to the front panel 60.
7, each scale 16a, each number 16b, each character 16c, and the symbol 16d in the vehicle speed display unit 14 of the scale board 10a are similar to those in the first embodiment, as shown by the broken lines in FIG. It becomes smaller so as to shift to a higher vehicle speed than the case shown by the solid line. Therefore, even if the outside of the passenger car is as dark as the inside of the hood of the instrument panel, each scale 16a, each number 16b,
The characters 16c and the symbols 16d are dazzling and very easy to see, so that the indications on the dial 10a by the hands 70 can be visually recognized well. Excessive vehicle speed in a dark environment can be suppressed.

In implementing the present invention, the instrument panel 10
The light-transmitting layer 12 is not limited to white, and may be transparent or other various bright colors.

In implementing the present invention, the scale 16
a, numeral 16b, and the like may be dark colors such as smoke and transmit light. Dark layer 15 in this case
On the contrary, in order to obtain a contrast, a bright color such as white is used.

In implementing the present invention, when forming the vehicle speed display section 14 on the scale plate 10a, for example, the scale 16a shown in FIGS.
After forming the light shielding layer 13 on the surface of the transparent substrate 11 so as to have an opening 15a, a dark layer 15 having an opening 15a is formed so as to overlap the opening 13a.
May be formed in the opening 15a in the outer periphery of the surface of the opening 13a corresponding thereto and in the opening 13a. Other scale 16a, number 16b, character 1
The same applies to 6c and 16d.

In practicing the present invention, among the scales, numbers, characters and symbols of the vehicle speed display section 16 of the scale plate 10a described in the second embodiment, numerals, characters and symbols correspond to the corresponding openings. The openings 15a corresponding to the openings 13a may be formed in the same shape as the openings 13a so that the openings are formed only inside the openings 13a.

In practicing the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the instrument for passenger cars, but may be applied to instruments for various vehicles such as buses, trucks, agricultural construction machines and motorcycles.

In implementing the present invention, the first embodiment is not limited to the vehicle speedometer, but may be any other instrument such as a tachometer of the passenger car, which has a substantially arc-shaped analog display having scales, numerals and characters. The present invention may be applied to an instrument formed with a part.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially broken front view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG.

3 (a) is a partially cutaway view of FIG. 3 (b) as viewed from arrow A, and FIG. 3 (b) is a partially cutaway view of the scale plate of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an electric circuit configuration diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the scale board of the first embodiment in a bright environment such as daytime.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the scale plate of the first embodiment in a dark environment such as at night.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a main part showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

8 (a) is a partially cutaway view of FIG. 8 (b) as viewed from arrow B, and FIG. 8 (b) is a partially cutaway view of the scale plate of FIG. 7;

[Description of References] 10a: scale plate, 11: transparent substrate, 13: light shielding layer, 1
3a, 15a: opening, 14: scale layer, 15: dark layer, 16: vehicle speed display, 16a: scale, 16b: numeral, 16c: character.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A substantially arc-shaped analog having a transparent substrate (11), a scale (16a) formed on a surface of the transparent substrate and made of a translucent material, numerals (16b) and characters (16c). A display unit (16), and the openings (13a) corresponding to the scales, numbers and characters
(Hereinafter, referred to as respective light-shielding layer openings (13a)). The light-shielding layer (13) formed on the surface of the transparent substrate so as to position the scales, numerals, and characters corresponding to the respective light-shielding layer openings. ), And each opening (15) corresponding to each light-shielding layer opening.
a) (hereinafter, referred to as a dark layer opening (15a)) having a dark layer (15) formed on the surface of the light shielding layer, wherein each of the dark layer openings has a corresponding light shielding. Each of the light-shielding layer openings is wider than the layer opening and overlaps with each of the corresponding light-shielding layer openings, and the scales, numerals, and characters correspond to the respective dark-colored layer openings. A scale for a vehicle instrument, which is formed of the translucent material over an outer peripheral portion of a surface of the portion. 2. A substantially arc-shaped vehicle speed display section (16) formed on a surface of the transparent substrate and having a plurality of scales (16a) made of a translucent material. It has openings (13a) corresponding to the respective scales (hereinafter referred to as respective light-shielding layer openings (13a)) and is provided on the surface of the transparent substrate such that the respective scales are positioned in the respective light-shielding layer openings. The light-shielding layer (13) formed and each opening (15) corresponding to each of the light-shielding layer openings.
a) (hereinafter, referred to as a dark-colored layer opening (15a)) having a dark-colored layer (15) formed on the surface of the light-shielding layer. A vehicle which is wider than the layer openings and is displaced from the corresponding light-shielding layer openings to the higher vehicle speed side of the vehicle speed display portion so as to overlap the respective light-shielding layer openings. Instrument scale.