JP2002036913A - Lighting system for measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting device having an excellent external appearance quality for a measuring instrument, in which an increase of production costs is suppressed by reducing number of components, and the rear side of respective display part can be almost uniformly lighted. SOLUTION: This lighting device for a measuring instrument has an integrated type light guide plate 17, in which light from a light source 8 is made incident through a light incident part 18 and reflected by reflecting grooves 11, 11 provided near a meter indicating needle part 6 and guided to an indicating needle 6b. The integrated type light guide plate 17 is provided with a reflecting surface 19 to light an areas where light is interrupted by the reflecting grooves 11, 11 located in opposite sides of the light source 8 holding a indicating needle pointer shaft part 6a between.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

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

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional illumination device for an instrument of this type, the one shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 is known.

In such a vehicle, a meter panel 1 is provided on a dashboard located in front of a driver's seat of a vehicle.

The meter panel 1 is provided with a fuel gauge display section 2, a speedometer display section 3, a tachometer display section 4, and a water temperature gauge display section 5. On the back side of the meter panel 1, a movement 7 for moving a pointer main body 6 b of a meter pointer 6 via a pointer shaft 6 a, and respective display parts 2 to 5 and a pointer 6 of the meter panel 1 are illuminated. A light source 8 is provided.

On the back side of the meter panel 1,
Transparent light guide plates 9a, 9 used for speedometer and fuel gauge
b is provided. Similar light guide plates are also provided in the tachometer and the water temperature gauge, but the description is omitted.

Each of the light guide plates 9a and 9b is provided with a light input section 10 for receiving light from the light source 8.

The light guide plates 9a and 9b are formed with reflection grooves 11 and 11 for reflecting the light incident from the light entrance 10 to the pointer shaft near the pointer shaft 6a of the meter.

Further, as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 11, these light guide plates 9a and 9b have shaft portions formed around the pointer shaft 6a and having a substantially conical shape inclined at approximately 45 degrees. A reflection surface 12 is provided.

Further, a plurality of V-shaped grooves or matte surfaces 13 are formed on the back surface side of these light guide plates 9a and 9b.

Next, the operation of this conventional example will be described.

In the above-described conventional device, the light emitted from the light source 8 is transmitted from the light incident portion 10 to the light guide plate 9.
a, etc., and by the V-shaped groove or matte surface 13,
The light is reflected in a substantially orthogonal direction, and the back surfaces of the display units 2 to 5 are almost uniformly illuminated.

The light reflected by the reflection grooves 11 in the direction of the shaft reflecting surface 12 is reflected by the shaft reflecting surface 1.
At 1, the pointer body is bent in a direction substantially perpendicular to the meter pointer section 6 and is illuminated.

[0013]

As shown in FIG. 10, the light guide plate 9a used in the speedometer is used for the purpose of reducing the number of parts, reducing the vertical dimension of the instrument, and miniaturizing the instrument. And a light guide plate 9b used in a fuel gauge, and an integrated light guide plate 14 configured to illuminate both display units 3 and 4 with one light source 8 is conceivable.

However, in such a device, the light source 8 for illuminating the speedometer display section 3 is located closer to the fuel gauge display section 2 due to the integration, so that as shown in FIG. , 11 and about 140 km / h on the opposite side of the light source 8 with the pointer shaft 6b interposed therebetween being shielded from light.
There is a problem that the portion 15 displaying the high-speed side representing the vicinity becomes dark.

Therefore, the present invention reduces the number of parts,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighting device for an instrument, which can suppress an increase in manufacturing cost and can illuminate each display section from the back side substantially uniformly, and has a good appearance quality.

[0016]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the first aspect of the present invention, light from a light source is
In a lighting device for an instrument, which is provided with a light guide plate for guiding light to the pointer portion by receiving light from the light incident portion and reflecting the light by a reflection groove provided near the pointer portion of the meter, the light guide plate includes the pointer It is characterized by a lighting device of an instrument provided with a reflection portion for illuminating a portion where light is blocked by the reflection groove on a side opposite to the light source with respect to the shaft portion.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the light of the light source is reflected by the reflecting portion,
On the side opposite to the light source with respect to the pointer shaft portion, a portion where light is blocked by the reflection groove is illuminated.

For this reason, even if the light is interrupted due to the integration, it is illuminated, and the increase in the manufacturing cost can be suppressed. In addition, each display section is illuminated almost uniformly from the back side, and the appearance quality is good. is there.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the illumination device for an instrument according to the first aspect, wherein the reflecting portion is a reflecting groove or a reflecting surface formed near the light incident portion. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the reflection portion is a reflection groove or a reflection surface formed near the light entrance portion, light from the light source is transmitted from the light entrance portion. The light enters, is reflected by the reflector, and is illuminated on the opposite side of the light source with respect to the pointer shaft, where the light is blocked by the reflection groove.

According to the third aspect of the present invention,
The lighting device for an instrument according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting portion is formed on an outer surface of the light guide plate.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the reflection portion is formed by using the outer surface of the light guide plate, the reflection portion can be formed without processing the light guide plate separately. It can be formed, and increase in the number of processing steps can be suppressed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the instrument as set forth in any one of the first to third aspects, the reflecting portion is a part of an elliptical or elliptical arc formed on an outer peripheral surface of the light guide plate. Of the lighting device.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the reflecting portion is a part of an elliptical or elliptical arc formed on the outer peripheral surface of the light guide plate. The reflection portion can be formed without processing the light plate, and an increase in the number of processing steps can be suppressed. For example, in the case of an elliptical shape in which the light source is located at one focal point, the vicinity of the other focal point can be efficiently illuminated. .

Further, according to the fifth aspect, the reflecting portion is a reflecting surface formed by using a part of an outer surface formed by bulging a part of the light guide plate. Instrument lighting device.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the reflecting portion is formed on the outer surface by bulging a part of the light guide plate, it is necessary to use a separate component such as a reflecting mirror. In addition, the number of parts can be reduced, and an increase in manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

[0027]

First Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
It is to explain. Parts that are the same as or equivalent to those in the conventional example will be described with the same reference numerals.

First, the configuration will be described. A meter panel 16 is provided on a dashboard located in front of a driver's seat of the vehicle according to the first embodiment.

The meter panel 16 is provided with a fuel gauge display section 2, a speedometer display section 3, a tachometer display section 4, and a water temperature gauge display section 5. And this meter panel 16
A movement 7 for moving the pointer main body 6b of the meter pointer 6 via the pointer shaft 6a and a light source 8 for illuminating each of the display units 2 to 5 of the meter panel 16 are provided on the back side of the display unit.

On the back side of the meter panel 16, a transparent integrated light guide plate 17 used for a speedometer and a fuel gauge is provided.

The integrated light guide plate 17 has a light incident portion 18 for receiving light from the light source 8.

The integrated light guide plate 17 is formed with reflection grooves 11 for reflecting the light incident from the light entrance 10 near the pointer shaft 6a of the meter.

Further, the integrated light guide plate 17 is provided with a shaft reflecting surface 12 which is formed around the pointer shaft 6a and has a substantially conical shape inclined at approximately 45 degrees.

A plurality of V-shaped grooves or matte surfaces 13 are formed on the back side of the integrated light guide plate 17.

The integrated light guide plate 17 has a reflecting surface 19 as a reflecting portion.

This reflecting surface 19 illuminates a portion 15 shown in FIG. 12 on the opposite side of the light source 8 with respect to the pointer shaft 6a, where the light is blocked by the reflecting grooves 11, 11.
As shown in FIG. 1, an upper part of the integrated light guide plate 17 is provided with a bulging part 20 bulging upward, and the light incident light is formed by using one outer surface 20 a of the bulging part 20. It is formed so as to be located near the portion 18.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

In the instrument lighting device of the first embodiment configured as described above, first, the light emitted from the light source 8 enters the integrated light guide plate 17 from the light incident portion 18.

A part of the light illuminates the direction of the fuel gauge display 2 and the light directed to the direction of the fuel gauge display 2 is
The light is reflected at a substantially right angle by the reflecting groove 11 on the periphery of the fuel gauge shaft, and the pointer of the fuel gauge is illuminated.

This light illuminates the direction of the speedometer display 3. Part of the light in the direction of the speedometer display 3 is
The light is reflected by the reflection grooves 11, 11 on the periphery of the speedometer shaft, collected in the direction of the shaft reflection surface 12, and reflected by the shaft reflection surface 12 at a substantially right angle toward the direction of the speedometer pointer main body 6a. Thus, the speedometer pointer main body 6a is illuminated.

At this time, the light from the light source is blocked by the shaft reflecting surface 12 and the reflecting grooves 11, 11, and on the side opposite to the light source 8 across the pointer shaft 6a, the speed display 3 Although the portion that displays the high-speed side representing approximately 140 km / h is dark, in the first embodiment, the portion that is blocked by the reflection grooves 11, 11 and the like is that the light from the light source 8 is
The portion reflected on the reflection surface 19 and displaying the high-speed side is illuminated to improve the brightness.

For this reason, with the integration of the speedometer display section 3 and the fuel gauge display section 2, the portion where light is blocked is also illuminated,
Each display section is almost uniformly illuminated from the back side, and the appearance quality is good.

Accordingly, the integrated light guide plate 1 that illuminates the speedometer display unit 3 and the fuel gauge display unit 2 with a single light source 8
7 can be formed as one part, and an increase in manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

Further, the reflecting surface 19 is provided on the light incident portion 18.
Is formed in the vicinity of the light source 8, the light from the light source 8 enters from the light incident portion 18 and is reflected by the reflection surface 19, and the reflection groove is provided on the opposite side of the pointer shaft 6a from the light source 8. A portion where light is blocked by 11 or the like is illuminated.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, a part of the integrated light guide plate 17 is bulged to form a bulge 20, and the reflection surface 19 is formed on one outer surface 20 a of the bulge 20. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a separate component such as a reflecting mirror, and the number of components can be reduced, thereby suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost.

[0047]

[First Modification] FIG. 7 shows a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. The same or equivalent parts as those in the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals.

In the first modification, a reflection groove 21 is formed in the bulging portion 20 of the integrated light guide plate 117 along the one outer surface 20a in the longitudinal direction.

In the first modification, the light from the light source 8 enters through the light incident portion 18 and is reflected by the reflecting groove 21. The light is reflected on the opposite side of the pointer shaft 6 a from the light source 8. Groove 11
The part where light is blocked by the light is illuminated.

The other configuration, operation, and effects are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

[0051]

[Embodiment 2] Fig. 8 shows a lighting device for an instrument according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The same or equivalent parts as those in the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals.

In the second embodiment, the integrated light guide plate 21
7 on the outer peripheral surface of the light source 8 and the reflection groove 11 on the opposite side of the light source 8 with respect to the pointer shaft 6a.
Outer peripheral surface 23 as a reflecting part which becomes a part of an arc of elliptical shape 22 having one point P as a focal point in a portion where light is blocked by
Are formed.

In the lighting device for an instrument according to the second embodiment configured as described above, the reflecting portion is formed by the integrated light guide plate 21.
Since this is a part of the elliptical arc formed on the outer peripheral surface of the reflector 7, the reflection portion can be formed without separately processing the integrated light guide plate 217, and an increase in the number of processing steps can be suppressed.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, an elliptical shape in which the light source 8 is located at one focal point Q can efficiently illuminate the vicinity of the other focal point P.

The other configuration, operation, and effects are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

The present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments and the modified examples described above. For example, instead of the elliptical shape of the second embodiment, a part of an elliptical arc may be used as the reflecting portion.
What is necessary is to illuminate the part where light is blocked by the reflection groove 11.

The range illuminated by the reflecting portion of the present invention is as follows.
It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the one that illuminates the entirety of the portion that is blocked by the reflection groove 11, and may partially illuminate a part of the range that is blocked by the reflection groove 11.

[0058]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the light of the light source is reflected by the reflection portion, and the reflection groove is provided on the opposite side of the pointer shaft from the light source. The part where light is blocked is illuminated.

For this reason, even if the light is blocked by the integration, the light is illuminated, and the increase in the manufacturing cost can be suppressed. In addition, each display section is illuminated almost uniformly from the back side, and the appearance quality is good. is there.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the reflecting portion is a reflecting groove or a reflecting surface formed in the vicinity of the light entering portion, light from the light source is incident from the light entering portion. Then, a portion which is reflected by the reflecting portion and is opposite to the light source with respect to the pointer shaft portion and which is blocked by the reflecting groove is illuminated.

In the third aspect,
Since the reflection portion is formed using the outer surface of the light guide plate, the reflection portion can be formed without separately processing the light guide plate, and an increase in the number of processing steps can be suppressed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the reflecting portion is a part of an elliptical or oval arc formed on the outer peripheral surface of the light guide plate, the light guide plate is separately provided. The reflector can be formed without processing, and the increase in the number of processing steps can be suppressed. For example, in the case of an elliptical shape in which the light source is located at one focal point, the vicinity of the other focal point can be efficiently illuminated.

Further, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the light guide plate is formed by bulging a part of the light guide plate to form the reflection portion on the outer surface, it is not necessary to use a separate component such as a reflection mirror. In addition, a practically useful effect of reducing the number of components and suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost can be exhibited.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a positional relationship between a light source and a light guide plate in a lighting device for an instrument according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a positional relationship between a reflecting groove and a shaft reflecting surface in the lighting device of the instrument according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a lighting device of the instrument according to the first embodiment;
It is sectional drawing in the position along the B line.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a lighting device for an instrument according to the first embodiment;
It is sectional drawing in the position along the C line.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a lighting device of the instrument according to the first embodiment;
It is sectional drawing in the position along the A line.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a meter display unit in the instrument lighting device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a lighting device for a meter according to a first modification of the first embodiment;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view near a reflection unit.

FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating a positional relationship between a light source and a light guide plate in the lighting device for a meter according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating a positional relationship between a light source and a light guide plate in a lighting device for an instrument according to a conventional example.

FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a positional relationship between a light source and a light guide plate in another conventional instrument lighting device.

FIG. 11 shows another conventional example of a lighting device for an instrument.
It is sectional drawing in the position along the D line.

FIG. 12 is a front view of a meter display unit in another conventional instrument lighting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Meter Pointer 6a Pointer Main Body 6b Pointer Shaft 17, 117, 217 Integrated Light Guide Plate (Light Guide Plate) 18 Light Input Part 19 Reflection Surface (Reflection Part) 20 Swelling Part 20a One Outer Surface 21 Reflection Groove 23 Outer Surface (Reflector)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2F074 AA01 AA04 BB01 DD03 EE02 EE03 FF01 GG01 GG06 3D044 BA03 BA04 BA21 BA22 BA26 BB01 BD02

Claims (5)

[Claims] An illumination system for an instrument, comprising: a light guide plate for guiding light from a light source through a light incident portion and reflected by a reflection groove provided near a pointer portion of the instrument. In the device, the light guide plate is provided with a reflection portion for illuminating a portion where light is blocked by the reflection groove on a side opposite to the light source with the pointer shaft portion interposed therebetween. Lighting equipment. 2. The illumination device for an instrument according to claim 1, wherein said reflection portion is a reflection groove or a reflection surface formed near said light entrance portion. 3. The lighting device for an instrument according to claim 1, wherein said reflecting portion is formed on an outer surface of said light guide plate. 4. The lighting device for an instrument according to claim 1, wherein said reflecting portion is a part of an elliptical or elliptical arc formed on an outer peripheral surface of said light guide plate. 5. The illumination device for an instrument according to claim 1, wherein said reflection portion is a reflection surface formed by using a part of an outer surface formed by bulging a part of said light guide plate. .