JP2002048604A - Lighting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low-cost lighting device where the light which is a light source is efficiently guided to a display member for good lighting. SOLUTION: There are provided a pointer 2 which rotates around a spindle 1, dial 3 which is on the rear side of the pointer 2 and is a display member to be lit for transmission, a light-emitting diode 6 which is positioned near the spindle 1, on the rear side of the dial 3, and is a light source for lighting an index part 13 of the dial 3, a case 20 which is positioned on the rear side of the dial 3 and is a reflector comprising a reflecting part 30, and a light guiding body 19 which is on the rear side of the dial 3 and guides the light from the light-emitting diode 6 to the rear surface side of the dial 3. A space part 29 is formed between the rear surface of the dial 3 and the case 20, and the light guiding body 19 is provided with an emission part 27 for emitting light to the space part 29. The light from the light-emitting diode 6 is emitted to the space part 29 through the emission part 27 of the light guiding body 19, which is reflected on a reflecting part 30 to light the index part 13 of the dial 3.

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 transmitting and illuminating a display member such as a dial with light from a light source.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional lighting device is, for example, shown in FIGS.
There are the following.

The illuminating device shown in FIG. 6 has a pointer 2 which rotates about a rotation axis 1, a dial 3 which is a display member located on the back side (lower side in the figure) of the pointer 2 and which is transmitted and illuminated. A hard circuit board 4 made of glass epoxy resin located on the back side (lower side in the figure) of the dial 3 and a light source provided on the circuit board 4 for illuminating the hands 2 and the dial 3, respectively. Certain light emitting diodes 5 and 6 and light emitting diodes 5 and 6
A cylindrical partition wall 7 that partitions each illumination area of
An instrument main body 8 for rotating the rotating shaft 1 fixed behind the circuit board 4 is provided.

In the pointer 2, a pointer 9 and a pointer base 10 fixed to the rotating shaft 1 are integrally formed of a transparent synthetic resin. The pointer base 10 is covered with a pointer cap 11 made of a light-shielding synthetic resin. ing. The indicator 9 is a light emitting diode 5
It emits light upon receiving the light.

[0005] The dial 3 is made of a flat base material 12 made of a transparent synthetic resin, and its surface (upper surface in the figure) has a light-shielding black paint except for an index portion 13 such as scales and characters. A light-shielding layer 14 which forms the ground of the dial 3 is provided, and the light-shielding reflection made of a light-shielding white paint is provided on the back surface (lower surface in the figure) of the rear surface (lower surface in the figure) except for the index portions 13 such as scales and characters. A layer 15 is provided. Therefore, only the index section 13 is configured to be transmitted and illuminated.

The light-emitting diodes 5 and 6 are surface-mounted light-emitting diodes, and a plurality of light-emitting diodes 5 are provided in the vicinity of the rotation axis 1 on a circle centered on the rotation axis 1. In addition, a plurality of light emitting diodes 6 are provided on a circle around the rotation axis 1 at a portion corresponding to a position directly below the index portion 13.
The partition wall 7 is made of a synthetic resin, and divides an illumination area so that the lights of the light emitting diodes 5 and 6 are not mixed.

In this conventional example, the light emitting diode 6 located immediately below the index portion 13 directly transmits and illuminates the index portion 13.

In this illuminating device, the indicator 13 is directly illuminated by the light emitting diode 6 so that the indicator 13 is directly illuminated.
In order to avoid the transmitted illumination unevenness of the light emitting diode 3, the light emitting diode 6
However, it was difficult to reduce the number of pieces, and there was a limit to cost reduction. In addition, since the indicator 13 is usually provided in the periphery of the dial 3, the light emitting diode 6 corresponding to the indicator 13 must also be provided separately from the light emitting diode 5 for pointer illumination. There is also a problem that the shape of the conductive pattern (not shown) to be provided becomes complicated and design becomes difficult.

In order to solve these problems, there is another conventional lighting device shown in FIG.
The same and corresponding parts as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In this conventional example, a light emitting diode 6 provided near a partition wall 7 and a reflecting wall 1 formed on the partition wall 7 are provided.
6 and a reflector 17 located on the back surface of the dial 3, particularly immediately below the index portion 13.

A plurality of light emitting diodes 6 are provided in the vicinity of the partition wall 7 on a circle around the rotation axis 1.

The reflection wall 16 is formed integrally with the partition wall 7 and is located above the light emitting diode 6. Its shape is a conical shape, in which light emitted from the light emitting diode 6 is reflected radially around the rotation axis 1 toward the reflector 17.

The reflector 17 is made of a synthetic resin,
In order to satisfactorily reflect the light reflected at 6 to the back surface of the dial 3, the cross-sectional shape of the reflecting surface 18 is a curved surface.

In this conventional example, the light from the light emitting diode 6 is reflected and diffused on the reflection wall 16 and the reflection surface 18 or the circuit board 4, the partition wall 7, the light-shielding reflection layer 15, and the reflection wall 1.
6, a structure for transmitting and illuminating the indicator 13 by reflecting and diffusing the light on the reflection surface 18.

This illumination device has a structure in which light is reflected and diffused in a space surrounded by the circuit board 4, the partition wall 7, the light-shielding reflection layer 15, the reflection wall 16, and the reflection surface 18 to transmit and illuminate the index portion 13. In addition, there is a loss of light amount, and the reduction in the number of light sources is not so expected in order to secure the brightness of the index section 13, and the cost reduction is limited.

In order to solve these problems, there is another conventional illumination device shown in FIG. The same and corresponding parts as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In this conventional example, a light guide 19 for guiding the light of the light emitting diode 6 to the index portion 13 between the dial 3 and the circuit board 4 and a white synthetic resin supporting the light guide 19 are provided. Case 20 is provided.

The light guide 19 guides the light of the light emitting diode 6 to the index portion 13 and receives the light by the light receiving portion 21 to receive the light.
The light passing through the inside 9 is reflected by the reflecting surface 22 toward the back surface of the dial 3 corresponding to the indicator 13, and the indicator 13 is transmitted and illuminated. The reflection surface 22 is provided with a white print layer (not shown) in order to satisfactorily reflect and diffuse the index portion 13. By using the light guide 19, it is possible to perform guided transmission illumination without losing the light amount up to the index portion 13.

The light guide 19 is provided with a locking claw 23, and the case 20 is provided with a hole 24 corresponding to the locking claw 23. The light guide 19 is fixed to the case 20.

[0020]

However, since this lighting device requires a large light guide 19, the weight of the lighting device is increased, and the reflection surface 22 of the light guide 19 is directed toward the index portion 13. The white printed layer is provided because it cannot be reflected and diffused well. However, since the light guide 19 has projections such as the light receiving portion 21, the white printed layer is formed. An inexpensive screen printing method cannot be used, and an expensive hot stamp must be used, resulting in a problem that the cost increases.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive lighting device that can efficiently guide light from a light source to a display member and can perform good lighting.

[0022]

According to the present invention, there is provided a pointer which rotates about a rotation axis, a display member which is located on the back side of the pointer and which is illuminated by transmission, and which is provided on the rear side of the display member in the vicinity of the rotation axis. And a light source for illuminating the display member, a reflector provided on the back side of the display member and provided with a reflection portion, and a light from the light source positioned on the back side of the display member and transmitting light from the light source to the display member. A light guide that guides to the back side, a space is formed between the display member back surface and the reflector, and an emission unit that emits light to the space is provided in the light guide, and Is emitted from the emission portion of the light guide to the space portion, reflected by the reflection portion, and illuminates the display member.

The reflector has a curved cross section.

The reflector has a cross-sectional shape formed by continuously forming a plurality of planes at different angles.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An illumination device according to the present invention comprises a pointer 2 which rotates about a rotation axis 1, a dial 3 which is a display member located behind the pointer 2 and which is illuminated by transmission, and The light-emitting diode 6 is a light source that is located on the back side of the plate 3 near the rotation axis 1 and illuminates the index portion 13 of the dial 3, and a reflector that is located on the back side of the dial 3 and has a reflector 30. A case 20 and a light guide 19 that is located on the back side of the dial 3 and guides light from the light-emitting diode 6 to the back side of the dial 3, and has a space between the back of the dial 3 and the case 20. The light guide 19 is provided with an emission section 27 for emitting light to the space 29, and the light from the light emitting diode 6 is emitted from the emission section 27 of the light guide 19 to the space 29, and the reflection section 30 is formed. And illuminates the indicator 13 of the dial 3. With such a configuration, the light of the light emitting diode 6 can be efficiently guided to the index portion 13 of the dial 3, good illumination can be performed, and the light is reflected by the reflecting portion 30. Since the light guide 19 does not need to be provided with the white print layer, an inexpensive lighting device can be provided.

The reflecting section 30 has a curved cross section. With such a configuration, the light from the light emitting diode 6 can be further efficiently reflected and diffused by the reflection unit 30, and favorable illumination can be performed.

The reflecting section 30 is formed by continuously forming a plurality of planes with different cross-sections at different angles. With such a configuration, the light from the light emitting diode 6 can be further efficiently reflected and diffused by the reflection unit 30, and favorable illumination can be performed.

[0028]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; The same and corresponding parts as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

An instrument employing the illumination device of the present invention comprises a pointer 2 which rotates about a rotation axis 1 and a character which is a display member located on the back side (lower side in the figure) of the pointer 2 and which is transmitted and illuminated. A board 3, a hard circuit board 4 made of glass epoxy resin located on the back side (lower side in the figure) of the dial 3, and a hand 2 and a dial 3 provided on the circuit board 4;
Light-emitting diodes 5 and 6 serving as light sources for illuminating the light-emitting device, a cylindrical partition wall 7 that divides respective illumination regions of the light-emitting diodes 5 and 6, and a rotating shaft 1 fixed behind the circuit board 4
The main body 8 rotates, the light guide 19 for condensing the light of the light emitting diode 6, and the case 20 which is a reflector supporting the light guide 19.

The dial 3 as a display member is on the front side (FIG. 1).
A dark (black in the case of the present embodiment) light-shielding layer 14 is formed of light-shielding ink except for the indicator 13 such as characters and scales on the middle and upper sides. Not to be. The back side of the dial 3 (FIG. 1)
A light-shielding reflection layer 15 is formed on the middle (lower side) with white ink except for the index portions 13 such as characters and scales.
The light-shielding reflection layer 15 is white in this embodiment, but is not limited to white, and may be any layer that is convenient for reflecting light, such as silver. Metallic tone may be used.

The instrument main body 8 is fixed to the back surface (lower side in FIG. 1) of the circuit board 4 and drives the hands 2 via the pointer shaft 1. In this embodiment, a well-known device is used. It is a cross coil type instrument main body. Note that a stepping motor may be used instead of the cross coil type instrument main body.

The light guide 19 is located between the dial 3 and the circuit board 4 and is made of a light-transmitting synthetic resin such as polycarbonate or acrylic. In this embodiment, the light guide 19 is colorless without any particular color. The light guide 19 has a donut shape, and the partition wall 7 and the rotating shaft 1 are located at the center thereof. The index unit 13
Are not provided on the entire circumference of the dial 3, so that the light guide 19 provided for transmitting and illuminating the indicator 13 is provided.
Also, the shape is not a donut shape without a cut, but a shape in which a part is cut in a C shape.

The light guide 19 includes a light receiving portion 21 for receiving light from the light emitting diode 6 and a reflecting surface 25 for reflecting the light received by the light receiving portion 21 to a reflecting portion of a case 20 described later. The light receiving portion 21 has a semicircular convex shape in cross section so that the light from the light emitting diode 6 can be efficiently received, and projections 26 are provided near both sides of the convex shape. By providing the projection 26 so as to cover the light emitting diode 6, light from the light emitting diode 6 can be taken into the light guide 19 as much as possible. The light receiving portion 21 is formed so as to protrude toward the light emitting diode 6 only at a portion corresponding to the light emitting diode 6. The reflecting surface 25 is formed of a plurality of planes so as to reflect the light received by the light receiving unit 21 without loss, and in this embodiment, the reflecting surface 25 includes three reflecting surfaces 25a, 25b, and 25c. The number of the reflecting surfaces of the reflecting surface 25 is arbitrary and can be set as appropriate. In some cases, the cross-sectional shape may be a curved surface. Reference numeral 27 denotes an irradiation unit for irradiating the light in the light guide 19 to the reflection unit. In this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape is a vertical plane.

The case 20 is located on the back surface (lower side in FIG. 1) of the dial 3 and is formed integrally with the partition wall 7 of white synthetic resin. The case 20 has a storage recess 28 for storing the light guide 19, and the storage recess 28 is also C-shaped, like the light guide 19. A space 29 is formed between the dial 3 and the case 20 by the storage recess 28. In addition, the periphery of the case 20 is curved upward in the figure, and has a reflective portion 30 on its inner surface for reflecting and diffusing light from the light guide 19 toward the index portion 13. By making the cross-sectional shape of the reflecting portion 30 a curved surface, the reflected light can be reflected and diffused in the direction of the index portion 13 without loss. It is to be noted that reference numeral 31 designates a space for partitioning the storage recess 28, a space for storing the storage recess 28,
It is a wall that connects

Next, the illumination method of this embodiment will be described. The light emitted from the light emitting diode 6 enters the light guide 19 from the light receiving portion 21 of the light guide 19 in the upward direction in FIG. 2 and is reflected by the reflection surface 25 rightward in FIG.
As a result, light is emitted to the space 29. The emitted light is reflected and diffused by the reflection unit 30 to transmit and illuminate the index unit 13.

With this configuration, the light guide 1
The light from the light emitting diode 6 is guided to the space 30 without loss at 9 and the light emitted from the light guide 19 is reflected and diffused at the reflection unit 30, so that good illumination can be performed. The light applied to the space 29 is reflected by the reflection unit 30.
By repeating reflection and diffusion between the case 20 and the light-shielding / reflection layer 15, the indicator 13 can be illuminated satisfactorily.

As described above, the light guide 19 is not formed up to the portion corresponding to the index portion 13, but is formed up to the area in front of the reflection portion 30, so that the light guide 19 can be made compact. Thus, the weight can be reduced. The light guide 1 is reflected by the reflection portion 30 of the case 20.
Since it is not necessary to form a printing layer as in the related art, it is possible to perform good illumination while reducing costs.

In this embodiment, the light emitting diodes 5 and 5 are used.
Providing 6 near the rotating shaft 1 facilitates the design of the conductive pattern of the circuit board 4. Note that if the meter does not need to illuminate the pointer 2, the light emitting diode 5 does not need to be provided, and the indicator 13
A configuration in which only the dedicated light emitting diode 6 is provided may be employed.
Further, the shape of the reflecting portion 30 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and for example, like the reflecting surface 25 of the light guide 19,
A plurality of planes may be formed continuously at different angles.

In the above-described embodiment, the irradiation section 27 has a vertical cross section. However, the irradiation section 27 is not limited to the above-described embodiment. As another embodiment, as shown in FIG. The cross-sectional shape in which 32 protrudes in the direction of the space 29 may be an arc. Further, as another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the cross-sectional shape of the irradiation unit 33 may be an inclined surface. With this configuration, the space 29
The indicator 13 can be better illuminated by controlling the light emitted to the index section 13. That is, it is possible to collect and irradiate the light emitted to the portion of the reflecting section 30 where the index section 13 can be illuminated satisfactorily, so that the index section 13 can be further illuminated.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, the initial object can be achieved, the light of the light source can be efficiently guided to the display member, and a good illuminating and inexpensive illuminating device can be provided. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional perspective view of a main part of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of another conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of still another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rotation axis 2 Pointer 3 Dial 5 and 6 Light emitting diode 13 Index part 19 Light guide 20 Case 27 Irradiation part 29 Space part 30 Reflection part 32,33 Irradiation part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A pointer which rotates about a rotation axis, a display member which is located on the back side of the pointer and which is illuminated by transmission, and which is located near the rotation axis on the back side of the display member, A light source to be illuminated, a reflector provided on the back side of the display member and provided with a reflection portion, and a light guide positioned on the back side of the display member and guiding light from the light source to the back side of the display member, A space portion is formed between the display member back surface and the reflector, and an emission portion that emits light to the space portion is provided in the light guide, and light from the light source is transmitted to the light guide by the light guide. An illumination device that emits light from the emission portion to the space portion, reflects the light from the reflection portion, and illuminates the display member. 2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the reflection section has a curved cross section. 3. The reflection section has a sectional shape formed by continuously forming a plurality of planes at different angles.
The lighting device according to the above.