JP2002174537A - Analog meter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an analog meter which improves visual recognition by displaying graduations corresponding to items presently measured being selectively highlighted along with a larger contrast with those for the measured items. SOLUTION: In the analog meter which has the graduations for more than one item arranged on a scale plate to read an indicator of a pointer of the meter, the graduations for the item presently measured are displayed brighter than other graduations.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an improvement in the visibility of an analog meter capable of displaying a plurality of measurement items.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a method of selectively displaying a plurality of measurement items with a single analog meter has been frequently used for the purpose of saving space and reducing cost. Generally, a plurality of scales are provided for one pointer, and the indicated value of the pointer of the meter is read using the scale corresponding to the measurement item.

Here, an analog meter for displaying an output voltage and an output current as shown in FIG. 4 which is frequently used in, for example, a power supply device will be described. The scale 10 of such an analog meter has a voltage scale 12 with respect to one pointer 11.
And the current scale 13 are drawn.

A power supply device (not shown) is provided with a switch for switching between displaying a voltage and a current on an analog meter. When reading an output voltage, the switch is set to the voltage side. Then read the value of the voltage scale indicated by the pointer. When reading the output current, the changeover switch is set to the current side, and the numerical value of the current scale indicated by the pointer is read.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional analog meter, since the two scales are always displayed under exactly the same condition, there are the following problems. (1) It is not possible to determine whether the display is a voltage display or a current display just by looking at the display of the analog meter, so that it is troublesome to separately check the setting of the display changeover switch.

(2) Reading errors are likely to occur. For example,
Even though the display changeover switch is set to voltage and the pointer of the meter points to 15 V, a reading error such as reading 3 A is erroneously made due to misunderstanding that the current is being displayed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem. Only the scale corresponding to the item currently being measured is selectively displayed brightly and raised, and a large contrast difference is obtained from the scale other than the measurement item. It is an object of the present invention to realize an analog meter with improved visibility.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an analog meter in which a graduation plate is provided with two or more scales for reading indicated values of a meter pointer. Wherein the scale corresponding to the item being measured is displayed brighter than the other scales.

According to such a configuration, only the scale corresponding to the item currently being measured is displayed as selectively raised, and it is easy to determine which item is being measured.
Further, it is possible to easily realize a meter having a scale display with excellent visibility without mistakenly reading the indicated value with a wrong scale.

In this case, the graduated graduation portion is formed of a translucent material, and each graduation is selectively irradiated from the back side of the graduation portion by the light emitting means. Then, only the scale corresponding to the item being measured is raised and displayed, and a scale plate with good visibility is obtained.

The light-emitting means is constituted by a light-emitting element group in which a plurality of light-emitting elements are connected, for example, and each scale is irradiated over the entire width thereof. An LED array may be used as the light emitting element. Further, the scale portion may be illuminated with different emission colors as in claim 5, and there is an advantage that the measurement item can be determined based on the difference in the color.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a main part configuration diagram showing one embodiment of an analog meter according to the present invention. FIG. 1A shows a scale plate 10 in which a scale portion is formed of a translucent material and has a scale (including a numerical value and a unit symbol). This scale cannot be clearly seen only by external light.

FIG. 1B shows an internal circuit portion 20 housed inside the meter. The scale portion (scale, numerical value, unit symbol portion indicated by a chain line in FIG. 1) is viewed from the back surface of the scale plate 10. It is composed of two systems of light emitting element groups 21 and 22 each composed of an LED array for irradiation, and a pointer driving unit 23 for driving the pointer of the analog meter.

A light emitting element group 21 for voltage scale display has a plurality of LEDs connected in series in a forward direction so that each scale is illuminated over the entire width.
OM is connected to the terminal LMP1 on the anode side. Similarly, the light emitting element group 22 for current scale display is
A plurality of LEDs are connected in series in the forward direction. The cathode side is connected to the terminal COM, and the anode side is connected to the terminal LMP2. The pointer driving unit 23 has an input terminal T
1 and T2.

When the analog meter is incorporated in a power supply or the like and used, if the display changeover switch provided on the power supply is set to the voltage side, the terminals T1 and T2 of the pointer driving unit 23 are suitable for voltage measurement. When the current is connected between the terminals LMP1 and COM so that a current sufficient to cause the LED to emit light at the same time and the display switch is set to the current side, the terminals T1 and T2 of the pointer driving unit 23 measure the current respectively. A circuit (not shown) is provided outside the analog meter or on the side of the power supply device, which is connected to a suitable location and at the same time allows a sufficient current to flow between the terminals LMP2 and COM to cause the LED to emit light.

With such a configuration, only the voltage scale as shown in FIG. 2 at the time of voltage measurement, and only the current scale as shown in FIG. 3 at the time of current measurement, emerge brightly and clearly from the light emitting element group. Therefore, the current voltage
It is easy to determine which of the currents is being measured, and there is no mistake in reading the voltage scale and the current scale.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes many changes and modifications without departing from the essence thereof. For example, in the embodiment, an example in which two types of measurement items are selectively displayed is shown. However, in the case of three or more types, or a case where the same type has a plurality of types of measurement ranges (here, the measurement items including the measurement range are also referred to), for example, 0-10V range, 0-50V range, 0-200V
The present invention can be applied to a device having a range or the like.

In the embodiment, an example in which an LED array is used as a light emitting element has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an ordinary lamp may be used. Also, the color of the illumination light in the scale portion may not be the same color but may be different colors depending on the purpose. In that case, the illumination light may be changed through a filter. Changing the display color of the scale portion makes it easier to confirm the switching of the measurement items.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, only the scale corresponding to the item being measured is brightly illuminated by the light emitting element group and is selectively raised and displayed with a large contrast. Has a significant effect.

(1) The trouble of confirming the setting of the display changeover switch every time to confirm the display contents (item) is eliminated, and the measured value can be read by looking only at the display section of the meter. (2) An error in reading the indicated value on a scale different from the content indicated by the pointer can be completely prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main part configuration diagram showing one embodiment of an analog meter according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a display example of a scale portion at the time of voltage measurement.

FIG. 3 is a display example of a scale portion at the time of current measurement.

FIG. 4 is a display example of a scale portion of a conventional analog meter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Scale plate 11 Pointer 20 Internal circuit 21, 22 Light emitting element group 23 Pointer drive part

Claims (5)

[Claims] In an analog meter having a scale plate provided with two or more scales for reading indicated values of a meter pointer, a scale corresponding to an item being measured is displayed brighter than other scales. An analog meter characterized in that: 2. A scale section provided with the scale is made of a translucent material, and each scale is selectively irradiated from behind the scale section by a light emitting means. The analog meter according to claim 1, wherein 3. An analog meter according to claim 1, wherein said light-emitting means illuminates each scale portion over the entire width by a light-emitting element group in which a plurality of light-emitting elements are connected. 4. The analog meter according to claim 1, wherein an LED array is used as said light emitting element. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light-emitting means illuminates a scale portion with illumination light of different colors.
4. The analog meter according to claim 3, wherein