JP2002323352A - Measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive and lightweight measuring instrument by reducing the number of part items. SOLUTION: This instrument is equipped with a circuit board 1, an instrument body 3 mounted on the rear side of the circuit board 1 and having a rotation axis 2 extending forward through the circuit board 1, a pointer 5 having a pointer axis 4 fixed on the tip side of the rotation axis 2, a display board 8 arranged on the rear side of the pointer 5, and provided with a through hole 6 through which the rotation axis 2 or the pointer axis 4 penetrates and a display part corresponding to the movement of the pointer 5, a case member 9 arranged on the rear side of the display board 8, and a single lamp 11 arranged on the forward side of the circuit board 1, for illuminating the display part and the pointer 5. The case member 9 has a first reflection part 24 formed so as to enclose the lamp 11, for reflecting illumination light from the lamp 11 to the display part side, and a second reflection part 25 formed on the periphery of the rotation axis 2 or the pointer axis 4, for reflecting illumination light from the lamp 11 to the pointer 5 side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an instrument mounted on a vehicle, for example, and more particularly to a lighting structure thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a meter device of this type, a meter body having a rotating shaft protruding from a circuit board is mounted, and a pointer is fixed to a tip of the rotating shaft. A display plate on which a display unit such as scales and characters are provided, and a light-transmitting light guide plate disposed on the back side of the display plate, and light from a light source disposed behind the light guide plate is guided to the light guide plate. 2. Description of the Related Art An illumination device for illuminating a display portion or a pointer of a display panel is known.

[0003] More specifically, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-10564.
As shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-209, an instrument main body 10 and a plurality of lamps 11 are arranged in front of a circuit board 12, and a light guide plate 20 is arranged behind a display plate (scale plate 30). In general, the illumination light is guided to the rear of the display panel and the rotation center 41 of the light emitting pointer 40 by 20 to illuminate the display section of the display panel and the pointer 42 of the light emitting pointer 40. Further, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-2165
As shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 5 (1993) -5, an instrument main body (actuating device 7) is arranged behind the circuit board 3 and the instrument body is arranged behind the rotating body (shaft 11). ) Around the LED9,10 and a display board (dial
The light guide plate (front face 2) and the casing 1 supporting the light guide plate from behind are arranged behind 14), and the light from the LEDs 9 and 10 is guided to the light guide plate to illuminate the display unit of the display plate. There is also known a configuration in which a pointer (needle 12) is illuminated by direct light of LEDs 9 and 10.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned prior art requires a light guide plate to uniformly illuminate the display portion and the pointer of the display plate, which increases the cost and the overall weight. Similarly, a plurality of light sources are required, which leads to an increase in cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its main object to provide an inexpensive and lightweight instrument device with a reduced number of parts.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a circuit board, an instrument body mounted behind the circuit board and having a rotating shaft extending through the circuit board and extending forward. A pointer having a pointer shaft fixed to the tip end side of the rotation shaft, a through-hole disposed behind the pointer, through which the rotation shaft or the pointer shaft passes, and a display unit corresponding to the operation of the pointer. The provided display plate, a case member disposed behind the display plate, a single light source disposed on the front side of the circuit board and illuminating the display unit and the pointer, the case member is A first reflector formed to surround the light source and reflect illumination light from the light source toward the display unit; and a first reflector formed around the rotation axis or the pointer axis to emit illumination light from the light source. Second reflection to reflect to the pointer side And it has a door.

Further, the second reflecting portion comprises an inclined surface extending around the rotation axis, and the center of the inclined surface and the center of the light source are separated from each other, and the second reflecting portion is provided. The display unit is not provided in the display plate area located on the opposite side of the light source with respect to the light source.

Further, the pointer shaft is made of a colorless and transparent synthetic resin.

Further, the case member is provided with a third reflecting portion that faces the second reflecting portion and reflects illumination light from the light source toward the second reflecting portion.

Further, the second reflecting portion and the case member are connected by a connecting portion, and a space for passing illumination light from the light source toward the first reflecting portion is provided behind the connecting portion.

Further, the light source is arranged on a front side of the circuit board corresponding to a region where the display section is not provided.

In addition, a liquid crystal display is mounted on the circuit board or the case member in a state where the liquid crystal display is electrically connected to the circuit board, and the case member reflects illumination light from the light source to the back side of the liquid crystal display. The fourth reflection unit is provided.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The instrument device according to the present embodiment includes a circuit board 1
An instrument main body 3 for a speedometer, which is mounted on the rear side (back side) of the circuit board 1 in a conductive state with the circuit board 1 and has a rotating shaft 2 extending forward through the circuit board 1; A pointer 5 having a pointer shaft 4 fixed to the distal end side of the shaft 2, a through hole 6 disposed behind the pointer 5, through which the pointer shaft 4 passes, and a display unit 7 corresponding to the operation of the pointer 5 are provided. Display plate 8,
A case member 9 disposed behind the display panel 8; a liquid crystal display 10 mounted on the case member 9 in a conductive state with the circuit board 1; and a display panel 8 disposed on the front side of the circuit board 1
And a lamp 11 as a single light source for illuminating the display unit 7 and the pointer 5. The lamp 11 also illuminates the liquid crystal display 10.

The pointer 5 has a pointing part 12 made of a colorless and transparent synthetic resin, and a pointer shaft 4 integrally formed with the pointing part 12.
And a black pointer cap 14 as a light-shielding member that covers the periphery of the base 13 of the pointing unit 12, and a balancer 15. A two-layer foil 16 having a red front surface and a white back surface is hot-stamped on the back surface of the indicator 12. A pointer reflecting surface 17 is formed on the base 13 side of the pointing unit 12. Note that the indicator 12 and the pointer shaft 4 may be separate bodies. The pointer 5 is fixed to the meter body 3 by pressing the pointer shaft 4 into the rotating shaft 2 of the meter body 3.

The display plate 8 is a colorless and transparent substrate (not shown).
Is provided with a transparent white display portion 7 such as scales and numerals indicating the speed of the vehicle to be indicated by the pointer 5, and the other portions than the display portion 7 are covered with a black ground color layer 18. Reference numeral 19 denotes various warning display portions (indicated by broken lines) which are provided with a black semi-transmissive layer (not shown) on the surface of the substrate, and thereafter have the same black ground color as above except for the engine oil symbol 20, for example. A layer 18 is provided. The eight display panels corresponding to the liquid crystal display 10 are hollowed out so that a liquid crystal display (not shown) indicating the traveling distance of the vehicle or the like can be visually recognized. Alternatively, it may be possible to see through without providing the ground color layer 18.

The circuit board 1 is formed of a hard board, and includes, in addition to the instrument main body 3, electronic components for driving the instrument main body 3 and the liquid crystal display 10, a light emitting diode 21 for illuminating the warning display section 19, and the like. The lamp 11 in this embodiment is also mounted on the circuit board 1, and is arranged in a circumferential direction with respect to the center of the instrument body 3, that is, the center of the rotating shaft 2 (FIG. 4).
(Middle, downward). This lamp 11 is connected to the display 7
Are mounted on one portion of the circuit board corresponding to the area of the display panel 8 where no is provided. In other words, the display unit 7 is not provided at eight display boards located just above and around the lamp 11.

The case member 9 is made of a white synthetic resin.
The display board 8 is mounted on the front side, and the circuit board 1 is mounted on the back side. The case member 9 receives a front surface portion 22 on which the display plate 8 is placed, a peripheral portion 23, and illumination light radially emitted from the lamp 11, and reflects the illumination light toward the display unit 7 side. Reflecting part 24 and rotating shaft 2
(Or the pointer shaft 4), receiving the illumination light from the lamp 11 and reflecting the illumination light to the pointer 5 side, and receiving the illumination light from the lamp 11, A third reflector 26 that reflects the illumination light to the second reflector 25, and a fourth reflector that receives the illumination light from the lamp 11 and reflects the illumination light to the back side of the liquid crystal display 10. 27 are formed.

The first reflecting portion 24 is formed so as to be radially inclined from the circuit board 1 side to the periphery of the display portion 7 on the display panel 8 side so as to surround the lamp 11. The inclination angle of the first reflection unit 24 is appropriately set so as to uniformly illuminate the display unit 7 with illumination light from the lamp 11. The second reflecting portion 25 is formed of an inclined surface extending around the rotation axis 2. The angle of the inclined surface is set so that the illumination light from the lamp 11 can be reflected by the pointer reflecting surface 17 of the pointer 5. The second reflection portion 25 is formed on the peripheral portion 2 of the case member 9.
The third side is connected to the connecting portion 28. The connecting portion 28 is composed of a flat connecting wall 29, and connects both ends of the second reflecting portion 25 and the peripheral portion 23 of the case member 9. Further, a space S for passing illumination light from the lamp 11 toward (irradiating) the first reflection unit 24 is provided between the circuit board 1 and the space S.

Further, in the case of the present embodiment, a dimming section 30 integrated with the case member 9 is provided on the left and right sides of the lamp 11. The light control section 30 is substantially parallel to the circuit board 1 and is connected to the first reflection section 2.
4 and a wall 32 extending from the edge of the flat portion 31 on the lamp 11 side to the circuit board 1 side, and the wall 32 slightly blocks the illuminating light toward the first reflecting portion 24, and becomes particularly bright. The entire display unit 7 is uniformly illuminated by suppressing the transmission luminance of the display unit around the lamp 11 which is easy to operate. Conversely, the shape of the light control section 30 can be devised to brighten the display section having low transmission luminance.

Further, the lamp 1 is sandwiched between the second reflecting portions 25.
Area of the display panel 8 (the lamp 11 and the second
The display unit 7 described above is not provided on the extension of the line connecting the reflection units 25 (see area C in FIG. 2). In other words, the display portion is provided at eight places on the display plate 8 where the illumination light from the lamp 11 is blocked by the second reflection portion 25 and has a bad influence on the brightness of the display portion 7 (the brightness varies). 7 is not provided. Similarly, in the present embodiment, the display section 7 is provided at eight places on the display board where the shadow of the connecting wall 29 appears and adversely affects the display section 7.
Is not provided. In other words, the connection wall 29 is shaped so that the illumination light directly shining on the display unit 7 is not blocked by the connection wall 29. However, as in the case of the dimming unit 30 described above, in order to uniformly illuminate the entire display unit 7, there may be a scheme to suppress a part of the illumination light at the connecting unit 28.

The lamp 1 is located between the pair of connecting walls 29.
1 and receives the illumination light from the second reflection unit 2
A third reflecting portion 26 that reflects light to the fifth (inclined surface) is provided to face the second reflecting portion 25. Reference numeral 33 denotes a supporting portion that supports the periphery of the through hole 6 of the display panel 8 and is formed in a ring shape that connects the connecting wall 29 and the second reflecting portion 25.

Warning display section 19 provided on display panel 8
9 are located on the front side 22 of the case member 9 and the cylindrical partition wall 3 for each of the warning display portions 19.
4 protrudes toward the circuit board 1. Then, the warning display section 19 is displayed by turning on the light emitting diode 21 mounted on the circuit board 1. For example, the above-described engine oil symbol 20 is usually hard to be visually recognized due to the provision of the black semi-permeable layer, but the light emitting diode 21 in the partition wall 34 emits red light due to a decrease in the engine oil pressure of the vehicle. Only when this is done, the engine oil symbol 20 is transparently displayed in red and visually recognized.

The liquid crystal display 10 is mounted on the case member 9. A mounting portion 36 on which a rectangular liquid crystal display panel 35 is mounted on the case member 9, and a rib 37 surrounding the liquid crystal display panel 35
Is formed, and the liquid crystal display panel 35 and the circuit board 1 are electrically connected by the conductive rubber 38. Reference numeral 39 denotes a holding frame for mounting and fixing the liquid crystal display panel 35 and the conductive rubber 38 to the case member 9. On the back side of the liquid crystal display panel 35, a fourth reflecting portion 27 for reflecting illumination light from the lamp 11 to the back side of the liquid crystal display panel 35 is formed integrally with the case member 9. Further, the case member 9 is formed with an optical path 40 of the illumination light directed to the fourth reflecting portion 27.

When the lamp 11 is turned on in the instrument device configured as described above, the illuminating light emitted radially directly illuminates the display unit 7 and is reflected by the first reflection unit 24 to be reflected on the display plate 8. Illuminates the display unit 7 with white light. The illumination light is reflected by the second reflecting portion 25 and travels toward the base portion 13 of the pointer 5, is reflected by the pointer reflecting surface 17, and illuminates the pointing portion 12 in red. The illumination light reflected by the third reflector 26 is directed to the second reflector 25, where it is further reflected to similarly illuminate the pointing unit 12. The illumination light passes through the light path 40 and enters the fourth reflection section 2.
Then, the light is reflected and illuminates the liquid crystal display panel 35 from the back side. Then, the liquid crystal display portion or the background is transmitted brightly, and the liquid crystal display portion is visually recognized.

In this manner, the case member 9 is formed radially toward the periphery of the display unit 7 so as to surround the lamp 11 and reflects the illumination light from the lamp 11 to the display unit 7 side.
And a second reflecting portion 25 formed around the rotating shaft 2 or the pointer shaft 4 to reflect the illumination light from the lamp 11 to the pointer 5 side. Since both the display and the display panel 8 are illuminated, the light guide plate as in the conventional example is not required, and only one lamp 11 is required, so that the cost and the weight can be reduced.

The lamp 1 is sandwiched between the second reflectors 25.
Since the display section 7 is not provided in the area of the display plate 8 located on the opposite side of the display panel 1, even if the second reflection section 25 for illuminating the hands 5 is almost at the center of the display area, the illumination from the lamp 11 is performed. The display panel 7 can be illuminated well without the light being blocked by the second reflection unit 25 and adversely affecting the display unit 7. Further, the connecting wall 2 connecting the second reflecting portion 25 and the case member 9 is provided.
9, the illumination light from the lamp 11 can be guided to the first reflecting portion 24 without being blocked by the connecting wall 29, and the illuminating light directly shining on the display unit 7 can be guided by the connecting wall 29. Since it is configured so as not to be blocked, good display panel illumination can be performed. In addition, since the display unit 7 is configured to be illuminated even by the direct light from the lamps 11, the display unit 7 can be illuminated even with one lamp 11.

Further, since the pointer shaft 4 is colorless and transparent, the illumination light from the lamp 11 passes through the pointer shaft 4 without being completely blocked by the pointer shaft 4 and is inclined (the second reflecting portion 25). , The indicator 12 of the pointer 5 can be satisfactorily illuminated with the illumination light reflected by the inclined surface. Further, by providing the case member 9 with the third reflecting portion 26 which faces the second reflecting portion 25 and reflects the illumination light from the lamp 11 toward the second reflecting portion 25, the second reflecting portion 25 is provided. , The amount of illumination light traveling toward can be increased, and the indicator 12 of the pointer 5 can be illuminated more brightly.

Also, the display section 7 is not provided at eight display panels located immediately above and around the lamp 11, or the light control section 30 is provided on the case member 9.
It is not necessary to perform dimming printing such as halftone dots for uniformly illuminating the entire display unit 7 on the display plate 8, and uniform display plate illumination can be obtained. However, when such a configuration is not adopted, light control printing may be performed on the display panel 8.

The liquid crystal display 10 is mounted on the case member 9 in a state where the liquid crystal display 10 is electrically connected to the circuit board 1.
Is provided with a fourth reflecting portion 27 for reflecting the illumination light from the lamp 11 to the back surface side of the liquid crystal display 10, so that the display portion of the liquid crystal display 10 can be illuminated by one lamp 11, Further, the cost can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the second reflector 25 receives the direct light from the lamp 11 and reflects the illuminating light to the pointer reflecting surface 17. However, the tilt angle may be set so that the illumination light reflected on the back surface of the display panel 8 is received and the illumination light can be reflected on the pointer reflecting surface 17. Similarly, the illumination light reflected by the third reflection unit 26 is directly received by the second reflection unit 25, but the third reflection unit 26 receives the illumination light reflected by the back surface of the display panel 8. Alternatively, the second reflection section 25 may be used. In that case, white is provided on the back surface of the display panel 8 or the white range provided for the display unit 7 is enlarged so that white can be seen through from the back side of the display panel 8 so that illumination light is easily reflected. It is better to put.

Although the display section 7 of the display panel 8 can be illuminated by the direct light from the lamp 11, if the necessary and sufficient brightness is obtained, only the illumination light reflected by the first reflection section 24 is used. Alternatively, the display unit 7 may be configured to mainly illuminate the illumination light reflected by the first reflection unit 24.

[0032]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an inexpensive and lightweight instrument can be provided by reducing the number of parts.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to satisfactorily illuminate the display panel without adversely affecting the display section.

According to the third aspect, the pointer can be satisfactorily illuminated.

According to the fourth aspect, the pointer can be illuminated more brightly.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, good display panel illumination is possible.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to illuminate the display panel with less variation in brightness.

According to the seventh aspect, the liquid crystal display can be illuminated by a single light source, and a more inexpensive instrument can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an instrument device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the meter device excluding the hands, the display panel, and the liquid crystal display in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Circuit board 2 Rotating axis 3 Instrument main body 4 Pointer shaft 5 Pointer 7 Display part 8 Display board 9 Case member 10 Liquid crystal display 11 Lamp (light source) 24 First reflection part 25 Second reflection part 26 Third reflection Part 27 fourth reflection part 28 connecting part

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A circuit board, an instrument body mounted behind the circuit board and having a rotating shaft extending through the circuit board and extending forward, and a pointer shaft fixed to a tip end of the rotating shaft. A pointer having a display plate provided with a display portion corresponding to the operation of the pointer and a through-hole disposed behind the pointer and through which the rotating shaft or the pointer shaft penetrates, and disposed behind the display plate. And a single light source arranged on the front side of the circuit board to illuminate the display unit and the pointer, and the case member is formed so as to surround the light source, and illumination light from the light source is provided. A first reflector that reflects light toward the display unit, and a second reflector that is formed around the rotation axis or the pointer axis and reflects illumination light from the light source toward the pointer. Meter device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The second reflecting portion, wherein the second reflecting portion comprises an inclined surface extending around the rotation axis, and a center of the inclined surface and a center of the light source are separated from each other, and the second reflecting portion is provided. 2. The instrument device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is not provided in the display plate area located on the opposite side of the light source with respect to the light source. 3. The instrument device according to claim 1, wherein the pointer shaft is made of a colorless and transparent synthetic resin. 4. A case wherein said case member is provided with a third reflecting portion which faces said second reflecting portion and reflects illumination light from said light source toward said second reflecting portion. 1
The instrument device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. A connection between the second reflector and the case member by a connector, and a space for passing illumination light from the light source toward the first reflector is provided behind the connector. The instrument device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which performs the measurement. 6. The instrument device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is arranged on a front side of the circuit board corresponding to a region where the display unit is not provided. 7. A liquid crystal display is mounted on the circuit board or the case member in a state where the liquid crystal display is electrically connected to the circuit board, and the case member reflects illumination light from the light source toward the back side of the liquid crystal display. The instrument device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a fourth reflector.