JP2003083776A - Instrument for motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a combination meter 1 with an satisfactory appearance and novel visibility by contriving the illumination method of a display board 2 of the combination meter 1, which is an instrument for a motor vehicle. SOLUTION: On the back side of the display board 2, light emitting bodies 10-50 with light emitting surfaces 14-54 for making light incident onto the display board 2 are concentrically arranged by lamination, and two adjacent light emitting bodies are arranged by lamination and in such a way that the distance between an outside light emitting surface and the display board 2 is shorter than the distance between an inside light emitting surface and the display board 2. The light emitting bodies 10-50 are sequentially delayed and lighted or sequentially delayed and turned off by predetermined rules by a controller 60. By this, it is possible to three-dimensionally change the brightness of the surface of the display board 2 according to the locations of the light emitting bodies 10-50, and provide the combination meter 1 with a satisfactory appearance and novel visibility.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle instrument suitable for use in an automobile or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various methods have been adopted in vehicle instruments mounted on automobiles in order to ensure a visually distinct and novel visibility. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-33
In the vehicle instrument disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7930, the illumination method of the display panel is improved. That is, a plurality of light sources are radially arranged on the back surface side of the display board, and a control means for sequentially controlling the delayed lighting of these light sources according to a certain rule is provided. With this, the brightness of the surface of the display board is changed according to the position of the light source to be turned on, and the aim is to achieve a novel appearance of the display board.

[0003]

However, in this vehicle instrument, an LED is used as the light source and the L
The EDs are arranged on the back surface of the display panel in a radial pattern, for example, in a cross pattern, and irradiated. For this reason, the brightness tends to be uneven between the part corresponding to the matrix of LEDs on the surface of the display board and the daytime part of the matrix of LEDs, and the distance between each LED and the display board is almost the same. Therefore, when the display panel is visually recognized, there is a problem in that it is likely that the display has a poor sense of depth and does not look good.

In order to cope with such a situation, the present invention has devised a method for illuminating a display panel of a vehicle instrument to provide a vehicle instrument having a nice and novel visibility. To aim.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following technical means.

A vehicle instrument according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises:
Equipped with a plurality of light emitters arranged concentrically with each other on the back side of the display board, each light emitter has a light emitting surface that allows light to be incident on the display board by light emission, and the light emitters are sequentially delayed according to a predetermined rule. Alternatively, the configuration is such that a control means for sequentially performing delayed light-off control is provided. As a result, the brightness of the surface of the display panel changes according to the position of the light emitters with the sequential delayed lighting or the sequential delayed extinction of the plurality of light emitters according to a predetermined rule. As a result, it is possible to provide a vehicular measuring instrument having a nice and novel visibility. In this case, as in the invention described in claim 2,
It is equipped with a rotating internal unit that is arranged on the back side of the display board and extends the pointer shaft through the display board, and a pointer fixed to the tip of the pointer shaft so as to rotate along the surface of the display board. The plurality of luminous bodies are arranged on the back surface side of the display panel concentrically with the pointer shaft, and are for vehicles having a novel visibility similar to that of the vehicle instrument according to claim 1. A meter can be provided.

According to the third aspect of the invention, in the light emitting surfaces of the two adjacent light emitting bodies, the distance between the outer light emitting surface and the display panel is set shorter than the distance between the inner light emitting surface and the display panel. Configured. In other words, the distance between the light-emitting surface of the plurality of concentrically arranged light-emitting bodies and the display panel is configured to become shorter from the center toward the outside. As a result, when the display board is visually recognized, the sense of depth is emphasized, and it is possible to realize an appearance with a novel sense of luxury. in this case,
According to the invention as set forth in claim 4, the plurality of light emitting bodies are laminated in the plate thickness direction of the display board, so that the light emitting surfaces of the plurality of light emitting bodies arranged concentrically can be easily formed. Shorten the distance from the display panel from the center to the outside,
By visually recognizing the display panel, a sense of depth is emphasized, and it is possible to realize an appearance with a novel luxury feeling.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the light-emitting body comprises a transparent light guide body and a light source for making light enter the light guide body by light emission. This makes it possible to easily form a light-emitting body having a shape corresponding to the shape of the display board.

In a sixth aspect of the invention, the control means comprises:
Each of the light-emitting bodies arranged concentrically is controlled to be sequentially delayed lighting control or sequential delayed lighting control from the inner light-emitting body toward the outer side or in the opposite direction. As a result, the brightness of the surface of the display panel changes from the central portion toward the outside or in the opposite direction depending on the position of the light-emitting or light-emitting inside of the plurality of light-emitting bodies arranged concentrically as described above. As a result, it is possible to provide a vehicular measuring instrument having a nice and novel visibility.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A case where a vehicle instrument according to the present invention is applied to an automobile combination meter will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a combination meter 1 which is a vehicle instrument, and is a sectional view taken along the line I--I of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the combination meter 1.

The combination meter 1 is arranged in a position in front of the driver's seat of the automobile, which is visible to the driver. The combination meter 1 includes a display panel 2 for displaying various kinds of information and allowing the driver to visually recognize the information.

The display board 2 is provided with a sheet 3 made of transparent polycarbonate or the like, and the surface 3a of the sheet 3 is provided.
A display pattern 4 is formed on the display pattern 4. The display pattern 4 includes a plurality of numeral portions 4a, scale portions 4b, and character portions 4a.
It is composed of c. That is, the display pattern 4 is formed by printing or hot stamping a colored layer having semi-translucency on the surface 3a. When the colored layer having semi-translucency is applied, the display panel 2 has a so-called frosted glass or smoked glass tone. Thus, when the display panel 2 is irradiated with light from the light source from the back side of the display panel 2, the contour of the light source cannot be clearly seen when the display panel 2 is viewed from the front side of the display panel 2, and the light from the light source is emitted. Is diffused by the colored layer having semi-translucency to make the brightness uniform, so that a soft and calm appearance can be obtained. Also, a plurality of numeral portions 4a, scale portions 4b, and character portions 4c
Has a color tone different from that of the ground portion and a color tone that is easily visible. A cover glass 6 is attached to the surface of the display board 2 via an annular dial plate 5.

A casing 7 is mounted on the back surface of the display board 2. In the casing 7, a printed circuit board 8 forming an electric circuit part of the combination meter 1 is provided.
The printed circuit board 8 is provided with a movement 9 which is a rotary internal unit for rotating a shaft 9a which is a pointer shaft by an angle corresponding to an electric signal from the outside. The shaft 9a of the movement 9 extends upward through the central hole 2a of the display board 2, and has a pointer 9 at its tip.
b is fixed.

Further, on the back surface of the display board 2, there are five light-emitting bodies 10 to 5 which are a plurality of light-emitting bodies for illuminating the display board 2.
0s are arranged concentrically with each other.

Next, detailed structures of these light emitting bodies 10 to 50 will be described.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the five light emitters 10 to 50 in a stacked state.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the light emitter 50, and FIG.
FIG. 5 is a view on arrow V in FIG. 4.

Each of the light emitters 10 to 50 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a light guide member formed of a transparent resin, such as acrylic resin, as a concentric shape into a substantially horseshoe shape. 51 and an LED 52 that is a light source that is mounted on both end surfaces 55 and that makes light enter the light guide body 51. The outer circumferential arc and the inner circumferential arc of the light guide body 51 are formed concentrically. In addition, each light guide 11, 21,
In 31, 41 and 51, the inclusion contour shapes are the same, but the radius of the arc of the inner circumference of the horseshoe shape is the same as the light guide body 1.
Larger numbers are set in the order of 1, 21, 31, 41, 51. The light emitting surface (not shown) of the LED 52 is attached in close contact with the end surface 55 so that light can be incident on the light guide body 51 by light emission. A reflection surface 53 is formed on the inner peripheral side of the light guide body 50 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the upper side is the display panel 2 side. LE
When D52 emits light when energized, the light that has entered the light guide body 51 travels while repeatedly being reflected in the light guide body 51, and enters and is reflected by the reflection surface 53 as shown by the arrow in FIG. From the inner surface of the upper surface 56 of the body 51 to the width D, that is, from the light emitting surface 54 which is the hatched portion in FIG.
The light is radiated to the outside of the light guide body 51 toward the display panel 2.

The other light emitters 10, 20, 30, 40 have the same structure and function as the light emitter 50.

The five light emitters 10 to 50 are laminated in the plate thickness direction of the display board 2 in a concentric manner so that the included contour shapes match, and coaxially with the shaft 9a of the movement 9 on the printed circuit board 8. Each LED 12 to 52 is mounted and electrically connected to the printed circuit board 8. Therefore,
As shown in FIG. 1, the light-emitting surfaces 14 to 54 of the five light-emitting bodies 10 to 50 are light-emitting surfaces 2 facing outward from the light-emitting surface 14.
4, 34, 44 and 54 are arranged in this order, and the distance between the display panel 2 and each of the light emitting surfaces 14 to 54 is equal to that of the light emitting surfaces 14, 24 and 3.
It becomes shorter in the order of 4, 44, 54. In other words, in the light emitting surfaces of two adjacent light emitting bodies, the distance between the outer light emitting surface and the display panel 2 is shorter than the distance between the inner light emitting surface and the display panel 2.

Further, a controller 60, which is a control means for controlling lighting and extinguishing of the five light emitting bodies 10 to 50 arranged as described above, is mounted on the printed board 8. The controller 60 is, for example, a hybrid IC.
And the like.

Next, the operation of illuminating the display panel 2 in the combination meter 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the electrical connection of the light emitters 10 to 50 in the combination meter 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows the light emitters 10-5 by the controller 60 when the ignition switch is turned on.
8 is a graph showing the relationship between the applied voltage E to 0 and the time T, and FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the applied voltage E to the light emitters 10 to 50 by the controller 60 and the time T when the ignition switch is turned off. It is a graph shown. In FIGS. 7 and 8, (a) to (e) respectively show the light emitter 10.
The case of ˜50 is shown. Also, in FIGS.
The vertical axis represents the applied voltage E and the horizontal axis represents the time T.

(1) Ignition switch 70 is turned on
If done.

The ignition switch 70 is operated by the driver.
Is turned on, the voltage of the battery 80 is applied to the controller 60, and when the controller 60 recognizes that the ignition switch 70 is turned on, the controller 60
Starts the lighting control of each light emitter 10 to 50, and each light emitter 1
Voltages are applied to 0 to 50 as shown in FIGS.

First, the light emitter 10 is turned on, and after the delay time t has elapsed, the light emitter 20 is turned on. Then, each time the delay time t further elapses, the light emitting bodies 30, 40, 50 are sequentially turned on. When you look at the display panel 2 from the driver side,
First, it seems that the central portion of the pointer 9b becomes brighter and the brightness gradually spreads to the surroundings. Further, regarding the distance between the display panel 2 and the light emitting surfaces 14 to 54 of the respective light emitters 10 to 50, in the light emitting surfaces of the two adjacent light emitters, the distance between the outer light emitting surface and the display board 2 is the inner light emission. Since it is set to be smaller than the distance between the surface and the display panel 2, the brightness gradually increases from the center of the pointer 9b toward the outer peripheral side, and at the same time approaches the front. For example, the universe In space, the stars are seen as if they are shining and approaching you. As a result, it is possible to achieve a visually distinct and novel visibility.

(2) The ignition switch 70 is OF
When F is given.

The ignition switch 70 is operated by the driver.
8 is turned off and the controller 60 recognizes that the ignition switch 70 is turned off, the controller 60 starts the extinction control of each of the light emitters 10 to 50, and the light emitters 10 to 50 are shown in FIGS. The applied voltage is controlled as shown in e).

First, the light emitter 50 is turned off, and after the delay time t has elapsed, the light emitter 40 is turned off. Then, each time the delay time t further elapses, the light emitting bodies 30, 20, 10 are sequentially turned off. When you look at the display panel 2 from the driver side,
First, the tip side of the pointer 9b of the display board 2 becomes darker, and the brightness gradually decreases toward the center of the pointer 9b. Further, the display panel 2 and the light emitting surface 1 of each of the light emitters 10 to 50.
The distances from 4 to 54 are set so that the distance between the outer light emitting surface and the display panel 2 is shorter than the distance between the inner light emitting surface and the display panel 2 in the light emitting surfaces of the two adjacent light emitting bodies. Therefore, the area of the bright part gradually decreases from the tip side of the pointer 9b toward the central part, and at the same time it moves away from the front, for example, in the outer space, the shining star moves away from itself. To be visually recognized. As a result, it is possible to achieve a visually distinct and novel visibility.

In the embodiment of the present invention described above, on the back side of the display panel 2 of the combination meter 1,
Light-emitting surfaces 14 to 54 that allow light to enter the display panel 2 by light emission
In the light-emitting surfaces of two light-emitting bodies that are concentric with each other and that are adjacent to each other, the distance between the outer light-emitting surface and the display panel 2 is shorter than the distance between the inner light-emitting surface and the display panel 2. The light emitting bodies 10 to 50 are sequentially turned on or off with a predetermined rule by the controller 60 while being stacked and arranged as described above. This allows
The brightness of the surface of the display board 2 is changed three-dimensionally according to the positions of the light emitters 10 to 50 with the sequential delay lighting or the sequential delay light extinction according to a predetermined rule of the plurality of light emitters 10 to 50. To be seen. As a result, it is possible to provide the combination meter 1 that has a visually distinctive and novel visibility.

Further, the light emitters 10 to 50 are the transparent light guide members 11 to 51, and the LEDs 12 to 5 are provided on both end surfaces 15 to 55 thereof.
2 is mounted on the light guides 11 to 51 so that light can enter. Accordingly, the shape of the light emitting body can be easily formed into a shape corresponding to the shape of the display board 2, so that the degree of freedom in designing the display board 2 can be improved.

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the LEDs 12 to 52 are used as the light sources of the light emitters 10 to 50.
However, other light sources, such as light bulbs, may be used.

Further, the number of light sources per one light-emitting body and the mounting position are not limited to those in this embodiment, and can be freely selected according to the brightness required for the display board 2.

Although the number of the plurality of light emitting elements is 5, the number may be other than 5.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the light emitters 10 to 50 have a substantially horseshoe shape as one of the concentric shapes, but the shape is not limited to this and may have another shape. For example, a ring shape may be used as shown in FIGS.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the light emitting surfaces 10 to 50 are provided with the reflecting surfaces 13 to 53.
54 to 54 are formed, other methods, for example, the upper surface 16 of the light emitting body 10 may be partially printed or hot stamped as shown in FIG. According to this method, the shape of the light emitting surface can be easily set as needed.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the light emitters 10 to 50 are composed of the transparent light guide and the LED as the light source, but other light emitters may be used. For example, EL (Electroluminescence),
An electroluminescent display) may be used. In this case, as shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of substantially ring-shaped ELs 91 to 95 are formed.
Are arranged and fixed on the back surface of the display panel 2 concentrically and on the same plane, and are sequentially turned on or off sequentially according to a predetermined rule, whereby the visibility of the display panel 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above. The same effect as can be obtained.

12 (a) to (e) and FIG. 13 (a) to
(E) shows the light-emitting body 1 by the controller 60, respectively.
Modification examples of the sequential delay lighting control method of 0 to 50 and the sequential delay lighting control method will be described. The illumination operation of the display panel 2 according to this modification will be described.

(1) Ignition switch 70 is turned on
If done.

12 (a) to 12 (a) to the respective light emitters 10 to 50.
The applied voltage is controlled as shown in (e).

First, the light emitter 10 is turned on, and after the delay time t has elapsed, the light emitter 10 is turned off and at the same time, the light emitter 20 is turned off.
Lights up. When the delay time t further elapses, the luminous body 20
When is turned off, the light-emitting body 30 is turned on at the same time. Further, each time the delay time t elapses, the light emitting element 50
Lights up and turns off after the delay time t has elapsed. Further, when the delay time t has elapsed, all the light emitters 10 to 50 are turned on at once. When you look at the display panel 2 from the driver side,
First, the central portion of the pointer 9b becomes bright in a substantially ring shape, and the diameter of the ring of this light gradually increases, and after moving toward the outside while moving toward the front, the entire body appears to brighten rapidly. As a result, as in the case of the above-described one embodiment, it is possible to realize a novel and visually distinctive visibility.

(2) The ignition switch 70 is OF
When F is given.

To each of the light emitters 10 to 50, see FIG.
The applied voltage is controlled as shown in (e).

First, the light emitting body 50 is turned off, and is turned on again after the delay time t has elapsed. At the same time, the luminous body 40 is turned off. When the delay time t further elapses, the light-emitting body 40 is turned on again and, at the same time, the light-emitting body 30 is turned off. Further, each time the delay time t elapses, the light emitting element 1
0 is turned off and is turned on again after the delay time t has elapsed. Further, when the delay time t has elapsed, all the light emitters 10 to 50 are turned off at once. Looking at the display panel 2 from the driver's side, first, the tip side of the pointer 9b becomes dark in a substantially ring shape, and the diameter of this dark ring gradually decreases while moving inward while moving away from the front side. , Finally, it looks like the whole thing is getting darker. As a result, as in the case of the above-described one embodiment, it is possible to realize a novel and visually distinctive visibility.

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention and its modification, the display pattern 4 on the display panel 2 is displayed.
Has a substantially circular shape, but may have another shape, for example, an elliptical shape or a crescent shape. In that case, each luminous body 1
By forming 0 to 50 in a shape substantially similar to that of the display pattern 4 and stacking them, it is possible to realize a novel and recognizable appearance similar to that of the above-described embodiment of the present invention and its modification. .

Further, in the above-described one embodiment of the present invention and the modification thereof, each of the light emitters 10 to 50 is arranged coaxially with the shaft 9a of the movement 9, but it is not coaxial but offset. You may arrange.
In this case as well, it is possible to realize a novel and recognizable visual effect as in the case of the above-described embodiment of the present invention and the modification thereof.

Further, in the above-described embodiment of the present invention and its modification, the delay time t is set to a constant value during the sequential delay lighting control and the sequential delay extinction control, but it may be changed. That is, the magnitude of the delay time t may be changed during the sequential delay lighting control and the sequential delay extinction control.

The method of applying a voltage to each light emitter in the sequential delayed lighting control and the sequential delayed extinction control is shown in FIGS.
14 is not a step shape as shown in FIG.
Alternatively, it may have a slope shape as shown in FIG.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a cross-sectional view of a combination meter 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the combination meter 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of each light-emitting body 10 according to the direction of arrow III in FIG.
It is an appearance perspective view showing a lamination state of ~ 50.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a light emitter 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a view on arrow V in FIG. 4. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating electrical connection of each of the light emitters 10 to 50 in the combination meter 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

7A to 7E are light emitting bodies 10 to 50, respectively.
6 is a time chart showing the relationship between the applied voltage E and time T when the ignition switch 70 is turned on.

8A to 8E are light emitting bodies 10 to 50, respectively.
7 is a time chart showing the relationship between the applied voltage E and time T when the ignition switch 70 is OFF.

9A to 9C are perspective external views of modified examples of the light emitting body 10. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a perspective external view of another modified example of the light emitting body.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a modified example of the light emitting body.

12 (a) to (e) are light emitting bodies 10 to 5, respectively.
8 is a time chart showing a modification of the relationship between the applied voltage E and the time T when the ignition switch 70 of 0 is ON.

13A to 13E are light emitting bodies 10 to 5, respectively.
8 is a time chart showing a modified example of the relationship between the applied voltage E and the time T when the ignition switch 70 of 0 is turned off.

FIG. 14 is a time chart showing a modification of the method of applying a voltage (0 → E) to each light emitting body.

FIG. 15 is a time chart showing a modification of the method of applying voltage (E → 0) to each light emitting body.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Combination meter (vehicle instrument) 2 display board 3 sheets 4 Display patterns 5 Return plate 6 cover glass 7 casing 8 printed circuit boards 9 movement (rotating inner machine) 9a shaft (pointer shaft) 9b pointer 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 luminous body 11, 21, 31, 41, 51 Light guide 12, 22, 32, 42, 52 LED (light source) 13, 23, 33, 43, 53 Reflective surface 14, 24, 34, 44, 54 Light emitting surface 60 controller 70 Ignition switch 80 battery 91-95 EL (light emitter) E Applied voltage T time t delay time

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An instrument for a vehicle having a translucent display panel, comprising a plurality of light-emitting bodies arranged concentrically with each other on the back surface side of the display panel, wherein the light-emitting body emits light to the display panel. An instrument for a vehicle, comprising a control means having a light-emitting surface on which light can enter, and controlling the light-emitting body to be sequentially delayed lighting or sequentially delayed lighting-off according to a predetermined rule. 2. A rotating inner unit disposed on the back side of the display board and extending a pointer shaft through the display board; and a tip of the pointer shaft so as to rotate along the surface of the display board. The vehicle instrument according to claim 1, further comprising: a pointer fixed to a portion, wherein the plurality of the light emitters are arranged concentrically with the pointer shaft on a back surface side of the display panel. 3. The light emitting surfaces of two adjacent light emitting bodies are configured such that the distance between the outer light emitting surface and the display panel is shorter than the distance between the inner light emitting surface and the display panel. The vehicle instrument according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. The vehicle instrument according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of light emitting bodies are laminated in a plate thickness direction of the display panel. 5. The light emitting body according to claim 1, further comprising a transparent light guide and a light source that emits light into the light guide by emitting light. Vehicle instrument. 6. The control means controls each of the concentrically arranged light emitters from the inner light emitter toward the outer side or in the opposite direction sequentially with a delayed lighting control or a sequentially delayed extinction control. The vehicle instrument according to claim 1.