JP2003130692A - Meter with pointer for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a combination meter 1 having fresh appearances by disposing a first metallic layer 32 which has a minute through hole that allows light to pass from the backside, on the surface of a pointer 3 of the combination meter 1 that is a meter with the pointer for a vehicle. SOLUTION: A surface 31a of a pointer body 31 of the pointer 3 is covered with the first metallic layer 32 where a plurality of minute first holes 32a are formed, and light from a light emitting diode 7 is emitted through the first holes 32a in order to make the pointer 3 illuminate and display. Thereby, the first metallic layer 32 of the pointer 3 is observed irregularly, i.e., three- dimensionally due to the first holes 32 and a color tone of the first metallic layer 32 itself when the light emitting diode 7 is turned off. The pointer 3 is observed in red color that is the color of a reflective layer 33 when the light emitting diode 7 is turned on. Therefore, the observed shape of the pointer 3 is changed and three-dimensionally observed under the condition where the light emitting diode 7 is turned on and off, and the combination meter 1 having fresh appearances can be provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

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

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to improve the appearance of a pointer instrument for a vehicle mounted on an automobile or the like and to give it a high-class feel, various methods have been adopted for the configuration of a pointer or a dial. For example, in the vehicular pointer device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-18980, a light reflecting layer is provided on the back surface of the pointer main body which is made of a light guide material and on which the light from the light source is incident, and the front half of the pointer main body is provided. A mirror layer is provided. When the light source is off, the half mirror layer on the pointer surface is visible, and when the light source is on, the light reflection layer on the back surface of the pointer is visible.
The visual state of the pointer is different when the light source is off and when it is on.

[0003]

However, although a simple half mirror layer is used in this guideline,
Since the half mirror layer itself is flat, it may have a flat appearance.

Therefore, in order to deal with such a problem, the present invention provides a pointer instrument for a vehicle, which has a novel appearance by providing a metal layer for transmitting light from the back surface on the surface of a pointer or a dial. The purpose is to

[0005]

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

The pointer instrument for a vehicle according to claim 1 of the present invention covers the surface of the pointer with a first metal layer, and the first metal layer is provided with a plurality of microscopic first holes. The light is emitted from the first hole so that the pointer emits light. Thereby, when the light source is turned off, the surface of the first metal layer is irradiated with the external light and is visually recognized. At this time, the surface of the first metal layer is visually recognized as unevenness, that is, three-dimensionally, by the minute first holes. On the other hand, when the light source is turned on, the light from the light source is emitted from the first hole of the first metal layer, is displayed as light emission, and is visually recognized. Therefore, the visible shape of the pointer can be changed between when the light source is off and when the light source is on, and the pointer can be visually recognized three-dimensionally, so that it is possible to provide a pointer instrument for a vehicle having a novel appearance.

In the vehicle pointer instrument according to the second aspect of the present invention, the surface of the display portion of the graduation plate is covered with the second metal layer, and the second metal layer has minute second holes. A plurality of light sources are provided so that the light from the light source is emitted from the second hole to cause the display unit to emit light. Thereby, when the light source is turned off, the surface of the second metal layer is irradiated with the external light and is visually recognized.
At this time, the surface of the second metal layer is made uneven, that is, three-dimensionally visually recognized by the minute second holes. On the other hand, when the light source is turned on, light from the light source is emitted from the second hole of the second metal layer and is displayed as light emission for visual recognition. Therefore, it is possible to change the visual shape of the display unit when the light source is turned off and when the light source is turned on, and to visually recognize the display unit in a three-dimensional manner, and it is possible to provide a pointer instrument for a vehicle having a novel appearance.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pointer indicator for a vehicle, the surface of the graduation plate is covered with a third metal layer except the display portion, and the third metal layer has a minute third surface. A plurality of holes are provided, and the light from the light source is emitted from the third hole so that the graduation plate emits light. Thus, when the light source is turned off, the surface of the third metal layer is illuminated with the external light and is visually recognized. At this time, the surface of the third metal layer is visually recognized as unevenness, that is, three-dimensionally, by the minute third holes. On the other hand, when the light source is turned on, the light from the light source emits light in the third layer of the third metal layer.
The light is emitted from the hole of the display and is visually displayed. Therefore, the visible shape of the dial can be changed depending on whether the light source is off or on, and the dial can be viewed three-dimensionally, so that it is possible to provide a pointer instrument for a vehicle having a novel appearance.

In the vehicle pointer instrument according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, minute irregularities are formed on the first metal layer, the second metal layer and the third metal layer. As a result, when the surfaces of the first metal layer, the second metal layer, and the third metal layer are irradiated with external light, the first metal layer, the first metal layer, and the third metal layer are exposed to external light. Since the three-dimensional effect of the second metal layer and the third metal layer is visually recognized more strongly, it is possible to provide a vehicle pointer instrument having a novel appearance.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the vehicle pointer instrument according to the present invention applied to an automobile combination meter will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the combination meter 1 according to the embodiment of FIG.

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

The combination meter 1 is provided with a graduation plate 2 for displaying various information such as the traveling speed of an automobile and making it visible to the driver. Back side of scale plate 2 (right side of Fig. 1)
Is provided with a movement 5 which is a rotating inner unit for rotating a shaft 6 which is a pointer shaft by an angle corresponding to an electric signal from various sensors (not shown) or the like. A pointer 3 fixed to an end portion of a shaft 6 extending to the surface side of the graduation plate 2 is rotated along the surface of the graduation plate 2, and a graduation part 2a which is a display part provided on the graduation plate 2 and a numeral. Instructing the part 2b.

The graduation plate 2 is made of a transparent material such as an acrylic resin plate or the like, and has a surface 21a of a graduation plate main body 21.
The light shielding layer 22 is printed in black or hot stamped to form a plurality of scale portions 2a and numeral portions 2b. That is, the scale portion 2 a and the numeral portion 2 b are not provided with the light shielding layer 22, and the contours of the scale portion 2 a and the numeral portion 2 b are formed by the light shielding layer 22. A colored layer 23 is formed on the back surface 21b of the graduation plate main body 21 at positions corresponding to the graduation portions 2a and the numeral portions 2b by, for example, printing in yellow or hot stamping. As a result, the light emitted from the light emitting diode 8 which is the light source arranged on the back side of the scale plate 2 passes through the colored layer 23, and the scale portion 2a and the numeral portion 2b are displayed in the color of the colored layer 23, that is, yellow. To be done. Furthermore, scale plate 2
A light guide plate 9 is attached to the light guide plate 9 corresponding to the colored layer 23. The light guide plate 9 is made of a transparent material such as acrylic resin, collects the light from the light emitting diode 8 and guides it to the scale portion 2a and the numeral portion 2b, and at the same time, controls the amount of light that illuminates the scale portion 2a and the numeral portion 2b. The shape is set to be uniform.

A resin casing 10 is mounted on the back side of the dial 2. The casing 10 accommodates the printed circuit board 4 and the like forming the electric circuit portion of the combination meter 1.

On the printed circuit board 4, light emitting diodes 7 and 8 which are light sources for illuminating the dial 2 and the pointer 3 are mounted. Further, the printed circuit board 4 is provided with a movement 5 which is a rotary internal unit of the combination meter 1.

The movement 5 rotates the shaft 6 by an angle corresponding to an electric signal from the outside. Shaft 6
Extends from the central hole 2c of the dial 2 to the surface side of the dial 2, and a pointer 3 is fixed to the tip of the dial 2 so as to be rotatable along the surface of the dial 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pointer 3 has a first metal layer 32 adhered and fixed to a front surface 31a of a pointer body 31 made of a transparent material such as acrylic resin, and a back surface 31b of the pointer body 31. The reflective layer 33 is formed by printing in red or applying a hot stamp or the like. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the pointer body 31 is provided with a reflecting surface 31c. Scale plate 2
Light emitted from the light emitting diode 7 which is a light source arranged on the back side of the pointer enters the pointer body 31, is reflected by the reflecting surface 31c, travels inside the pointer body 31, and is reflected by the reflective layer 33, whereby the pointer 3 is reflected. The color of the layer 33 causes a luminescent display. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a light shielding cover 34 made of a resin or metal press product is attached to the pointer 3 substantially concentrically with the shaft 6 at a position corresponding to the light emitting diode 7. The light-shielding cover 34 prevents the light emitted from the light emitting diode 7 from being emitted directly to the driver.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first metal layer 32 fixed to the surface 31a of the pointer main body 31 is formed of a thin metal plate and is a surface portion 32b and a minute circular through hole. It is composed of a first hole 32a. First hole 3
2a is formed by etching or pressing.

On the other hand, a transparent cover 12 is mounted on the surface of the graduation plate 2 via an annular dial plate 11 made of resin. The transparent cover 12 is made of a transparent thin plate resin such as a polycarbonate resin.

Next, the visual recognition state of the combination meter 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above will be described.

(1) When the light emitting diodes 7 and 8 are off. For example, daytime.

In this case, the combination meter 1
Is visually recognized by reflecting extraneous light (for example, sunlight) incident on the combination meter 1 from the left side of FIG. The pointer 3 is visually recognized in the color of the first metal layer 32. Since the first holes 32a are so small that they cannot be recognized as holes, the first holes 32a are visually recognized as if the pointer 3 is made of metal. Further, the first metal layer 32 is visually recognized as having a large number of fine irregularities due to the difference between the brightness of the surface portion 32b of the first metal layer 32 and the brightness of the inner surface of the first hole 32a. That is, the pointer 3 is metallically and three-dimensionally visually recognized. On the other hand, the scale portion 2a and the numeral portion 2b are visually recognized as yellow in a black background.

(2) When the light emitting diodes 7 and 8 are in a lighting state. For example, at night.

In this case, in the pointer 3, the light from the light emitting diode 7 traveling in the pointer main body 31 is reflected by the red reflecting layer 33 and the first hole 32a of the first metal layer 32 is formed.
Emits toward the driver (to the left in FIG. 1). As a result, the pointer 3 is visually recognized in red. That is, the first metal layer 32 when the light emitting diode 7 is turned off
It will be seen in a completely different color tone from the metallic tone of.
Here, although the first holes 32a are small in size, a large number are provided adjacent to each other, so that the lights emitted from the first holes 32a interfere with each other, and as a result, the first metal The layer 32 is not visible and the entire pointer 3 is visible in red.
On the other hand, the graduation portion 2a and the numeral portion 2b are luminescently displayed in yellow on a black background by the light from the light emitting diode 8.

In the combination meter 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above, the surface 31a of the pointer main body 31 of the pointer 3 is provided with a plurality of minute first holes 32a.
Is covered with the first metal layer 32 provided with, and light emitted from the light emitting diode 7 which is the light source is emitted from the first hole 32a so that the pointer 3 is illuminated and displayed. This allows
When the light emitting diode 7 is turned off, the pointer 3 has the first metal layer 32.
While being visually recognized in its own color tone, a large number of minute first
The surface of the first metal layer 32 is made uneven by the holes 32a of
That is, it is visually recognized in three dimensions. On the other hand, the light emitting diode 7
At the time of lighting, the pointer 3 is visually recognized in the color of the reflection layer 33 provided on the back surface 31b of the pointer main body 31, that is, red. Therefore, the pointer 3 is displayed when the light emitting diode 7 is turned off and when it is turned on.
It is possible to provide a combination meter 1 having a novel appearance by changing the visually recognizable shape and making the pointer 3 visible in three dimensions.

The above is the description. In the combination meter 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the first hole 32a provided in the first metal layer 32 is circular, but a shape other than the circular shape, such as a rectangle, a rhombus, a triangle, an ellipse, etc. May be

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
3 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the combination meter 1 according to the embodiment of FIG.

The combination meter 1 according to the second embodiment is different from the combination meter 1 according to the first embodiment in that the surfaces of the graduation portion 2a and the numeral portion 2b which are the display portions of the graduation board 2 (on the driver side). Surface, Figure 6
The second metal layer 24 is provided on the left side of FIG. That is,
As shown in FIG. 6, after the light shielding layer 22 is provided on the surface 21a of the dial main body 21, the second metal layer 24 is fixed to the surfaces of the graduation portion 2a and the numeral portion 2b by adhesion. Further, the second metal layer 24 is provided with a plurality of second holes (not shown), which are a plurality of minute holes, like the first metal layer 32 in the first embodiment.

That is, in the combination meter 1 according to the second embodiment, the pointer 3 has the first metal layer 32.
And the second metal layer 24 is provided on the scale portion 2a and the numeral portion 2b of the scale board 2.

Next, the visual recognition state of the combination meter 1 according to the second embodiment configured as described above will be described.

(1) When the light emitting diodes 7 and 8 are off. For example, daytime.

In this case, the combination meter 1
It is visually recognized by reflecting external light (for example, sunlight) incident from the driver side (left side in FIG. 6). Guideline 3 is
It is visually recognized in the color tone of the first metal layer 32. Further, the scale portion 2 a and the numeral portion 2 b of the scale plate 2 are visually recognized in the color tone of the second metal layer 24. At this time, as in the case of the first metal layer 32, the second metal layer 24 is also visually recognized as having a large number of fine irregularities. That is, the scale portion 2 a and the numeral portion 2 b are metallically and three-dimensionally visually recognized like the pointer 3.

(2) When the light emitting diodes 7 and 8 are in a lighting state. For example, at night.

In this case, in the pointer 3, the light from the light emitting diode 7 traveling in the pointer main body 31 is reflected by the red reflective layer 33, and the first hole 32a of the first metal layer 32 is formed.
Is emitted toward the driver, and the pointer 3 is visually recognized in red. In addition, in the graduation portion 2a and the numeral portion 2b, the light from the light emitting diode 8 is transmitted through the yellow colored layer 23 to the driver from the second hole (not shown) of the second metal layer 24. The light is emitted (toward the left side in FIG. 1), and the scale portion 2a and the numeral portion 2b are visually recognized in yellow. Therefore, the guideline 3,
The scale portion 2a and the numeral portion 2b are composed of the light emitting diodes 7, 8
It will be seen in a completely different color tone from when the light is turned off.

Also in the combination meter 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention described above, the first embodiment of the present invention
As in the case of the above embodiment, the pointer 3, the scale portion 2a and the numeral portion 2b are set depending on whether the light emitting diodes 7 and 8 are off or on.
It is possible to provide a combination meter 1 having a novel appearance by changing the visually recognizable shape and making the pointer 3, the scale portion 2a and the numeral portion 2b visible three-dimensionally.

In the combination meter 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention described above, the light shielding layer 22 is provided on the surface 21a of the graduation plate body 21, and then the second surface is provided on the graduation portion 2a and the numeral portion 2b. Although the metal layer 24 is fixed by adhesion, as shown in FIG. 7, after the second metal layer 24 is fixed by adhesion on the surface 21a of the scale body 21, the second metal layer 24 is The light shielding layer 22 may be printed or hot stamped to form the scale portion 2a and the numeral portion 2b.

In addition, in the combination meter 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention described above, the first metal layer 32 provided on the pointer 3 may be omitted. in this case,
The pointer 3 is visually recognized in the color of the reflective layer 33, that is, red when the light emitting diodes 7 and 8 are turned off and turned on.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the combination meter 1 according to the embodiment.

The combination meter 1 according to the third embodiment differs from the combination meter 1 according to the first embodiment in that the scale plate 2 and the pointer 3 are changed. In the graduation plate 2, the third metal layer 25 is formed on the light shielding layer 22 (on the left side in FIG. 8) so as to overlap. Also,
Like the first metal layer 32, the third metal layer 25 has a plurality of third through holes (not shown) that are minute through holes.
As a result, in the combination meter 1 according to the first embodiment, the portion of the light shielding layer 22 visually recognized in black is
In the third embodiment, the color tone of the third metal layer 25 is visually recognized. Furthermore, in the pointer 3 according to the third embodiment, the first metal layer 32 is omitted.

The visual recognition state of the combination meter 1 according to the third embodiment having the above configuration will be described.

(1) When the light emitting diodes 7 and 8 are off. For example, daytime.

In this case, the combination meter 1
It is visually recognized by reflecting external light (for example, sunlight) incident from the driver side (left side in FIG. 8). The ground portion of the graduation plate 2, that is, the portion excluding the graduation portion 2a and the numeral portion 2b which are the display portions and which is visually recognized in black in the light shielding layer 22 in the first embodiment is the third metal layer 25. It is visible in the color tone of. At this time, since the third metal layer 25 is visually recognized as having a large number of fine irregularities, as in the case of the first metal layer 32 in the first embodiment, the ground portion of the dial 2 is visible. Is metallically and three-dimensionally viewed. Then, the scale portion 2a and the numeral portion 2b of the scale board 2 are visually recognized in yellow with the color tone of the third metal layer 25 as the background. On the other hand, the pointer 3 is visually recognized in the color tone of the reflective layer 33, that is, red.

(2) When the light emitting diodes 7 and 8 are in a lighting state. For example, at night.

In this case, in the pointer 3, the light from the light emitting diode 7 traveling in the pointer main body 31 is reflected by the red reflection layer 33, and the pointer 3 is luminescently displayed in red. The scale portion 2a and the numeral portion 2b are the light emitting diodes 8
From the light is transmitted through the yellow colored layer 23, and the scale portion 2a and the numeral portion 2b are illuminated and displayed in yellow. On the other hand, in the ground portion of the graduation plate 2, that is, the portion where the third metal layer 25 is provided, the light from the light emitting diode 8 is blocked by the light shielding layer 22 on the back side thereof, so that the third metal layer 25 is It is visible in almost black. Therefore, the ground portion of the scale plate 2 is visually recognized in a color tone completely different from that when the light emitting diodes 7 and 8 are turned off.

In the combination meter 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention described above, the first embodiment of the present invention is also applicable.
As in the case of the above embodiment, the visible shape of the ground portion of the graduation plate 2 is changed depending on whether the light emitting diodes 7 and 8 are turned off or on, and the ground portion of the graduation plate 2 is three-dimensionally visually recognized. Therefore, the combination meter 1 having a novel appearance can be provided.

(Fourth Embodiment) In the combination meter 1 according to the third embodiment, a first metal layer 35 is provided in place of the first metal layer 32 provided on the pointer 3 in the first embodiment. ing.

FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of the pointer 3 of the combination meter 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1
0 shows an enlarged sectional view of the X portion in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the first metal layer 35 is provided with a convex portion 35c for forming minute irregularities. That is, the surface of the first metal layer 35 is formed in an uneven shape with respect to the first metal layer 32. Further, the first metal layer 35 is provided with a plurality of first circular holes 35 a that are minute circular through holes, like the first metal layer 32.

As a result, when the light emitting diodes 7 and 8 are turned off, for example, during the daytime, the convex portion 35c of the first metal layer 35 allows the pointer 3 to be more emphasized and visually recognized.

In the fourth embodiment described above, the convex portion 35 is formed on the first metal layer 35 provided on the pointer 3.
Although c is provided, similar protrusions may be provided on the second metal layer 24 or the third metal layer 25.

In the combination meter 1 according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention described above, the light emitting diodes 7 and 8 are used as the light source.
Other light sources, such as light bulbs, may be used.

Further, the light emitting diode 7 for illuminating the pointer 3 may be directly fixed to the pointer 3, that is, the light emitting diode 7 may rotate integrally with the pointer 3. Further, the pointer 3 may be formed of a rod-shaped light emitting body such as a cold cathode tube.

The transparent cover 12 may be a so-called black face meter using a smoke material having a low light transmittance, and a light source for illuminating the surface side of the pointer 3 and the dial 2 may be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

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

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the pointer 3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the pointer 3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an IV section in FIG.

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

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the combination meter 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a modified example of the combination meter 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a combination meter 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a pointer 3 of the combination meter 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the X part of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Combination meter (Vehicle pointer instrument) 2 scale plate 2a Scale part (display part) 2b Number part (display part) 3 guidelines 4 printed circuit boards 5 movement (rotating internal unit) 6 shaft (pointer axis) 7,8 Light emitting diode (light source) 21 main body 22 Light-shielding layer 23 Colored layer 24 Second metal layer 25 Third metal layer 31 pointer body 31a surface 31b back side 32, 35 first metal layer 32a, 35a First hole 32b surface part 33 Reflective layer 34 Light-shielding cover 35c convex part

Continued front page    F term (reference) 2F074 AA02 AA04 BB06 DD03 EE03                       FF01 GG02 GG06                 3D044 BA21 BB01 BD02 BD13

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A graduation plate having a display portion, a rotary inner unit disposed on the back side of the graduation plate and extending a pointer shaft through the graduation plate, and along a surface of the graduation plate. In a vehicle instrument including a pointer that is supported by a tip end portion of the pointer shaft so as to rotate, and a light source that makes light incident on the pointer and the scale plate, a surface of the pointer is formed by a first metal layer. The vehicle is characterized in that the first metal layer is covered with a plurality of minute first holes, and light from the light source is emitted from the first holes to cause the pointer to emit light. Pointer instrument. 2. A graduation plate having a display portion, a rotary inner unit disposed on the back side of the graduation plate and extending a pointer shaft through the graduation plate, and along a surface of the graduation plate. A vehicle instrument having a pointer that is supported by the tip of the pointer shaft so as to rotate, and a light source that allows light to enter the pointer and the scale plate, wherein the surface of the display unit is a second metal layer. The second metal layer is provided with a plurality of minute second holes, and light from the light source is emitted from the second holes to cause the display unit to emit light. Vehicle pointer instrument. 3. A graduation plate having a display portion, a rotary inner unit disposed on the back side of the graduation plate and extending a pointer shaft through the graduation plate, and along a surface of the graduation plate. In a vehicle instrument having a pointer that is supported by the tip of the pointer shaft so as to rotate, and a light source that makes light incident on the pointer and the dial, the surface of the dial excludes the display section. Is covered with a third metal layer, and a plurality of minute third holes are provided in the third metal layer. Light from the light source is emitted from the third hole to display the scale plate with light. A pointer instrument for a vehicle, which is characterized by: 4. The fine concavo-convex pattern is formed on the first metal layer, the second metal layer, and the third metal layer, according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The vehicle pointer instrument described in.