JP2003139580A - Lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting system capable of improving the display quality of a display part. SOLUTION: This lighting system is provided with a display plate 5 having a light-transmitting substrate 53, a shade layer 52 formed on a surface of the substrate 53, and the display part 51 formed with a cut-out part of the shade layer 52; and a second light source 62 disposed behind the display plate 5 for illuminating the display part 51. The lighting system is provided with a half- transmitting layer 54 formed on the front side of the substrate 53 so as to include at least the display part 51, allowing its color tone to be viewed by light entered from the front side of the substrate 53 in lighting out the light source 62, and transmitting the light from the light source 62 in lighting the light source 62.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illuminating device for illuminating a display plate used in a vehicle instrument such as an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of illumination device, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-105581, a light-transmissive substrate made of acrylic resin and a surface of this substrate are formed. A ground color layer that has a dark color tone that is visually recognized by external light (reflected light) and that can transmit light from the back surface side, and a display portion such as scales and characters formed on the back surface of the substrate. A display plate consisting of a dark-colored light-shielding layer having an opening for forming a light source, and a light source arranged behind this display plate to illuminate the display portion, and reflected light reflected from the ground color layer when the light source is off. When the light source is turned on, the light is transmitted to the front side through the opening (display section) of the light shielding layer and the ground color layer when the light source is turned on. And illuminate the display with this transmitted light. It makes unlit light source is visible the whole display panel is a dark, when lighting of the light source lighting device of an instrument for illuminating display the desired color tone display portion is known.

[0003]

However, in the case of the conventional illuminating device, since the light shielding layer is provided on the back surface of the substrate and the display portion including the opening provided in this light shielding layer is transmitted and illuminated, the light source is turned on. When the light, which is sometimes introduced into the opening, passes through the inside of the substrate, it is diffused inside the substrate and reaches the surface side of the substrate. Due to this light diffusing action, on the surface side of the substrate, the numbers, scales, etc. There is a problem that the outline is visually recognized in a blurred state, and the display quality of the display unit is deteriorated.

The present invention has been made in view of this point,
Its main purpose is to provide an illumination structure capable of improving the display quality of the display unit.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a light-transmissive substrate, a light-shielding layer formed on the surface of the substrate, and a display formed by a cutout portion of the light-shielding layer. A display plate having a portion and a light source arranged behind the display plate to illuminate the display portion, and is formed on the front surface side or the back surface side of the substrate so as to include at least the display portion. The color tone is visually recognized by the light incident from the front surface side of the substrate when the light is turned off, and the semi-transmissive layer that transmits the light from the light source when the light source is turned on is provided.

In the present invention, an overcoat layer is provided on the surface of the light-shielding layer or the semi-transmissive layer so as to include at least the display portion, and diffuses and reflects external light to the surface side and transmits light from the light source. It is characterized by being provided.

The present invention is also characterized in that the overcoat layer is provided with a rough surface.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that a colored layer for coloring the light of the light source is provided on the back surface side of the semi-transmissive layer.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the semi-transmissive layer and the light shielding layer are set to a dark color.

[0010]

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention. Based on these, the present invention will be described below in an illuminating device for illuminating a display panel of an instrument mounted on an automobile, for example. The case where it is applied will be described. 1 is a front view of the lighting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an essential part of the display plate in a B region in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an essential part of the display plate in a C region in FIG.

1 and 2, the lighting device according to the present embodiment is rotationally driven by a drive shaft 2 and a circuit board 1, an instrument body 3 which is conductively mounted on the circuit board 1, and a drive shaft 2 extends forward. Pointer 4, a display board 5 located behind the pointer 4 on the circuit board 1, a light source 6 arranged in front of the circuit board 1 for illuminating the pointer 4 and the display board 5, and a circuit. The case body 7 is arranged between the substrate 1 and the display plate 5.

The circuit board 1 is composed of, for example, a hard circuit board having a wiring pattern (not shown) formed on a glass epoxy base material, and drives the light source 6 and the light source 6 and the instrument body 3.
Various circuit parts (not shown) such as driving means for controlling and resistors and capacitors are conductively connected to the wiring pattern.

The instrument main body 3 is composed of a movable magnet type instrument or a stepping motor, and its main part is mounted behind the circuit board 1 so that the drive shaft 2 penetrates the circuit board 1 and is appropriately soldered or the like. It is electrically connected to the wiring pattern (the driving means) by a conducting means.

The pointer 4 comprises an indicator 41 made of translucent synthetic resin, and a cover 42 made of light-shielding synthetic resin for covering the outer circumference of the rotation center of the indicator 41. A light receiving portion 43 that extends linearly along the optical axis and that receives the illumination light emitted from the light source 6 disposed behind and reflects and guides the illumination light to the tip side of the pointing portion 41 at the center of rotation. Has been formed.

The display plate 5 has an arcuate array shape along the rotation orbit of the pointer 4, and has a scale 51 as an indication target of the pointer 4.
a, a numeral 51b, and a display portion 51 (see FIG. 1) including a colored portion 51c corresponding to the red zone area, and a light shielding layer 52 forming the background of the display portion 51 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).
The display unit 51 is transmitted and illuminated through light from a second light source, which will be described later, of the light source 6, and the display unit 51 is formed on the back surface when the second light source is not turned on. Due to the action of the semi-transmissive layer and the overcoat layer, it is difficult to confirm from the surface side of the display plate 5. In addition,
The display plate 5 in the present embodiment shows an automobile engine tachometer, and the coloring portion 51c has an engine speed of 800.
It is provided in each scale 51a in the range of 0 to 9000 r / min.

Next, the printing process of the display board 5 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, a semi-transmissive layer 54 is formed by a dark-color transmissive ink (for example, smoke gray) so as to cover the surface of a thin plate-shaped substrate 53 made of a translucent synthetic resin as a base material, and then the semi-transmissive layer. On the surface of 54, a dark-colored light-shielding ink (for example, black) that is similar in color to this
The light shielding layer 52 is formed by printing. At this time, the display unit 51
Since the portion to be formed is formed as the cutout portion 55 in which the light shielding layer 52 is not formed, a step is formed in this portion. Further, a first overcoat layer 56 is formed on the surface of the light shielding layer 52 so as to include the display portion 51 with a transparent matte ink.
At this time, the first overcoat layer 56 is also formed in the region of the punched portion 55, so that a recess 57 is formed at the portion corresponding to the punched portion 55. Further, the recess 57
The second overcoat layer 58 is overprinted on the surface of the first overcoat layer 56 containing the same with the matting ink of the same material and the same thickness as the first overcoat layer 56. As a result, the second overcoat layer 5 corresponding to the recess 57 is formed.
The surface of eight places is formed in substantially the same plane as the surface of the second overcoat layer 58 corresponding to the light shielding layer 52, and the display plate 5
Can be formed into a substantially flat surface through the first and second overcoat layers 56 and 58.

The thickness of each of the overcoat layers 56 and 58 is actually set to have a thickness of about 10 μm, and each of the overcoat layers 56 and 58 is, for example, a matting agent in which a transparent overcoat ink is mixed with a matting agent. It is made of ink. On the other hand, the thickness of the substrate 53, which is a molding material, is set to 0.5 mm, for example.

Further, on the respective surfaces of the first overcoat layer 56 and the second overcoat layer 58, there are formed a first rough surface 56a and a second rough surface 58a each having fine irregularities, When the light incident from the front surface side of the display plate 5 is incident on the second rough surface 58a of the second overcoat layer 58 located on the top surface of the display plate 5, this light passes through the second rough surface 58a. Although it is diffusely reflected on the surface side of the display board 5,
Since the second overcoat layer 58 has a light-transmitting property, part of light is transmitted through the second overcoat layer 58 and reaches the first overcoat layer 56 or the recess 57 side. However, in the present embodiment, since the first rough surface 56a is also formed on the surfaces of the first overcoat layer 56 and the recess 57, the light reaching the first overcoat layer 56 and the recess 57 has the second roughness. The transmitted light that is diffused and reflected toward the overcoat layer 58 and that passes through the inside of the first overcoat layer 56 is attenuated.
Therefore, even if light from the outside is incident on the surface of the display plate 5, the contour of the display portion 51, which is the boundary between the display portion 51 and the light shielding layer 52, is made inconspicuous through the first and second overcoat layers 56 and 58. ing. Thus, the light incident through each of the overcoat layers 56 and 58 reaches the semi-transmissive layer 54 through the light shielding layer 52 and the display portion 51 which is the cutout portion 55 of the light shielding layer 52, and the light reaching the light shielding layer 52 is the light shielding layer. The light reflected by the surface of 52 is visually recognized as black, and the light reaching the semi-transmissive layer 54 is reflected by the surface of the semi-transmissive layer 54. It is visually recognized.
Thereby, when the second light source is not turned on, the display unit 5
1 indicates that the external light is reflected by the semi-transmissive layer 54 so that the light-shielding layer 52
Since it is visually recognized with a blackish smoked gray that is a similar color to the above, the dark surface and the non-display portion 51 are visually recognized over the entire surface of the display plate 5.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the display plate 5 in the colored portion 51c area, in which the colored portion 51 is formed on the back surface of the substrate 53 corresponding to the colored portion 51c including the cutout portion 55.
A colored layer 59 is formed by printing, for example, a red translucent ink so as to cover c. As described above, the coloring portion 51c
The colored layer 59 is formed at the corresponding position of the above. However, when the second light source is not turned on, the colored portion 51c is formed on the semi-transmissive layer 5 described above.
Due to the action of No. 4, it is visually recognized from the surface side of the display plate 5 with a slightly reddish smoke gray color tone. The semi-transmissive layer 54, the light-shielding layer 52, the first overcoat layer 56, the second overcoat layer 58, and the coloring layer 59 are formed by printing using a means such as screen printing.
Reference numeral 501 denotes a penetrating portion (see FIG. 2) corresponding to a connecting portion between the drive shaft 2 and the pointer 4.

The light source 6 is composed of, for example, a light emitting diode which emits achromatic light, is arranged near the rotation center of the pointer 4, and illuminates the indicator 41 of the pointer 4 through the light receiving portion 43, and the case body 7. And a second light source 62 arranged on the front side of the circuit board 1 corresponding to the first reflection wall, which will be described later, and illuminates the display section 51.

The case body 7 is made of, for example, white synthetic resin, is positioned between the circuit board 1 and the display plate 5, functions as a holding body for holding the display plate 5, and illuminates light from the light source 6. It has a function as a reflecting member that reflects light to the front side, and corresponds to the penetrating portion 54 of the display plate 5, and the first and second light sources 6 are provided.
A tubular portion 72 having an opening 71 that guides the illumination light from the light sources 1 and 62 to the light receiving portion 43 of the pointer 4; and a second light source 62 that extends so as to surround the tubular portion 72 while being inclined toward the display plate 5 side. A first reflecting portion 73 facing each other, a pair of locking claws 74 formed on the distal end side of the tubular portion 72 and fitted into the penetrating portion 54 of the display plate 5,
An opening 75 for housing the second light source 62 and the opening 7
The second reflection part 76 is formed of a dish-shaped annular wall that is close to the display plate 5 from the position 5 toward the outer periphery, and the peripheral wall part 77 that surrounds the outer periphery of the second reflection part 76.

Illuminating means is constituted by the light source 6 and the case body 7, and the tubular portion 72 forms a first illumination chamber S1 for guiding the light from the first light source 61 to the pointer 4, and the first illumination chamber S1 is formed. The illumination room S1 and the first light source 61 constitute a first illumination means L1 for transmitting and illuminating the pointer 4.

Further, the first reflection wall 73 is formed by the second light source 62.
The second reflection wall 76. The second reflection wall 76 forms a reflection surface that extends to incline so that the light from the second light source 62 is reflected to the outer periphery.
Constitutes a reflection surface for reflecting the light reflected to the outer periphery through the first reflection wall 73 toward the display plate 5 side, and transmits the light from the second light source 62 through the first and second reflection walls 73 and 76. A second illumination room S2 that leads to the display section 51 including the scales 51a and the numbers 51b is formed, and the display section is formed by the second illumination room S2 and the second light source 62 arranged in the second illumination room S2. 51
A second illumination means L2 for transmitting and illuminating

In such a structure, the second light source 62
When is not lit, the light is not supplied to the second illumination chamber S2, so that the display section 51 is visually recognized as a slightly darker shade of gray, which is the color tone of the semi-transmissive layer 54, due to the light reflecting action of the semi-transmissive layer 54. Although the entire display plate 5 is displayed as a dark-colored surface as in, the illumination light is supplied to the display plate 5 through the second illumination chamber S2 when the second light source 62 is turned on, and at the cutout portion 55 of the light shielding layer 52. The display unit 51 is illuminated with transmitted light. That is, for the graduations 51a and the numbers 51b, the light that illuminates the back of the display plate 5 through the second illuminating means L2 passes through the substrate 53 and the semi-transmissive layer 54 and the cutout 55.
Which is introduced into the first and second overcoat layers 5
6 and 58, so that the scale 51a and the numeral 51
b emits light. At this time, the light transmitted from the cutout portion 55 to the surface of the display plate 5 is formed by the first and second overcoat layers 56,
Although it is diffused when passing through 58, since the film thickness of each overcoat layer 56, 58 is much thinner than the plate thickness of the substrate 53 as described above, the outline of the scale 51a and the numeral 51b is clear without being blurred. It is transilluminated. Therefore, as compared with the case where the punched portion 55 is provided on the back surface of the substrate 53 as in the conventional case, the light diffusion that causes the illumination of the punched portion 55 to occur in the substrate 53 in the process of passing through the punched portion 55 and reaching the surface of the display plate 5. Since it is not affected, the scale 51a and the numbers 51b can be clearly illuminated and displayed, and the display quality can be improved.

As for the coloring section 51c, as shown in FIG. 4, when the second light source 62 is turned on, it is transmitted and illuminated in red through the second illumination chamber S2 and the coloring layer 59. That is, the achromatic light emitted from the second light source 62 is colored red when passing through the coloring layer 59 through the second illumination chamber S2, and the substrate 53, the semi-transmissive layer 54, and the overcoat layers 5 are formed.
6 and 58 reach the surface of the display plate 5, whereby the colored portion 51c is visually recognized on the surface side of the display plate 5 with a red color tone. At this time, as in the case of the scales 51a and the numbers 51b, the colored portion 51c is clearly illuminated and displayed because it is not affected by light diffusion in the substrate 53, and thus display quality can be improved.

As described above, in this embodiment, the light-transmissive substrate 53 and the light-shielding layer 5 formed on the surface of the substrate 53 are used.
2, a display plate 5 having a display portion 51 formed by the cutout portion 55 of the light shielding layer 52, and a second light source 62 arranged behind the display plate 5 and illuminating the display portion 51, It is formed on the front surface side of the substrate 53 so as to include at least the display portion 51, and when the second light source 62 is turned off, its color tone is visually recognized by the light incident from the front surface side of the substrate 53, and when the second light source 62 is turned on. Since the semi-transmissive layer 54 that transmits the light from the second light source 62 is provided, the illumination of the display unit 51 is not affected by light diffusion in the substrate 53, so that the illumination is clearly displayed, and thus the display unit 51 is illuminated. The display quality of can be improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, light incident from the surface side (outside) of the substrate 53 on the surfaces of the light shielding layer 52 and the semi-transmissive layer 54 so as to include the display portion 51 is diffused and reflected to the surface side, and at the same time, the second light is emitted. By providing the overcoat layers 56 and 58 that transmit the light from the light source 62, when the second light source 62 is turned off, the light incident from the outside is diffused and reflected, thereby blurring the contour of the display unit 51 and making it inconspicuous. Further, the cutout portion 55 of the light shielding layer 52 is formed on the front surface side of the substrate 53.
It is possible to fill a step on the surface of the display plate 5 caused by the formation of the above to form a substantially flat surface or make it almost inconspicuous, and thereby improve the display quality of the entire surface of the display plate 5.

Further, in this embodiment, since the rough surfaces 56a and 58a are provided on the respective overcoat layers 56 and 58,
The light diffuse reflection effect can be enhanced, the contour of the display unit 51 can be made more inconspicuous when the second light source 62 is turned off, and the brightness of the display unit 51 due to external light reflection can be reduced.

Further, in the present embodiment, the colored layer 59 for coloring the light of the second light source 62 is provided on the back surface side of the semi-transmissive layer 54, so that the display section 51 (colored section 51c) is made into the second light source 62. It is possible to illuminate with a color different from the emission color of. Note that such a colored layer 59 is not limited to the colored portion 51c,
It may be provided corresponding to the scale 51a or the number 51b, and its color setting is also arbitrary.

Further, although the semi-transmissive layer 54 is set to smoke gray in this embodiment, the setting color is arbitrary as long as it is set in consideration of the balance with the light shielding layer 52, for example, black, blue, brown, The light transmittance may be set to gray or the like, and the light transmittance thereof can be adjusted according to the degree of obscuring the display unit 51 when the second light source 62 is turned off. Should be lowered.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, based on the first embodiment,
The semi-transmissive layer 54 is formed on the back surface of the substrate 53, not on the front surface of the substrate 53, and when the second light source 62 is turned off, the display portion 51 is not conspicuous due to the reflective action of the semi-transmissive layer 54, and the second light source 62 is not visible. The display unit 51 emits light when is turned on. Such a second
Also in the embodiment, the same operational effect as that of the first embodiment can be expected.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the light shielding layer 52 is provided so as to include the display section 51.
The semi-transmissive layer 54 is formed on the surface side of the second light source 62. In this embodiment as well, when the second light source 62 is turned off, the display portion 51 is not conspicuous due to the reflective action of the semi-transmissive layer 54 and the second light source 62 is turned on. Sometimes the display unit 51 emits light. Even in such a configuration, since the cutout portion 55 of the light shielding layer 52 is located on the front surface side of the substrate 53, the display quality of the display portion 51 can be improved, and the first and second overcoat layers 56,
Since 58 is unnecessary, cost reduction can be achieved. An overcoat layer may be provided if necessary.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the semi-transmissive layer 54 and the light-shielding layer 52 are set to the dark color system of the same color, but if the semi-transmissive layer 54 and the light-shielding layer 52 are the same color, the light color system, For example, it may be set to red, blue, yellow, orange, or the like.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the two overcoat layers 56 and 58 are formed by printing. However, only one layer may be formed in consideration of the step and the unevenness caused by forming the cutout portion 55 in the light shielding layer 52. Good, or three or more layers may be formed. The overcoat layers 56 and 58 have rough surfaces 56a and 58a.
It is not limited to those having the above, and can be formed by, for example, ink or paint mixed with light diffusing particles.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an illuminating device capable of achieving the initial purpose and improving the display quality of the display section.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a lighting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the display plate in the area B in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the display plate in the area C in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an essential part of a display panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an essential part of a display panel according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 circuit board 2 drive shaft 3 Instrument body 4 guidelines 5 display board 6 light source 7 case body 51 display 51a scale 51b numbers 51c Coloring part 52 Light-shielding layer 53 substrates 54 Semi-transmissive layer 55 Remover 56 First overcoat layer 56a First rough surface 57 recess 58 Second overcoat layer 58a Second rough surface 59 Coloring layer 62 Second light source S2 Second lighting room L2 Second illumination means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A display plate having a light-transmissive substrate, a light-shielding layer formed on a surface of the substrate, and a display portion formed by a cutout portion of the light-shielding layer, and arranged behind the display plate. And a light source that illuminates the display unit, and is formed on the front surface side or the back surface side of the substrate so as to include at least the display unit, and when the light source is turned off, its color tone is changed by light incident from the front surface side of the substrate. An illuminating device comprising a semi-transmissive layer that is visible and that transmits light from the light source when the light source is turned on. 2. An overcoat layer for diffusing and reflecting external light to the surface side and transmitting light from the light source is provided on the surface of the light shielding layer or the semi-transmissive layer so as to include at least the display portion. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the overcoat layer is provided with a rough surface. 4. The lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising a colored layer provided on the back surface side of the semi-transmissive layer for coloring the light of the light source. 5. The semi-transmissive layer and the light-shielding layer are set to a dark color.
The lighting device according to any one of the above.