JP2003222542A - Vehicle meter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle meter capable of emphasizing cubic sense of an index part, concerning the vehicle meter loaded on various vehicles including, for example, a motorcycle or an automobile. <P>SOLUTION: This meter is equipped with a pointer 4 rotating around a shaft corresponding to the measuring quantity, and a display panel 5 where the index part D corresponding to the pointer 4 is formed. The display panel 5 has an optically transparent substrate 52. The index part D is constituted from a first ridged part 55 ridged on the front side of the substrate, a second ridged part 56 ridged on the back side of the substrate 52 on the position corresponding to the first ridged part 55, a first colored part 57 formed on the front of the first ridged part 55, and a second colored part 58 to be a shadow of the first colored part 57, formed on the back of the second ridged part 56. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle meter mounted on various vehicles such as motorcycles and automobiles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a pointer that rotates around an axis by a predetermined driving device and a display panel having an indicator portion corresponding to the pointer disposed behind the pointer display, for example, a measured amount such as vehicle speed or engine rotation. A meter for a vehicle is known.

As a display panel, a substrate made of a synthetic resin on which index portions such as characters, scales and figures are printed is often used, and the display panel is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 57-8515. As shown in FIG. 5, it is also known that the indicator portion itself is raised to perform a three-dimensional display.

That is, in FIG. 5, the display panel has a substrate 100 made of transparent synthetic resin, a raised portion 101 partially raised on the front side of the substrate, and the raised portion 101.
And a colored portion 102 formed on the front surface of the. A plurality of these raised portions 101 and colored portions 102 are formed in accordance with the movement of a pointer (not shown), and form an indicator portion 103 such as a character, a scale, or a figure which is an instruction target of the pointer.

[0005]

By the way, in the vehicle meter described in the conventional example, the index portion 103 is composed of the raised portion 101 that is raised with respect to the general surface of the substrate 100, and the colored portion 102 formed on the front surface thereof. Since it is configured, the indicator portion 10
3 can be displayed three-dimensionally, but only substrate 1
00 has a raised portion 101 on one side and a colored portion 102 on the front side.
Since it is simply provided, it is not sufficient to make the index portion 103 look three-dimensional, and there is room for improvement.

The present invention has been made in view of this point, and its main object is to provide a vehicular meter capable of emphasizing the three-dimensional effect of the indicator portion.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a pointer that rotates around an axis according to a measurement amount and a display panel having an indicator portion corresponding to the pointer, The display panel has a light-transmissive substrate, the index portion is raised to the front side of the substrate, and the first raised portion is raised to the back side of the substrate at a position corresponding to the first raised portion. A second raised portion, a first colored portion formed on the front surface of the first raised portion, and a second colored portion formed on the back surface of the second raised portion and serving as a shadow of the first colored portion. And a colored portion.

The present invention is also characterized in that the second colored portion has a color tone different from that of the first colored portion.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the first and second colored portions are formed of a hot stamp layer.

[0010]

1 to 4 show one embodiment of the present invention, and the case where the embodiment of the present invention is applied to a meter mounted in, for example, an automobile will be described based on these. To do. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicular meter according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of a main portion of the vehicular meter according to the same embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 4 is a main part front view showing a portion B in FIG. 2 in an enlarged manner.

In FIG. 1, the vehicle meter according to the present embodiment is rotatably driven by a circuit board 1, a drive device 3 which is electrically connected to the circuit board 1 and has a rotating shaft 2 extending forward, and a rotating shaft 2. A pointer 4, a display panel 5 located behind the pointer 4 on the circuit board 1, a light source 6 arranged in front of the circuit board 1 to illuminate the display panel 5 with a backlight, and the light source 6. A case member 7 arranged between the circuit board 1, a light adjusting member 8 interposed between the light source 6 and the display panel 5, a look-back member 9 for exposing the pointer 4 and the display panel 5, and The housing 10 is arranged in front of the dial member 9.

The circuit board 1 is composed of, for example, a hard circuit board in which a wiring pattern (not shown) is formed on a glass epoxy base material, and for example, driving means (not shown) for driving and controlling the driving device 3 or, for example, Various circuit components (not shown) such as resistors and capacitors, and a connector (not shown) that is connected to a later-described connected member 65 of the light source 6 and supplies power to the light source 6 are conductively connected to the wiring pattern.

The drive device 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 rotary 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 is made of synthetic resin and is connected to the tip of the rotary shaft 2, and a cover is attached to the center of rotation thereof.

The display panel 5 is made of an acrylic transparent synthetic resin tinged with a dark color (for example, smoke gray),
For example, a vehicle speed display plate P1 that displays the vehicle speed, a rotation speed display plate P2 that displays the engine speed, a water temperature gauge display plate P3 that displays the temperature of the cooling water, and a fuel gauge display board P4 that displays the remaining fuel amount. , A fuel consumption meter display plate P5 that displays the amount of fuel used per unit distance.

The vehicle speed display plate P1 and the rotation speed display plate P2 are each formed in a substantially toroidal plate shape, and a penetrating portion 51 through which a projection 85 of the light adjusting member 8 described later penetrates, and this penetrating portion 5
1 to the outer periphery, the substrate 52 is formed of a dish-shaped slanted wall that is close to the dial member 9. In addition, F is a hole formed under each substrate 52, and is a vehicle speed display plate P1.
The hole F of the light adjustment member 8 exposes an exposed portion 87, which will be described later, and the hole F of the rotation speed display plate P2 exposes the fuel consumption meter display plate P5.

An index portion D is formed on each of these substrates 52. For example, taking the vehicle speed display plate P1 as an example, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of index portions D including a scale 53 and numerals 54 are provided. Are arranged in an arc shape along the rotation path of the pointer 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, these index portions D have a first raised portion 55 which is raised in a convex shape on the front side of the substrate 52,
A second raised portion 56 protruding convexly on the back side of the substrate 52 at a position corresponding to the first raised portion 55, and a first colored portion 57 formed on the front surface of the first raised portion 55. , And a second colored portion 58 which is formed on the back surface of the second raised portion and is a shadow of the first colored portion 57.

Each of the raised portions 55, 56 has a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape extending toward the general surface of the substrate 52 in a divergent shape, and is integrally formed when the substrate 52 is molded by injection of synthetic resin. The inclination of the side surface of the trapezoid corresponds to a mold draft for facilitating the molding.

The shapes of these raised portions 55 and 56 are the scale 5
3 and the shape of the numeral 54, but the first ridge 5
The second raised portion 56 is formed to be larger than the fifth raised portion 56. Therefore, when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the plate surface of the substrate 52, the second raised portion 56 is more than the front surface of the first raised portion 55.
The back surface of the second ridge 56 is set large as a result.
The formation positions of the both raised portions 55 and 56 are set so that the back contour line of the above forms the contour of the front contour line of the first raised portion.

The first colored portion 57 is made of, for example, a white light-shielding hot stamp layer, and is fixed to the front surface of the first raised portion 55 by thermocompression bonding through a pressure bonding member (not shown). The colored portion 58 is made of, for example, a black light-shielding hot stamp layer, and is fixed to the back surface of the second raised portion 56 by thermocompression bonding through the pressure bonding member. In the case of the present embodiment, layers other than the colored portions 57 and 58 are not provided on the substrate 52, and the raised portions 55 and 56 are provided.
The side surface and the general surface of the substrate 52 are exposed.

The plane shape of each of these colored portions 57 and 58 is
Similar to the shapes of the raised portions 55 and 56, it corresponds to the shapes of the scale 53 and the numeral 54, but the second colored portion 56 is set larger according to the front and back shapes of the raised portions 55 and 56. ing. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the plate surface of the substrate 52, the outline of the second colored portion 58 forms the outline of the outline of the first colored portion 57. .
As a result, when light such as external light strikes the first colored portion 57 from the front surface side of the substrate 52, the light is reflected by the front surface of the first colored portion 57, and the reflected light causes the first colored portion 57 to be reflected. Visible in white tones. On the other hand, the substrate 52 from the front side
When the light is incident on the inside, the incident light is absorbed by the second colored portion 58 and is visually recognized as a blackish color tone different from the color tone of the substrate 52 itself.
The first colored portion 57 is visually recognized as a shadow of the first colored portion 57.

Although not shown, the rotation speed display plate P2,
Water temperature indicator P3, fuel indicator P4, fuel gauge indicator P
The indicator portion D similar to that of the vehicle speed indicating plate P1 is also adopted in the vehicle body 5.

The light source 6 is composed of an EL (electroluminescence device) panel, and has a first light emitting surface 61 formed corresponding to the vehicle speed display plate P1 and the rotation speed display plate P2, a water temperature gauge display plate P3, and a fuel gauge. The second light emitting surface 62 formed corresponding to the display plate P4
And a third light emitting surface 63 formed corresponding to the fuel consumption indicator plate P5, and each of these light emitting surfaces 61 to 63 emits blue light in the present embodiment.

Of the light emitting surfaces 61 to 63, the first light emitting surface 61 is formed in a substantially horseshoe shape, supplies blue light to the substrate 52 of the vehicle speed display plate P1 and the rotation speed display plate P2, and supplies the second light emitting surface. 6
2 is formed in a substantially semi-circular shape and supplies blue light to the substrate 52 of the water temperature indicator display plate P3 and the fuel gauge indicator plate P4, and the third light emitting surface 63
Is a fan shape and supplies blue light to the substrate 52 of the fuel consumption indicator P5.

The light emitting surfaces 61 to 63 are electrically connected to each other through a film-like connecting portion 64. In addition,
Reference numeral 65 denotes a connected member that is provided at a connecting portion 64 that connects the rotation speed display plate P2 and the fuel gauge display plate P4 and that is electrically connected to the connector of the circuit board 1.

The case member 7 is made of a white synthetic resin, is formed into a box shape whose outer shape is substantially the same as the circuit board 1, and holds the display panel 5, the light source 6, the light adjusting member 8 and the like. As a reflection member for efficiently reflecting the blue light of the light source 6 toward the display panel 5 side. Reference numeral 71 denotes a plurality of locking claws that are formed on the peripheral wall of the case member 7 and that engage with a locking portion 112 of the housing 10 described later.

The light adjusting member 8 is made of a synthetic resin such as polycarbonate, and corresponds to the first light adjusting member 81 and the second light emitting surface 62 which are formed corresponding to the respective first light emitting surfaces 61. The second light adjusting member 82 formed by the above and the third light adjusting member 83 formed corresponding to the third light emitting surface 63 are included.

The first light adjusting member 81 is composed of a convex disk, and is provided with a disk portion 84 and a disk-shaped projecting portion 85 in which the central portion of the disk portion 84 is raised toward the display panel 5 side.
The disk portion 84 is made of a semi-transmissive base material, and has a horseshoe-shaped light control portion 86 for adjusting the light from the first light emitting surface 61 to the substrate 52 of the vehicle speed display plate P1 and the rotation speed display plate P2, and this light control portion 86. And an exposed portion 87 formed in the opening.

Here, the exposed portion 87 of the vehicle speed indicating plate P1 is
Corresponding to the hole F of the vehicle speed display plate P1, the plate is integrally formed with the light control section 86, and a black print layer is formed on the front surface of the exposed section 87. For example, a high beam display for informing a driving state. A portion (not shown) and the like are formed in the cut portion of the black print layer. In addition, a cutout hole for exposing the third light adjusting member 83 is provided in the exposed portion 87 of the rotation speed display plate P2. A black print layer is also formed on the front surface of the protruding portion 85, and, for example, a battery display unit (not shown) for notifying the operating state is formed in the black print layer removal portion.

The second light adjusting member 82 is formed in a substantially disc shape and has a function of adjusting the light from each second light emitting surface 62 to the substrate 52 of the water temperature indicator display plate P3 and the fuel gauge display plate P4. The third light adjusting member 83 is made of a semi-transparent base material, is formed in a substantially fan shape, and has a function of adjusting the light from the third light emitting surface 63 to the substrate 52 of the fuel consumption meter display plate P5. Have

The facing member 9 is made of a black synthetic resin and is made of a plate material whose outer shape is substantially the same as that of the case member 7. The pointer 4, the substrates 52 of the respective display plates P1 to P5, and the protruding portion of the light adjusting member 8 are formed. It has an opening 91 through which 85 is exposed.

The housing 10 is a covering member which is formed to have a diameter larger than that of the case member 7 and covers the front and the periphery of the dial member 9, and includes an opening hood 110 and the opening hood 110.
And a see-through panel 120 fixed to the.

The opening hood 110 is made of black synthetic resin and is formed in an annular shape. The opening hood 110 extends along the peripheral wall of the case member 7 and the front opening 111 for fixing the transparent panel 120, and the case member 7 is engaged. It has a plurality of locking portions 112 that engage with the pawl 71.

The see-through panel 120 is made of a light-transmitting synthetic resin and has an outer shape of the front opening 1 of the opening hood 110.
It is formed of a plate-shaped member that substantially matches 11, and is fixed to the front opening 111 through a fixing portion (not shown) that is appropriately formed on the outer peripheral portion thereof. Thereby, the return member 9
Of the pointer 4, the substrate 52, and the protruding portion 8 exposed from the opening 91 of the
The reference numeral 5 is housed in the housing 10 so that it can be seen through the see-through panel 120.

In such a structure, when the light source 6 does not emit light, the substrate 52 is visually recognized by external light entering the substrate 52 through the transparent panel 120. At this time, the substrate 5
Of the external light reaching the front surface of No. 2, the light entering the first colored portion 57 is reflected by the front surface of the first colored portion 57 and is visually recognized in a white color tone. In addition, the light entering the portion other than the first colored portion 57 is reflected by the surface of the substrate 52 itself and is visually recognized in a smoke gray color tone. When the first raised portion 55 is viewed obliquely from the front (oblique direction with respect to the direction orthogonal to the plate surface of the substrate 52), the first raised portion 55 is projected to the front surface side by the reflected light from the surface of the substrate 52, and the first raised portion 55 is formed. It is visually recognized as a three-dimensional structure that supports the colored portion 57.

On the other hand, the light entering the inside of the substrate 52 from the front surface of the substrate 52 is absorbed by the second colored portion 58 and has a black color different from the area (smoke gray) where the second colored portion 58 is not formed. Visible in color. At this time, the second raised portion 56 projecting to the back side and supporting the second colored portion 58 is visually recognized as a three-dimensional structure which can be vaguely confirmed through the substrate 52 when the second raised portion 56 is viewed obliquely from the front.

Here, the first colored layer 57 and the second colored layer 5
8, when the index portion D is viewed from a direction orthogonal to the plate surface of the substrate 52, the second colored layer 58 is visually recognized as a shadow of the first colored portion 57 as shown in FIG. . Further, when viewed from an oblique direction, the first colored layer 57 and the second colored layer 58 are separated by a distance equal to the height of the first and second raised portions 55 plus the thickness of the substrate 52. They are seen apart from each other.

As described above, the present embodiment is provided with the pointer 4 which rotates about the axis according to the measured amount and the display panel 5 on which the index portion D corresponding to the pointer 4 is formed. Has a light-transmissive substrate 52, the index portion D is raised to the front surface side of the substrate, and the first raised portion 55 is raised to the back surface side of the substrate 52 at a position corresponding to the first raised portion 55. The second raised portion 56, the first colored portion 57 formed on the front surface of the first raised portion 55, and the shadow of the first colored portion 57 formed on the back surface of the second raised portion 56. 2 colored part 58
With the above configuration, the first colored portion 57 and the second colored portion 58 that forms the shadow thereof can be separated from each other in the plate thickness direction of the substrate 52, whereby the three-dimensional effect of the index portion D can be obtained. It can be emphasized or clarified, and it can achieve a novel appearance.

Further, in this embodiment, the second raised portion 56 is set to be visible through the substrate 52, so that the three-dimensional effect can be further enhanced.

Further, in the present embodiment, the second coloring portion 58 is set to have a different color tone from the first coloring portion 57, so that the difference in color tone between the first and second coloring portions 57 and 58 causes a stereoscopic effect. The feeling can be further enhanced. In particular, in the present embodiment, the first colored portion 57 has a bright white color and the second colored portion 58 has a dark black color, so that the shade of the second colored portion 58 can be emphasized.

Further, in this embodiment, since the first and second colored portions 57 and 58 are made of the hot stamp layer, the colored portions 57 and 58 can be easily formed on the first and second raised portions 55 and 56. It can be provided and workability can be improved.

Although the substrate 52 is a coloring material in this embodiment, a transparent material may be used. The setting colors of the first and second coloring portions 57 and 58 are arbitrary, and when the coloring portions 57 and 58 are different colors, the combination of the colors is also arbitrary.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle meter that can achieve the initial object and can enhance the three-dimensional effect of the index portion.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle meter according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a main part of the vehicle meter according to the same embodiment.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a main part showing an enlarged part B in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 circuit board 2 rotation axes 3 drive 4 guidelines 5 Display panel 6 light source 7 Case member 8 Light adjustment member 9 Looking back member 10 housing 52 substrate 53 scale 54 numbers 55 First ridge 56 Second ridge 57 First Coloring Section 58 Second coloring part 85 Projection 91 opening 110 open hood 120 perspective panel D indicator part H opening hole P1 vehicle speed display board

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A pointer that rotates around an axis according to a measurement amount,
A display panel on which an index portion corresponding to the pointer is formed, the display panel having a light-transmissive substrate, and the index portion protruding toward the front side of the substrate; A second raised portion that is raised toward the back side of the substrate at a position corresponding to the first raised portion, a first colored portion that is formed on the front surface of the first raised portion, and the second raised portion. And a second colored portion that is formed on the back surface of the first colored portion and that shades the first colored portion. 2. The vehicle meter according to claim 1, wherein the second colored portion has a color tone different from that of the first colored portion. 3. The first or second colored portion is formed of a hot stamp layer.
The vehicle meter described.