JP2003254791A - Lighting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting apparatus which can curb radical change in color tone, and significant change in brightness for every color tone. <P>SOLUTION: The lighting apparatus has a pointer 4 which is connected to a driving axis 21 of a driving device 2 and acts corresponding to a measured value, a dial panel (display) 5 having a translucent display layer (display part) 51 associated with the pointer 4, the first light source 6 irradiating white light, and the second light source 7 irradiating a plurality of luminescent colors (RGB). Since this lighting apparatus has the light sources illuminating the dial panel 5, and a control part 8 which randomly switches the luminescent colors of the second light source 7 while maintaining the state where the first light source 6 is turned on, and the dial panel 5, which is an object to be illuminated, is illuminated using a plurality of colors mixed with the white light of the first light source 6 and randomly selected luminescent colors of the second light source 7. <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 an illuminating device for illuminating a display body by turning on a light source, for example, an illuminating device for illuminating instruments mounted on automobiles, motorcycles, ships, agricultural and construction machines, and aircraft.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a dashboard of an automobile is equipped with a measuring instrument to display various kinds of measured values such as vehicle speed, engine speed, cooling water temperature, fuel and the like. If it is a pointer-type instrument, it has a pointer that is connected to the drive shaft of the drive unit and operates according to the measured amount, and a dial plate that has a display section for characters and scales arranged according to the operation of the pointer. (Display body), and the measured value is displayed when the pointer points to the display unit.

Such an instrument is usually provided with an illuminating device including a light source, and the pointer and the scale plate are caused to emit light of a predetermined color by the emission of the light source. JP 2001-208573 A and JP 2
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 000-39339, there is also known one devised so that the illumination color can be changed depending on the situation where the vehicle is placed or the user's selection operation.

The illumination devices disclosed in these publications are capable of emitting full-color light from an illumination target such as a pointer, a scale plate, and a decorative ring. R (red), G (green), B
A light source made of a light emitting diode capable of emitting three primary colors of (blue) is used.

[0005]

However, since the illumination devices described in these publications switch the illumination color of the illumination target by using the light emitting diode (bare chip) that emits chromatic colors, the color tone of the illumination target is Extreme change,
In addition, since the brightness tends to be uneven depending on the color tone, there is an inconvenience that the user is likely to feel tired or hard to see. Therefore, the present invention provides an illuminating device capable of suppressing an extreme change in color tone and a large change in luminance for each color tone.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention achieves a light-transmitting display, a first light source that emits a white emission color, and a second light emission that emits a plurality of emission colors. A light source configured to illuminate the display body, and
And a control unit for switching the second light source to an arbitrary emission color while maintaining the lighting state of the light source.

Further, according to the present invention, a pointer which is connected to a drive shaft of a driving device and operates according to a measurement amount, and a display portion corresponding to the pointer are formed, and at least a part of the scale plate has a light transmitting property. A light source configured to illuminate the display body, which includes a display body, a first light source that emits a white emission color, and a second light source that emits a plurality of emission colors; and a lighting state of the first light source. And a control unit for switching the second light source to an arbitrary emission color while maintaining the same.

According to the present invention, the second light source is the first light source.
The first light source is disposed closer to the drive shaft side than the light source, and radially reflects the light from the second light source at a position facing the light emitting portion of the second light source in the axial direction of the drive shaft. And a second reflector that reflects the light of the first and second light sources to the display body side is arranged outside the first light source.

Further, according to the present invention, a third reflection for reflecting the light from the first light source to the second reflector side at a position facing the light emitting portion of the first light source in the axial direction of the drive shaft. It is characterized in that the body is placed.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the third reflector comprises a light guide provided with a reflector for radially reflecting the light from the first light source.

The present invention is also characterized in that the control section has an output means for outputting a switching signal for changing the illumination color of the display body.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the output means outputs the switching signal by a manual operation.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, taking as an example the case where a lighting device according to the present invention is applied to an automobile instrument.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an instrument according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

1 and 2, the instrument according to the present embodiment includes a circuit board 1, a driving device 2, a frame 3, a pointer 4, a scale plate (display body) 5, a first light source 6, and a second light source. 7 and a control unit 8.

The circuit board 1 is made of a hard circuit board of paper phenol type or glass epoxy type, and a plurality of wiring patterns (not shown) made of a predetermined copper foil material are formed on the front side thereof. The drive unit 2, the light sources 6 and 7, and the control unit 8 are electrically connected to each other. Also, through this circuit board 1, the control unit 8 and the key switch K
The S, the battery BT, and the switch SW (output means) are electrically connected.

The drive device 2 is mounted on the back side of the circuit board 1, and a drive shaft 21 and a terminal (not shown) which rotate according to a measured amount of engine speed, for example, penetrate through the circuit board 1 to the front. And the terminals are soldered to the wiring pattern.

The frame 3 is made of white synthetic resin, is located on the circuit board 1 between the circuit board 1 and the scale plate 5, and surrounds the drive shaft 21 and the light source 6 and is a pointer. The cylindrical portion 30 extending toward the fourth side and first to third reflecting portions (reflectors) 31 to 33 are provided.

The first reflecting portion 31 faces a light emitting portion of the second light source 7, which will be described later, in the axial direction of the drive shaft 21,
The light from the light source 7 is radially reflected. The first reflecting portion 31 is continuously formed from the outer wall surface of the tubular portion 30, is formed in a substantially conical surface having a large outer diameter on the scale plate 5 side and a small outer diameter on the circuit board 1 side, and its central axis. Substantially corresponds to the drive shaft 21.

The second reflecting portion 32 opposes an area including at least a display area, which will be described later, of the scale plate 4 with an air layer in between, and allows the light from the first and second light sources 6 and 7 to pass therethrough. Reflect to the side. The second reflecting portion 32 is formed in a parabona antenna shape, and its central axis corresponds to the drive shaft 21.

The third reflecting portion 33 opposes a light emitting portion of the first light source 6 which will be described later in the axial direction of the drive shaft 21.
The light from the light source 6 is radially reflected to the second reflecting portion 32 side. The second reflecting portion 32 is also formed in the same conical surface as the first reflecting portion 31.

The pointer 4 is formed of a transparent synthetic resin in a linear shape, and a cover 41 having a light-shielding property is attached to the center of rotation thereof, and the drive shaft 21 can indicate a display portion of the scale plate 5 described later. Is composed of.

The scale plate 5 is a plate material or a sheet material supported by the frame body 3, and includes a substrate (not shown) made of a transparent synthetic resin, and a translucent display layer 51 (FIG. 1) and a light-shielding background layer 52 formed by printing on the substrate so as to expose the translucent display layer 51.
(See FIG. 1).

At this time, the translucent display layer 51 forms a display portion of scales, characters, figures, etc. arranged in an arc shape corresponding to the movement of the pointer 4 in the exposed region from the light-shielding display layer 52. Further, in this example, the exposed area forms a transmissive area on the scale plate 5 for allowing the light from the light sources 6 and 7 to pass through to the viewer side.

In the present example, the first light source 6 is composed of a light emitting diode which emits a white emission color from the light emitting section 6a by covering a single bare chip which emits blue light (not shown) with a yellow fluorescent filter and is driven. A plurality of concentric circles centering on the axis 21 are arranged, and the light emitting portions 6 are provided on the third reflecting portion 33.
a is facing.

The second light source 7 is, in this example, a light emitting diode in which three bare chips emitting RGB primary color lights (chromatic light) are covered with transparent resin and packaged. Can emit red, green, and blue independently, and can also emit full-color light by mixing these colors. As with the first light source, a plurality of the second light sources are arranged on a concentric circle centered on the drive shaft 21, and the light emitting portion 7a faces the first reflecting portion 31.

The control unit 8 is composed of a microcomputer including a CPU (central processing unit), a memory, and a light source drive circuit (not shown), and a key switch KS on the input side thereof.
The switches SW are respectively connected, and the light source 6 is provided on the output side.
7 is connected, the control unit 8 performs a predetermined program process based on the input signals from the key switch KS and the switch SW, and the light sources 6 and 7 through the light source drive circuit.
Control the lighting state of. The control unit 8 not only controls the light sources 6 and 7, but also controls the operation of the drive device 2 in response to the detection signal input from a sensor (not shown).

The key switch KS is also called an ignition switch, and functions as a power switch or an operation switch for various in-vehicle electrical components including an ignition coil. The key switch KS has a plurality of contacts, and activates various electric components according to the operation to each contact position. In this example, when the user operates the key switch KS to a predetermined contact position, a signal is input to the control unit 8, power supply from the battery BT to the instrument is started (turned on), and the program by the control unit 8 is started. Processing shall be performed.

The switch SW is, for example, a push switch that can be manually operated by the user, and an operation signal (switching signal or output signal) of this push switch is supplied to the control unit 8.
In response to this operation signal, the control unit 8 switches the second light source 7 in the lighting state, that is, the light emission color of the second light source 7 in accordance with the scale plate illumination color requested by the user. ing.

The light source 6, which is executed by the control unit 8 below,
An example of the lighting processing program of No. 7 will be described. The instrument of this example is a constant illumination type in which when the key switch KS is switched to the ON state, the scale plate 5 emits light day and night.

First, when the key switch KS is switched to the ON state, an operation signal is input to the control section 8, and when this operation signal is received, the control section 8 turns on only the first light source 6. When the first light source 6 is turned on, the white light is
Radiation is diffused and reflected through the third reflecting portion 33, and further diffused and reflected toward the scale plate 5 side through the second reflecting portion 32, so that the display portion (translucent display layer 51) is transmitted and illuminated. At this time, since the color of the translucent display layer 51 itself is set to milky white, the light passing through this portion has substantially the same white color as the emission color of the first light source, and thus is visually recognized by the user. The illumination color of the display is white.

Next, the control unit 8 determines whether or not an operation signal of the switch SW is input, and if there is no operation signal input, only the first light source 6 is maintained in the lighting state. The illumination color of the display does not change. When the switch SW is operated by the user and an operation signal is input, the control unit 8 maintains the lighting state of the first light source 6 and controls the second light source 7 to be one of red, green, and blue. The light is emitted in the emission color (of course, the emission color may be any emission color in which at least two of red, green, and blue are mixed). The color of light emitted by the first operation signal input is arbitrary, but in the present example, the second light source 7 first emits light in red (first light emission color) (in this case, the control unit). 8 controls the emission color through the light source drive circuit so that only the red bare chip emits light). When the second light source 7 emits red light in this way, the light is radially diffused and reflected by the first reflecting portion 31, and further diffusely reflected by the second reflecting portion 32 to be displayed on the display portion of the scale plate 5. First light source 6
Are also turned on at the same time, so that they are mixed with the white light of the first light source 6 in the illumination path to the display unit, and thus the white light of the first light source 6 and the red light of the second light source 7 are mixed. Since the light is mixed, the light reaching the display section becomes reddish white in this example. Therefore, the light passing through the display section also becomes reddish white, and this color is visually recognized by the user as the illumination color of the display section.

When the user subsequently operates the switch SW, the operation signal is input to the control section 8, and in response to this signal input, the control section 8 maintains the lighting state of the first light source 6, The emission color of the second light source 7 is changed from red to green (second emission color) (in this case, the control unit 8 stops the emission of the red bare chip that has been emitting until then, and only the green bare chip is emitted). The light emission color is switched and controlled through the light source drive circuit so that light is emitted). When the second light source 7 emits green light as described above, the light reaches the display unit through each of the reflection units 31 and 32 as in the case of red light, but since it is mixed with the white light of the first light source 6, it is displayed on the display unit. The light that reaches
In the case of this example, the color is white with a green color. Therefore, the light passing through the display unit also becomes white with a greenish color, and this color is visually recognized by the user as the illumination color of the display unit.

When the user further operates the switch SW, the operation signal is input to the control unit 8, and in response to this signal input, the control unit 8 maintains the lighting state of the first light source 6 while The emission color of the second light source 7 is changed from green to blue (third emission color) (in this case, the control unit 8 stops the emission of the green bare chip that has been emitting until then,
The light emission color is switched and controlled through the light source drive circuit so that only the blue bare chip emits light). Thus, when the second light source 7 emits blue light, as in the case of red and green,
The light reaching the display through each of the reflectors 31 and 32 is mixed with the white light of the first light source 6, so that the light reaching the display is bluish white in this example. Therefore, the light passing through the display unit also becomes bluish white, and this color is visually recognized by the user as the illumination color of the display unit.

After that, when the user further operates the switch SW, the operation signal is input to the control unit 8, and in this case, the control unit 8 stops the lighting of the second light source 7, and thereby the second light source 7 is turned on. The light source 7 is turned off. Therefore, the illumination color of the display unit is white when the key switch SW is turned on. After that, when the user further operates the switch SW, the emission colors can be switched in the order of red, green, and blue described above.

Therefore, in this example, the illumination color of the display section is white → reddish white → greenish white → bluish white (→ white) according to the operation of the key switch KS and the switch SW. Switch in order.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the driving device 2
Pointer 4 that is connected to the drive shaft 21 of the
And a translucent display layer (display section) 51 corresponding to the pointer 4.
A scale plate (display body) 5 in which is formed, a first light source 6 that emits a white emission color, and a second light source 7 that emits a plurality of emission colors (RGB). By having the light source for illuminating and the control unit 8 for switching the second light source 7 to an arbitrary emission color while maintaining the lighting state of the first light source 6, the scale plate 5 to be illuminated is the first light source. Since the white light 6 and the arbitrary color light of the second light source 7 are switched and illuminated by a plurality of mixed colors, it is possible to suppress an extreme change in color tone and a large change in luminance for each color tone. .

That is, in this embodiment, the first light source 6
Since the light source color is obtained by mixing the chromatic color light selectively emitted by the second light source 7 with the white light emitted by the second color light source, it is possible to perform the color tone switching in an auxiliary manner, thereby ensuring the illumination brightness. The appearance can be stabilized. In addition, since the main color tone is white, it is possible to realize a color tone that is soft and easy for the user to see. Further, due to the above advantages, there is an advantage that the circuit configuration for controlling the color tone and the brightness of the light source is simplified and the load on the circuit side is reduced.

In this embodiment, light emitting diodes are used for both the first and second light sources 6 and 7, but any light source can be used. Further, in the present embodiment, as the second light source 7, the light emitting diode formed by packaging the three bare chips emitting the RGB three primary color lights (chromatic light) is used. However, the second light source 7 has a single bare chip and emits different colors. A plurality of light emitting diodes may be arranged, and the second light source 7 may be of any type and number as long as it emits light of at least two colors. Similarly, if the first light source also emits white light, its form and number are arbitrary.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the illumination color can be switched in accordance with the manual operation of the switch SW, the user can switch the illumination color and the convenience can be improved. The switching of the illumination color can be automatically switched according to the situation of the automobile, for example.

In the present embodiment, the second light source 7 is the first
Is disposed closer to the drive shaft 21 side than the light source 6 and radially reflects the light from the second light source 7 to a position facing the light emitting portion 7a of the second light source 7 in the axial direction of the drive shaft 21. The first reflection part (first reflector) 31 is arranged, and
Second reflector portion (second reflector) 3 that reflects the light of the first and second light sources 6 and 7 to the scale plate 5 side outside the light source 6 of FIG.
By arranging 2 of the second light sources, it is possible to illuminate a wide range with a small number of the second light sources 6, and it is possible to improve the illumination efficiency.

In the present embodiment, the first light source 6 reflects the light from the first light source 6 toward the second reflecting portion 32 at a position facing the light emitting portion 6a of the first light source 6 in the axial direction of the drive shaft 21. By disposing the three reflecting portions (third reflectors) 33, it is possible to illuminate a wide range with a small number of the first light sources 6, and it is possible to improve the illumination efficiency.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a light guide 9 is arranged at a position facing the light emitting portion 6a of the first light source 6. This light guide 9 is arranged instead of the third reflecting portion 33 in the first embodiment.

That is, the light guide 9 is opposed to the light emitting portion 6a of the first light source 6 and receives the light of the first light source 6 inside, and emits the light introduced from the light receiving portion 9a. Conical surface-shaped third reflecting portion (third reflector) that reflects in the direction
9b and an irradiation surface 9c that emits the light reflected by the reflecting portion 9b to the second reflecting portion 32 side. The light guide 9 includes not only the light from the first light source 6 but also the light emitting surface 9c. The light of the second light source 7 is also introduced.

According to this embodiment as well, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the light guide 9
By adopting, it is possible to efficiently guide the light from the light sources 6 and 7 and improve the illumination efficiency.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention. In this example, first and second light sources 6, 7 are provided in front of the light guide 9 and the first reflecting portion 31. The diffuser plate 10 that disperses and transmits the light (or may be opaque as long as it can diffuse) is arranged. Further, the scale plate 5 of this example is a so-called surface-emitting type, and the display portion of scales, characters, etc. has a light shielding property, and the background of the display portion has a light transmitting property.

According to this embodiment, the first and second
It is possible to obtain the same effect as in the above embodiment, and it is possible to suppress uneven brightness and uneven color when the scale plate 5 is caused to emit light by the diffusion plate 10.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the case where the illuminating device according to the present invention is applied to an instrument of a vehicle is shown, but the application target is arbitrary, and for example, the illuminating device according to the present invention is applied to the illumination of the pointer 4. Alternatively, it may be applied to a backlight of a liquid crystal display device.

[0049]

As described in detail above, the present invention provides an illuminating device capable of sufficiently achieving the initial purpose and suppressing an extreme change in color tone and a large change in brightness for each color tone. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an instrument according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an instrument according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an instrument according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 circuit board 2 drive 3 frame 4 guidelines 5 Scale plate (display) 6 First light source 6a light emitting part 7 Second light source 7a Light emitting part 8 control unit 9 Light guide 9a Light receiving part 9b, 33 Third reflector (third reflector) 9c irradiation part 10 Diffuser 21 Drive axis 30 tubular part 31 First Reflector (First Reflector) 32 Second Reflector (Second Reflector) KS key switch SW switch BT battery

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A light-transmitting display body, a first light source which emits light of a white color, and a second light source which emits light of a plurality of colors.
A light source configured to illuminate the display body, and a control unit that switches the second light source to an arbitrary emission color while maintaining the lighting state of the first light source. Lighting equipment. 2. A pointer which is connected to a drive shaft of a drive unit and operates according to a measured amount, and a display body which is provided with a display portion corresponding to the pointer and at least a part of which is composed of a translucent scale plate. A light source configured to include a first light source that emits a white emission color and a second light source that emits a plurality of emission colors; and a light source that illuminates the display body, while maintaining a lighting state of the first light source. An illumination device, comprising: a control unit that switches the second light source to an arbitrary emission color. 3. The second light source is arranged at a position closer to the drive shaft side than the first light source, and the second light source is located at a position facing a light emitting portion of the second light source in an axial direction of the drive shaft. A first reflector for radially reflecting the light from the second light source is arranged, and a second reflector for reflecting the light from the first and second light sources to the outside of the first light source to the display body side. The lighting device according to claim 2, wherein a reflector is arranged. 4. A third reflector that reflects the light from the first light source to the second reflector side is arranged at a position facing the light emitting portion of the first light source in the axial direction of the drive shaft. The lighting device according to claim 3, wherein the lighting device is provided. 5. The illumination device according to claim 4, wherein the third reflector is a light guide body having a reflecting portion that radially reflects the light from the first light source. 6. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit has an output unit that outputs a switching signal for changing the illumination color of the display body. . 7. The lighting device according to claim 6, wherein the output means outputs the switching signal by a manual operation.