JP2004177372A - Pointer type measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pointer type measuring instrument in which texture is improved, while maintaining brightness of illumination. <P>SOLUTION: The instrument comprises a pointer 3, a display plate 5 which comprises an index part 4 corresponding to the pointer 3 and a first base part 5A which is a background of the index part 4, and an illumination means L for lighting the display plate 5 from behind, and the first base part 5A of the display plate 5 is constituted so as to be translucent. The illumination means L comprises a light source 9, a reflecting layer 525 facing the light source 9, a reflecting wall 72 that extends in a direction of separation from the light source 9 and the reflecting layer 525 along the display plate 5, and an air layer S, communicating with both between the light source 9 and the reflecting layer 525 and between the reflecting wall 72 and the display plate 5. The first base part 5A is surface lit in illumination light composed of a direct light from the light source 9 and an indirect light, and the amount of illumination light reaching the first base part 5A gradually decreases as one goes, away from the light source 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pointer-type instrument which is mounted on, for example, an automobile, a motorcycle, an agricultural machine, a construction machine, and a ship, and displays a predetermined measurement value with a pointer that rotates on a display panel such as an instrument panel. It is about.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an illumination device for illuminating a display panel of a pointer-type device of this type, for example, a device described in Patent Document 1 below is known. The lighting device described in the publication includes a display plate having an indicator portion corresponding to a pointer and a ground portion serving as a background of the indicator portion, and a light source that illuminates the display plate from behind. A gradation printing layer that changes the amount of transmitted light according to the plane direction is provided, and by turning on the light source, the brightness of the ground part is gradually changed according to the plane direction, giving the lighting design of the display panel a sense of depth and three-dimensional feeling It was made.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-096546
As the gradation printing layer, an existing halftone printing technique can be used. For example, a gradation printing layer that changes the amount of transmitted light in a plane direction can be provided by printing an ink with a high light blocking ratio in a halftone dot shape. .
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when controlling the amount of transmitted light in the ground portion with a dot-shaped print gradation printing layer, it is necessary to use an ink having a high light blocking ratio (for example, black ink) for the purpose of securing the blocking of transmitted light. The print pattern of the gradation print layer may be seen due to light transmission, which may degrade the texture. Further, in order to prevent the print pattern from being seen, it is conceivable to cover the gradation print layer with another print layer, but there is a problem that the addition of the print layer lowers the illumination luminance.
[0006]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a pointer-type instrument capable of improving the texture while maintaining the illumination luminance in order to address the above-described problem.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a pointer, a display plate including an indicator corresponding to the pointer and a light-transmitting ground portion, and an illuminating unit that illuminates the display plate from behind, The illuminating means includes a light source, a first reflector facing the light source in the rotation axis direction of the pointer, and a second reflector extending in a direction away from the light source and the first reflector along the display plate. And illuminating the ground portion with direct light from the light source and indirect light emitted from the light source and illuminating the ground portion through the first and second reflectors. The illumination device is configured to illuminate, and is configured such that the amount of the illumination light reaching the ground portion gradually decreases as the distance from the light source increases.
[0008]
Further, the invention is characterized in that the ground portion has a substantially constant light transmittance in a plane direction thereof.
[0009]
Further, in the invention, it is preferable that the first reflector includes a printing layer provided on the display panel.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment using a pointer-type instrument of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a pointer-type instrument, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main area B surrounded by a circle, FIG. 4 is a view showing a change amount of a light amount reaching a rear surface side of a display panel range C corresponding to a first ground portion in FIG. 3, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the amount of change in the amount of light after passing through the middle and display panel ranges C;
[0011]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pointer-type meter according to the present embodiment is fixed to the distal end side of the rotating shaft 2 of the meter main body 1 and rotates around the rotating shaft 2 in accordance with the measured amount. A display plate 5 provided with an index portion 4 located on the back side of the pointer 3; a hard circuit board 6 made of glass epoxy resin located on the back side of the display plate 5; 5, a frame 7 made of, for example, a white synthetic resin, and light sources 8 and 9 provided on the circuit board 6 and illuminating the hands 3 and the display panel 5, respectively. The instrument main body 1 is disposed behind the circuit board 6, and the rotating shaft 2 passes through the circuit board 6.
[0012]
The display plate 5 includes a flat substrate 51 made of a substantially colorless and translucent synthetic resin such as polycarbonate or acrylic, and a plurality of printed layers formed on the substrate 51 by screen printing or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of index portions 4 having light transmissivity including a scale portion 4 a and a number portion 4 b corresponding to the hands 3, and a “C” shape including these index portions 4 It has a light-transmissive first ground portion (ground portion) 5A that spreads like a background and serves as a background, and a light-shielding second ground portion 5B that spreads around the first ground portion 5A.
[0013]
As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the printing layer 52 includes, for example, a white first coloring layer 521 having a light transmitting property, a blue first coloring layer 522 having a light transmitting property, and a black first coloring layer 522 having a light shielding property. A light-shielding layer 523, a colorless and transparent protective layer 524, and a white reflective layer (first reflector) 525 are formed. The first colored layer 521 to the protective layer 524 are formed on the surface side of the substrate 51. 525 is formed on the back (back) side of the substrate 51 as shown in FIG.
[0014]
In the case of this example, the light-shielding layer 523 is printed and formed so as to cover the entire substrate 51 except for the portions serving as the indicator portions 4a and 4b and the first ground portion 5A. The scale portion 4a and the numeral portion 4b made of the first colored layer 521 and the first ground color 5A made of the blue first colored layer 522 are formed. And a border portion 4A surrounding the numeral portion 4b.
[0015]
The reflection layer 525 is formed in a required area facing the light source 9 in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 2 (axial direction of the pointer 3) with respect to the light source 9, and reflects light from the light source 9 in a radial manner. I have. The opposite side of the reflective layer 525 with the substrate 51 interposed therebetween is covered with a light-shielding layer 523 so that light transmitted from the reflective layer 525 can be blocked.
[0016]
The frame body 7 includes a partition wall 71 that divides an illumination area for illuminating the hands 3, an illumination area for illuminating the display panel 5, and a direction away from the light source 9 and the reflection layer 525 along the display panel 5. A reflective wall (second reflector) 72 that extends.
[0017]
The partition wall 71 is formed in a cylindrical shape surrounding the rotating shaft 2 and houses therein a plurality of light sources 8 for illuminating the hands 3. These light sources 8 are composed of, for example, light-emitting diodes that emit red light. It is mounted on a substrate 6.
[0018]
The reflecting wall 72 forms an inclined surface or a curved surface that approaches the display panel 5 as the distance from the light source 9 increases, and the entire structure thereof is formed in a parabolic antenna shape that spreads radially around the rotation axis 2. Light is reflected to the side opposite to the display panel 5. The light sources 9 are, for example, light-emitting diodes that emit white light, and are provided on the circuit board 6 so as to surround the outside of the partition wall 71 in a circular shape. It is arranged in a position where at least a part of the portion 5A can be directly irradiated with light.
[0019]
Further, an air layer S communicating with both is formed between the reflection wall 72 and the display panel 5 and between the light source 9 and the reflection layer 525. In the case of this example, the air layer S and the reflection layer 525 and the reflecting wall 72 constitute an illuminating means L for illuminating the display panel 5.
[0020]
When the light sources 8 and 9 are turned on in the pointer-type instrument of the present embodiment configured as described above, the light of the light source 8 is guided to the hands 3 and causes the hands 3 to emit light linearly. On the other hand, when the light source 9 is turned on, the light from the light source 9 directly illuminates the first ground portion 5A and the index portion 4 as direct light illuminating the first ground portion 5A and the index portion 4 through the air space S, and is reflected. The first ground portion 5A and the indicator portion 4 are indirectly illuminated as indirect light reflected by the layer 525 and the reflecting wall 72 and traveling in the air space S, whereby the first ground portion 5A is illuminated in blue. At the same time, the indicator 4 is illuminated with white, which is the color of the white first colored layer 521.
[0021]
Here, paying attention to the total light amount in the surface direction of the illumination light, which is the direct light and the indirect light emitted from the light source 9 and illuminates the first ground portion 5A, the display plate area C corresponding to the first ground portion 5A As shown in FIG. 4, the amount of illumination light reaching the light source 9 is large on the side close to the light source 9 and gradually decreases as the distance from the light source 9 increases. As shown in FIG. 5, the light amount distribution after passing through the first ground portion 5A) also gradually decreases as the distance from the light source 9 increases, whereby the brightness of the first ground portion 5A gradually decreases in the plane direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the first ground portion 5A of the display panel 5 is illuminated with gradation as shown in FIG. 1 to give the lighting design a sense of depth and a sense of depth. In FIG. 5, a partial decrease in the amount of light after passing through the display panel range C (the first ground portion 5A) is due to the light shielding layer 523 forming the border 4c. Further, in this example, when the first ground portion 5A is illuminated with gradation, the first ground portion 5A gradually changes from a light blue color to a dull (dark) blue color from a side closer to the light source 9 to a side farther from the light source 9. It is visually recognized with a change.
[0022]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the display including the pointer 3 that rotates according to the measurement amount, the index unit 4 corresponding to the pointer 3, and the first ground portion 5A that is the background of the index unit 4 is provided. A lighting device L disposed behind the display plate 5 and illuminating the display plate 5 from behind; a first ground portion 5A of the display plate 5 is configured to have light transmissivity; The means includes a light source 9, a reflective layer 525 facing the light source 9 in the rotation axis direction of the pointer 3, a reflective wall 72 extending in a direction away from the light source 9 and the reflective layer 525 along the display panel 5, a light source 9 and a reflective layer 525 and an air layer S communicating with both the reflection wall 72 and the display panel 5. The direct light from the light source 9 illuminating the first ground portion 5A through the air layer S; Illuminates the first ground portion 5A through the reflective layer 525, the reflective wall 72, and the air layer S. The first ground portion 5A is configured to be surface-illuminated with illumination light that is indirect light, and the amount of illumination light that reaches the first ground portion 5A gradually decreases as the distance from the light source 9 increases. Accordingly, the distribution of the amount of illumination light supplied by the illumination means L itself can have a change in the plane direction, whereby the halftone dot gradation print layer for controlling the amount of light transmitted to the display panel 5 can be provided. Since there is no need to perform dedicated printing, it is possible to suppress a decrease in texture due to transmission of a print pattern and a decrease in luminance due to the addition of a print layer, and it is possible to improve the texture while maintaining illumination luminance.
[0023]
Further, according to the present embodiment, in the region corresponding to the first ground portion 5A in the display panel 5 (excluding the rim portion 4c and the numeral portion 5b), the light transmittance in the plane direction is substantially constant. Although no special transmitted light adjustment layer is provided, a configuration in which the light amount distribution of the illumination light supplied by the illumination unit L itself has a change in the planar direction is adopted, and a transmitted light adjustment layer is provided as necessary. Is also good. It is advantageous to avoid such a transmission light adjusting layer as much as possible, considering cost reduction.
[0024]
Further, according to the present embodiment, by providing the reflective layer (printing layer) 525 corresponding to the first reflector on the display panel 5, the first reflector can be provided by printing, and the number of parts can be reduced. This is advantageous for cost reduction and the like.
[0025]
Note that, instead of the first reflector composed of the reflective layer (print layer) 525, for example, as a second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. Alternatively, in this case, the second reflecting wall 73 may be inclined at a predetermined angle, for example, as shown in FIG. 7 as a third embodiment of the present invention.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pointer-type instrument capable of achieving the initial purpose and improving the texture while maintaining the illumination luminance.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing 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 a main part region B surrounded by a chain line in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a change amount of a light amount reaching a rear surface side of a display panel range C in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a change amount of light amount after transmission through a display panel range C in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is an essential part cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an essential part cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Instrument main body 2 Rotating axis 3 Hand 4 Indicator part 4a Scale part 4b Numerical part 4c Edge part 5 Display board 5A First ground part 5B Second ground part 6 Circuit board 7 Frame 8, 9 Light source 51 Substrate 52 Print layer 71 Partition wall 72 Reflective wall (second reflector)
73 Second Reflection Wall (First Reflector)
521 First colored layer 522 First colored layer 523 Light shielding layer 524 Protective layer 525 Reflective layer (first reflector)

Claims (3)

Guidelines,
A display board including an indicator corresponding to the pointer and a light-transmitting ground,
Illumination means for illuminating the display plate from behind,
The illumination means includes a light source, a first reflector facing the light source in the rotation axis direction of the pointer, and a second reflection extending along the display plate in a direction away from the light source and the first reflector. Having a body, and illuminating the ground with the direct light from the light source illuminating the ground and the indirect light emitted from the light source and illuminating the ground through the first and second reflectors. A pointer-type instrument configured to perform surface illumination and configured such that an amount of the illumination light reaching the ground portion gradually decreases as the distance from the light source increases. The pointer-type instrument according to claim 1, wherein the ground portion has a substantially constant light transmittance in a plane direction thereof. The pointer-type instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first reflector comprises a printed layer provided on the display panel.

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