JP2004309508A - Display device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device for vehicle capable of preventing light from being leaked to the outside of a prescribed part by elaborating a plan to the configuration of the decorating ring in the display device for vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: A ring-shaped light shielding barrier 31 which is extended toward a dial plate 2 is provided between a protrusion 21 and a light guide ring 4 in a decorating ring 3. The light shielding barrier 31 covers the whole circumference of the light guide ring 4 and the end part 31a of the dial plate 2 side of the light shielding barrier 31 is positioned closer to the dial plate 2 side rather than the upper face 21a of the protrusion 21. Thereby, it is prevented surely that light emitted from the peripheral surface 43 of the light guide ring 4 is leaked to the outside of the light guide ring 4 from the gap between the protrusion 21 and the decorating ring 3. As a result, a combination meter 1 capable of preventing light from being leaked to the outside of the prescribed part of the dial plate 2 is provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a display device for a vehicle suitable for use in an automobile or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various methods have been adopted to improve the appearance of a vehicle display device mounted on an automobile. For example, a plurality of independent instrument sections are provided on the dial, and a substantially ring-shaped projecting section that projects in the viewing direction is provided on the outer periphery of each of these instrument sections, and each adjacent projecting section is formed so as to partially overlap. Further, a light guide ring is disposed coaxially with the protrusion on the outer periphery of each instrument section and inside the substantially ring-shaped protrusion, and the light guide ring is illuminated by light from an external light source to emit light. is there.
[0003]
In this case, the substantially ring-shaped projections and the light guide ring make each instrument section on the dial, for example, a speedometer, an engine rotation, a water temperature gauge, etc. stand out, and they are organically combined. It is intended to make the appearance of the vehicle display device novel by making it appear as if it is produced (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
Further, there is a case in which the color, texture, and the like of the above-described substantially ring-shaped protrusion are different from other portions of the dial, that is, the background portion, to increase the effect of improving appearance. Further, by attaching a decorative ring formed as a separate component on a protruding portion on the substantially ring and on the outer periphery of the light guide ring, a more novel appearance is also performed.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 10-207408 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described vehicle display device in which the decorative ring is mounted on the outer periphery of the substantially ring-shaped protrusion and the light guide ring, light emitted to the outside of the light guide ring from the outer peripheral end surface of the light guide ring is used. There is a possibility of leakage from the gap between the protruding portion and the abutting portion of the decorative ring to the outer peripheral side of the decorative ring. The above-described vehicle display device obtains a novel appearance by causing the light guide ring to emit light in the dark background of the dial to enhance contrast between light and dark. If the adjacent instrument section or dial surface is illuminated, the appearance of the vehicle display device may be reduced.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in order to cope with such a problem, a vehicle capable of preventing light leakage to a predetermined part outside by devising a configuration of a decorative ring of a vehicle display device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention employs the following technical means to achieve the above object.
[0009]
A display device for a vehicle according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a dial, and a plurality of gauges formed on the dial, and a substantially ring-shaped protrusion protruding in the viewing direction is provided on an outer periphery of each gauge. A vehicle display device in which a portion is provided and each adjacent protrusion is formed so as to partially overlap with each other. In at least one instrument unit, the dial is coaxial with the protrusion on the dial inside the protrusion. A light guide ring to be arranged, a light source arranged to allow light to enter the light guide ring on the back side of the dial, and a decorative ring arranged to cover the outer periphery of the protrusion and the light guide ring are provided. The decorative ring includes a ring-shaped wall extending toward the dial between the light guide ring and the protrusion, and the dial-side end of the wall is located closer to the dial than the upper surface of the protrusion. And
[0010]
Accordingly, the light emitted from the outer peripheral end surface of the light guide ring, that is, the cylindrical surface facing the protrusion to the outside of the light guide ring is blocked by the ring-shaped wall of the decorative ring, and the upper surface of the protrusion and the decorative ring come into contact with each other. Since it is possible to prevent the decorative ring from leaking from the gap between the parts to the outer peripheral side, it is possible to realize a vehicle display device capable of preventing light leakage to the outside of the predetermined part.
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device for a vehicle, wherein the wall is formed so that the distance between the end of the wall and the scale plate increases as the distance from the light source increases.
[0012]
Generally, the decoration ring is plated on its surface for decorativeness, and therefore, the surface of the wall is also plated.
[0013]
Therefore, the light emitted from the outer peripheral end face of the light guide ring to the outside of the light guide ring can be reflected by the wall and travel inside the light guide ring again, so that the light from the light source can be displayed on the light guide ring. Can be used effectively.
[0014]
Furthermore, by making the shape of the wall as described above, a portion close to the light source, that is, a portion with a large amount of light in the light guide ring reflects much light to a portion far from the light source of the light guide ring and separates from the light source That is, as the amount of light in the light guide ring decreases, the amount of light reflected from the light guide ring toward a portion farther from the light source is reduced.
[0015]
Thereby, the light emission luminance of the light guide ring is made uniform, that is, the light emission luminance is made uniform over substantially the entire circumference of the light guide ring, and the appearance of the vehicle display device can be improved.
[0016]
The vehicle display device according to a third aspect of the present invention is configured such that the protruding portion is formed integrally with the dial. This makes it possible to easily and accurately form the protrusion on the dial.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an example in which the vehicle display device according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied to a combination meter 1 mounted on an automobile will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0018]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a combination meter 1 which is a vehicle display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a sectional view taken along line II in FIG.
[0019]
FIG. 2 is a front view of a combination meter 1 which is a vehicle display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the combination meter 1 that is the vehicle display device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.
[0021]
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the combination meter 1 that is the vehicle display device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. In FIG. 4, some components, for example, the movement 7, the light guide ring 4, and the like are omitted for easy understanding.
[0022]
The combination meter 1 is provided at a position easily visible from a driver in front of a driver's seat of the vehicle, includes a plurality of instrument units, and displays various information related to the vehicle to the driver.
[0023]
Dial 2 is formed of a thin plate of a translucent material, for example, a colorless and transparent polycarbonate. The dial 2 is provided with a speedometer A, a fuel gauge B and a water temperature gauge C as a plurality of instrument sections as shown in FIG. Each of the speedometer A, the fuel gauge B, and the water temperature gauge C is a pointer instrument that indicates a physical quantity by a rotation angle of the pointer. The dial 2 has a scale 24 and a character 25 corresponding to the speedometer A, a scale 26 and a character 27 corresponding to the fuel gauge B, and a scale 28 and a character corresponding to the water temperature gauge C. Parts 29 are provided respectively. Further, the speedometer A has a pointer 51, the fuel gauge B has a pointer 52, and the water temperature gauge C has a pointer 53. The scale portions 24, 26, 28 and the character portions 25, 27, 29 are formed by printing or hot stamping the surface of the dial 2. That is, the scale portions 24, 26, and 28 and the character portions 25, 27, and 29 are not colored and are in a transparent state, and portions other than the scale portions 24, 26, and the character portions 25, 27, and 29 are shielded from light. Coloring treatment is applied. Therefore, the scale portions 24, 26, 28 and the character portions 25, 27, 29 are transmitted and illuminated by light from the light emitting diode 9, which will be described later, so as to emit light.
[0024]
Further, on the dial 2, on the outer periphery of each of the speedometer A, the fuel gauge B and the water temperature gauge C, substantially ring-shaped projections 21, 22, which project upward in the driver's viewing direction, that is, upward in FIG. 23 are provided. The protrusions 21, 22, and 23 are formed integrally with the dial 2 by a mold when the dial 2 is molded with resin. These protruding portions 21, 22, and 23 are colored in a different color from other portions of the dial 2. That is, the protruding portions 21, 22, and 23 are colored silver, and the other portions, that is, the background portions are colored matte black. Thus, the appearance of the combination meter 1 is refreshed by emphasizing the existence of each of the instruments A, B, and C.
[0025]
The light guide ring 4 is disposed coaxially with the protrusion 21 inside the protrusion 21 of the dial 2 as shown in FIG. The light guide ring 4 is formed in a substantially C-shape from a translucent material, for example, a colorless and transparent polycarbonate resin (in FIG. 2, the opening of the C-shape is downward), and as shown in FIG. The graduations 24 are arranged so as to cover the entirety of the graduations 24 arranged in a radial and arc shape and to be along the graduations 24. At both ends of the light guide ring 4, that is, both ends of the C-shape, as shown in FIG. 3, light guide portions 41 extending to the back side of the dial 2 (downward in FIG. 1) are formed. An incidence surface 42 for introducing the light of the light emitting diode 10 as a light source into the light guide ring 4 is formed at the tip of the light guide diode 4. When the light from the light emitting diode 10 is introduced, the entire light guide ring 4 emits light and is visually recognized.
[0026]
The decorative ring 3 is arranged as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 so as to cover the protrusion 21 of the dial 2 and the outer periphery of the light guide ring 4. The decorative ring 3 is made of, for example, a polycarbonate resin, which is a resin material, and is entirely chrome-plated. As shown in FIG. 1, the decorative ring 3 is formed so that its radial cross-sectional shape is smoothly connected to the protrusion 21, in other words, as if it forms the upper half of the protrusion 21. Thereby, the appearance of the speedometer A is made more prominent than the other two, that is, the fuel gauge B and the water temperature gauge C, and the appearance of the combination meter 1 is novel. In addition, the decorative ring 3 is provided with a light-shielding wall 31 which is a ring-shaped wall extending toward the dial 2 between the protrusion 21 and the light guide ring 4. The light shielding wall 31 is formed so as to cover the entire circumference of the light guide ring 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the end 31 a of the light-shielding wall 31 on the dial 2 side is located closer to the dial 2 than the upper surface 21 a of the protrusion 21. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the light-shielding wall 31 is formed such that the distance between the end portion 31a and the dial 2 increases as the distance from the light-emitting diode 10 that is a light source for illuminating the light guide ring 4 increases. ing. In addition, even at the position where the distance between the end 31a of the light-shielding wall 31 and the dial 2 is maximum, that is, at the upper end side in FIG. 4, the end 31a is located closer to the dial 2 than the upper surface 21a of the protrusion 21. are doing.
[0027]
A light guide plate for guiding the light from the light-emitting diode 9 to the dial 2 to transmit and illuminate the scale 24 and the character 25 is provided on the back side of the dial 2, that is, on the side opposite to the driver's view side, that is, on the lower side of FIG. 8 is disposed in close contact with the dial 2.
[0028]
A printed circuit board 6 that forms an electric circuit of the combination meter 1 is disposed on the back side of the dial 2, that is, on the lower side in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a light emitting diode 9 is mounted on the printed circuit board 6 so that light can enter the light guide plate 8, and a movement 7 for rotating the hands 51 is mounted. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a light emitting diode 10 for illuminating the light guide ring 4 is mounted on the printed board 6 so that light can be incident on an incident surface 42 of the light guide ring 4.
[0029]
The pointer 51 is a so-called light-emitting pointer that is formed of a translucent material, for example, a polycarbonate resin, and emits light when light from an external light source (not shown) is introduced. As shown in FIG. 1, 51 is fixed to the tip of the shaft 7a of the movement 7, and rotates integrally with the shaft 7a. A light-shielding cap 51a is attached to the center of rotation of the pointer 51. The light-shielding cap 51a prevents light from a pointer 51 illumination light source (not shown) from leaking in the driver's viewing direction.
[0030]
Needless to say, the printed board 6 is also provided with a movement (not shown) and a light emitting diode (not shown) corresponding to the fuel gauge B and the water temperature gauge C.
[0031]
The dial 2 and the printed circuit board 6 described above are accommodated and held in a case 11 as shown in FIG.
[0032]
Next, the function and effect of the light-shielding wall 31 provided on the decorative ring 3, which is a feature of the combination meter 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, will be described.
[0033]
During operation of the vehicle, in the combination meter 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the light emitting diodes 9 and 10 are turned on. As a result, in the speedometer A, the scale 24 and the characters 25 are displayed with light emission, and at the same time, the entire light guide ring 4 emits light. For example, assuming that the light emitting color of the light emitting diode 9 is yellow-green and the light emitting color of the light emitting diode 10 is white, the scale 24 and the characters 25 are displayed in yellow green against a black background, and at the same time, the light guide ring 4, that is, The periphery of the scale 24 is illuminated in white. On the other hand, a light source (not shown), for example, a light-emitting diode or the like, is also turned on, and the light is introduced and the light is displayed on the pointer 51.
[0034]
Light from the light emitting diode 10 enters the light guide ring 4 from the incident surface 42 and travels inside the light guide ring 4 while being repeatedly reflected on the inner surface of the light guide ring 4. At this time, part of the light is emitted from the outer peripheral surface 43 of the light guide ring 4 to the outside of the light guide ring 4.
[0035]
In the conventional vehicle display device, since the decorative ring is not provided with a light-shielding wall, light emitted from the outer peripheral surface of the light guide ring leaks outward through a gap between the protrusion of the dial and the decorative ring, and thus the character is displayed. There is a problem that the appearance of the vehicle display device is deteriorated by irradiating the panel.
[0036]
On the other hand, in the combination meter 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the light shielding wall 31 is provided on the decorative ring 3, light emitted from the outer peripheral surface 43 of the light guide ring 4 to the outside of the light guide ring 4 is not emitted. Leakage from the gap between the protrusion 21 and the decorative ring 3 can be reliably prevented. Thus, it is possible to provide the combination meter 1 that can prevent light leakage to the outside of the predetermined portion of the dial 2.
[0037]
The decoration ring 3 is entirely chrome-plated. That is, the surface of the light shielding wall 31 is also chrome-plated. Therefore, the light emitted from the outer peripheral surface 43 of the light guide ring 4 to the outside of the light guide ring 4 can be reflected toward the light guide ring 4 with high efficiency by the light shielding wall 31 and re-enter the light guide ring 4. it can. Thereby, the illumination efficiency of the light guide ring 4 can be increased. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the light-shielding wall 31 is configured such that the distance d between the end 31 a and the dial 2 increases as the distance d from the light-emitting diode 10 as a light source for illuminating the light guide ring 4 increases. Is formed. Accordingly, in a portion of the light shielding wall 31 close to the light emitting diode 10, that is, in a portion where the amount of light in the light guide ring 4 is large, and thus the amount of light emitted from the outer peripheral surface 43 of the light guide ring 4 to the outside of the light guide ring 4 is large. By increasing the area of the light shielding wall 31, much of the light emitted outside the light guide ring 4 is again incident on the light guide ring 4, and more light travels to a portion of the light guide ring 4 distant from the light emitting diode 10 light, On the other hand, at a portion away from the light-emitting diode 10 and the amount of light in the light guide ring 4 decreases, that is, at a portion where the amount of light emitted from the outer peripheral surface 43 of the light guide ring 4 to the outside of the light guide ring 4 is small, the area of the light shielding wall 31 is reduced. As a result, the amount of light emitted outside the light guide ring 4 and reflected by the light shielding wall 31 to enter the light guide ring 4 again is reduced.
[0038]
Thereby, the light emission luminance of the light guide ring 4 can be made uniform, that is, the light emission luminance can be made uniform over substantially the entire circumference of the light guide ring 4, so that the appearance of the combination meter 1 can be improved. it can.
[0039]
In the combination meter 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the luminous color of the light emitting diode 9 as the light source for the graduation 24 and the character 25 light emitting display is yellow-green, and the light emitting diode as the light source for illuminating the light guide ring 4. The ten emission colors are white, but the emission colors of both need not be limited in this way, and other colors may be used for each.
[0040]
Further, in the combination meter 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the scale 24 and the characters 25 of the scale plate 2 are transparent, but a transparent coloring layer is applied by printing or the like, and the light emission of the light emitting diode 9 is performed. The color light emission display may be performed with white color.
[0041]
Further, in the combination meter 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the light source for illuminating each part is not limited to the light emitting diode, and may be replaced with another type of light source, for example, a light bulb or a discharge lamp, or may be used in combination.
[0042]
In addition, in the combination meter 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the decorative ring 3 is chrome-plated. If a suitable surface can be obtained, other methods such as painting, vapor deposition, thin film sticking, and the like may be used.
[0043]
Further, the type and number of the meter units provided on the dial 2 of the combination meter 1 need not be limited to the above-described embodiment, and the number may be increased or decreased by changing the type as needed. Further, the type and the number of the instrument units including the decorative ring 3 and the light guide ring 4 need not be limited to the above-described embodiment, and the type may be changed and the number may be increased or decreased as necessary.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a combination meter 1 which is a vehicle display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a front view of a combination meter 1 as a vehicle display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a combination meter 1 which is a vehicle display device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a combination meter 1 as a vehicle display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Combination meter (vehicle display device)
2 Dial 21 Projection 21a Upper surface 22 Projection 23 Projection 24, 26, 28 Scales 25, 27, 29 Numeral 3 Decorative ring 31 Light-shielding wall (wall)
31a End part 4 Light guide ring 41 Light guide part 42 Incident surface 43 Outer peripheral surfaces 51, 52, 53 Hands 6 Printed circuit board 7 Movement 8 Light guide plate 9 Light emitting diode (light source)
10 light emitting diode 11 case A speedometer (instrument section)
B Fuel gauge (instrument section)
C water temperature gauge (instrument section)
d distance

Claims (3)

Dial and
A plurality of instrument sections formed on the dial,
A substantially ring-shaped projection projecting in the viewing direction is provided on the outer periphery of each of the instrument sections, and the adjacent projections are formed so as to partially overlap with each other.
In at least one instrument section,
A light guide ring disposed coaxially with the protrusion on the dial inside the protrusion;
A light source arranged on the back side of the dial so that light can be incident on the light guide ring,
A decorative ring disposed so as to cover the outer periphery of the projection and the light guide ring,
The decorative ring includes a ring-shaped wall extending toward the dial between the light guide ring and the protrusion,
The display device for a vehicle, wherein the dial-side end of the wall is located closer to the dial than the upper surface of the protrusion. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the wall is formed so that a distance between an end portion of the wall and the scale plate increases as the distance from the light source increases. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed integrally with the dial.

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