JP2005156519A - Pointer type instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pointer type instrument capable of securing widely the surface side space of a circuit board, even in a case that a pointer is operated via a movable body, in relation to the pointer type meter, for example, carried in the vehicles where a car and a motorcycle are made representative. <P>SOLUTION: The pointer type instrument is provided with a pointer 6, an indicating plate 2 having an indicating part 6a corresponding to the pointer 6, a movable body 76 with which the pointer 6 is connected, a pointer driving device 73 which rotates or moves the pointer 6 via the movable body 76, and a circuit board 5 which carries out an electric power supply to the pointer driving device 73. Both of the movable body 76 and the pointer driving device 73, including wholly a pointer driving unit 7 especially in this embodiment, are mounted on a second substrate surface 53 of the circuit board 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a pointer-type instrument mounted on a vehicle represented by, for example, an automobile or a motorcycle, and more particularly to a pointer-type instrument that rotates or moves a pointer located on an indicator plate via a moving body.

As this type of pointer-type meter, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 below is known. This pointer-type instrument is configured such that a pointer is connected to a cylindrical rotating body (moving body), and the pointer indicates an indicator on the indicator plate by rotating the rotating body. Since there is no power source (pointer drive device) such as a drive shaft or electric motor, there is a merit that other display elements such as a liquid crystal display device can be arranged in the center portion of the pointer type display portion, that is, the center portion of the rotating body. ing.
JP-A-4-223222

  However, the pointer-type instrument described in Patent Document 1 has a board surface that faces both the rotating body and the power source that rotates the rotating body toward the indicator board side of the circuit board (hereinafter, this surface is referred to as a circuit board for convenience. The surface side area of the circuit board is occupied by peripheral parts that support the rotating body, including the rotating body and power source, thereby limiting the component mounting area or component mounting area. In addition, it is difficult to place illumination system parts (specifically, optical parts such as light emitting elements and light guides, structures such as cases) that illuminate the indicator plate, the pointer, or other target parts, There is a problem that the design freedom of the entire instrument is reduced, the structure is complicated, and the number of parts is increased.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a pointer-type instrument that can secure a large space on the surface side of a circuit board even when the pointer is operated via a moving body.

  The present invention includes a pointer, an index plate having an index portion corresponding to the pointer, a moving body to which the pointer is coupled, a pointer driving device that rotates or moves the pointer via the moving body, and the pointer A circuit board for supplying power to the driving device, and at least one of the movable body and the pointer driving device is on a side opposite to the first board surface facing the indicator plate side of the circuit board. 2 on the surface of the substrate.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a pointer, an indicator plate having an indicator portion corresponding to the pointer, a moving body to which the pointer is connected, and rotating or moving the pointer via the moving body. And a circuit board for supplying power to the pointer driving apparatus, and both the moving body and the pointer driving apparatus are opposite to the first board surface facing the indicator board side of the circuit board. It is provided on the second substrate surface which is the side.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the moving body has a support portion that supports the pointer, and the circuit board is provided with a notch or a through portion that penetrates the support portion.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the moving body has a support portion for supporting the pointer, and the circuit board is provided with a notch portion or a through portion for connecting the support portion and the pointer.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the moving body has a plurality of support portions for supporting the pointer.

  Further, the invention is characterized in that the pointer side end portions of the respective support portions are located on the back side with respect to the second substrate surface of the circuit board.

  In the invention, it is preferable that the moving body has a support portion for supporting the pointer, and the support portion extends to the first substrate surface side through a side surface of the circuit board.

  According to the present invention, the moving body is accommodated in a space formed by a first housing located on the second substrate surface side and a second housing combined with the first housing. Features.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the pointer driving device is housed in at least one of the first housing or the second housing.

  Further, according to the present invention, the pointer driving device has a driving shaft extending in a direction opposite to the circuit board, and a connection terminal that is electrically connected to the circuit board is provided at a position of the pointer driving device facing the circuit board. It is characterized by being.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pointer-type instrument that can achieve the initial purpose and can secure a wide space on the surface side of the circuit board even when the pointer is operated via a moving body. it can.

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a pointer-type instrument according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a pointer drive unit used in the embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of a main part of the circuit board according to the present embodiment.
In FIG. 1, the pointer-type meter according to the present embodiment includes a so-called combination meter M having a speedometer SP, a fuel meter FU, and a water temperature meter TE.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the speedometer SP includes a pointer 1 and a speedometer indicator portion 3 (originally composed of numbers, characters, and scales) provided on the indicator plate 2 so as to correspond to the pointer 1. Only, and a pointer driving device 4 for rotating the pointer 1.

  The pointer drive device 4 is composed of, for example, a stepping motor disposed on the back side of the circuit board 5, and has a component such as a coil, a rotor magnet, and a yoke (not shown) inside the case 41, and a drive shaft that responds to the rotor magnet. 42 protrudes to the outside of the case 41. The drive shaft 42 extends through the circuit board 5 to the indicator plate 2 side, and the pointer 1 is connected to the tip thereof. Therefore, the speedometer SP is a normal instrument in which the pointer 1 rotates around the axis around the drive shaft 42 as a rotation center.

  Each of the fuel gauge FU and the water temperature gauge TE has a pointer 6 and each indicator portion 6a for the fuel gauge and the water temperature gauge provided on the indicator plate 2 so as to correspond to the pointer 6 (originally from numbers, letters, scales) However, only a scale is shown) and a pointer driving unit 7 for rotating the pointers 6. Here, the rotation center of the pointer 6 of the fuel gauge FU and the water temperature gauge TE is set to be the same as the rotation center of the pointer 1 of the speedometer SP. Therefore, the pointer 6 of the fuel gauge FU and the water temperature gauge TE is the speedometer. They have the same center of rotation as the SP pointer 1, and their movement paths are set to surround the speedometer SP.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the pointer drive unit 7 includes a first housing 71, a second housing 72 that is combined with the first housing 71 to form a component storage space, and a pointer drive including, for example, a stepping motor. The device 73, the wiring board 74, the gear 75, the moving body 76, the detection means 77, and the attachment member 78, and the pointer driving device 73 and the wiring board are provided in the first and second housings 71 and 72. 74, the gear 75, the moving body 76, and the detection means 77 are housed, and the two housings 71 and 72 are fastened via the attachment member 78, and in this embodiment, the attachment member 78 is the pointer drive unit. It also functions as an attachment part when attaching 7 to the circuit board 5.

  The first and second housings 71 and 72 include a first housing part 711 and 721 that form a space for accommodating the pointer driving device 73 and the wiring board 74, and a second housing part 712 that accommodates the moving body 76. 722, and the gear 75 is housed across the housing parts 711, 721, 712, 722. The second housing parts 712 and 722 form an arcuate space corresponding to the shape of the curved moving body 76, and are formed in such a size that the moving body 76 can move in the space.

  In FIG. 4, a sliding portion 713 is formed on the inner bottom portion of the second housing portion 712 located on the lower side so as to be in line contact with the moving body 76 and to slide and support the bottom portion.

  Also, in the other second housing portion 722 located in the upper side in FIG. 4, an opening that allows a support portion, which will be described later, of the moving body 76 to penetrate the circuit board 5 side and allows the support portion to move in an arc shape. A portion 723 is formed. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the circuit board 5 is formed with a through portion 51 having a shape corresponding to the arc shape of the opening 723 in order to enable the connection between the support portion and the pointer 6. A cutout portion may be used instead of the through portion 51.

  The pointer driving device 73 includes a stepping motor that is substantially the same as the pointer driving device 4 for the speedometer SP, and includes a coil, a rotor magnet, and a yoke (not shown) inside the case 731, and rotation of the rotor magnet is performed via the driving shaft 732. Output.

  The wiring board 24 electrically connects the pointer driving device 73 and the circuit board 5 through connection means (not shown), and power is supplied from the circuit board 5 to the pointer driving device 73 via the wiring board 24. The wiring board 24 is fixed in front of the pointer driving device 73, and at this time, the driving shaft 732 is passed through the circuit board 5 side.

  The gear 25 is fixed to the distal end side of the drive shaft 732 and is rotationally driven by the pointer drive device 73.

  The moving body 76 is made of a synthetic resin arc-shaped plate that can be reciprocally rotated within the space formed by the second housing portions 712 and 722, and has a boss-shaped support that supports the pointer 6 at the approximate center thereof. A portion 761 is formed, and this support portion 761 extends in the direction of the indicator plate 2 through the opening 723 of the first housing 72 and the through portion 51 of the circuit board 5, and the pointer 6 is fixedly attached to the tip thereof. . A gear portion 762 that meshes with the gear 75 is formed on the outer peripheral portion corresponding to the gear 75. When the gear 75 rotates in accordance with the rotation of the pointer driving device 73, the movable body 76 that meshes with the gear 75 moves, and the pointer 6 moves. The speedometer SP rotates and moves coaxially with the center of rotation of the pointer 1.

  The movable body 76 is formed with movable side stopper portions 763 and 764, and a fixed side stopper portion (not shown) that protrudes to the side of the movable body 76 is formed at the corresponding internal portion of the second housing 72. Then, the movable limit of the movable body 76 (pointer 6) is defined by the movable side stopper portions 763 and 764 coming into contact with the fixed side stopper portion.

  The detection means 77 is composed of a pair of contact members that conducts when the movable side stopper portions 763 and 764 come into contact with the fixed side stopper portion, and inside the second housing 72, the fixed side stopper portion of the fixed side stopper portion. Mounted around. When the pointer 6 reaches the movable limit, a detection signal is output to a control means such as a microcomputer (not shown). The control means receives the detection signal and the position of the pointer 6 on the index plate 2 and the control pointer. A setting process for matching the 6 positions is performed. The terminal portion of the detection means 77 extends to the circuit board 5 side and is directly electrically connected to the circuit board 5 by means such as soldering.

  The pointer drive unit 7 configured as described above is disposed on the second substrate surface 53 side opposite to the first substrate surface 52 facing the indicator plate 2 side of the circuit substrate 5 through the attachment member 78.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the second substrate surface 53 corresponding to the pointer driving unit 7 has an arcuate through portion 51, a support portion 761, an attachment member 78, and a connection portion 771 of the detection means 77. The others can be used as mounting space for circuit elements and mounting space for various components. Although not shown, a predetermined circuit pattern is formed on the circuit board 5.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the pointer 6, the indicator plate 2 having the indicator portion 6 a corresponding to the pointer 6, the moving body 76 to which the pointer 6 is connected, and the pointer 6 via the moving body 76. A pointer driving device 73 that rotates or moves the pointer driving device 73 and a circuit board 5 that supplies power to the pointer driving device 73. Both the moving body 73 and the pointer driving device 73, particularly the pointer driving unit 7 in this embodiment. By providing the entirety on the second substrate surface 53 of the circuit board 5, a wide space on the front surface side of the circuit board 5 can be secured. As a result, the component mounting area or the component mounting area can be secured, and the illumination system component (specifically, for example, a light emitting element or a light guide made of a light emitting diode) can be used to illuminate the indicator plate 4, the pointer 6, or other target portions. The degree of freedom of arrangement of optical components and structural parts such as cases) can be increased, the design freedom of the entire instrument can be increased, and the complexity of the structure and the increase in the number of components can be suppressed. In the present embodiment, both the moving body 73 and the pointer driving device 73 are provided on the second substrate surface 53 of the circuit board 5. However, at least one of the moving body 73 and the pointer driving device 73, preferably a component having a large outer diameter. Any movable body 73 may be provided on the second substrate surface 53.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the moving body 76 has a support portion 761 that supports the pointer 6, and the circuit board 5 is provided with the penetrating portion 51 that penetrates the support portion 761. The connection path can be shortened, and downsizing can be achieved. The penetrating part 51 may be a notch (not shown) that opens to the side of the circuit board 5 as long as the penetrating part 51 penetrates the support part 761 or can be connected to the pointer 6. .

  Further, the support portion 761 does not necessarily pass through the through portion 51 or the cutout portion of the circuit board 5 and is not shown as a second embodiment of the present invention, but bypasses the front and back surfaces via the side surface of the circuit board 5. The tip end side connected to the pointer 6 may be configured to reach the first substrate surface 52 side.

  In this embodiment, a paper phenolic or epoxy resin hard circuit board is used as the circuit board 5. However, although not shown as a third embodiment of the present invention, the circuit board 5 has flexibility such as FPC. For example, at least the pointer driving device 7 and the moving body 76 on the side opposite to the indicator plate 2 of the circuit board 5 may be supported by a hard material made of synthetic resin. The positional relationship with respect to the hard material is arbitrary as long as it is arranged on the substrate surface (second substrate surface).

  In the present embodiment, the moving body 76 is moved into a space formed by the first housing 71 located on the second substrate surface 53 side and the second housing 72 combined with the first housing 71. By storing in a possible manner, the moving body 76 can be reliably held on the second substrate surface 53 side of the circuit board 5.

  In the present embodiment, the pointer driving device 73 is housed in at least one of the first housing 71 and the second housing 72, so that not only the moving body 76 but also the second driving circuit board 5 of the pointer driving device 73 is provided. It can be reliably held on the substrate surface 53 side.

  In the present embodiment, the moving body 76 is formed of an arc-shaped plate material (non-flexible material) made of synthetic resin, but may be formed of a flexible member, for example, a flexible blade made of synthetic resin or rubber-based material. Or a belt.

  The moving path of the pointer 6 by the moving body is not limited to rotational movement, and can be set freely.

  5 and 6 are an exploded perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that the moving body 76 is connected to the pointer through the connecting member 8 (see FIG. 6). The first support portion 761a and the second support portion 762b capable of supporting the motor 6 are provided, and the pointer driving device 73 is disposed between the front outer wall surface of the second housing 72 and the circuit board 5. In the first embodiment, the adopted wiring board 74 is abolished.

  That is, in this embodiment, by providing a plurality of support portions (first and second support portions 761a and 761b) for one moving body 76, the fuel gauge FU and the water temperature gauge TE can Is intended to be shared. In the first embodiment, only one support portion 761 is provided at substantially the center position of the moving body 76, and the two moving bodies 76 are symmetrical with respect to the center of rotation of the pointer of the speedometer SP. Although it is possible to share the moving body 76 by arranging it in different directions, the support portion 761 must be provided at a location deviated from the center position of the support body 76 for convenience of component layout. The present embodiment addresses such a case. With this configuration, even when the support portion 761 is removed from the center position of the support body 76 and the layout is performed, it is possible to share components, and further common use can be achieved. In addition, by providing the moving body 76 with the first and second support portions 761a and 761b as described above, it is possible to share all the parts constituting the pointer driving unit 7 such as the gear 75 and the housing 71. Further, the pointer side end portions of the first and second support portions 761a and 761b are located on the back side with respect to the second substrate surface 53 of the circuit board 5, and thereby the penetrating portion 51 provided on the circuit board 5 is provided. Keep it small. Note that when the moving body 76 is shared, three or more support portions 761 may be provided.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration of the conductive connection with the circuit board 5 of the pointer driving device 73 is simplified by arranging the direction of the pointer driving device 73 in a direction different from the first embodiment by 180 degrees. Is. In the first embodiment, the pointer driving device 73 is housed in the first and second housings 71 and 72 so that the driving shaft 732 extends in the direction of the circuit board 5. The drive shaft 732 passes through the second housing 72 and reaches the housings 71 and 72 so as to extend in the opposite direction to the circuit board 5, and the gear 75. It is connected with. In addition, a plurality of connection terminals 734 that are conductively connected to the circuit board 5 are provided on the facing surface 233 of the pointer driving device 73 that faces the circuit board 5, and the facing surface 233 is in direct contact with the circuit board 5 and connected. The terminal 734 is electrically connected to the circuit board 5 by means such as soldering. With this configuration, it is possible to achieve simplification of the conductive connection structure without using a dedicated circuit board or connection tool.

  In the present embodiment, a light source L made of, for example, a light emitting diode is provided at the base of the pointer 6, and thereby, power is supplied to the light source L that is a movable part by a flexible connecting member F such as an FPC. Here, the flexible connecting member F is disposed so as to extend sideways along the second substrate surface 53 of the circuit board 5 after passing through the through-hole 51 of the circuit board 5 along the connecting member 8. Is fixed to the light source L and the other end is connected and fixed to a terminal, a circuit pattern or the like on the second substrate surface 53 side of the circuit board 5. In this way, the flexible connection member F (the other end) is fixed to the second substrate surface 53 of the circuit board 5 through the through hole 51, so that the flexible connection member F located on the front surface side of the circuit board 5. The portion can be kept as small as possible, and this also ensures a wide space on the surface side of the circuit board 5.

It is a front view of the pointer type instrument by this embodiment. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the pointer drive unit used for this embodiment. It is a principal part top view of the circuit board by this embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view of the pointer drive unit by the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the pointer type meter by the same embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pointer 2 Index plate 3 Index part 4,73 Pointer drive device 5 Circuit board 6 Pointer 6a Index part 7 Pointer drive unit 8 Connecting member 41 Case 42 Drive shaft 51 Through part 52 First board surface 53 Second board surface 71 First housing 72 Second housing 74 Wiring board 75 Gear 76 Moving body 77 Detection means 78 Mounting member 711, 721 First housing portion 712, 722 Second housing portion 713 Sliding portion 723 Opening portion 731 Case 732 Drive Shaft 733 Opposite surface 734 Connection terminal 761 Support portion 761a First support portion 761b Second support portion 762 Gear portion 763, 764 Movable side stopper portion 771 Connection point F Flexible connection member L Light source SP Speedometer FU Fuel meter TE Water temperature Total

Claims (10)

Guidelines,
An indicator plate having an indicator portion corresponding to this guideline;
A moving body to which the pointer is connected;
A pointer driving device for rotating or moving the pointer through the moving body;
A circuit board for supplying power to the pointer driving device;
At least one of the movable body and the pointer driving device is provided on a second substrate surface opposite to the first substrate surface facing the indicator plate side of the circuit board. Type instrument. Guidelines,
An indicator plate having an indicator portion corresponding to this guideline;
A moving body to which the pointer is connected;
A pointer driving device for rotating or moving the pointer through the moving body;
A circuit board for supplying power to the pointer driving device;
The pointer-type instrument, wherein both the moving body and the pointer driving device are provided on a second substrate surface opposite to the first substrate surface facing the indicator plate side of the circuit board. 2. The pointer-type instrument according to claim 1, wherein the movable body has a support part for supporting the pointer, and the circuit board is provided with a notch or a penetration part that penetrates the support part. 2. The pointer according to claim 1, wherein the movable body has a support portion for supporting the pointer, and the circuit board is provided with a notch portion or a through portion for connecting the support portion and the pointer. Type instrument. The pointer-type meter according to claim 1, wherein the movable body has a plurality of support portions for supporting the pointer. 5. The pointer-type instrument according to claim 4, wherein an end portion of each support portion on a pointer side is located on a back side with respect to the second substrate surface of the circuit board. The pointer-type instrument according to claim 1, wherein the movable body has a support portion for supporting the pointer, and the support portion extends to the first substrate surface side through a side surface of the circuit board. The movable body is housed in a space formed by a first housing located on the second substrate surface side and a second housing combined with the first housing. The pointer-type meter according to 1. The pointer-type meter according to claim 7, wherein the pointer driving device is accommodated in at least one of the first housing and the second housing. The pointer driving device has a driving shaft extending in a direction opposite to the circuit board, and a connection terminal that is electrically connected to the circuit board is provided at a position of the pointer driving device facing the circuit board. The pointer-type meter according to claim 1.

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