JP2005227123A - Indicating instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an indication instrument that can enhance decorative effect, by utilizing the annular section of a partitioning member, without covering the annular section of the partitioning member by a cap. <P>SOLUTION: In the indicating instrument 10, a light source 19 for a dial supplies light to a character section 12 of a dial 11 or its background section 13, and a light source 18 for pointers supplies light to the inside of a pointer 14, in which a base section 14a is covered with a cap 15, thus enhancing the visibility of the character section 12 and the pointer 14. A light, guided to the inside of the cylindrical partitioning member 20 that is provided so that light emitted from both the light sources 18, 19 is separated from each other, is emitted from an end face 23b of the annular section 23 of the partitioning member, and the light is visually recognized so that it surrounds the plane of the cap 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an indicating instrument used for a vehicle, for example, and relates to an indicating instrument in which light is guided to the inside of the pointer and the dial so as to improve the visibility of the pointer and dial of the indicating instrument.

  Conventionally, for example, in an indicator instrument used in a vehicle, a dial portion or a background portion thereof is formed of a translucent dial plate and a transparent material provided on the surface of the dial plate so as to be rotatable. The dial and the pointer are illuminated by guiding light from the light source to the pointer. The base of the pointer, which is the base of the rotation of the pointer, is covered with a light-shielding cap to prevent light guided inside the pointer from leaking from the base.

  In such an indicator instrument, in order to prevent the light guided by the pointer from leaking between the pointer and the dial plate, halation is generated on the dial plate. The dial is provided with a light-shielding ring for blocking light on the dial from between (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Further, a pointer light source for supplying light to the pointer, so that the pointer and the dial can be illuminated more brightly, or light of different colors can be guided to the pointer and the dial, An indicator instrument having a dial light source for supplying light to the dial is separately considered. The indicator instrument is provided with a partition member that surrounds the rotation axis of the pointer so as to separate the light from the pointer light source and the light from the dial light source (see, for example, Patent Document 2). .) In this indicating instrument, the annular portion (annular convex portion) of the partition member protruding on the dial plate has the same effect as the light-shielding ring described in Patent Document 1, and halation occurs on the dial plate. It is preventing.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-20097 (page 1-3, FIG. 1) Japanese Patent No. 3211229 (page 1-7, FIG. 1)

  However, in the indicating instrument described in Patent Document 2, the partition member that separates the light from both light sources is formed of a light-shielding material, and when the partition member is exposed so as to be visible, the indicator instrument The decorativeness is reduced. For this reason, the partition member and the cap are formed so that the cap attached to the pointer blinds the annular portion of the partition member when viewed from the front of the dial.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an indicating instrument that can enhance the decorative effect by using the annular portion of the partition member, instead of covering the annular portion of the partition member with a cap.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the indicating instrument according to claim 1 has a dial having an opening and a dial portion or a background portion thereof having translucency, and a base, on the surface of the dial. And a pointer made of a light-transmitting material that can rotate around the base portion around the rotation axis passing through the opening along the surface, and for supplying the light to the inside of the pointer through the opening A light source, a dial plate light source provided outside the region where the pointer light source is provided to supply light to the dial from its back surface, and light guided into the pointer leak from the base. A cap placed on the base to prevent this, and a cylindrical partition member arranged around the rotation axis to separate the light emitted from the light sources from each other, the partition member It extends on the dial through the opening. The partition member is capable of emitting light guided to the inside thereof from an end surface of the extended end of the annular portion, and the diameter of the end surface is close to the cap. The cap has a size surrounding the top surface, and the cap is visible inward of the end surface.

  The indicating instrument according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the indicating instrument according to claim 1, the partition member is painted white on one of its peripheral surfaces.

  The indicating instrument according to claim 3 is the indicating instrument according to claim 2, wherein the partition member has an introduction portion for guiding light into the partition member.

  In the indicating instrument according to claim 1, the annular portion provided on the partition member disposed around the rotation axis to separate the light from the pointer light source and the light from the dial light source from each other. The light guided into the partition member can be emitted from the end face of the extended end. Since the end surface surrounds the cap so as to be visible outside the cap, the light emitted from the end surface can be viewed as surrounding the cap.

  In the indicating instrument according to claim 2, since the peripheral surface of the partition member is coated with white paint, the partition member more reliably transmits the light from the pointer light source and the light from the dial light source. Can be separated from each other.

  In the indicating instrument according to claim 3, since the partition member has the introduction portion, light can be effectively guided to the inside of the partition member. For this reason, more light can be emitted from the emission part of the annular part.

  According to the indicating instrument according to the present invention, the light guided to the inside of the partition member can be emitted so as to be visible from the end face of the extended end of the annular portion by surrounding the cap. For this reason, the decoration effect on the said dial can be heightened using the said annular part of the said partition member.

  The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiment shown in FIGS.

  Prior to the description along FIG. 1 showing the main part of the present invention, the entire indicating instrument according to the present invention is schematically shown along FIG.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2, the indicating instrument 10 according to the present invention is a speedometer provided in a vehicle. The indicator instrument 10 includes a dial plate 11 made of a material having translucency such as a transparent synthetic resin plate. As is well known in the art, the dial 11 is supported around a dial by a housing member (not shown). The dial 11 is provided with a character portion 12 such as a character representing a speed, a number representing a speed value, and a symbol representing a scale of the number. The character portion 12 is formed, for example, by not painting a portion corresponding to the character portion and applying a paint having a light shielding property to the background portion 13 of the character portion. Thereby, when light is irradiated from the back surface side of the dial plate 11, light is transmitted through only a portion corresponding to the character portion 12, and the character portion 12 is clearly indicated by this light. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the dial 11 is formed with an opening 11a, and the dial 11 has a pointer so that its axis of rotation coincides with the center line of the opening 11a so as to rotate about the base portion 14a. 14 is arranged. The pointer 14 is made of a light-transmitting material such as a transparent synthetic resin plate, for example, and a light-blocking cap 15 is attached to the base portion 14a. The cap 15 has a circular top surface 15a that covers the base portion above the base portion 14a, and an annular peripheral surface 15b that extends downward from the periphery of the top surface.

  On the back side of the dial plate 11, a substrate 16 that forms an electric circuit portion of the indicating instrument 10 is disposed. The substrate 16 is supported by the housing (not shown) that supports the dial 11. A movement 17 that is driven to rotate the pointer 14 in response to an instruction from the substrate is attached to the substrate 16. The movement 17 has a rotating shaft 17a extending toward the opening 11a of the dial plate 11, and a base portion 14a of the pointer 14 is attached to the tip of the rotating shaft. When an electrical signal corresponding to the vehicle speed is sent from the substrate 16 to the movement 17, the rotation shaft 17a rotates around the rotation axis of the rotation shaft. With this rotation, as shown in FIG. 2, the pointer portion 14b of the pointer 14 indicates the character portion 12 corresponding to the vehicle speed. Thereby, the indicating instrument 10 displays the speed value of the vehicle provided with the indicating instrument.

  In the indicating instrument 10, light is guided to the inside of the dial portion 12 of the dial 11 and the inside of the pointer 14 in order to improve the visibility of the dial 11. As the light supply source, the substrate 16 is provided with a pointer light source for supplying light to the pointer 14 and a dial light source for supplying light to the character portion 12. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the pointer light source includes a plurality of light emitting diodes 18, and the dial light source includes a plurality of light emitting diodes 19.

  The plurality of light emitting diodes 18 are arranged along, for example, a circle so as to surround the rotation shaft 17 a of the movement 17, and supply light to the inside from the end surface of the base portion 14 a of the pointer 14 through the opening 11 a of the dial 11. . The base portion 14a is formed with a reflecting surface 14c that reflects light incident on the base portion toward the pointer portion 14b of the pointer 14. For this reason, the pointer part 14b is visually recognized as emitting light by the light supplied from the plurality of light emitting diodes 18.

  The plurality of light emitting diodes 19 are arranged outside the region where the plurality of light emitting diodes 18 are provided, and irradiate light from the back side of the dial plate 11 to supply light to the character portion 12 of the dial plate 11. The character portion 12 is clearly indicated by this light as described above.

  In order to separate the light emitted from the plurality of light emitting diodes 18 and supplied to the pointer 14 and the light emitted from the plurality of light emitting diodes 19 and supplied to the character portion 12 from each other. The substrate 16 has a cylindrical partition member 20 surrounding the plurality of light emitting diodes 18 outside the region where the plurality of light emitting diodes 18 are provided and inside the region where the plurality of light emitting diodes 19 are provided. Is provided.

  The partition member 20 is made of a material having translucency such as a transparent synthetic resin plate, for example. The partition member 20 is formed along the substrate 16 and has an annular flange portion 21 attached to the substrate, and a cylindrical cone that rises from the inner edge of the flange portion and gradually decreases in diameter toward the dial 11. It has a body part 22 and an annular part 23 that extends upward from the upper part of the cylindrical pyramid part with a constant diameter, and further extends on the dial plate 11 through the opening 11 a of the dial plate 11. The end surface 21 a of the flange portion 21 along the substrate 16 faces the plurality of light emitting diodes 19 located outside the partition member 20. In this embodiment, the end surface 21a is formed so as to be perpendicular to the plane of the substrate 16. The end face 21a that makes a right angle with respect to the plane of the substrate 16 makes a right angle with the traveling direction of light emitted from the plurality of light emitting diodes 19 facing the end face and heading toward the end face 21a. Light effectively enters the flange portion 21 from the end face 21a. The shape of the end surface 21a is not limited to the present embodiment as long as it guides light into the flange portion 21.

  A coating layer 22b made of a white paint is formed on the inner peripheral surface 22a of the cylindrical cone portion 22 facing the plurality of light emitting diodes 18. Since the light emitted from the plurality of light emitting diodes 18 and directed toward the cylindrical cone portion 22 is reflected by the coating layer 22b, it is prevented from passing through the cylindrical cone portion 22. For this reason, the coating layer 22 b prevents the light emitted from the plurality of light emitting diodes 18 from irradiating the dial 11.

  The annular portion 23 has a shape that fits into the opening 11 a of the dial 11. A locking portion 23 a that engages with the peripheral edge of the dial 11 to press the peripheral edge of the opening 11 a is formed at the lower part of the outer periphery of the annular portion 23. The partition member 20 prevents the edge portion of the dial plate 11 from being lifted by the annular portion 23 coming into contact with the opening 11a of the dial plate 11 and the engaging portion 23a engaging with the peripheral edge of the opening 11a. In this embodiment, the end surface 23 b of the annular portion 23 that is the upper end of the partition member 20 is formed at a right angle to the extending direction of the annular portion 23. As will be described later, the shape of the end face 23b is not limited to the present embodiment as long as it emits light that travels in the annular portion 23 along the extending direction of the annular portion. A diameter D23 (see FIG. 2) of the annular portion 23 is formed larger than a diameter D15 of the circular top surface 15a of the cap 15. For this reason, when the indicating instrument 10 is viewed from the front, the end surface 23b of the annular portion 23 appears to surround the circular top surface 15a of the cap 15 in the vicinity of the top surface. The annular portion 23 prevents light emitted from the plurality of light emitting diodes 18 from leaking from between the pointer 14 and the dial 11 onto the dial. Thereby, the occurrence of halation on the dial is suppressed. In order to reliably prevent light from leaking onto the dial plate 11, a coating layer similar to the coating layer 22 b of the cylindrical cone portion 22 can be provided on the annular portion 23. However, since the light traveling between the pointer 14 and the dial 11 is weak, even if this light is transmitted through the annular portion 23, strong halation that reduces the decorativeness on the dial 11 is caused. Since it does not generate | occur | produce above, the said coating layer of the annular part 23 can be made unnecessary.

  The end surface 21 a at the extended end of the flange portion 21 functions as an introduction portion that guides light emitted from the plurality of light emitting diodes 19 to the inside of the partition member 20, and the end surface 23 b at the extended end of the annular portion 23 is the partition member 20. It functions as an emitting part that emits light guided into the interior of the projector. That is, as described above, the light emitted from the plurality of light emitting diodes 19 effectively enters the flange portion 21 of the partition member 20 made of a translucent material from the end face 21a. The light incident on the inside of the flange portion 21 travels inside the partition member while being reflected by the boundary surface of the partition member 20 and the coating layer 22 b, and passes through the flange portion 21 and the cylindrical cone portion 22 to form the annular portion 23. To reach. The traveling direction of the light reaching the annular portion 23 is substantially along the extending direction of the annular portion. The light reaching the annular portion 23 is emitted from the end surface 23b of the annular portion provided at a right angle to the extending direction of the annular portion. Since this end face 23b appears to surround the circular top face 15a of the cap 15 in the vicinity of the top face when the indicator instrument 10 is viewed from the front, the light emitted from the end face 23b is attached to the base portion 14a of the pointer 14. It is visually recognized as an annular light surrounding the cap 15.

  In the present embodiment, in order to clarify the light emitted from the end face 23b, when the indicating instrument 10 is viewed from the dial 11 side which is the front surface thereof, the light from the plurality of light emitting diodes 18 is caused to be the annular portion 23 and the cap 15. An annular blind member 24 is supported by a plurality of support members 25 so as to come into contact with the lower portion of the annular portion 23 inside the partition member 20 in order to prevent leakage from between the peripheral surface 15b. This can be eliminated.

  In the indicating instrument 10 according to the present invention, the annular portion 23 of the partition member 20 surrounding the cap 15 attached to the base portion 14a of the pointer 14 is visually recognized as emitting light. Thereby, the decoration effect of the dial 11 can be heightened.

  Further, since the light surrounding the top surface 15a of the cap 15 is emitted from the end face 23a of the annular portion 23 of the partition member 20, the decorative effect of the dial 11 can be provided without providing a new member for emitting this light. Can be increased.

  As described above, the cylindrical cone portion 22 of the partition member 20 separates the light emitted from the plurality of light emitting diodes 18 and the light emitted from the plurality of light emitting diodes 19 from each other. Further, as described above, the annular portion 23 of the partition member 20 prevents halation on the dial due to leakage light from between the pointer 14 and the dial 11. Thereby, the partition member 20 enhances the decorative effect of the dial 11 without losing its original light shielding function.

  Therefore, the indicating instrument 10 according to the present invention can enhance the decorative effect by conversely using the annular portion 23 of the partition member 20 without covering the annular portion 23 of the partition member 20 with the cap 15.

  The partition member 20 separates the light emitted from the plurality of light emitting diodes 18 and the light emitted from the plurality of light emitting diodes 19 from each other, and the light guided to the inside of the partition member 20 on the dial 11. What is necessary is just to radiate | emit from the end surface 23b of the cyclic | annular part 23 to expand | extend, and it is not limited to an above-described Example. For example, light may be guided from the plurality of light emitting diodes 18 to the inside of the partition member 20, and both lights emitted from the plurality of light emitting diodes 18 and the plurality of light emitting diodes 19 are guided to the inside of the partition member 20. Alternatively, a light source may be provided separately from the plurality of light emitting diodes 18 and the plurality of light emitting diodes 19, and light may be guided from the light source to the inside of the partition member 20.

  An annular blind member 24 is provided on the inner side of the partition member 20, and the blind member is an end surface surrounding the top surface 15a of the cap 15 by clarifying the light emitted from the end surface 23b. As a result, the blinding member 24 can be made unnecessary. However, if the light emitted from the end surface 23b is clarified, the decorative effect of the light from the end surface 23b surrounding the top surface 15a of the cap 15 is enhanced, and therefore it is desirable to provide the blind member 24.

  Although the coating layer 22b is formed on the cylindrical cone portion 22 of the partition member 20, since the light transmitted through the partition member 20 is weak even if the coating layer is not formed, the pointer 14 or the character portion Since there is no influence to the extent that the visibility of 12 is reduced, this coating layer 22b can be made unnecessary. However, it is desirable to form the coating layer 22b because both the lights emitted from the pointer light source and the dial light source can be separated from each other in order to prevent the lights from mixing with each other. In addition, the coating layer 22b is formed on the inner peripheral surface 22a of the cylindrical pyramid portion 22. However, if the coating layer 22b enhances the function of the partition member 20 that separates light, the coating layer 22b However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

  The indicating instrument 10 according to the present invention uses a speedometer in the above-described embodiments, but can be applied to various instruments as long as it is an analog instrument such as a tachometer or a fuel meter.

It is sectional drawing which showed the principal part of the Example of the indicator instrument which concerns on this invention, and was obtained along the II line | wire of FIG. It is a front view which shows partially the external appearance of the Example of the indicating instrument which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Indicator 11 Dial 11a Opening 12 Character part 13 Background part 14 Pointer 14a Base 15 Cap 15a Top surface 18 Pointer light source 19 Dial light source 20 Partition member 21a End face 22b of flange part (as an introduction part) (white coating) Coating layer 23 annular part 23b end face D23 caliber

Claims (3)

A dial having an opening and a dial or a background thereof having translucency, and a base, and on the surface of the dial, the base is centered around a rotation axis passing through the opening along the surface. A pointer made of a light-transmitting material that can be rotated, a pointer light source that supplies light to the inside of the pointer through the opening, and a light source for the pointer to supply light to the dial from its back surface A light source for a dial plate provided outside the region where the light guide is provided, a cap placed on the base to prevent light guided into the pointer from leaking from the base, and light emitted from both the light sources A cylindrical partition member disposed around the rotation axis so as to separate the emitted light from each other, and the partition member has an annular portion extending on the dial through the opening. And
The partition member can emit light guided to the inside thereof from an end surface of the extended end of the annular portion, and the diameter of the end surface has a size surrounding the top surface of the cap in the vicinity of the cap. The indicator is visible on the inner side of the end face.   The indicator instrument according to claim 1, wherein the partition member is white-coated on one of its peripheral surfaces. The indicator instrument according to claim 2, wherein the partition member has an introduction portion that guides light into the partition member.

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