JP2005257496A - Lighting structure of measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting structure of measuring instrument capable of reducing the number of light sources to enhance the space efficiency while ensuring a light quantity for a luminous indicator. <P>SOLUTION: A barrier wall part 14 of a partition member 13 has an indicator lighting chamber 15 on the inside of the barrier wall part 15, and a light source arrangement part 16 for arranging a single indicator LED 8 is provided within the indicator lighting chamber 15. A general cylindrical part 14a of the barrier wall part 14 except the light source arrangement part 16 where the indicator LED 8 is arranged is adjacent to a rotating shaft 3a, and the capacity within the indicator lighting chamber 15 is reduced to make the distance of illuminating light to the luminous indicator 2 shortest. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an illumination structure of a meter for a vehicle, and more particularly to an illumination structure of an instrument that can reduce the number of pointer light sources.

  As a dial illumination structure of a conventional instrument, those shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  First, in terms of the configuration, in such a conventional instrument illumination structure, the vehicle meter 1 as an instrument has a movement 3 for rotating the light emission indicator 2 via a rotation shaft 3a. It is configured to be mounted on the back side.

  A resin-made lower case member 5 is fixed to the surface side of the printed circuit board 4, and the lower case member 5 and the printed circuit board 4 are covered with a dial 6 provided on the upper surface side.

  A circular pointer opening 6a is formed in the dial plate 6, and the rotation shaft 3a is inserted into the pointer opening 6a so as to be rotatable.

  The rotating shaft 3 a is formed integrally with the pointer main body 2 a of the light emitting pointer 2, and is connected to the rotating shaft portion 2 b inserted from the surface side of the dial 6 with its tip fitted.

  Further, on the back side of the dial 6 and on the front side of the printed circuit board 4, there are a plurality of dial LEDs 7... Serving as a dial light source that transmits the dial 6 and illuminates from the back side. One is provided.

  Further, on the surface side of the printed circuit board 4, pointer LEDs 8 and 8 as pointer light sources for illuminating the light emitting pointer 2 are arranged at substantially equal intervals so as to surround the rotation shaft 3 a. Three are provided.

  A partition member 9 having a cylindrical partition wall 10 formed integrally with the lower case member 5 is provided around the rotation shaft 3a.

  For this reason, the partition member 9 separates the dial LEDs 7 from the pointer LEDs 8.

  Next, the operation of this conventional instrument illumination structure will be described.

  When the dial LEDs 7 are turned on, illumination light enters from the back side of the dial 6 and is partially transmitted to the front side. For this reason, it is visually recognized by a passenger in the vehicle interior as backlight illumination.

  When the pointer LED 8 is turned on, illumination light enters the pointer main body 2a along the rotation shaft portion 2b of the light emitting pointer 2 and is directed toward the distal end inside the pointer main body 2a. Then, it is guided to emit light on the upper surface side.

At this time, since the dial LED 7... And the pointer LED 8... Are separated by the partition member 9, the illumination light of the pointer LED 8 is directed to the back side of the dial 6. There is no risk of incident light, and lighting leakage is prevented.
Japanese Patent No. 3211229 (FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, paragraphs 0015 to 0046)

  However, in the illumination structure of the conventional instrument configured as described above, the pointer LEDs 8 and 8 as the pointer light source surround the rotating shaft 3a in order to secure the light emission amount of the light emitting pointer 2. A plurality of them are provided at equal intervals.

  For this reason, there is a possibility that the number of pointer LEDs 8 increases and the manufacturing cost increases.

  In addition, the outer diameter of the partition wall portion 10 of the cylindrical partition member 9 is such that a plurality of pointer LEDs 8 and 8 must be provided at equal intervals so as to surround the periphery of the rotating shaft 3a. , Get bigger.

  For this reason, it is difficult to say that the space efficiency is good, for example, the space for installing other members is reduced.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an illumination structure of a meter that can improve the space efficiency by reducing the number of light sources while ensuring the light amount of the light emission indicator.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that a light emitting pointer having a pivot shaft portion rotatably inserted into a pointer opening of a dial and a character provided on the back side of the dial. A light source for a plate and a light source for a pointer that illuminates the light emitting pointer, and a partition member having a partition wall provided around the rotating shaft portion, the light source for the dial plate and the light source for the pointer A lighting structure for an instrument that isolates the light source, wherein the partition member forms a pointer illumination chamber inside the partition wall portion, and a light source arrangement portion that disposes the single pointer light source in the pointer illumination chamber And an illumination structure of the instrument in which the partition wall portion other than the light source arrangement portion where the pointer light source is arranged is brought close to the rotating shaft portion to reduce the volume in the pointer illumination chamber. Yes.

  Further, in the present invention, the horizontal cross-sectional area in the pointer illumination chamber is set so that the upper cross-sectional area gradually becomes smaller than the lower cross-sectional area. It features the lighting structure of the instrument.

  Further, the invention described in claim 3 is an extension extended so as to connect between the side wall portion of the light source arrangement portion and the general cylindrical portion of the partition wall portion other than the light source arrangement portion. 3. The instrument illumination structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wall portion is configured to exhibit an inwardly protruding R shape.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention configured as above, the partition wall portion other than the light source arrangement portion in the pointer illumination chamber is brought close to the rotating shaft portion, and the volume in the pointer illumination chamber is reduced. .

  For this reason, the path | route of the illumination light which reflects on the inner surface of the pointer illumination chamber and reaches the light emission pointer can be minimized.

  Accordingly, the illumination light is efficiently reflected, and a sufficient amount of light for illuminating the light emitting pointer can be secured by the single pointer light source.

  Further, since the pointer light source is disposed in the light source arrangement portion provided in the pointer illumination chamber, the pointer illumination chamber other than the light source arrangement portion is disposed between the partition wall portion and the rotating shaft portion. The guide light source is not interposed.

  For this reason, the partition wall portion can be set close to the rotating shaft portion, and the external dimensions of the partition wall portion can be reduced.

  Therefore, the space efficiency is good, for example, the space for mounting other members increases.

  Further, in the present invention, the horizontal sectional area in the pointer illumination chamber is set so that the upper sectional area is gradually smaller than the lower sectional area.

  For this reason, the illumination light emitted from the pointer light source is condensed as it goes upward in the pointer illumination chamber, and enters the light emission pointer above the pointer illumination chamber.

  Further, in the present invention, the extending wall portion configured to exhibit an inwardly projecting R shape includes a side wall portion of the light source arrangement portion and the partition wall portion other than the light source arrangement portion. It extends so that it may connect between the general cylindrical parts.

  For this reason, there is no corner portion or the like that prevents reflection between the light source arrangement portion and the general cylindrical portion of the partition wall portion. Efficiency can be made favorable.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  The same or equivalent parts as those in the conventional example will be described with the same reference numerals.

  1 to 4 show an illumination structure of a meter according to this embodiment.

  First, in terms of configuration, in the illumination structure of the instrument according to the present embodiment, the vehicle meter 11 as the instrument prints the movement 3 that rotationally drives the light emitting pointer 2 via the pivot shaft 3a. The circuit board 4 is mounted on the back side.

  A resin-made lower case member 12 is fixed to the front surface side of the printed circuit board 4, and the lower case member 12 and the printed circuit board 4 are covered with a dial 6 provided on the upper surface side.

  A circular pointer opening 6a is formed in the dial plate 6, and the rotation shaft 3a is inserted into the pointer opening 6a so as to be rotatable.

  The rotating shaft 3a is formed integrally with the pointer main body 2a of the light emitting pointer 2, and the tip is fitted from the surface side of the dial 6 to the rotating shaft portion 2b inserted through the pointer opening 6a. Thus, the rotation shaft 3a and the rotation shaft 2b constitute a rotation shaft of the light emitting pointer 2.

  Further, on the back side of the dial 6 and on the front side of the printed circuit board 4, there are a plurality of dial LEDs 7... Serving as a dial light source that transmits the dial 6 and illuminates from the back side. One is provided.

  Furthermore, a single pointer LED 8 as a pointer light source for illuminating the light emitting pointer 2 is provided on the surface side of the printed circuit board 4, slightly spaced from the rotating shaft 3a. .

  A partition member 13 having a cylindrical partition 14 formed integrally with the lower case member 12 is provided around the rotation shaft 3a.

  The partition member 13 is provided so that the dial LEDs 7 and the pointer LEDs 8 are separated from each other, and the partition member 13 is provided inside the partition wall 14 around the partition member 13. A pointer illumination chamber 15 is formed in which the illumination light from the pointer LED 8 is reflected by the inner side surface and guided to the light emission pointer 2.

  In the pointer illumination chamber 15, the horizontal sectional area is gradually smaller than the lower sectional area from the surface side of the printed circuit board 4 to the peripheral edge of the pointer opening 6a. It is set to be.

  An annular flange portion 15a fitted to the inner edge of the pointer opening 6a is provided at the upper end of the pointer illumination chamber 15 so that the illumination light of the pointer LED 8 does not leak in the direction of the back side of the dial 6. Is formed.

  In the pointer illumination chamber 15, a light source arrangement section 16 for arranging the single indicator LED 8 is provided.

  Further, in the general cylindrical portion 14a of the partition wall portion 14 other than the light source arrangement portion 16 in which the pointer LEDs 8 are arranged, as shown in FIG. 4, the inner side surface 14b is set close to the rotating shaft 3a. Thus, the volume in the pointer illumination chamber 15 is reduced.

  That is, in this embodiment, the distance from the rotation shaft 3a to the inner side surface 14b of the general cylindrical portion 14a of the partition wall portion 14 is shorter than the distance from the rotation shaft 3a to the pointer LED 8. The pointer LED 8 is positioned outside the position of the inner side surface 14b.

  The extended portion of the general cylindrical portion 14a extended from the pointer illumination chamber 15 has a pair of inwardly extending protruding wall portions 17a, 17a facing each other until they are substantially parallel to each other. A bottleneck portion 17 is formed so as to be integrated with the left and right side wall portions 16 a and 16 a of the light source arrangement portion 16.

  Further, between the left and right side wall portions 16a and 16a, an arc wall portion 16b having an inner reflection surface portion 16c for reflecting the illumination light of the pointer LED 8 toward the rotating shaft 3a so as to collect the light. They are connected together.

  Further, the partition member 13 is integrally formed with a reflective surface portion 18 for a dial plate that is formed in an umbrella shape from the outer surface of the partition wall portion 14 and protrudes outward.

  In addition, a liquid crystal mounting recess 12 a for mounting the liquid crystal display panel member 20 is formed below the partition member 13 of the lower case member 12.

  Next, the effect | action of the illumination structure of the meter of this embodiment is demonstrated.

  In the illumination structure of the instrument of this embodiment, when the dial LEDs 7 are first turned on, the illumination light of the dial LEDs 7 is integrally provided in the partition member 13 as shown in FIG. The light is reflected from the reflective surface portion 18 for the dial plate and the inner reflective surface 12b of the lower case member 12 and enters from the back side of the dial 6 together with direct illumination light from the LEDs 7 for the dial plate.

  For this reason, these illumination lights which permeate | transmitted some scale parts etc. of the said dial 6 are visually recognized by the passenger | crew of a vehicle interior as backlight illumination.

  When the pointer LED 8 is turned on, the illumination light of the pointer LED 8 enters the pointer main body 2a along the rotation shaft portion 2b of the light emitting pointer 2, and the inside of the pointer main body 2a. The top surface side of the pointer main body 2a is caused to emit light while being guided toward the distal end.

  At this time, the dial LED 7... And the pointer LED 8... Are separated by the partition wall portion 14 of the partition member 13, so that the illumination light of the pointer LED 8 is transmitted to the dial 6. There is no risk of light entering the back side of the lamp, and illumination leakage is prevented.

  In the illumination structure of the instrument of this embodiment, the partition wall portion 14 other than the light source arrangement portion 16 in the pointer illumination chamber 15 is brought close to the rotating shaft 3a as a general cylindrical portion 14a, and the pointer illumination is performed. The volume in the chamber 15 is reduced.

  For this reason, the path of the illumination light that is reflected by the inner surface of the pointer illumination chamber 15 and reaches the light emission pointer 2 can be minimized.

  Accordingly, the illumination light is efficiently reflected, and a sufficient amount of light for illuminating the light emission indicator 2 can be secured by the single indicator LED 8.

  Further, since the pointer LED 8 is arranged in the light source arrangement portion 16 provided in the pointer illumination chamber 15, the general cylindrical portion 14 a of the partition wall portion 14 of the pointer illumination chamber 15 other than the light source arrangement portion 16. The pointer LED 8 is not interposed between the rotating shaft 3a.

  For this reason, the general cylindrical portion 14a of the partition wall portion 14 can be set close to the rotating shaft 3a, and the external dimensions of the partition wall portion 14 can be reduced.

  Therefore, the space efficiency is good, for example, the space for mounting other members increases.

  For example, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, the dial LEDs 7... Can be arranged close to the general cylindrical portion 14a in the direction of the white arrow.

  For this reason, it can be set as the effective reflective surface of the said LED 7 for dials to the lower end of the said reflective surface part 18 for dials, and reflected light quantity can be increased.

  Moreover, since the distance to the back surface side of the dial 6 can be set long, uneven illumination can be suppressed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the liquid crystal mounting recess 12 a for mounting the liquid crystal display panel member 20 can be formed close to the pointer 2.

  Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing and designing the instrument can be improved, such as improving the layout of the combination meter.

  The horizontal cross-sectional area in the pointer illumination chamber 15 is set so that the upper cross-sectional area gradually becomes smaller than the lower cross-sectional area.

  Therefore, the illumination light emitted from the pointer LED 8 is condensed toward the upper side of the pointer illumination chamber 15 and enters the light emission pointer 2 above the pointer illumination chamber 15.

  Therefore, when the illumination light from the pointer LED 8 is reflected, the brightness of the light emission pointer 2 can be enhanced.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the extended wall portions 17 a and 17 a configured to exhibit an inwardly protruding R shape are the left and right side walls of the light source arrangement portion 16. It extends so that between the part 16a, 16a and the general cylindrical part 14a of the said partition part 14 other than the said light source arrangement | positioning part 16 may be connected.

  For this reason, there is no corner or the like that prevents reflection between the light source arrangement portion 16 and the general cylindrical portion 14 a of the partition wall portion 14.

  Therefore, the illumination light illuminated in the direction opposite to the rotation shaft 3a emitted from the pointer LED 8 by the inner reflection surface portion 16c of the arc wall portion 16b of the light source arrangement portion 16 is also applied to the rotation shaft 3a. It is reflected so as to be focused. Such reflected illumination light is not obstructed because there is no corner or the like that becomes an obstacle on the way to the vicinity of the rotating shaft 3a.

  In this embodiment, the pointer LED 8 is arranged in the light source arrangement part 16 located on the outer side of the general cylindrical part 14 a of the partition wall part 14.

  For this reason, the illumination light reflected by the inner surface 14b of the general cylindrical portion 14a is also condensed toward the rotating shaft 3a. At this time, the distance from the pointer LED 8 to the inner side surface 14b is not obstructed and is not obstructed.

  In addition, the pair of left and right extending wall portions 17a, 17a of the bottle neck portion 17 are configured to have an inwardly projecting R shape, and therefore, the irradiation from the indicator LED 8 is performed with a wide reflection area. The illumination light to be reflected can be reflected once to illuminate the vicinity of the rotating shaft 3a.

  Therefore, since the substantially uniform reflection can be obtained on each inner side surface of the pointer illumination chamber 15, the light collection efficiency can be further improved.

  Although the best embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design changes that do not depart from the gist of the present invention are possible. Are included in the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been made with reference to the case where one pointer LED 8 is used as a pointer light source. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If the single light source for pointers is arranged in each light source arrangement part 16, 16 in the pointer illumination chamber 15, such as providing 16, 16, the shape, quantity and reflection surface of each light source arrangement part 16 are changed. The material etc. which comprise are not specifically limited.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a perspective view in the state which removed the dial of the meter which shows the illumination structure of the meter of the best embodiment of this invention, and demonstrates the whole structure. It is sectional drawing in the position along the AA in FIG. 1 which shows the illumination structure of the meter of embodiment, and demonstrates a structure. It is a front view of the meter for vehicles explaining an example of the layout which can be implemented with the lighting structure of the meter of an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view at the position along the line BB in FIG. 1 in the illumination structure of the meter according to the embodiment. It is a partial cross section front view of a meter apparatus with the illumination structure of the meter of a prior art example. It is a perspective view which shows attachment of the dial of a meter apparatus, and a partition member by the illumination structure of the meter of a prior art example. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view explaining the whole structure by the illumination structure of the meter of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

2 Light emission pointer 6 Dial 6a Pointer opening rotation shaft 2b Rotation shaft portion 3a Rotation shaft 7 LED for dial (light source for dial)
8 Pointer LED (pointer light source)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Vehicle meter 12 Lower case member 13 Partition member 14 Partition part 14a General cylindrical part 15 Pointer illumination room 16 Light source arrangement part 17a, 17a Extension wall part

Claims (3)

A light emitting pointer having a rotation shaft portion rotatably inserted into a pointer opening of the dial, a dial light source provided on the back side of the dial, and a pointer light source for illuminating the light emitting pointer An instrument illumination structure that separates between the dial light source and the pointer light source by a partition member having a partition wall provided around the rotating shaft portion,
The partition member is formed with a pointer illumination chamber inside the partition wall, and a light source arrangement portion for arranging the single pointer light source is disposed in the pointer illumination chamber, and the pointer light source is disposed. An illumination structure of a meter, wherein the partition wall portion other than the light source arrangement portion is placed close to the rotating shaft portion to reduce the volume in the pointer illumination chamber.   2. The instrument illumination structure according to claim 1, wherein a horizontal cross-sectional area in the pointer illumination chamber is set so that an upper cross-sectional area gradually becomes smaller than a lower cross-sectional area.   An extending wall portion extending so as to be continuous between the side wall portion of the light source arrangement portion and the general cylindrical portion of the partition wall portion other than the light source arrangement portion is an inwardly projecting R shape The instrument illumination structure according to claim 1, wherein the instrument illumination structure is configured to exhibit the following.

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