JP2006030071A - Pointer instrument for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pointer instrument for a vehicle, capable of realizing novel appearance by effectively and indirectly shining a periphery of a light-proof cap of a dial plate. <P>SOLUTION: The pointer instrument 1 for the vehicle comprises the dial plate 2, a pointer 3 for turning along the front face of the dial plate 2, a light source 7b arranged behind the dial plate 2, the light-proof cap 4 attached to the pointer 3 so as to cover the front face of at least a rotation center region of the pointer 3, and a reflecting means 4a for reflecting the light of the light source 7b, outwardly from the light-proof cap 4 on the front face of the dial plate 2. The reflecting means 4a is arranged between the dial plate 2 and the light-proof cap 4 and near the end of the light-proof cap 4 inside it. Thus, the novel appearance can be realized, by effectively and indirectly shining the periphery of the light-proof cap 4 of the dial plate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a pointer instrument for a vehicle that illuminates the outside of a dial on a dial.

  In general, in a pointer instrument for a vehicle, light from a light source disposed behind the dial is incident on the pointer through a hole for inserting a pointer shaft of the dial, and the pointer is lit and displayed. In order to prevent light emitted from the dial shaft insertion hole of the dial from directly entering the eyes of the viewer, a light shielding cap is provided on the pointer so as to cover the above-described pointer shaft insertion hole.

  In such a configuration, the light reflected in the light shielding cap irradiates the dial outside the light shielding cap, that is, leaks outside the light shielding cap as halation (leakage light). The appearance of the image may be degraded.

On the other hand, in order to improve the appearance of the vehicular pointer instrument and realize a novel appearance, the applicant of the present invention actively vibrates the dial by the light emitted from the pointer shaft insertion hole and reflected by the light shielding cap. It has been proposed to irradiate, in other words, indirectly illuminate (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-296150 A

  In Patent Document 1, light from a pointer light source arranged behind a dial is multiple-reflected between the face of the light shielding cap facing the dial and the dial, and indirectly outside the light shielding cap of the dial. Illuminate. However, since this illumination light is attenuated by multiple reflections, the area around the light shielding cap of the dial face cannot be effectively indirectly illuminated, and a novel appearance may not be realized.

  In order to solve this, it is necessary to increase the current flowing to the pointer light source, or to use a high-intensity light-emitting diode with low power consumption as the pointer light source. The former increases the power consumption, and the latter increases the manufacturing cost of the pointer instrument for the vehicle, both of which have problems.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular pointer instrument that can effectively indirectly illuminate the periphery of a light shielding cap of a dial face to realize a novel appearance.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following technical means.

  The vehicular pointer instrument according to claim 1 covers a dial, a pointer that rotates along the front surface of the dial, a light source disposed behind the dial, and at least a front surface of a rotation center region of the pointer. A light-shielding cap attached to the pointer, and a reflection means for reflecting light from the light source to the outside of the light-shielding cap on the front face of the dial, and the reflection means is located between the dial and the light-shielding cap and inside the light-shielding cap. And it is set as the structure arrange | positioned in the edge part vicinity of a light-shielding cap.

  In this configuration, since the reflecting means is disposed in the vicinity of the end portion of the light shielding cap, the reflected light from the reflecting means is not directly reflected from the dial and can illuminate the dial directly without being attenuated. . As a result, it is possible to effectively indirectly illuminate the periphery of the light-shielding cap of the dial, thereby realizing a novel appearance.

  In the vehicular pointer instrument according to a second aspect, the reflecting means is a reflecting surface provided at a position facing the dial in the light shielding cap.

  In this configuration, since the reflecting means is a reflecting surface provided on the light shielding cap, the above-described effects can be obtained without adding new components.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the dial is provided with a translucent portion for guiding the light from the light source to the reflecting means.

  In this configuration, since the translucent portion is provided on the dial, the above-described effects can be obtained without newly adding parts.

  In the vehicular pointer instrument according to the fourth aspect, the translucent portion is a colored transmissive layer.

  In this configuration, since the translucent portion is a colored transmissive layer, the indirect illumination light by the reflecting means can be colored, and a more novel appearance can be realized.

  The vehicular pointer instrument according to claim 5 is configured such that the pointer emits light with a part of light from the light source.

  In this configuration, since the light source for indirect illumination and the light source for pointer are shared, the above-described effects can be obtained at low cost.

  Hereinafter, an example in which the pointer instrument for a vehicle according to the present invention is applied to a combination meter mounted on an automobile will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
(Constitution)
FIG. 1 is a partial front view of a combination meter 1 which is a pointer instrument for a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration diagram illustrating an electrical circuit configuration of the combination meter 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  A combination meter 1 which is a vehicle pointer instrument is arranged in front of a driver's seat of an automobile and displays various vehicle information related to the automobile. As shown in FIG. 1, the combination meter 1 according to the present embodiment forms a speedometer that indicates the traveling speed of an automobile.

  The combination meter 1 includes a dial 2 for displaying information and allowing the driver to visually recognize it, and is visually recognized by the driver from the upper side of the paper surface of FIG. The dial 2 is formed of a translucent material, for example, a plate material such as a transparent polycarbonate resin, and a dial (including numerals) 2 a and a scale 2 b as speedometers are provided on the dial 2.

  Other background portions are matted in a non-translucent state (or matte translucent light so that the character portion 2a, the scale portion 2b, and the translucent portion 2c that guides the light of the light source to the reflecting means can be transmitted. Printing or hot stamping is performed on the front surface of the dial 2 on the driver side (upper side in FIG. 2). The translucent part 2c may be provided as it is without being printed, or may be provided as an opening instead.

  Behind the dial 2 (lower side in FIG. 2), a reflector 6, a light emitting diode 7a, a light emitting diode 7b as a light source, a diffusion plate 8 and a printed board 10 are arranged. The printed circuit board 10 forms an electric circuit portion of the combination meter 1, and the light emitting diodes 7 a and 7 b are mounted on the printed circuit board 10.

  A through hole 2d is provided in a substantially central portion of the dial 2, and a cylindrical portion 6a of the reflector 6 is fitted into the through hole 2d, and a shaft 9a of the movement 9 is placed in a space inside the cylindrical portion 6a. Is inserted.

  A movement 9 for rotating the pointer 3 by an angle corresponding to an external electric signal (a vehicle speed signal in the combination meter 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention) is mounted and fixed on the printed circuit board 10. . Furthermore, a control device 11 (FIG. 3) is mounted on the printed circuit board 10 for driving the movement 9 and controlling the lighting and extinguishing of the light emitting diodes 7a and 7b in accordance with the operating state of the automobile. The control device 11 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer.

  The movement 9 is composed of, for example, a cross coil movement, a stepping motor or the like, and rotates the shaft 9a by an angle corresponding to an electric signal from the outside. The shaft 9a of the movement 9 extends to the front side (upper side in FIG. 2) of the dial 2 through the space inside the cylindrical portion 6a of the reflector 6, and the pointer 3 is fixed to the tip thereof.

  The pointer 3 is formed of a translucent material such as an acrylic resin, and a lower surface thereof, that is, a surface opposite to the driver, has, for example, a textured surface or a painted surface as a diffuse reflection layer (not shown). Is formed. As a result, the pointer 3 is lit and displayed by the light of the light emitting diode 7b incident on the pointer 3 being reflected by the diffuse reflection layer. Alternatively, a transparent material in which the pointer 3 itself is colored may be used.

  A light shielding cap 4 is attached to the front side of the pointer 3 (upper side in FIG. 2). The light shielding cap 4 is formed of a black resin having a light shielding property or the like, and prevents light from the light emitting diode 7b from directly entering the eyes of the driver. The light shielding cap 4 reflects the light of the light emitting diode 7b as a light source to the outside of the light shielding cap 4 on the front surface (upper side of FIG. 2) of the dial 2 (left and right sides of the light shielding cap 4 in FIG. 2). And a cap reflecting surface 4a.

  The cap reflecting surface 4a is processed to easily reflect light in order to obtain a high reflectance. For example, the light shielding cap 4 is formed by black and white two-color resin molding so that the cap reflection surface 4a is white and the other portions are black, or a plated product having a high reflectance is fixed to the light shielding cap 4. Thus, the cap reflecting surface 4a is formed.

  The reflector 6 is formed of a resin material, for example, and reflects light emitted from the light emitting diode 7 a on the printed circuit board 10 toward the dial 2, and reflects light emitted from the light emitting diode 7 b to the pointer 3 and the cap reflecting surface of the light shielding cap 4. Reflects toward 4a.

  A part of the cylindrical portion 6a of the reflector 6 protrudes to the front side of the dial 2 (upper side in FIG. 2). This protrusion is for preventing the light of the light emitting diode 7 b guided to the pointer 3 side from leaking outside the light shielding cap 4 on the front surface of the dial 2.

  The diffusing plate 8 diffuses the light from the light emitting diode 7a so that the transmitted illumination of the dial 2 is not bright and dark.

  Next, the electric circuit configuration of the combination meter 1 according to the present embodiment described above will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, power is always supplied from the battery 14 to the control device 11. An ignition switch 13 is connected to the control device 11 so that its operating state (ON or OFF) can be detected, and a speed sensor 12 that detects the traveling speed of the vehicle is connected so that a detection signal can be input. The control device 11 is also connected with light emitting diodes 7 a and 7 b and a movement 9.

(Operation)
The operation of the combination meter 1 as the speedometer according to the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described particularly with respect to the visual recognition state.

  When the ignition switch 13 is turned on by the driver, as shown in FIG. 3, the control device 11 detects it and starts operation, lights up the light emitting diodes 7 a and 7 b, and drives the movement 9. That is, the control device 11 calculates the vehicle speed of the vehicle based on the output signal from the speed sensor 12, and drives the movement 9 so as to rotate the shaft 9a by an angle corresponding thereto.

  Hereinafter, the illumination of the dial 2 by the light emitting diodes 7a and 7b and the light emission display of the pointer 3 will be described in detail.

  The light of the light-emitting diode 7a that has been turned on is guided to the diffuser plate 8 by the reflector 6 in accordance with the optical path of the arrow in FIG. 2, and is uniformed by the diffuser plate 8 so as not to cause bright and dark in the transmitted illumination. Is transmitted and illuminated.

  The light emitted from the light emitting diode 7b is guided to the pointer 3 by the reflector 6 according to the optical path indicated by the arrow P1 in FIG.

  A part of the light from the light emitting diode 7b is guided to the cap reflecting surface 4a of the light shielding cap 4 by the reflector 6 through the light transmitting portion 2c according to the optical path indicated by the arrow P2 in FIG. The cap reflecting surface 4a reflects this guided light to the outside of the light shielding cap 4 (on the left and right sides of the light shielding cap 4 in FIG. 2) on the front surface (upper side of FIG. 2) of the dial 2, and indirectly reflects this. Illuminate.

  The indirect illumination region 4b by the cap reflecting surface 4a forms a so-called circular gradation illumination region in which the intensity of the indirect illumination light gradually decreases outward from the light shielding cap 4 in FIGS.

  Here, in the vehicle pointer instrument according to the above-described prior art, the light of the pointer light source arranged behind the dial is subjected to multiple reflections between the face of the light shielding cap facing the dial and the dial, Indirect illumination outside the shading cap on the dial. However, since this illumination light is attenuated by multiple reflections, the area around the light shielding cap of the dial face cannot be effectively indirectly illuminated, and a novel appearance may not be realized.

  On the other hand, in the combination meter 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above, since the cap reflection surface 4a is provided in the vicinity of the end of the light shielding cap 4, the reflected light from the cap reflection surface 4a is transmitted to the dial 2. The dial 2 can be directly illuminated without multiple reflections and without attenuation. Thereby, since the reflected light by the cap reflecting surface 4a can effectively indirectly illuminate the periphery of the light shielding cap 4 on the dial 2, a novel appearance can be realized.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical portion 6 a of the reflector 6 prevents the light of the light emitting diode 7 b guided to the pointer 3 side from leaking outside the light shielding cap 4 on the front surface of the dial 2. A part protrudes on the front side of the board 2 (upper side in FIG. 2). Thereby, the deterioration of the appearance due to the leakage of light is prevented.

  In addition, the color of the indirect illumination light of the indirect illumination region 4b by the cap reflecting surface 4a is the color of the background portion of the dial 2 (the portion other than the character portion 2a and the scale portion 2b) and the light emitting diode 7b in FIGS. Different from the light emission display color of the pointer 3 by the light, a colored transmission layer may be formed in the light transmitting portion 2c to set the light emission color of the light emitting diodes 7a and 7b. As a result, a more innovative appearance can be realized.

(Second Embodiment)
In the combination meter 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, a light emitting diode 7c for indirect illumination is newly added to the first embodiment.

  That is, in the combination meter 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a light emitting diode 7c for indirect illumination is newly added with the light emitting diode 7b used for both the pointer and the indirect illumination dedicated to the pointer. Further, the cylindrical portion 6a of the reflector 6 is formed as a light shielding cylinder so that the light of the light emitting diode 7b is not guided to the cap reflection surface 4a of the light shielding cap 4.

  Thereby, similarly to the combination meter 1 according to the first embodiment, the indirect illumination region 4b has a so-called circular shape in which the intensity of the indirect illumination light gradually decreases outward from the light shielding cap 4 in FIGS. A gradation illumination area is formed. For this reason, since the periphery of the light shielding cap 4 in the dial 2 can be effectively indirectly illuminated, a novel appearance can be realized.

  Moreover, in the combination meter 1 by 2nd Embodiment by this invention, when the ignition switch 13 turns ON, you may perform the effect of a time difference lighting by lighting the light emitting diode 7a-7c separately. Specifically, the light emitting diodes 7a-7c are lit in this order, but may be lit in the reverse order. As a result, a more innovative appearance can be realized.

(Third embodiment)
In the combination meter 1 by 3rd Embodiment by this invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the light leakage ring 5 is newly provided with respect to 2nd Embodiment.

  That is, in the combination meter 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, a ring-shaped light leakage ring 5 is newly provided, and instead of the cap reflection surface 4a of the light shielding cap 4, the ring reflection surface 5a which is a reflection means leaks light. Form on ring 5. The light leakage ring 5 is formed of a resin having a high reflectance such as a white resin.

  A part of the cylindrical portion 6a of the reflector 6 protrudes to the front side (upper side in FIG. 5) of the dial 2, but the light leakage ring 5 is fixed by being fitted to the outside of the protruding portion.

  As a result, like the combination meter 1 according to the above-described embodiment, the indirect illumination region 4b has a so-called circular shape in which the intensity of the indirect illumination light gradually decreases outward from the light shielding cap 4 in FIGS. A gradation illumination area is formed. For this reason, since the periphery of the light shielding cap 4 in the dial 2 can be effectively indirectly illuminated, a novel appearance can be realized.

  In the above-described embodiment, the speedometer is formed as the pointer instrument, but it is not necessary to be limited to the speedometer. Other pointer instruments, for example, a tachometer that indicates the engine speed, a water temperature gauge, a fuel fuel gauge, A voltmeter or the like may be replaced or added.

FIG. 1 is a partial front view of a combination meter 1 which is a vehicle display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration diagram illustrating an electric circuit of the combination meter 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a partial front view of a combination meter 1 that is a vehicle display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a partial front view of a combination meter 1 which is a vehicle display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Combination meter (vehicle pointer instrument)
2 Dial 2a Character 2b Scale 2c Translucent part (colored transparent layer)
2d Through-hole 3 Pointer 4 Light-shielding cap 4a Cap reflection surface (reflection means, reflection surface)
4b Indirect illumination area 5 Light leakage ring (reflection means)
5a Ring reflecting surface (reflecting means, reflecting surface)
6 reflector 6a cylindrical part 7a light emitting diode 7b light emitting diode (light source)
7c Light-emitting diode (light source)
8 Diffusion plate 9 Movement 9a Shaft 10 Printed circuit board 11 Controller 12 Speed sensor 13 Ignition switch 14 Battery

Claims (5)

Dial,
A pointer that rotates along the front surface of the dial;
A light source disposed behind the dial;
A light shielding cap attached to the pointer so as to cover at least the front surface of the center of rotation of the pointer;
Reflecting means for reflecting the light of the light source to the outside of the light shielding cap on the front surface of the dial,
A pointer instrument for a vehicle, wherein the reflecting means is disposed between the dial and the light shielding cap, inside the light shielding cap and in the vicinity of an end of the light shielding cap.   2. The vehicular pointer instrument according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting means is a reflecting surface provided at a position facing the dial in the light shielding cap.   3. The vehicular pointer instrument according to claim 1, wherein a translucent portion that guides light of the light source to the reflecting means is provided on the dial. 4.   The vehicular pointer instrument according to claim 3, wherein the translucent portion is a colored transmissive layer.   5. The vehicular pointer instrument according to claim 1, wherein the pointer emits and displays light by a part of light of the light source. 6.

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