JP2006177826A - Indicator-type measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an indicator-type measuring instrument having a simple structure capable of improving the illumination efficiency, when illuminating an indicator panel from its surface side. <P>SOLUTION: The indicator-type measuring instrument is equipped with an indicator 7; the indicator panel 6 on which an index section 62 being an object to be indicated by the indicator 7 is disposed; and a light source L3, which is disposed behind the indicator 7 and at the periphery of its rotational center. Furthermore, a reflecting surface 74 is formed on the indicator 7, which tilts so as to move away from the rotational center, in accordance with increasing of the distance from the light source L3 and reflects light from the light source L3 toward the surface of the indicator panel 6. A circular conical surface is preferably used as the reflecting surface 74. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a pointer-type instrument mounted on, for example, a dashboard of an automobile, and particularly relates to improvement of an illumination structure.

In this type of pointer-type meter, for example, as described in Patent Document 1 below, a light-shielding disk member is provided on the pointer, and light is transmitted between the light-shielding disk member and the display plate. It is configured to leak light to the outer periphery of the light-shielding disk member while reflecting, and as described in the following Patent Document 2, which illuminates the surface of the display plate located around the light-shielding disk member, The display panel is divided into two parts, a central plate part and an outer peripheral plate part, a light guide plate is arranged on the back of the central plate part, and the outer peripheral plate part is inclined with respect to the central plate part to be arranged at the outer peripheral end of the light guide. It is known that the light arranged through the light guide plate is opposed to be emitted from the outer peripheral end portion to illuminate the surface of the outer peripheral plate portion.
JP 2001-296150 A JP 2002-277288 A

However, although the pointer-type instrument described in Patent Document 1 can illuminate the display plate from the surface by utilizing a part of the pointer, the light-shielding disc member is placed at the center of rotation as the distance from the light source increases. Since the approaching inclined surface is configured, there is a problem that the reflection efficiency is poor and the illumination tends to be dark. Further, the pointer-type instrument described in Patent Document 2 has a problem that the structure is complicated because a display plate is divided and a light guide plate is required to illuminate the surface of the outer peripheral plate portion.
Therefore, the present invention provides a pointer-type instrument that can improve the illumination efficiency with a simple configuration when the display panel is illuminated from the surface side.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a pointer, a display board provided with an index portion to be indicated by the pointer, and a light source disposed behind the pointer and around the rotation center thereof. The pointer is provided with a reflecting surface that is inclined so as to be separated from the center of rotation as the distance from the light source increases and reflects the light of the light source toward the surface of the display plate.

  Further, the invention is characterized in that at least a part of the reflecting surface is a conical surface.

  Further, the invention is characterized in that the display plate is provided with an inclined surface corresponding to the reflection surface.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that a light source that illuminates the indication portion of the pointer and another light source that illuminates the display plate through the reflecting surface are provided around the rotation center of the pointer.

  In the invention, it is preferable that the second light source can emit a plurality of colors.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that a shielding member that covers at least the front side of the center of rotation of the pointer including the reflecting surface is provided.

  According to the present invention, an electronic display is incorporated in the shielding member.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pointer-type instrument that can achieve the initial purpose and can improve the illumination efficiency with a simple configuration when the display panel is illuminated from the surface side.

  Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings, taking as an example the case where the pointer-type instrument according to the present invention is applied to a vehicle instrument.

  1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a pointer-type instrument according to this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pointer-type instrument according to the present embodiment has a back cover 1, a circuit board 2, a main body portion disposed behind the circuit board 2, and a pointer shaft 3 penetrating the circuit board 2. And the driving device 4 extending, the frame 5 disposed in front of the circuit board 2, the display plate 6 disposed in front of the frame 5, and the pointer shaft 3 of the driving device 4. A pointer 7 that rotates above, a shielding member 8 that is disposed on the front side of the pointer 7 and the display plate 6 and covers a required portion thereof, and a light guide 9 for the display plate that is disposed behind the display plate 6. The pointer light guide 10 is provided behind the pointer 7.

  The back cover 1 is made of synthetic resin and covers the back side of the circuit board 2.

  The circuit board 2 is made of a well-known hard circuit board, and the driving device 3 is mounted on the back surface thereof, and a plurality of light sources L1 to L3 made of light emitting diodes are mounted on the front surface. These light sources L1 to L3 illuminate the display board 6 and the pointer 7, respectively.

  The drive device 4 is composed of, for example, a stepping motor, and rotates a pointer 7 connected to the pointer shaft 3 according to a measurement amount.

  The frame body 5 is made of, for example, white synthetic resin, and has a function of an illumination room that illuminates the display board 6 and the pointer 7 in addition to the function as a frame body.

  The display board 6 includes a light-shielding ground portion (for example, silver color) 61 and a light-transmitting indicator portion (for example, white) 62. The ground portion 61 and the indicator portion 62 are translucent as a base material. It consists of a printed layer provided on the substrate.

  The indicator part 62 is composed of a numeral part and a scale part, and has a black border. In this case, the indicator 62 is transmitted and illuminated in white from behind by a light source L1 that emits white light, for example, and the ground part 61 is reflected and illuminated from the surface by a light source (other light sources) L3 that emits blue light, for example. Will be described later.

  Further, the display plate 6 has a central portion 6a extending in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the pointer shaft 3, and an inclined portion 6b extending inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the extending direction of the central portion. In this case, the inclined portion (inclined surface) 6b corresponds to a reflecting surface of the pointer 7 described later, and is inclined in a divergent shape with the extension direction of the pointer shaft 3 as a reference.

  The pointer 7 is made of a translucent material, is attached to the pointer shaft 3 and spreads around the rotation center portion 7a, and an instruction extending continuously from the rotation center portion 7a in a direction perpendicular to the pointer shaft 3 A portion exposed from the shielding member 8 located at the center is bent forward along the inclined portion 6b of the display panel 6. As shown in FIG.

  The rotation center portion 7a includes a light guide reflection portion 71 that reflects light introduced into the pointer 7 via the light source L2 and the pointer light guide 10 toward the distal end side of the indication portion 7b, and the pointer shaft 3 as a central axis. A reflective wall 72 that is a conical wall surrounding the periphery thereof and is inclined so as to be separated from the center of rotation as the distance from the light source L3 increases, and is attached to the periphery of the reflective wall 72, for example. A reflective member 73 made of a silver-colored reflective sheet or film is provided.

  In this case, the reflecting member 73 is attached to the conical reflecting wall 72, and the surface of the reflecting member 73 reflects the light received through the light source L3 in the radial direction with the pointer shaft 3 as a reference. The light that functions and is reflected in this way illuminates the surface of the display board 6, and a light emission pattern M as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 1 appears. In the present embodiment, the light emission color of the light source L3 is set to blue, and the color of the ground portion of the display board 6 is set to silver, so that the light emission pattern M is blue. In the case of the present embodiment, the light emission pattern M depends on the position (arrangement interval) of the light source L3, and the six display boards corresponding to locations close to the light source L3 are visually recognized as the brightest radiation pattern.

  The shielding member 8 is made of, for example, a black light-shielding synthetic resin material. The shielding member 8 covers the rotation center portion 7a of the pointer 7 and the center portion 6a of the display board 6, and exposes the distal end side of the indication portion 7b of the pointer 7. Part 8a and a second concealing part 8b covering the outer periphery of the display panel 6.

  The outer periphery of the first concealing portion 8a is formed in a circular shape along the movement path of the pointer 7, and an electronic display 11 composed of a liquid crystal panel for displaying various vehicle information is incorporated in the central portion, for example. The display surface is exposed from the window portion of the first concealing portion 8a.

  The back of the electronic display 11 is covered with a display cover 12 made of a light-shielding synthetic resin. Inside the display cover 12, a backlight device (not shown) that illuminates the electronic display 11 is provided. It has been incorporated.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the pointer 7, the display board 6 provided with the indicator portion 62 that is an indication target of the pointer 7, and the light source L <b> 3 disposed behind the pointer 7 and around the rotation center thereof. And a reflecting surface 74 that is inclined so as to be separated from the center of rotation as the distance from the light source L3 increases and reflects the light of the light source L3 toward the surface of the display plate 7. When the display board 7 is illuminated from the surface side, the illumination efficiency can be improved with a simple configuration.

  That is, the reflecting surface 74 according to the present embodiment has a structure that is inclined so as to be separated from the rotation center as the distance from the light source L3 increases. It is possible to efficiently reflect in the radial direction around the pointer shaft 3. Further, the illumination structure on the surface of the display plate 7 according to the present embodiment does not require, for example, dividing the display plate 6 or adopting a light guide plate, so that the configuration can be simplified. In the present embodiment, the reflecting surface 74 is provided on the base material of the pointer 7 made of a translucent material, but any component can be used as long as it is a constituent element of the pointer 7.

  In the present embodiment, since the reflecting surface 74 is a conical surface, the light from the light source L3 can be efficiently reflected in the radiation direction. In addition, such a conical surface should just be employ | adopted as at least one part of the reflective surface 74. FIG.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the reflective efficiency of the display board 6 can be improved by providing the display board 6 with the inclined part (inclined surface) 6b corresponding to the reflective surface 74.

  In the present embodiment, a light source L2 that illuminates the indication portion 7b of the pointer 7 and a light source (other light source) L3 that illuminates the display board 6 through the reflecting surface 74 are provided around the rotation center of the pointer 7. In addition, the illumination efficiency can also be improved by providing the dedicated light source L3 for illuminating the display panel 6 through the reflection surface 74 as described above.

  In the present embodiment, the light source L3 emits light of a single color (blue). However, a light source capable of emitting a plurality of colors is adopted as the light source L3, for example, depending on the state of the vehicle and the selection of the user (occupant). The emission color of the light source L3 may be changed or switched. With this configuration, the light emission color change of the light source L3, that is, the color change of the light emission pattern M can be performed. It can be according to your preference.

  In the present embodiment, by providing the shielding member 8 (first concealing portion 8a) that covers at least the front side of the rotation center region of the pointer 7 including the reflecting surface 74, the necessary region can be concealed and the appearance can be improved. it can. Such a shielding member 8 can also be provided on the pointer 7.

  In the present embodiment, by incorporating the electronic display 11 in the shielding member 8 (first concealing portion 8a), the concealing area (dead space) can be used as a display space, and space efficiency can be improved. In addition, visibility can be improved by arranging the electronic display 11 in the center of the movement path of the pointer 7.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part showing a modification of the reflecting surface as a second embodiment of the present invention. The reflecting wall 72 is cut in the horizontal direction (direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the pointer shaft 3). It is sectional drawing when it sees from (user side).

  The reflection wall 72 of the present embodiment is made of a conical light-shielding component, and a reflection surface 74 is formed by the outer wall surface. In this case, a plurality of grooves (V-shaped grooves) are formed at regular intervals on the outer wall surface of the reflecting wall 72, and when the light from the light source L3 is reflected, a streaky light emitting pattern M is formed. Furthermore, when the pointer 7 rotates, the streak-like light emission pattern M also rotates in conjunction with it.

  According to the present embodiment formed as described above, the same effect as the first embodiment can be expected, and the pointer 7 rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the streaky luminescent pattern M. The light emission pattern M appears to fluctuate, and novelty and interest can be improved.

  FIG. 5 is also a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a modification of the reflection surface as the third embodiment of the present invention. Like FIG. 4, the reflection wall 72 is cut in the horizontal direction and is a cross-sectional view when viewed from above.

  The reflection wall 72 of the present embodiment is basically the same as that in FIG. 4, but a plurality of grooves (V-shaped grooves) are formed continuously, and when the light from the light source L3 is reflected, the case of FIG. Further, the stripe-like light emission pattern M having a finer pitch is formed.

  The present embodiment formed as described above can be expected to have the same effects as those of the second embodiment.

  In addition, if the reflective surface 74 is a reflective surface which inclines so that it may leave | separate from a rotation center as the distance from the light source L3 increases, a shape, a material, a material, and a color are arbitrary, According to the light emission pattern M to obtain. It only has to be selected.

The front view which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention. AA sectional drawing of FIG. The perspective view which shows the principal part of the pointer applied to the embodiment. The principal part sectional drawing of the pointer by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The principal part sectional drawing of the pointer by the 1st Embodiment of this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Back cover 2 Circuit board 3 Pointer axis | shaft 4 Drive apparatus 5 Frame 6 Display board 6a Center part 6b Inclined part 7 Pointer 7a Rotation center part 7b Instruction part 8 Shielding member 8a 1st concealing part 8b 2nd concealing part 9 Display Light guide for plate 10 Light guide for pointer 11 Electronic display 12 Display cover 61 Ground part 62 Index part 71 Light guide reflection part 72 Reflection wall part 73 Reflective member 74 Reflective surface L1 to L3 Light source M Light emission pattern

Claims (7)

Guidelines,
A display board provided with an indicator part to be indicated by the pointer;
A light source disposed behind the pointer and around its center of rotation,
A pointer-type instrument, wherein the pointer is provided with a reflective surface that is inclined so as to be separated from the center of rotation as the distance from the light source increases and reflects the light of the light source toward the surface of the display plate. The pointer-type instrument according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the reflecting surface is a conical surface. The pointer-type meter according to claim 1, wherein the display plate is provided with an inclined surface corresponding to the reflecting surface. 2. The pointer-type meter according to claim 1, wherein a light source that illuminates an indicator portion of the pointer and another light source that illuminates the display plate through the reflection surface are provided around the rotation center of the pointer. The pointer-type meter according to claim 4, wherein the second light source is capable of emitting a plurality of colors. The pointer-type instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a shielding member that covers at least the front side of the center of rotation of the pointer including the reflecting surface. The pointer type instrument according to claim 6, wherein an electronic indicator is incorporated in the shielding member.

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