JP2007155353A - Meter-use pointer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a meter-use pointer having no wrongly assembled optical path regulating member by restricting the order of assembling a plurality of optical path regulating members having different louver arrangement angles. <P>SOLUTION: The meter-use pointer 6 comprises: a light receiving section 26 for receiving light from a pointer-use light emitting diode (light source); an indicating section 5 which shines with light from the light receiving section 26; an optical path regulating member for regulating light emitted from the surface of the indicating section 5; and a light shielding cover 24. The optical path regulating member is composed of first and second optical path regulating members 21, 22 having a plurality of louvers 32, such that an extensional direction of the louver 32 of the first optical path regulating member 21 intersects with an extensional direction of the louver 32 of the second optical path regulating member 22. Furthermore, a restricting means is disposed for restricting the order of assembling the first and second optical path regulating members 21, 22 onto the light shielding cover 24. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an instrument pointer having an indicator that shines by receiving light from a light source, and more particularly to an instrument pointer provided with an optical path restricting member that restricts the emission direction of light emitted from the indicator.

  For example, in a meter such as a speedometer or engine tachometer installed in a vehicle, when the surroundings are dark, such as at night, the display and pointer of the meter are dark and difficult to see. Visibility is improved by transmitting parts and pointers through transmission. In that case, the light emitted from the display unit or the pointer may irradiate the windshield or side glass of the vehicle, and an image of the instrument is reflected, which may hinder the field of view. Therefore, in order to eliminate such a point, a light control element is incorporated in the dial and the pointer so that the light emitted from the dial and the pointer is less likely to be reflected on the windshield and side glass of the vehicle (for example, , See Patent Document 1 below).

  According to the on-vehicle display device described in Patent Document 1, in the dial plate 18, the light control film 25 (light control element) in which the extending direction of the louver 27 is lateral is sandwiched between the resin plates 24, Of the transmissive display light emitted from the display unit, the light in the vertical direction is shielded by the louver 27, thereby eliminating the windowing of the light on the surface of the windshield 23.

In the pointer 16, a light control film 30 (light control element) in which the extending direction of the louver 29 is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the pointer 16 is disposed on the surface of the pointer main body 28, and the longitudinal direction of the pointer main body 28 is further increased. Light shielding ridges 32 protruding from the surface of the pointer main body 28 are formed on both side surfaces in the direction. As a result, light emitted from the surface of the pointer main body 28 and traveling in the longitudinal direction of the pointer 16 is blocked by the louver 29, and light traveling in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is blocked by the shading bar 32.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-281582

  Vehicle instruments are often mounted in a slightly deeper position on the dashboard, and the windshield has a structure that prevents windows from being projected. For this reason, if you use a light control film with the louver extending in the vertical direction for the dial, you can prevent window reflection on the side glass of the vehicle. There is. In the pointer 16 of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, there is little influence if the protruding height of the collar 32 is high, but in particular, the pointer 16 rotates. There is a possibility that light directed in the direction of will be reflected on the side glass. If the height of the collar 32 is increased to prevent window reflection, the design becomes unsightly, or the visible range of the glittering surface of the pointer main body 28 is narrowed by the collar 32 depending on the rotation position, and the visibility is lowered. There is also.

  In order to improve such a point, in particular, in the rotating pointer, two optical path restricting members (corresponding to the above-mentioned light control elements) in which the extending directions of the louvers are orthogonal to each other are arranged on the surface. It is possible. With this configuration, the direction of light emitted from the surface of the pointer is regulated by the optical path regulating member, and the window reflection on the glass surface can be suppressed even if the position of the pointer is arbitrary. Here, if the difference between the two optical path regulating members is that the arrangement angle of the louver is different, when the optical path regulating member is arranged on the surface of the pointer, two optical path regulating members having the same louver arrangement angle are provided. There is a risk of assembly.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and provides an indicator for an instrument that restricts the order when assembling a plurality of optical path regulating members having different louver arrangement angles and prevents the optical path regulating member from being misassembled. Objective.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a light receiving unit that receives light from a light source, an instruction unit that shines by light from the light receiving unit, and a light that is disposed on the surface of the instruction unit and emitted from the surface. An instrument pointer comprising: an optical path regulating member that regulates an emission direction; a light shielding cover having a front part that covers a peripheral edge of the optical path regulating member and a side surface of the pointing unit; and a central part that covers an upper portion and a periphery of the light receiving unit. The optical path regulating member includes first and second optical path regulating members having a plurality of louvers arranged in parallel, and the extending direction of the louver of the first optical path regulating member and the second optical path regulating member The extending direction of the louver intersects, and is provided with a restricting means for restricting the order when the first and second optical path restricting members are assembled to the light shielding cover. .

  Further, the position restricting means is provided in the central portion.

  Further, the position restricting means includes a restricting portion provided on one of the first and second optical path restricting members or the light shielding cover, and a restricted portion provided on the other.

  The order for assembling a plurality of optical path regulating members having different louver arrangement angles can be regulated to obtain an instrument guide without erroneous assembly of the optical path regulating members.

  A vehicle instrument to which the instrument pointer of the present invention is applied will be described as an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a partial front view of the instrument, and FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the instrument (A-A section in FIG. 1). FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the instrument pointer as seen from the back side. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the instrument pointer (cross section BB in FIG. 1). FIG. 5 is a state diagram in which the second optical path regulating member is assembled to the light shielding cover, and FIG. 6 is a state diagram in which the second optical path regulating member and the first optical path regulating member are assembled to the light shielding cover.

  The instrument includes a pointer-type tachometer 1, for example. The tachometer 1 includes a rigid circuit board 2 and an instrument body 4 that is mounted on the back side of the circuit board 2 in a conductive state with the circuit board 2 and has a pivot shaft 3 that extends forward through the circuit board 2. The indicator pointer 6 provided with the indicator 5 and a display unit 7 such as a scale and number indicating the engine speed of the vehicle which is arranged behind the indicator pointer 6 and which is to be indicated by the indicator 5 are provided. Dial 8, diffusing plate 9 disposed behind the dial 8, dial plate optical path regulating member 10 disposed between the dial 8 and the diffusing plate 9, dial 8, and dial A holding member 11 for holding the optical path regulating member 10 and the diffusion plate 9 is provided.

  Further, a facing member made of, for example, black synthetic resin, having a synthetic resin cover 12 covering the back side of the circuit board 2 and an opening 13 that is disposed on the front side of the periphery of the dial 8 and defines the visible region of the dial 8. 14, a see-through plate 15 made of, for example, black transparent synthetic resin disposed on the front side of the dial 8, the look-back member 14, and the indication of the instrument pointer 6 mounted on the circuit board 2 around the rotating shaft 3. A pointer light emitting diode 16 as a light source for illuminating the portion 5 and a dial light emitting diode 17 as a light source for illuminating the display portion 7 of the dial 8 are provided. The see-through plate 15 may be colorless and transparent.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the instrument pointer 6 includes a pointer seat 19 having a pointer shaft 18, an indicator 20 having an indicator 5, a first optical path regulating member 21, and a second optical path regulating member 22. A balancer 23 made of a copper alloy and a light shielding cover 24 are provided. The indicator 20 is made of a colorless and transparent synthetic resin, and the back side of the indicator 5 is hot stamped with a two-layer foil 25 made of, for example, red and black (black foil on the dial 8 side), the light receiving unit 26, It has a base 28 provided with a reflective surface 27.

  The pointer seat 19 is made of, for example, black synthetic resin, and has a substantially circular flange portion 29 that covers the lower portion of the base portion 28 of the indicator 20 and a pointer shaft 18 that extends downward from the center of the flange portion 29. The instrument pointer 6 is fixed to the instrument body 4 by press-fitting the shaft 18 into the distal end side of the rotating shaft 3 of the instrument body 4. In addition, an opening hole 30 is provided in the flange portion 29 corresponding to the light receiving portion 26 of the indicator 20, and the light receiving surface 31 side of the light receiving portion 26 enters the opening hole 30.

  The first optical path regulating member 21 and the second optical path regulating member 22 are made of, for example, “Light Control Film” manufactured by Sumitomo 3M, and a plurality of louvers 32 arranged in parallel are sandwiched between transparent polyethylene terephthalate films, for example, and integrated. It has the role of regulating the direction of light passing through. Broken lines partially shown in the first optical path regulating member 21 and the second optical path regulating member 22 in FIG. 3 indicate the arrangement direction of the louvers 32. That is, in the first optical path regulating member 21, the arrangement direction (angle) of the plurality of louvers 32 is the longitudinal direction of the first optical path regulating member 21, and in the second optical path regulating member 22, The arrangement direction (angle) of the plurality of louvers 32 is arranged in parallel to the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the second optical path regulating member 22. That is, the angle formed between the extending direction of the louver 32 of the first optical path regulating member 21 and the extending direction of the louver 32 of the second optical path regulating member 22 intersects at 90 degrees.

  The light shielding cover 24 is made of, for example, a black synthetic resin having a light shielding property, and has a substantially cylindrical central portion 33 covering the upper portion and the periphery of the base portion 28 of the indicator 20, the surface periphery of the second optical path regulating member 22, and the indication. It has an elongated front part 34 that covers the side surface of the pointing part 5 of the body 20 and a rear part 35 that covers the balancer 23. The balancer 23, the first optical path regulating member 21, the second optical path regulating member 22, the indicator 20, and the flange portion 29 of the pointer seat 19 are arranged in the light shielding cover 24. The first optical path regulating member 21 is arranged on the surface of the instruction unit 5, and the second optical path regulating member 22 is laminated on the first optical path regulating member 21. Further, the front portion 34 of the light shielding cover 24 is provided with a slit 36, and by providing this slit 36, the peripheral edge of the surface of the second optical path regulating member 22 is covered with the front portion 34.

  The first and second optical path restricting members 21 and 22 are an elongated front side portion 37 disposed in the front portion 34 of the light shielding cover 24 and a restricting portion disposed in the central portion 33 (also a restricting means). There are wide portions 38 and 38A. The front side portions 37 of the first and second optical path regulating members 21 and 22 have the same shape and substantially coincide with the shape of the indication portion 5 of the indicator 20. The shapes of the wide portions 38, 38 </ b> A are different between the first optical path regulating member 21 and the second optical path regulating member 22, and the wide portion 38 of the first optical path regulating member 21 is positioned substantially at the center in the central portion 33. It is. The wide portion 38A of the second optical path regulating member 22 is located in the central portion 33 near the front portion 34 of the light shielding cover 24, and a notch 39 is provided.

  In the central portion 33 of the light shielding cover 24, for example, a rib-like projecting portion (which is also a regulating means) as a regulated portion is provided integrally with the front wall 40. The first protrusion 41 and the divided second protrusion 42 are provided on the left and right with a center line (not shown) passing through the center of the center 33 in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the front part 34. . The third projecting portion 43 is provided at substantially the center in the central portion 33 along the longitudinal direction of the front portion 34, and one end thereof enters the notch 39 provided in the second optical path regulating member 22. It has become. The height of the third protrusion 43 is substantially the same as the thickness of the second optical path restricting member 22, and the height of the first and second protrusions 41, 42 is the first and second optical path restricting. It is made higher than the thickness which laminated | stacked the members 21 and 22. As shown in FIG.

  The above-described instrument pointer 6 is assembled as follows, for example. The balancer 23 is disposed in the rear portion 35 with the light shielding cover 24 turned upside down. Next, the second optical path regulating member 22 is disposed in the front part 34 and the central part 33. At this time, the wide portion 38A is located between the second protrusion 42 and the fourth protrusion 45 provided along the peripheral wall 44 on the front 34 side (or the second protrusion 42 and the front 34 side). Between the peripheral wall 44 and the peripheral wall 44). The front side portion 37 is positioned with respect to the front portion 34 of the light shielding cover 24. As described above, the third protrusion 43 is inserted into the notch 39 (see FIG. 5).

  Next, the first optical path regulating member 21 is stacked on the second optical path regulating member 22. At this time, the wide portion 38 of the first optical path regulating member 21 is disposed in a state of being positioned between the first projecting portion 41 and the second projecting portion 42. The third protrusion 43 serves as a support for the first optical path regulating member 21 and is not visible from the back side after the first optical path regulating member 21 is disposed. Further, even after the first optical path regulating member 21 is arranged, the wide portion 38A of the second optical path regulating member 22 can be seen (see FIG. 6).

  If the first optical path regulating member 21 is first arranged in the light shielding cover 24, the wide portion 38 rides on the third projecting portion 43, and the assembly order is noticed. In this manner, the third protrusion 43 serves as a support for the first optical path regulating member 21 and at the same time is a regulated part that regulates the assembly order and prevents erroneous assembly.

  Thereafter, the pointer seat 19 incorporating the indicator 20 into the flange portion 29 is inserted from the back side of the light shielding cover 24, the indicator portion 5 of the indicator 20 is disposed in the front portion 34, and the edge of the flange portion 29 is Assembling of the indicator needle 6 is completed by engaging with an engaging portion (not shown) provided on the peripheral wall 44 of the light shielding cover 24.

  The holding member 11 is made of, for example, white synthetic resin having a light shielding property, and includes a cylindrical portion 46 disposed between the dial plate 8 and the circuit board 2 so as to surround the pointer light emitting diode 16, and a dial plate light emitting diode. 17 includes a reflection wall 47 arranged to be inclined around 17, a mounting portion 48 on which the diffusion plate 9 and the like are mounted.

  The dial plate 8 is formed with a ground portion 49 by printing a black light-shielding layer (not shown) on the surface side of a colorless and transparent substrate except for a portion that becomes the display portion 7. In FIG. 1, the display portion 7 is shown in black and the ground portion 49 is shown in colorless. The dial optical path restricting member 10 is the same as the first optical path restricting member 21 or the second optical path restricting member 22 described above, but the arrangement direction (angle) of the louvers is the vertical direction (in FIG. 1). The louvers are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction).

  The diffusion plate 9 is made of, for example, a white translucent synthetic resin that is light transmissive. The diffusing plate 9 emits the light from the light emitting diode 17 for the dial plate toward the dial plate 8 while diffusing it, and illuminates the display portion 7 of the dial plate 8 almost uniformly. Therefore, it is not limited to a white translucent material, for example, a white transmissive layer may be printed on a colorless transparent material, or fine wrinkles may be given. Note that the diffuser plate 9 may be omitted if satisfactory transmitted illumination is obtained.

  When the indicator light emitting diode 16 that emits light in red emits light, for example, the indicator needle 6 configured in this way, the light incident on the light receiving portion 26 from the light receiving surface 31 of the indicator 20 is reflected on the reflecting surface 27 and indicated. Guided to the part 5 side, reflected from the red foil of the two-layer foil 25 and emitted from the surface of the indicating part 5. This light is emitted from the slit 36 of the light shielding cover 24 through the first and second optical path regulating members 21 and 22, and is visually recognized in red.

  At this time, the light emitted from the surface of the indication unit 5 is restricted by the first optical path regulating member 21 in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the indication unit 5, and the second optical path regulating member 22 designates the indication unit 5. Therefore, the light emitted from the second optical path restricting member 22 is restricted from being directed in both the longitudinal direction of the indicator 5 and the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. Therefore, even when the instrument pointer 6 is rotated, it is difficult to project a window on the side glass of the vehicle.

  Further, when the dial plate light emitting diode 17 that emits white light, for example, the display unit 7 of the dial plate 8 emits illumination light directly on the diffuser plate 9 or reflects on the reflection wall 47 of the holding member 11 to diffuse the diffuser plate 9. Irradiate. Then, the light diffused by the diffusion plate 9 passes through the dial plate optical path regulating member 10 toward the dial plate 8 side, and the display unit 7 is visually recognized in white. At this time, the direction of the light passing therethrough is regulated by the dial plate optical path regulating member 10, so that the light emitted from the display unit 7 does not go in the left-right direction. That is, the emitted light is prevented from being reflected on the side glass of the vehicle.

  As described above, the first and second optical path restricting members 21 and 22 have the wide portions 38 and 38A and the protrusions 41 to 43 and 45 provided on the light shielding cover 24. And the order at the time of assembling | attaching the 2nd optical path control members 21 and 22 to the light shielding cover 24 can be controlled, and an incorrect assembly can be prevented. Further, since the wide portion 38A of the second optical path regulating member 22 is visible even after the first optical path regulating member 21 is disposed, the first and second optical path regulating members 21 and 22 are visible. It can be confirmed that is securely incorporated.

  Further, the wide portions 38 and 38A of the first and second optical path regulating members 21 and 22 and the protrusions 41 to 43 and 45 are provided in the central portion 33 of the light shielding cover 24 that covers the base portion 28 of the indicator 20. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide in another place, and it is not necessary to change the design of the indicator needle 6. In addition, since the restricting means includes the wide portions 38 and 38A and the protruding portions 41 to 43 and 45, the order in which the first and second optical path restricting members 21 and 22 are assembled to the light shielding cover 24 with a simple structure. It is possible to prevent misassembly of the optical path regulating member by regulating.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, For example, each rib-shaped protrusion part is provided in the center part 33 of the light-shielding cover 24 as a to-be-controlled part, and the 1st and 2nd optical path control is used as a control part. Although the wide portions 38 and 38A are provided on the members 21 and 22, the method and shape of the restricting portion and the restricted portion (that is, restricting means) are arbitrary. Further, the arrangement direction of the louvers of the first and second optical path regulating members 21 and 22 may be reversed. Alternatively, the first and second optical path regulating members 21 and 22 may be regulated parts and the light shielding cover 24 may be a regulating part.

  In addition, the pointer shaft 18 that is press-fitted from the base portion 28 of the indicator 20 into the rotating shaft 3 of the meter body 4 may be integrally provided without providing the pointer seat 19. Moreover, the instruction | indication part 5 and the base 28 may be a different body. In addition, although the angle formed by the extending direction of the louver 32 of the first optical path regulating member 21 and the extending direction of the louver 32 of the second optical path regulating member 22 intersects at 90 degrees, it may not be 90 degrees. .

The partial front view of the meter to which the pointer for meters of the present invention was applied. The fragmentary sectional view of the same instrument (the AA section in Figure 1). The disassembled perspective view of the pointer for meters of the present invention. Sectional drawing (BB cross section in FIG. 1) of the pointer for the instrument. The state figure which assembled | attached the 2nd optical path control member to the light-shielding cover. The state figure which assembled | attached the 2nd optical path control member and the 1st optical path control member to the same light shielding cover.

Explanation of symbols

5 Indicator 6 Indicator pointer 16 Indicator light emitting diode (light source)
21 1st optical path control member 22 2nd optical path control member 24 Light-shielding cover 26 Light-receiving part 32 Louver 33 Center part 34 Front part 38,38A Wide part (regulation part)
41 1st protrusion (regulated part)
42 Second protrusion (restricted part)
43 3rd protrusion (regulated part)

Claims (3)

  A light receiving unit that receives light from the light source, an instruction unit that shines by the light from the light receiving unit, an optical path regulating member that is disposed on the surface of the instruction unit and regulates the emission direction of the light emitted from the surface; In an instrument pointer comprising a front part covering the periphery of the optical path regulating member and the side surface of the indicating part and a light shielding cover having a central part covering the upper part and the periphery of the light receiving part, the optical path regulating member is arranged in parallel. The first and second optical path regulating members having a plurality of louvers, and the extending direction of the louver of the first optical path regulating member intersects with the extending direction of the louver of the second optical path regulating member. And an indicator for restricting the order in which the first and second optical path restricting members are assembled to the light shielding cover.   The instrument pointer according to claim 1, wherein the restricting means is provided in the central portion.   2. The restriction device according to claim 1, wherein the restriction means includes a restriction portion provided on one of the first and second optical path restriction members or the light shielding cover, and a restricted portion provided on the other. The instrument guideline according to claim 2.

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