JP2007322343A - Vehicular instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular instrument capable of preventing movement and deformation of a seal member, without complicating an assembly work and increasing manufacturing cost. <P>SOLUTION: A locking part 30 locked on the edge 19a of a liquid crystal display board 19 is formed integrally with the seal member 29, on the elastically-deformable circular seal member 29 elongated along the edge 19a of the liquid crystal display board 19 and arranged between a frame 20 and the liquid crystal display board 19 in order to seal the interval between the frame 20 and the liquid crystal display board 19. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an instrument for a vehicle such as an automobile, and more particularly to an instrument for a vehicle in which a liquid crystal display device for digital display is incorporated in an analog instrument.

  Conventionally, for example, there is a vehicle instrument in which an analog instrument such as a vehicle speed meter that displays a vehicle speed and a liquid crystal display device such as a liquid crystal display distance meter that digitally displays a travel distance are assembled on a common printed circuit board. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  The analog type meter includes a pointer indicating a display unit such as a character and a scale on the dial. In the analog type instrument, the vehicle speed can be read from the value of the display unit indicated by the pointer.

A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal plate formed by enclosing a liquid crystal between a pair of glass substrates, a frame body that covers an edge of the liquid crystal plate and defines a display window of the liquid crystal display device, and a frame body And a frame member and an elastically deformable seal member disposed between the liquid crystal plates to seal between the liquid crystal plates. The sealing member has an annular shape extending along the edge of the liquid crystal plate, and is held between the frame and the liquid crystal plate by being sandwiched between the frame and the liquid crystal plate. As a result, the edge of the liquid crystal plate and the frame body are in close contact with each other via the seal member. It is possible to reliably prevent rattling between the two.
JP 2004-219198 A

  However, since the seal member is held by simply being sandwiched between the frame and the liquid crystal plate without being fixed to a member constituting the vehicle instrument by special fixing means, for example, a large impact is applied to the liquid crystal display device. , The inertia force acting on the seal member due to the impact may cause the seal member to move or deform into a shape different from the shape along the edge of the liquid crystal plate. If the arrangement position of the seal member shifts between the edge of the liquid crystal plate and the frame due to the movement or deformation of the seal member, the seal member partially falls within the display region. This causes the appearance to deteriorate.

  In order to prevent movement and deformation of the seal member upon impact on the liquid crystal display device, it may be possible to fix the seal member to the frame or the liquid crystal plate using, for example, an adhesive and a dedicated fixing member. This complicates the assembly work of the instrument and increases the manufacturing cost due to an increase in the number of parts.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle instrument that can prevent the movement and deformation of a sealing member without complicating assembly work and increasing manufacturing costs.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 includes a liquid crystal plate in which liquid crystal is sealed between a pair of glass plates, a frame body that covers an edge of the liquid crystal plate, and the liquid crystal A liquid crystal display having an elastically deformable annular seal member that extends along the edge of the plate and is disposed between the frame and the liquid crystal plate to seal between the frame and the liquid crystal plate An instrument for a vehicle including a device, wherein the sealing member is integrally formed with a locking portion that is locked to at least one of the frame and the edge of the liquid crystal plate. It is characterized by.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the sealing member for sealing between the frame and the liquid crystal plate has the locking portion locked to at least one of the edge of the frame and the liquid crystal plate. Since they are integrally formed, the sealing member can be fixed to the liquid crystal plate along the edge of the liquid crystal plate by locking the locking portion to the edge of the liquid crystal plate, for example. Thereby, for example, when a large impact is given to the liquid crystal display device, the inertial force acting on the seal member can be received by the locking portion, so that the seal member is moved by the inertial force or along the edge of the liquid crystal plate. Deformation into a shape different from the shape can be reliably prevented.

  As a result, the seal member is prevented from shifting from the edge of the liquid crystal plate and the frame to the inside of the frame, that is, the display area of the liquid crystal plate due to movement or deformation of the seal member. It is possible to prevent the member from being partially exposed in the display area.

  Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent the deterioration of the appearance as in the conventional case due to the seal member being exposed in the display area of the liquid crystal plate.

  In addition, the engaging portion is formed integrally with the seal member, and the seal member can be easily fixed to the liquid crystal plate by engaging the engaging portion with the edge of the liquid crystal plate, for example. It is not necessary to adhere the seal member to the frame or the liquid crystal plate using the, or to fix the seal member to the frame or the liquid crystal plate using a dedicated fixing member formed separately from the seal member. Further, by using an adhesive and a dedicated fixing member, it is possible to reliably prevent the conventional assembly operation of the vehicle instrument and the increase in the manufacturing cost.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle meter 10 according to the present invention includes a housing 11 composed of a base member 11 a and a case cover 11 b, and a transparent protection is provided in the window opening 12 of the case cover 11 b. A plate 13 is mounted. In the housing 11, a printed circuit board 14 on which an electric circuit is formed, a digital liquid crystal display device 16 attached to the printed circuit board 14 via a light guide member 15 disposed on the surface of the board, and a light An analog display device 17 attached to the printed circuit board 14 through the guide member 15 is incorporated.

  The analog display device 17 is a tachometer that displays the engine speed in the illustrated example. The analog display device 17 is attached to the front surface of the light guide member 15 and has a dial 17b with a display portion 17a made of scales and letters, and a pointer 17c for pointing to the display portion 17a on the dial. Is provided. The pointer 17c is connected to a drive shaft of a movement 17d having an electric motor provided on the printed circuit board 14, and is rotated along the display portion 17a by the movement of the movement. The display portion 17a has translucency, and a light emitting diode 24 for a dial plate serving as a backlight light source for the dial plate for illuminating the translucent display portion 17a from the back surface of the dial plate 17b is attached to the printed circuit board 14. It has been. The light from the light emitting diode 24 for the dial is radiated from the back surface of the dial 17b toward the predetermined portion where the display unit 17a is provided through the light guide hole 25 provided in the light guide member 15.

  A liquid crystal display device 16 is disposed on the back surface of the lower portion of the dial plate 17b, and a window 17e for the liquid crystal display device 16 is formed in the lower portion as shown in FIG. Further, the dial 17b is provided with an extending portion 17f that projects over the liquid crystal display device 16 in the window 17e. A display portion 17a is extended to the extended portion 17f.

  In the illustrated example, the liquid crystal display device 16 includes a distance meter that displays information on the travel distance. As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid crystal display device 16 includes a liquid crystal display plate 19 on which a numerical value of a travel distance is digitally displayed, a frame body 20 that covers an edge portion 19a of the liquid crystal display plate, a liquid crystal display plate 19 and a frame body. 20 and a sealing member 29 for sealing between the two. As shown in FIG. 1, a large number of light emitting diodes 22 are arranged in the horizontal direction below the printed circuit board 14. The light from the light emitting diode 22 irradiates the liquid crystal display panel 19 from the back surface through the light guide holes 23 provided in the lower portion 21 of the light guide member 15 corresponding to the light emitting diodes 22. Thereby, the liquid crystal display panel 19 can be illuminated by each light emitting diode 22 from the back surface.

  In the illustrated example, the frame body 20 is made of a metal material having a light shielding property, and has a frame body 20a having a substantially rectangular plane, and an extension portion that is formed on the frame body and is an overlapping portion of the dial plate 17b. And a frame portion 20c that defines a window portion 20b corresponding to 17f.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid crystal display plate 19 includes a liquid crystal plate 26 in which liquid crystal is sealed, and a pair of polarizing plates 27a and 27b arranged along both surfaces of the liquid crystal plate.

  The liquid crystal plate 26 includes transparent substrates 26a and 26b made of, for example, a pair of transparent glass plates, and the liquid crystal is sealed between the transparent substrates. Before the liquid crystal is sealed between the transparent substrates 26a and 26b, the electrode 18a is disposed on one transparent substrate 26a as is well known in the art. In the illustrated example, the electrode 18a is arranged according to the TN segment method. A transparent common electrode 18b is formed on the other transparent substrate 26b so as to cover almost the entire inner surface of the transparent substrate. The liquid crystal plate 26 is formed by bonding the two transparent substrates 26a and 26b to each other so as to ensure a space for injecting liquid crystal therebetween.

  Both polarizing plates 27a and 27b are arranged with their polarization planes shifted by 90 degrees as is well known in the art, and are bonded to the outer surfaces of both transparent substrates 26a and 26b. Each of the polarizing plates 27a and 27b is formed with a translucent portion 28 composed of a region where the polarization plane is not formed. The translucent portion 28 is formed corresponding to the window portion 20b (see FIG. 3) of the frame 20 so as to correspond to the extending portion 17f of the dial plate 17b. Since the polarization plane is not formed on the light transmitting portion 28, the light transmitting portion 28 allows light from the light emitting diode 22 to pass therethrough. The light transmitting portion 28 can be formed by partial notches of the polarizing plates 27a and 27b.

  The seal member 29 is made of an elastically deformable material such as rubber, and is disposed between the liquid crystal display panel 19 and the frame body 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the seal member 29 extends along the bottom edge portion 29 a disposed along the lower edge 19 b of the liquid crystal display panel 19 and both side edges 19 c of the liquid crystal display panel 19 from both ends of the bottom edge portion. A pair of side edges 29b that rise up and an upper edge 29c that is disposed along the upper edge 19d of the liquid crystal display panel 19 so as to connect both ends of the both side edges. ing.

  The upper edge portion 29c is stretched in a U-shape extending along the window portion 20b of the frame body 20, that is, along the light transmitting portion 28 of the polarizing plates 27a and 27b, toward the inside of the seal member 29. A protruding portion 29d is formed.

  In the seal member 29 according to the present invention, a locking portion 30 that is locked to the liquid crystal display panel 19 is formed integrally with the seal member 29. As shown in FIG. 5, the locking portion 30 is formed on the upper edge portion 29 c of the seal member 29 at its center portion and one end portion, respectively. Each locking portion 30 includes an extension portion 31 that extends from the upper edge portion 29 c toward the back side of the liquid crystal display panel 19, and a hanging portion that extends downward from the tip of the extension portion along the back surface of the liquid crystal display plate 19. Each of which has a hook shape as a whole. The extension amount of the extension part 31 is substantially equal to the thickness of the liquid crystal display panel 19. Thereby, the seal member 29 is restricted from moving in the direction away from the liquid crystal display panel 19 by the locking portions 30 being locked to the upper edge 19d of the liquid crystal display plate 19, and the bottom edge portion 29a, The side edge portions 29b and the upper edge portion 29c are fixed to the liquid crystal display plate 19 in a state where the side edge portions 29b and the upper edge portion 29c are arranged along the lower edge 19b, the side edge 19c, and the upper edge 19d, respectively.

  The liquid crystal display panel 19 to which the sealing member 29 is fixed has a frame body so that the light transmitting portions 28 of the polarizing plates 27 a and 27 b and the protruding portion 29 d of the sealing member 29 correspond to the window portions 20 b of the frame body 20. 20 is attached. Thereby, the liquid crystal display device 16 is assembled. At this time, the bottom edge portion 29a, the side edge portions 29b and the upper edge portion 29c of the sealing member 29 are respectively connected to the lower edge 19b, the side edges 19c and the upper edge 19d of the liquid crystal display plate 19 by the liquid crystal display plate 19 and the frame body 20, respectively. It is sandwiched between the frame body 20 and the frame body 20a. As a result, the edge 19a of the liquid crystal display panel 19 and the frame 20 are in close contact with each other via the seal member 29. The vibration can be absorbed by the elastic deformation of the seal member 29, and thus it is possible to prevent the rattling between the frame body 20 and the liquid crystal display panel 19. Further, in a state where the liquid crystal display device 16 is assembled, the seal member 29 is covered by the frame body without protruding from the frame body 20 inward.

  Further, the liquid crystal display panel 19 to which the seal member 29 is fixed is attached to the lower portion 21 on the front surface of the light guide member 15 through the frame body 20. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, a light diffusing plate 32 for diffusing the illumination light is disposed on the back surface of the polarizing plate 27a in order to make the irradiation light from the backlight light source 22 uniform.

  As is well known in the art, the liquid crystal display panel 19 is provided between the polarizing plates 27a and 27b when no voltage is applied between the common electrode 18b and the segment electrode 18a provided on the transparent substrates 26a and 26b. Twist is given sequentially so that the molecular arrangement of the arranged liquid crystal 19a is along the polarization direction of each polarizing plate 27a, 27b. Therefore, the liquid crystal plate 26 exhibits translucency as a whole when no voltage is applied. In the state showing this translucency, the liquid crystal display panel 19 allows transmission of irradiation light from the light emitting diode 22 irradiated through the light diffusion plate 32.

  On the other hand, when a voltage is applied between the common electrode 18b and the segment electrode 18a, the twist of the molecular arrangement is released in the liquid crystal segment portion to which the voltage is applied. As a result, the liquid crystal segment portion to which voltage is applied exhibits light shielding properties.

  Therefore, by selecting the segment electrode 18a and applying a predetermined voltage between the selected segment electrode 18a and the common electrode 18b, each liquid crystal segment portion has a shutter function for the light emitted from the light emitting diode 22. As a result, predetermined display on the liquid crystal display panel 19 becomes possible as is well known.

  According to the present embodiment, as described above, the locking members 30 formed on the sealing member 29 are locked to the upper edge 19 d of the liquid crystal display plate 19 to fix the sealing member 29 to the liquid crystal display plate 19. Therefore, for example, when a large impact is given to the liquid crystal display device 16, the downward inertia force acting on the seal member 29 can be received by the respective locking portions 30. The downward movement of the member 29 or the deformation of the upper edge portion 29c can be reliably prevented.

  As a result, the arrangement position of the seal member 29 is changed from between the liquid crystal display panel 19 and the frame body 20 by the movement of the seal member 29 or the deformation of the upper edge portion 29 c, that is, within the display area of the liquid crystal display panel 19. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the seal member 29 from being partially exposed in the display area.

  Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the deterioration of the appearance as in the conventional case due to the seal member 29 being exposed in the display area of the liquid crystal display panel 19.

  Further, as described above, each locking portion 30 is formed integrally with the seal member 29, and by locking each locking portion 30 to the edge portion 19a of the liquid crystal display panel 19, the seal member 29 is liquid crystal. Since it can be easily fixed to the display panel 19, the seal member 29 is bonded to the liquid crystal display panel 19 using an adhesive, or the seal member 29 is sealed using a dedicated fixing member formed separately from the seal member 29. There is no need to fix the member 29 to the liquid crystal display panel 19. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the conventional assembly work of the vehicle instrument 10 and the increase in manufacturing cost due to the use of an adhesive and a dedicated fixing member.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which each locking portion 30 is formed on the upper edge portion 29c of the sealing member 29 is shown, but instead of this, or in addition to this, the locking portion 30 is each sealed member. 29 can be formed on each side edge 29b or bottom edge 29a. In this case, each locking part 30 can be locked to each side edge 19c or lower edge 19b of the liquid crystal display panel 19, respectively.

  When the engaging portions 30 are respectively formed on the upper edge portion 29c, the side edge portions 29b, and the bottom edge portion 29a of the seal member 29, for example, when a large impact is applied to the liquid crystal display device 16, it acts on the seal member 29. Since the inertia force in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction can be received by each locking portion 30, the seal member 29 is moved in the vertical direction by the inertia force or the upper edge portion 29c, each side edge portion 29b and the bottom. The deformation of the edge portion 29a can be reliably prevented.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the seal member 29 is fixed to the liquid crystal display panel 19 is shown, but instead, the seal member 29 can be fixed to the frame body 20. In this case, the shape of each locking part 30 can be changed as appropriate so that each locking part 30 can be locked to the frame body 20, and each locking part 30 is locked to the frame body 20. A mating engagement portion can be formed.

It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the vehicle meter which concerns on this invention. It is a front view of the instrument for vehicles shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the liquid crystal display device illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the liquid crystal display panel shown in FIG. 1. It is a perspective view showing roughly the state where the seal member concerning the present invention was fixed to the liquid crystal display panel.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Instrument for vehicles 16 Liquid crystal display device 19 Liquid crystal board (liquid crystal display board)
19a edge (edge of liquid crystal display panel)
20 Frame 26a, 26b Glass plate (transparent substrate)
29 Seal member 30 Locking portion

Claims (1)

  A liquid crystal plate in which liquid crystal is sealed between a pair of glass plates, a frame body disposed so as to cover an edge portion of the liquid crystal plate, and extending along the edge portion of the liquid crystal plate, the frame body and the liquid crystal plate A liquid crystal display device having an elastically deformable annular seal member disposed between the frame body and the liquid crystal plate so as to seal a gap between the frame and the seal member, A vehicular instrument characterized in that a locking portion that is locked to at least one of the frame and the edge of the liquid crystal plate is formed integrally with the seal member.

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