JP2008051731A - Instrument apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sense of depth and a gradation effect without a member to which gradations having different transmittances are applied. <P>SOLUTION: A depth part of a flared display panel 3 is provided with a first group of LEDs 5, and the first group of LEDs 5 are constituted of blue LEDs 5a and purple LEDs 5b. A center part of the display panel 3 is provided with a masking part 7. Light of the first group of LEDs 5 comes out through a ring-like space S between the masking part 7 and the display panel 3 and enters a driver's eyes. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an instrument device, and more particularly to an instrument device that is disposed on an instrument panel of an automobile and displays vehicle speed, engine speed, engine coolant temperature, fuel remaining amount, and the like.

Patent Document 1 proposes an instrument device for the purpose of providing a sense of depth to an instrument device such as a construction machine, a special vehicle, a ship, an automobile, etc., and improving the appearance and providing a high-class feeling. This instrument device emits light from the light source provided inside through a vertical light-transmitting window radially outward, and this is received by the inclined wall of the display panel, giving the instrument device a three-dimensional effect and providing a sense of depth. To produce. Further, this Patent Document 1 proposes to provide a gradation effect for illumination of a display panel by performing gradation processing with different transmittances on a vertical light transmissive window.
JP 2005-24152 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an instrument device capable of providing a gradation effect together with providing a sense of depth without a member subjected to gradation processing having different transmittances.

According to the present invention, such a technical problem is
A display panel that has a shape that gradually increases in diameter while moving forward from the deep part toward the driver, and on the outer peripheral part, displays such as scales, numbers, and characters that are required as instruments,
Guidelines for pointing to the indication;
A first light source disposed deep in the display panel;
A concealing portion disposed in a central portion of the display panel and preventing light from the first light source from directly entering a driver's eyes;
This is achieved by providing an instrument device characterized in that an annular space is formed between the concealing portion and the display panel, and light from the first light source leaks outside through the annular space. The

  That is, according to the present invention, the first light source does not enter the eyes of the driver due to the shielding portion with respect to the three-dimensional display panel having the base portion and the inclined portion described above. The reflected light is reflected by the back surface of the shielding part, and the reflected light illuminates the display board through the annular space between the shielding part and the display board, and this illumination light enters the eyes of the driver. Since the display panel that is indirectly illuminated by the first light source has a display surface that is inclined by a shape that gradually increases in diameter while moving forward toward the driver, a gradation effect is provided by the inclination of the display surface. Can do.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a display unit for displaying the state of the vehicle is provided on the front surface of the concealing unit, and this display unit is typically composed of a color liquid crystal display screen, for example, currently in use. The gear position is displayed as a number. For example, in the case of a vehicle with an automatic transmission, the number of the shift stage may indicate the currently used shift stage every time a shift is performed in the automatic shift mode, or the currently selected shift stage. A mode such as “D” may be displayed when the automatic transmission mode is selected, and “R” may be displayed when the reverse mode is selected. In addition, when the automatic transmission has a manual shift mode, it is preferable to display the shift stage selected by the driver with a number so that the driver can visually recognize the shift stage currently in use.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the display panel has a shape that continues to the outer peripheral portion while changing so that the inclination continuously decreases from the deep portion. As described above, the display panel of this shape reflects the light of the first light source on the back surface of the shielding part, and this reflected light illuminates the display panel through the annular space between the shielding part and the display panel. Since the light leaking through the annular space between the shielding part is gradually attenuated, the gradation effect can be made effective together with the light reflected from the back surface of the shielding part. .

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the front surface of the concealing portion is set to a height level substantially the same as the outer peripheral portion of the display panel, thereby making the above-described gradation effect effective. In addition, the pointer should have a tip portion with a height level substantially coincident with the front surface of the shielding portion, and this pointer can accurately indicate the scale provided on the outer periphery of the display panel that feels the depth. it can. And it is preferable to shine the front-end | tip part of a pointer with a 2nd light source. The pointer is preferably made of a solid transparent resin, whereby the light of the second light source arranged inside the cylindrical light guide member is put into the pointer from the base end surface of the pointer, The pointer may be illuminated by the light of the two light sources. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the distal end portion of the pointer has an elongated isosceles outer contour that is tapered when viewed in plan, and the outer contour of the outer contour of the isosceles outer contour is A substantially similar slit is provided, and the plate surface of the display panel can be seen through the slit. As a result, the pointer extends to the tip along the two sides of an elongated isosceles triangle in a band-like and elongated shape, and looks like a shape that merges at the tip, giving the driver a novel feeling that has never been seen before be able to.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 to 3 exemplify the instrument device of the embodiment, and the illustrated instrument device 1 is an analog display speedometer disposed on an instrument panel of an automobile, but is not limited thereto. Needless to say, the present invention can be similarly applied to a tachometer, a fuel gauge, an engine cooling water thermometer, an engine oil thermometer, and the like, even when the present invention is applied to various instrument devices. It is the same as in the past to include the letters, numbers, scales, and pointers to point to the required instruments.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, instrument device 1 has a case 2 opened forward, that is, in a line-of-sight direction of the meter (for example, upward in FIG. 2), and display panel 3 is disposed in case 2. Has been. The display panel 3 has a so-called trumpet shape in which the diameter gradually increases from the deep part located on the base plate 2a of the case 2 toward the front, that is, toward the driver. Alternatively, it may be a cross-sectional arch whose inclination gradually decreases toward the outer peripheral edge. Specifically, the display panel 3 is a base having a relatively large slope that is substantially curved radially outward after gradually extending in diameter from the base plate 2a of the case 2 toward the open end. 3a and an outer peripheral portion 3b extending from the base portion 3a in a straight line or a arch shape having a gentle cross section so that the inclination of the base portion 3a is relatively large while the inclination of the outer peripheral portion 3b is relatively small. Is shaped.

  A circular circuit board 4 attached to the base plate 2a of the case 2 is disposed at the center of the display panel 3, and a plurality of LEDs 5 of the first group are arranged on the outer circumference of the circuit board 4 on the same circumference. Are spaced apart from each other. The plurality of LEDs 5 in the first group are used for gradation illumination described later (FIGS. 2 and 4). The circuit board 4 is also provided with a plurality of LEDs 6 in the second group spaced apart from each other on a coaxial circumference in the center. This LED 6 of the second group is for the pointer 13 as will be apparent from the following description.

  In front of the circuit board 4, that is, at the open end of the case 2, a shielding portion 7 is provided that is positioned at the center of the display panel 3. The shielding part 7 has a substantially inverted trapezoidal shape in which the front face part protrudes outward in the radial direction, and the front face is located at substantially the same height as the height level of the outer peripheral edge of the display panel 3. It is arranged like this. Typically, the shielding part 7 is preferably circular when viewed in plan. The diameter of the circular front surface of the shielding portion 7 is preferably large enough to cover at least the base 3 a of the display panel 3.

  The shielding part 7 is supported by the base plate 2 a of the case 2 via the leg part 8. The leg 8 extends forward from the base plate 2a, and is preferably integrally formed with the base plate 2a. The leg 8 is provided at a part other than the rotation region of the pointer 13 (part where the scale 10 is not provided), specifically, at a lower part when the display panel 3 is viewed from the front (FIG. 3). The shielding part 7 is supported by the part 8 in a cantilever state.

  A rectangular color liquid crystal display screen 9 (FIG. 3) occupying almost the entire area is provided on the front surface of the shielding portion 7, and various information is displayed on the liquid crystal display screen 9. The electrical signal to the liquid crystal display screen 9 is performed through a flexible wiring or the like disposed along the leg portion 8 described above. The liquid crystal display screen 9 is preferably displayed in normally black, and it is preferable to display characters, numbers or figures to be displayed on a black background in red or white. As information that can be displayed on the liquid crystal display screen 9, for example, in the case of a vehicle with an automatic transmission, the display of the currently selected shift shift is “P” (parking), “N” (neutral), “D”. (Drive), “2” (second speed), and “1” (first speed) are displayed as characters or numbers, and the display of the characters or numbers is performed using almost the entire display area of the liquid crystal display screen 9. In addition, when a manual mode for shifting the automatic transmission mounted on the vehicle as intended by the driver is provided, the speed selected by the driver, for example, if the speed selected by the driver is “second speed”. Then, “2” indicating this is displayed. Further, the liquid crystal display screen 9 may be used to display, for example, a door that is not completely closed. In addition, the mileage of the vehicle and necessary alarm display may be performed using the liquid crystal display screen 9.

  The display panel 3 is provided with a scale 10 and a number 11 on the outer peripheral portion 3b described above. Specifically, as best understood from FIG. 3, a scale 10 is provided on the outer peripheral edge of the display panel 3, and “0”, “20”, “40”... The number 11 which means the speed (Km / h) is provided. The display panel 3 is formed by applying a light-transmitting (transparent) resin substrate or applying a paint that does not transmit light or adhering a colored film, and the parts other than the scale 10 and the numeral 11 are made of matte black. It is good to be. In other words, the scale 10 and the numeral 11 are preferably made of a light-transmitting resin substrate, and the other portions are preferably made of a matte black paint or a matte black film.

  The scale 10 of the display board 3 is indicated by a pointer 13 extending to the scale 10. The pointer 13 has a base end fixed to a rotating shaft 14 provided in alignment with the central axis of the display panel 3 (FIG. 2). The rotating shaft 14 is fixed to the back surface of the base plate 2a of the case 2. The motor 15 is rotationally driven.

  The pointer 13 has a shape along a generally inverted trapezoidal shape when the front side of the pointer 13 is in a position where it interferes with the shielding portion 7, and the space between the shielding portion 7 and the scale 10 is the front surface of the display panel 3. And extending in a plane at substantially the same height level. The pointer 13 has a back surface formed in a shape along the outer peripheral portion 3b from the front portion (upper portion in the drawing) of the base portion 3a of the display panel 3. The pointer 13 is made of a solid transparent plastic (for example, acrylic resin).

  A cylindrical light guide 16 is interposed between the base end portion of the pointer 13 and the circuit board 4, and the above-described second group of LEDs 6 are located inside the light guide 16. The light of the second group of LEDs 6 enters the inside of the pointer 13 from the base end face of the pointer 13 that desires the inside of the light guide 16 and shines the entire pointer 13. The first group of LEDs 5 described above is located outside the light guide 16, that is, between the light guide 16 and the display panel 3.

  As best seen from FIG. 3, the pointer 13 has an elongated isosceles triangular outer contour with a tapered tip 13a that can be seen by the driver when viewed in plan. The pointer 13 preferably has a slit 17 that is substantially similar to the outer contour of the tip portion 13a. The slit 15 penetrates in the line-of-sight direction of the meter. Therefore, the pointer 13 viewed by the driver is pointed along the two sides of an elongated isosceles triangle due to the presence of the slit 17 that is substantially similar to the outer contour of the pointer 13. The strip is elongated in a strip shape toward the end, and is produced in a shape that merges at the tip.

  In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, reference numeral 20 is an edge ring disposed on the periphery of the speedometer, and 21 indicates a third group of LEDs disposed on the outer periphery of the base plate 2 a of the case 2. . The LED 21 of the third group is arranged directly below the scale 10 and the speed number 11 provided on the outer peripheral portion of the display panel 3, and the LED 21 of the third group is configured by, for example, a red light-emitting LED. The scale 10 and the speed numbers 11 such as “0”, “20”, and “40” can be highlighted in red.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view of the circuit board 4. With reference to this FIG. 4, the 1st group several LED5 arrange | positioned in the outer peripheral part of the circuit board 4 and the 2nd group several LED6 of an inner peripheral part are demonstrated. For convenience of explanation, first, a plurality of LEDs 6 in the second group will be described. The second group of LEDs 6 is configured by a single type of LED, such as a white light-emitting LED, as an example. The pointer 13 can be highlighted in white.

  The first group of LEDs 5 includes a plurality of types of LEDs (two types in this embodiment) having different characteristics, and typically, the first type of LEDs 5a and the second type of LEDs 5b are alternately arranged. As an example, the first type LED 5a is configured by a blue light emitting LED, and the second type LED 5b is configured by a purple light emitting LED.

  FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the first group of LEDs 5. When an ignition switch (not shown) is turned on, a lighting signal is output from the controller 23 to the transistor 24, whereby a voltage is applied to the first group of LEDs 5 connected in parallel, and the first group of LEDs 5 emits light. The applied voltage of the first group of LEDs 5 can be adjusted by a variable resistor 25, and the variable resistor 25 can change its resistance value by the controller 23 or by a dial (not shown) operable by a driver. Reference numeral 26 in FIG. 5 indicates a protective resistance. 2 is a light transmission cover plate, and this light transmission cover plate 27 has a characteristic of reducing visible light by a predetermined amount and transmitting it.

  As described above, the first group of LEDs 23 includes the first group of LEDs 5a and the second group of LEDs 5b having different characteristics. However, the variable resistor 25 described above is replaced with the first group of LEDs 5a. And the LED 5b of the second type group, the voltage applied to each group may be changed.

  According to the above-described embodiment, due to the three-dimensional shape of the display board 3, the light of the first group of LEDs 5 hits the surface of the display board 3 and is reflected by the eyes of the driver as shown by solid arrows in FIG. The incoming light is gradually attenuated toward the outer periphery, and a gradation effect can be given to the light that is reflected from the surface of the display panel 3 and enters the eyes. Further, the base 3 a of the display panel 3 is covered with the shielding part 7, and a part of the light of the first group of LEDs 5 arranged in a part not visible by the shielding part 7 is reflected on the back surface of the shielding part 7 (FIG. 2). And the reflected light leaks through the gap space S between the radially outward projecting portion of the shielding portion 7 and the display panel 3 to indirectly pass through the outer peripheral portion 3b of the display panel 3. Will be illuminated. As a result, the light from the first group of LEDs 5a does not directly enter the eyes of the driver, but the light leaking from the shielding portion 7 toward the outer peripheral portion 3b enters the eyes. Before and after leaking from S, the light is gradually attenuated by the trumpet shape of the display panel 3, and the light leaking from the gap space S is combined with the light reflected from the back surface of the shielding part 7 to the driver. A gradation effect such as an aurora that shines suspiciously around the shielding portion 7 can be produced while producing a sense of depth on the display panel 3.

  Further, since the outer peripheral portion extending radially outward from the base portion 3a of the display panel 3 with a small inclination angle is configured by a slightly curved or straight outer peripheral portion 3b, the driver is placed on the outer peripheral portion of the display panel 3. It is possible to reduce the degree of distortion in the provided scale 10 and speed numeral 11.

  In addition, the central portion of the speedometer 1 is a part that is easily recognized by the driver. A display screen 9 is provided on the shielding portion 7 that occupies a large area in the central portion, and various vehicle states can be displayed using the display screen 9. By displaying, the driver can recognize the vehicle state together with the vehicle speed without needing to be particularly aware of the vehicle state.

  Further, since the first group of LEDs 5 that provide the gradation effect is configured by a plurality of types of LEDs having different characteristics, when the first group of LEDs 5 starts to be lit, the LEDs 5a and 5b that configure the first group. The color that enters the eyes of the driver can be slightly changed by the difference in the rising characteristics of the brightness.

This point will be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows the rise in luminance immediately after voltage is applied to the first type blue light emitting LED 5a and the second type purple light emitting LED 5b constituting the first group. It explains the characteristics. Regarding currently available LEDs, the blue light emitting LED 5a is relatively fast compared to the purple light emitting LED 5b and has a brightness corresponding to the applied voltage, but the purple light emitting LED 5b is relatively slow and corresponds to the applied voltage. It becomes bright. Assuming that the time until the purple LED 5b reaches the brightness corresponding to the applied voltage is t ₀ , the color and brightness emitted by the blue LED 5a after the ignition switch is turned on until the time t ₀ elapses. The hue and brightness emitted by the purple LED 5b gradually change, but the color that changes slightly from moment to moment due to the difference in the rising characteristics of the two types of LEDs 5a and 5b is noticed by the driver. Will enter. Therefore, the driver can enjoy a slightly changing color for a while after turning on the ignition switch.

  In addition, by changing the voltage applied to the first group of LEDs 5 by the variable resistor 25 and changing the color of light emitted by the two types of LEDs 5a and 5b, the color of each of the two types of LEDs 5a and 5b is mixed. The color and brightness can be adjusted to suit the driver's preference after the two types of LEDs 5a and 5b are in a steady state.

  In addition, since the display panel 3 is colored matte black and provided with a light transmitting cover plate 27 having a characteristic of reducing visible light by a predetermined amount and transmitting it, the scale 10 can be used to eliminate the influence of external light and the like. The speed number 11 can be raised, and the gradation effect can be produced on the display panel 3 with the light reflected by the shielding unit 7 on the first group of LEDs 5 without the influence of external light. The texture and gradation effect of the speedometer can be enhanced.

It is the perspective view which carried out the longitudinal cross-section of the speedometer of an Example. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the speedometer of FIG. It is a top view of the speedometer of FIG. It is a top view of the circuit board with LED provided in the speedometer of FIG. It is a circuit diagram of LED for gradation illumination provided in the speedometer of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the brightness | luminance rise characteristic immediately after the voltage application of the blue light emission LED for gradation illumination provided in the speedometer of FIG. 1, and a purple light emission LED.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Instrument apparatus 3 Display panel 3a Base part of a display panel 3b Perimeter part of a display panel 5 LED of 1st group
5a Blue LED
5b Purple LED
6 Second group of LEDs (for pointer)
7 Shielding portion 9 Liquid crystal display screen 10 Scale 11 Number 13 Pointer 16 Cylindrical light guide 17 Pointer slit 27 Light transmission cover plate S Gap space between display panel and shielding portion

Claims (10)

A display panel that has a shape that gradually increases in diameter while moving forward from the deep part toward the driver, and on the outer peripheral part, displays such as scales, numbers, and characters that are required as instruments,
Guidelines for pointing to the indication;
A first light source disposed deep in the display panel;
A concealing portion disposed in a central portion of the display panel and preventing light from the first light source from directly entering a driver's eyes;
An instrument device, wherein an annular space is formed between the concealing portion and the display panel, and light from the first light source leaks outside through the annular space.   The instrument device according to claim 1, wherein a display unit that displays a state of the vehicle is provided on a front surface of the concealing unit.   The instrument device according to claim 2, wherein a gear stage currently in use is displayed as a number on the display unit.   The instrument device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a front surface of the concealing unit is set to a height level substantially the same as an outer peripheral portion of the display panel.   The instrument device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the display panel has a shape continuous to the outer peripheral portion while changing so that the inclination continuously decreases from the deep portion.   The instrument device according to claim 1, wherein the pointer has a tip portion having a height level substantially coincident with a front surface of the shielding portion.   The instrument device according to claim 6, further comprising a cylindrical light guide disposed inside the plurality of light sources of the first group and extending to the shielding portion.   The distal end portion of the pointer has an elongated isosceles triangular outer contour that is tapered when viewed in plan, and a slit that is substantially similar to the outer contour is provided at the distal end of the outer contour of the isosceles triangle. The instrument device according to claim 7, wherein a plate surface of the display panel is visible through the slit.   The pointer is made of a transparent resin, and the light of the second light source disposed inside the cylindrical light guide member enters from the proximal end surface of the pointer and passes through the pointer while the second light source The instrument device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the pointer is illuminated by light.   The instrument device according to claim 1, wherein the color of the display panel is matte black.

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