JP2008230402A - Indicator for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an indicator for a vehicle having a rotary pointer that sensuously grasps the consumption of fuel by changing the tone of luminescence. <P>SOLUTION: The indicator (speedometer) 100 for a vehicle that is also a fuel consumption display device comprises an outer frame part 10, a scale part 11, a speed value 12, and a long and rotating pointer 150. Of the above, the scale part 11 and the speed value 12 may be formed, for example, by white printing. Further, a light transmitting part may be formed, for example, with a light transmitting material and a light shielding part, and a display may be formed by transmitted light from a white or orange illumination part provided on a back surface of each of the scale part 11 and the speed numerical value 12. If a circuit wiring substrate having green and red light emitting diodes assembled therein is provided in the rotating pointer 150, and a light diffusing material is dispersed on at least one of a sealing resin and the circuit wiring substrate, the display may be illuminated in green, red, and intermediate colors thereof (for example, yellow). The speedometer (indicator for vehicle) that is also the fuel consumption display device capable of sensuously informing a driver of fuel consumption by tone of color can be constructed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for displaying the fuel consumption of a vehicle. The present invention relates to a vehicle display meter for displaying a running state of a vehicle, not an independent fuel consumption display device, and also serving as a fuel consumption display device.

  For example, in automobiles, with an increase in gasoline prices, there is an increasing interest in fuel consumption that indicates the mileage per unit volume of fuel. In addition, with the spread of hybrid vehicles, it is desired to display the ratio between the distance traveled and the amount of fuel used, and several fuel consumption display devices are attached. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle fuel consumption display device that displays fuel consumption numerically.

In addition to numerical display, there is also a so-called bar graph fuel consumption display device. This is a display in which, for example, one region having the luminance in the state with the lowest fuel consumption is one, and a display having, for example, ten regions having the luminance in the state in which the fuel efficiency is the best. Accordingly, the number of areas having luminance is changed.
JP 2004-45180 A

  As also disclosed in Patent Document 1, the vehicle speedometer and other display devices are concentrated on the instrument panel (instrument panel) so that the driver can easily see. When a speedometer or other display device uses white light or orange light to display numerical values corresponding to a scale or scale, for example, when displaying fuel consumption in a bar graph shape, for example, white light or orange light of the same color as those It was often displayed with. Further, when the fuel consumption is displayed as a numerical value, a liquid crystal display is frequently used and the visibility is not necessarily high.

  By the way, unlike the vehicle speed, the fuel consumption is not to say that it is necessary to maintain a constant value, but a sensible thing such as whether it is good, bad, better or worse is sufficient. In this regard, when displaying fuel consumption, it is not necessary to accurately tell the driver numerically, and a bar graph should be sufficient. However, the driver cannot afford to keep an eye on the constantly changing fuel consumption display during vehicle operation.

  Accordingly, the inventors of the present invention have a structure in which light is emitted from the rotating pointer of a vehicle display meter having a speedometer or other rotating pointer that frequently enters the driver's field of view, and the color tone of the emitted light is changed. The invention of the present application was completed with the idea that the fuel consumption can be grasped sensuously by changing.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicular indicator for displaying vehicle speed, engine speed, water temperature, fuel remaining amount and other vehicle running conditions, etc., by means of a rotating pointer. A vehicle indicator that also serves as a fuel consumption display device provided on the rotating pointer, wherein the color tone of light emitted from the rotating pointer is variable, and the fuel consumption display of the vehicle is displayed by the color tone of light emitted from the rotating pointer. is there.

  In the invention according to claim 2, the rotating pointer is sealed on the circuit wiring board, the light emitting elements of at least two different colors arranged on one surface of the circuit wiring board and connected to the circuit wiring, and the light emitting elements And a light diffusion material is dispersed in at least one of the circuit wiring board and the sealing resin.

  The color tone of the light emitted by the rotating pointer can be changed to at least two colors, and further to an intermediate color by mixing these lights. If this is the vehicle fuel consumption display, the current state of fuel consumption and its change, such as whether the fuel consumption is good or bad, gradually improving or worsening, can be grasped sensuously by the color tone and its change. Is possible. In many cases, the driver who is operating the vehicle is full of hands by checking the speed in addition to the surrounding conditions, and it is actually difficult to grasp the fuel consumption numerically and to grasp the fuel consumption change by numerical change . On the other hand, according to the present invention, instead of grasping numerically, it is possible to sensuously grasp the current state and change of fuel consumption by the color tone of light emitted by the rotating pointer and the change thereof, and does not hinder the operation of the vehicle. .

  In order to emit light by switching at least two colors from a rotating pointer, and further to emit an intermediate color by mixing these lights, the rotating pointer has a circuit wiring board in which a light emitting element is incorporated. is necessary. When the light emitting element is resin-sealed, and at least one of the circuit wiring board and the sealing resin is made to have a light diffusing material dispersed therein, light from the light emitting element that is a point light source is diffused by the light diffusing material, It is visually recognized that the entire circuit wiring board or sealing resin emits light. In this way, the pseudo light emitting region of the rotating pointer is configured by a circuit wiring board in which the light diffusion material is dispersed or a sealing resin in which the light diffusion material is dispersed, and the visual indication is made directly or through a transparent coating material. By making it possible, the present invention can be configured.

  The vehicle indicator having a rotating pointer to which the present invention is applied may be applied to a vehicle indicator having a speedometer, a tachometer, a fuel gauge, a water temperature gauge, or any other rotating pointer. In particular, it may be applied to a speedometer that is frequently checked by the driver, and a light emitting element may be incorporated in the rotation indicator of the speedometer.

The individual light-emitting diodes used in the present invention are monochromatic, full-color, or other arbitrary. The number of light emitting diodes used in one light emitting region is also arbitrary. As the light emitting diode, a light emitting diode which emits light having a necessary color tone can be arbitrarily selected. For example, a group III nitride compound semiconductor (Al _x Ga _y In _1-xy N) may be selected as a purple to green light emitting diode. As the red to yellow-green light emitting diode, it is preferable to select a GaAs type or an InP type.

The electrode structure of the light emitting diode is also arbitrary, and the connection method with the circuit wiring of the circuit wiring board can be arbitrarily selected. For example, when using a group III nitride compound semiconductor (Al _x Ga _y In _1-xy N) light emitting element, a reflective film is formed on the back surface of the chip substrate with a so-called face-up type structure (light extraction on the p-type semiconductor layer side). You may do it. In this case, the connection to the circuit wiring board may be a solder bump. Alternatively, a so-called flip chip type structure (light extraction on the insulating substrate side) having a reflective film on the p-type semiconductor layer side may be wire-bonded. When wire bonding is performed, wedge bonding using ultrasonic waves eliminates the need for heat treatment and reduces adverse effects on other components. Details of these will be described later.

[When extracting light through the circuit wiring board]
The following points are considered when extracting light through the circuit wiring board. The material of the circuit wiring board is completely arbitrary except that a light-shielding base material is inappropriate. The base material is preferably a light-transmitting resin or inorganic material. When the wiring material corresponding to the extraction region is made of indium tin oxide (ITO), the shadow of the wiring does not occur during display. As the light diffusing material, spherical or other fine particles are available, and in addition to being dispersed in the base material of the circuit wiring board, a thin film coated and fixed with the light diffusing material may be used.

  When extracting light through the circuit wiring board, a reflective film may be formed so as to cover the light emitting diode. At this time, any metal or the like can be used. However, in order to maintain insulation from the circuit wiring of the circuit wiring board, a device such as an insulating material is required.

[When extracting light to the sealing resin side]
On the other hand, when extracting light to the sealing resin side, the base material of the circuit wiring board may be a light-shielding material, and a colored one can be used as desired. Further, the light of the light emitting element can be reflected to the light extraction side by using a highly reflective material such as aluminum or copper for the circuit wiring. At this time, it is preferable that the circuit wiring material covers as much area as possible of the circuit wiring board corresponding to the light emitting area while maintaining insulation. In the case of extracting light to the sealing resin side, for example, a frame portion may be provided with another resin or the like so as to surround the sealing resin. An inner area surrounded by the frame portion becomes a light emitting area. As the light diffusing material dispersed in the sealing resin, spherical and other fine particles are available. The surface of the sealing resin may be exposed or covered with another translucent plate material.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view of a vehicular display meter 100 that also serves as a fuel consumption display device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a speedometer is shown as the vehicle display meter 100 that also serves as a fuel consumption display device. A vehicle indicator (speedometer) 100 that also serves as a fuel efficiency display device includes an outer frame portion 10, a scale portion 11, a speed value 12, and a long rotating pointer 150. Among these, the outer frame part 10, the scale part 11 and the speed value 12 may be formed by, for example, white printing, for example, by forming a light-transmitting part with a light-transmitting material and a light-shielding part, respectively white or orange. The illumination part may be provided on the back surface, and the display may be formed by transmitted light from the illumination part.

  The long portion of the long rotating pointer 150 of the vehicle indicator (speedometer) 100 that also serves as a fuel consumption display device has the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 as described below.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the long portion of the long rotating pointer 150 of the vehicle display meter (speedometer) 100 that also serves as the fuel consumption display device of FIG. In FIG. 2, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface is preferably the longitudinal direction of the long rotating pointer 150 in FIG. Although only one light emitting diode is illustrated in FIG. 2 as follows, the long rotating pointer 150 in FIG. 1 may be designed to incorporate an arbitrary number of light emitting diodes in the longitudinal direction.

  The rotating pointer 150 shown in FIG. 2 includes a group III nitride compound semiconductor light-emitting device 200 fixed to a circuit wiring board 1 in which a highly reflective circuit wiring 1c is formed on a light-shielding board 1a. Conductivity is ensured by 3p. Further, in order to form the light emitting region B, the frame portion 4 made of a light-shielding resin, the sealing resin 5 filled with the light diffusing material and filled in the inner region, and the light-transmitting material covering these surface layers. A plate material 6 is provided. The light emitting region B is not a primary light source that emits light by itself, but a secondary light source that is visually recognized by a light diffusing material as if it is entirely shining.

  The group III nitride compound semiconductor light emitting device 200 includes an insulating substrate 20 having an n-type group III nitride compound semiconductor region 21n having an arbitrary number of layers and a p-type group III nitride compound semiconductor region 22p having an arbitrary number of layers. Is formed. Some of these may include layers or regions to which dovant is not intentionally added. A light emitting region A exists between the n-type group III nitride compound semiconductor region 21n and the p-type group III nitride compound semiconductor region 22p. The light emitting region A is composed of a light emitting layer having a single layer, a single quantum well structure, or a multiple quantum well structure.

  In the rotating pointer 150 of FIG. 2 configured as described above, when the group III nitride compound semiconductor light emitting device 200 emits light, light is diffused and emitted upward in FIG. That is, the light emitted from the light emitting region A of the group III nitride compound semiconductor light emitting device 200 as the primary light source passes through the sealing resin 5 in which the light diffusion material is dispersed and the translucent plate 6. In addition to being directly emitted upward, it is diffused by the light diffusing material dispersed in the sealing resin 5. Alternatively, the light is reflected by the highly reflective circuit wiring 1 c of the circuit wiring board 1. In this way, the entire light emitting area B of the rotating pointer 150 shown in FIG.

  In the configuration of FIG. 2, a group III nitride compound semiconductor light emitting device 200 that emits green light is used. Similarly, for example, when a red light emitting diode is provided in front of or behind the paper in FIG. Can emit light in green, red, and their intermediate colors (eg yellow). Therefore, one fuel efficiency threshold value is provided, and when the fuel efficiency is better than the threshold value, the rotating pointer 150 in FIG. 1 emits green light, and when the fuel efficiency is worse than the threshold value, the rotating pointer in FIG. By causing 150 to emit red light, it becomes possible to inform the driver of the fuel consumption sensuously by the color tone. As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to configure a speedometer (vehicle display meter) that also serves as a fuel consumption display device capable of sensibly informing the driver of fuel consumption by color tone.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the rotating pointer 160 obtained by slightly modifying the configuration of the rotating pointer 150 shown in FIG. In FIG. 3 as well, the longitudinal direction of the pointer 160 rotating in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface is preferable. FIG. 3 also shows only one light emitting diode, but it may be designed to incorporate an arbitrary number of light emitting diodes in the longitudinal direction.

  In the rotating pointer 160 shown in FIG. 3, a circuit wiring board 1 ′ having a light transmitting substrate 1 b in which a light diffusion material is dispersed is used. The group III nitride compound semiconductor light emitting device 200, the wire bondings 3n and 3p, and the sealing resin 5 in which the light diffusion material is dispersed are provided in the same manner as the rotating pointer 150 in FIG. However, when forming the sealing resin 5 in which the light diffusing material is dispersed, the frame portion 6 made of a light shielding resin such as the rotating pointer 150 in FIG. 2 is not provided. Further, the entire sealing resin 5 is covered with a frame portion 7 having at least an inner surface made of a highly reflective material. In this embodiment, light is extracted in the upward direction in the figure through the circuit wiring board 1 ′. Therefore, a light shielding portion 8 made of a light shielding material is provided on the side of the circuit wiring board 1 ′ where the circuit wiring 1c is not provided. The light emitting area B may be shaped. The light shielding unit 8 can be omitted. Although omitted in FIG. 3, an n electrode is provided between the n-type group III nitride compound semiconductor region 21n and the wire bonding 3n, and between the p-type group III nitride compound semiconductor region 22p and the wire bonding 3p. Suppose that a p-electrode is formed. In FIG. 3, the circuit wiring 1 c is illustrated as if it covers most of the area where the group III nitride compound semiconductor light emitting element 200 is not disposed on the lower side of the substrate portion 1 b in FIG. 3. 1c may be formed so as to be able to energize the group III nitride compound semiconductor light emitting device 200, and does not need to cover the lower side of the substrate portion 1b.

  In the rotating pointer 160 of FIG. 3, when the group III nitride compound semiconductor light emitting device 200 emits light, the light is diffused and emitted upward in FIG. That is, the light emitted from the light emitting region A of the group III nitride compound semiconductor light emitting device 200 as the primary light source is transmitted through the sealing resin 5 in which the light diffusing material is dispersed and the light transmitting property in which the light diffusing material is dispersed. To the substrate 1b. At this time, the light diffusing material is directly emitted upward from the light-transmitting substrate 1b in which the light diffusing material is dispersed, and is also diffused by the light diffusing material dispersed in the substrate 1b and the sealing resin 5. Alternatively, the light is reflected by the highly reflective material on the inner surface of the frame portion 7. Thus, by diffusing with the sealing resin 5 and the light diffusing material dispersed on the substrate 1b, it is visually recognized as if the entire light emitting region B of the rotating pointer 160 in FIG. 3 is emitting light. Also in the configuration of FIG. 3, for example, when a red light emitting diode is provided in front of or behind the paper in FIG. 3 and configured similarly to FIG. 1, the rotating pointer 160 has green, red, and intermediate colors (for example, yellow). Can emit light. Thus, as in the first embodiment, a speedometer (vehicle display meter) that also serves as a fuel consumption display device capable of sensibly informing the driver of fuel consumption by color tone can be configured.

In addition, the fixing method to the circuit wiring board of a light emitting element is arbitrary. The description of the substrate having an insulating substrate is omitted in the figure, but an adhesive may be used.
Further, FIG. 3 shows the case where the inner surface is formed with a frame portion made of a highly reflective member. However, for example, a film may be formed by dipping in a paste containing a highly reflective member.

The top view of the speedometer which served as the fuel consumption display apparatus which concerns on one specific Example of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the pointer 150 to rotate. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the rotating pointer 160 which concerns on another Example.

Explanation of symbols

100: Speedometer also serving as a fuel consumption display device (vehicle display meter)
150, 160: Rotating pointer 1, 1 ′: Circuit wiring board 1a: Light-shielding board 1b: Substrate in which light diffusing material is dispersed in a light-transmitting base material 1c: Circuit wiring 200: Group III nitride compound Semiconductor light emitting element 3n, 3p: Wire bonding 4: Frame portion made of light-shielding resin 5: Sealing resin in which light diffusion material is dispersed 6: Translucent plate material 7: At least the inner surface is made of a highly reflective member Frame part 8: Shading part

Claims (2)

In a vehicle indicator for displaying vehicle speed, engine speed, water temperature, fuel remaining amount and other vehicle running conditions, etc., by means of a rotating pointer,
Providing at least two different color light emitting elements on the rotating pointer;
As the color tone of light emitted from the rotating pointer is variable,
A vehicle indicator which also serves as a fuel consumption display device, which displays fuel consumption of the vehicle based on a color tone of light emitted from the rotating pointer. The rotating pointer is
A circuit wiring board;
The at least two different color light emitting elements disposed on one surface of the circuit wiring board and connected to the circuit wiring;
The vehicle display meter according to claim 1, further comprising: a sealing resin for sealing the light emitting element, wherein a light diffusion material is dispersed in at least one of the circuit wiring board and the sealing resin. .

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