JP2010085113A - Vehicle-mounted instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle-mounted instrument 1 which simplifies the constituent structure, as regards the illumination of a dial 20 and a pointer 40 for reducing the cost. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicle-mounted instrument uses the same first light-emitting diode 32 for both a light source for edge light illumination for illuminating the dial 20, by introducing light from the side of the dial 20 and a light source for pointer illumination for illuminating the pointer 40, thereby obtaining a vehicle-mounted instrument having a low-cost illumination structure with the cost reduced. As compared to conventional indirect illumination and transmissive illumination providing blurred appearance, a combination of the edge light illumination and direct illumination or reflecting illumination provides the dial 20 and the pointer 40 with a bright appearance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle instrument.

  Conventionally, as an illumination structure for illuminating a dial and a pointer of a vehicle meter (meter), there are those shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2 below. Patent Document 1 discloses that a transmission light source that transmits and illuminates a dial and a pointer arranged on the front side of the device case from the rear surface side and a direct illumination light source that directly illuminates from the front surface side in the device case. It is the illumination device of the instrument provided in.

Further, Patent Document 2 reflects the light emitted from the light source disposed in the meter case on the inner surface of the meter case, and guides it to the surface side of the dial from the gap between the meter case and the dial. It is an indirect illumination instrument that illuminates a pointer disposed on the surface of a plate.
Japanese Patent No. 2955194 JP 2000-111366 A

  In recent years, in the intense competition of vehicle prices worldwide, further cost reduction has been demanded for vehicle meters. However, the above-described conventional illumination structure has a problem that the number of components increases and the cost increases. The present invention has been made paying attention to the problems existing in such a conventional structure, and its purpose is to simplify the component structure for illuminating the dial and the pointer, and to reduce the cost. It is to provide a vehicle instrument that can be used.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following technical means. That is, in the invention according to claim 1, the dial (20) formed of a translucent member and having the index (21) formed on at least one of the front surface and the back surface with respect to the display direction, and the dial A pointer (40) disposed on the back side of (20) and pointing to the index (21), and a concealment for concealing portions other than the movable region disposed on the front side of the dial (20) and movable by the pointer (40). A vehicle instrument comprising a member (10),
The same light source (32) is used for the edge light illumination light source that illuminates the dial plate (20) by entering the dial (20) from the side surface and the pointer illumination light source that illuminates the pointer (40). It is characterized by having.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicular instrument having an inexpensive illumination structure with reduced cost. In addition, the dial (20) and the pointer (40) are shown brighter because the combination of edge light illumination and direct illumination or reflected illumination is used in comparison with the conventional indirect illumination or transmission illumination which is relatively blurred. Can do.

  Moreover, in invention of Claim 2, in the vehicle instrument of Claim 1, while making a part of light which a light source (32) emits enter into the side surface of a dial (20), light source (32 ) Directly illuminates the display side surface of the pointer (40) with the other part of the light emitted. According to the second aspect of the invention, the edge light illumination of the dial plate (20) and the direct illumination of the pointer (40) can be combined with the light from the same light source (32).

  Moreover, in invention of Claim 3, in the vehicle meter of Claim 1, the light which a light source (32) emits is reflected by the reflective surface (15) formed in the back surface side of the concealment member (10). A part of the reflected light is incident on the side surface of the dial (20), and the display side surface of the pointer (40) is illuminated by the other part of the reflected light.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the reflected light from the same light source (32) can serve as the edge light illumination of the dial (20) and the illumination of the pointer (40). In addition, since illumination is performed with reflected light, uniform illumination that does not cause uneven illumination is possible.

  Moreover, in invention of Claim 4, in the instrument for vehicles of Claim 1, a light guide member (34) is made into a character on the side surface side of a dial (20), and the back surface side of a concealing member (10). The light source (32) is arranged along the side surface of the plate (20), at least one end in the longitudinal direction of the light guide member (34), and the light guide member (34) has a light source (32). Part of the reflected light reflected by the reflecting part (34a) is formed at a plurality of reflecting parts (34a) for reflecting a part of the light emitted from the light guide member (34) to the side surface side. Is incident on the side surface of the dial (20), and the display side surface of the pointer (40) is illuminated with the other part of the reflected light.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the reflector provided at a plurality of locations on the light guide member (34) while the light from the light source (32) disposed at the end is guided by the light guide member (34). The light reflected by (34a) can be used as the edge light illumination of the dial (20) and the illumination of the pointer (40) by the reflected light.

  Further, since the reflecting portion (34a) can be arbitrarily formed in the light guide member (34), the adjustment of the illumination light to the dial plate (20) and the pointer (40) is facilitated, and the luminance is balanced. It can be. In addition, the code | symbol in the parenthesis as described in a claim and said each means is an example which shows a corresponding relationship with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a front view of a vehicle meter 1A according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. The vehicle instrument 1A of the present embodiment is a combination meter installed in front of the vehicle interior of the vehicle, and includes a reflector 10, a dial plate 20, a circuit board 30 (see FIG. 2), a pointer 40, and a casing 50 (see FIG. 2). Etc.

  First, the dial 20 is arranged with the direction from the front to the rear in the vehicle interior as the display direction (see FIG. 2). On the dial plate 20, a scale 21 a, a number 21 b, a character 21 c, and the like are formed as an index 21 that is displayed for an occupant (hereinafter referred to as an occupant) such as a driver in the vehicle interior.

  The dial 20 is a substantially flat light-transmitting member made of a light-transmitting material such as a colorless and transparent polycarbonate resin or an acrylic resin such as methyl methacrylate resin. The indicator 21 is a translucent colored layer formed on the surface of the dial plate 20 and is subjected to a process of providing a colored layer on the dial plate 20 by printing or hot stamping.

  The dial plate 20 is illuminated by an edge light by a first light emitting diode (a light source referred to in the present invention) 32 arranged on a side surface (a lower end surface side in the present embodiment). Note that the colored layer of the index 21 is not limited to a light-transmitting colored layer made of a light-transmitting material such as white, orange, and green, and may be subjected to a process of providing a semi-transparent colored layer that is not a light-blocking colored layer. .

  As a result, when the dial 20 is edge-lighted by the first light emitting diode 32, each indicator 21 is lit and displayed. In addition, a translucent colored layer of the index 21 may be formed on both surfaces of the dial plate 20. Thereby, the indicator 21 exhibits semi-translucency due to the translucent colored layers formed on both surfaces of the dial plate 20.

  The reflector 10 is a concealing member referred to in the present invention. It is a case member that hides the index 21 portion of the dial 20 and the portion other than the movable region of the pointer 40, and is formed of a black light-shielding resin material. The reflector 10 has a shape (not shown) for positioning and holding the dial 20 and the circuit board 30 described below.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the circuit board 30 is positioned and held on the back side of the reflector 10, and a control circuit (not shown), a rotating inner unit 31, light emitting diodes 32, 33, and the like are mounted thereon. The control circuit is an electric circuit such as a microcomputer, for example, and is arranged on the back side of the circuit board 30 in the display direction. The control circuit is electrically connected to the rotary inner unit 31 and the light emitting diodes 32 and 33.

  The control circuit is electrically connected to a light control switch and a vehicle speed sensor (not shown) directly or via another control circuit. Thus, the control circuit controls the energization to the first light emitting diode 32 according to the operation position of the light control switch by the occupant and also controls the energization to the rotating inner unit 31 according to the detection signal of the vehicle speed sensor. . In the present embodiment, the light control switch is set with three operation positions: a light off position, a vehicle width lamp on position, and a headlight on position.

  The rotating inner unit 31 is, for example, a coil actuator or a stepping motor. The rotating inner unit 31 is disposed on the back side of the circuit board 30 in the display direction, and the output shaft 31a protrudes toward the back side of the display direction. A pointer 40 which will be described later is attached to the tip of the output shaft 31a, and the rotating inner unit 31 rotates and drives the pointer 40 via the output shaft 31a in response to power supply from the control circuit to the rotating inner unit 31. To do.

  The light emitting diodes 32 and 33 are point light sources, for example, chip type light emitting diodes are used and emit white light when energized. As shown in FIG. 2, the first light emitting diode 32 is arranged upward on the display direction front side of the circuit board 30, and is directed from the lower end face of the dial plate 20 arranged immediately above the dial plate 20 into the dial plate 20. It comes to irradiate light.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the light incident on the lower end surface of the dial 20 is a part of the light emitted by the first light emitting diode 32, and the other part of the light emitted by the first light emitting diode 32 is The display side surface of the pointer 40 is directly illuminated. Accordingly, the same first light emitting diode 32 can serve as the light source for edge light illumination that illuminates the dial 20 and the light source for pointer illumination that illuminates the pointer 40. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of such first light emitting diodes 32 are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the dial plate 20 (the left-right direction of the vehicle) at substantially equal intervals.

  The 2nd light emitting diode 33 is a light source for making each display of the display part 11 shown in FIG. 1 light as needed. A plurality of second light emitting diodes 33 are arranged in the display direction front side of the circuit board 30 in the display direction, and a shielding wall integrally formed with the reflector 10 so that light emitted from each second light emitting diode 33 does not overlap. Each is divided by 13.

  The pointer 40 is disposed on the back side of the dial 20 in the display direction. The pointer 40 has a support shaft portion 40 a formed in the pointer main body, and the support shaft portion 40 a is driven into and held by the output shaft 31 a of the rotary inner unit 31. The pointer 40 indicates the scale 21a and the number 21b corresponding to the rotation position by the tip side of the pointer main body. The pointer 40 of the present embodiment indicates the vehicle speed by indicating the scales 21a and numbers 21b arranged along the rotation direction, but other vehicle information such as the engine speed, the remaining fuel amount, the engine cooling, and the like. It may represent water temperature or the like.

  The casing 50 is a case member that forms a part of the outer shell of the vehicle instrument 1A. The casing 50 accommodates the dial plate 20 and the circuit board 30 by accommodating the circuit board 30 and the pointer 40 therein, and being fastened after being fitted to the reflector 10 described above.

  Next, a schematic assembly structure of the vehicle instrument 1A using the above-described components will be described. First, the reflector 10 is set with the display direction front side facing downward, and the dial 20 and the circuit board 30 are set at predetermined positions in the reflector 10. Next, the pointer 40 is driven in accordance with the index 21 onto the output shaft 31 a of the rotating inner unit 31 on the circuit board 30. After that, the casing 50 is covered from above and fitted with the reflector 10, and these are fastened and fixed.

  Since the vehicle instrument 1A is a combination meter, vehicle information other than the vehicle speed is displayed on the dial 20 and the reflector 10 to the occupant. In the present embodiment, the reflector 10 is provided with a display unit 11 that displays a blinker display and a warning display that warns the abnormality in order to call attention to the abnormality of the vehicle state.

  In the present embodiment, the lens 14 is adhered to the display direction front side of the second light emitting diode 33 corresponding to each display. The lens 14 is printed so that each symbol mark 14a is transmitted and illuminated when the second light emitting diode 33 is turned on. Note that the symbol mark 14a for warning display is not visible at normal times other than when an abnormality occurs, regardless of whether the first light emitting diode 32 is turned on or off.

  That is, in the warning display, the symbol mark 14a and the background portion thereof are formed of a semi-transparent colored layer, and the background portion is a semi-transparent colored layer having the same color tone as the surface color of the reflector 10 (hereinafter, background color). It is formed with. Further, the symbol mark 14a is formed by laminating a semi-transparent colored layer of a color tone such as red (hereinafter, attention display color) that calls attention and the semi-transparent colored layer of the background color. In the warning display, the second light-emitting diode 33 different from the first light-emitting diode 32 is turned on only when there is an abnormality, and only at this time, the display design of the symbol mark 14a is displayed with a semi-transparent property of the caution display color. It has come to be.

  It should be noted that a liquid crystal display (not shown) that displays the accumulated travel distance, the passenger compartment temperature, and the like as vehicle information other than the vehicle speed may be provided in the vehicle meter 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a rod 60 may be provided so as to protrude from the hole 12 of the reflector 10 as a push switch for selecting specific vehicle information from a plurality of character information displayed on the liquid crystal display. good.

  Next, the features and effects of this embodiment will be described. First, the same first light emitting diode 32 is used for the light source for edge light illumination that illuminates the dial plate 20 by making light incident from the side surface of the dial plate 20 and the light source for pointer illumination that illuminates the pointer 40. According to this, it can be set as the vehicle instrument of the cheap illumination structure which suppressed cost. In addition, since the combination of edge light illumination and direct illumination is used in comparison with the conventional indirect illumination or transmission illumination, the dial 20 and the pointer 40 can be seen brighter.

  In addition, a part of the light emitted from the first light emitting diode 32 is incident on the side surface of the dial plate 20 and the display side surface of the pointer 40 is directly illuminated by the other part of the light emitted from the first light emitting diode 32. Yes. Thereby, the light from the same first light emitting diode 32 can serve as both the edge light illumination of the dial plate 20 and the direct illumination of the pointer 40.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle instrument 1B according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion IV in FIG. In the following embodiments, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and different configurations and features will be described.

  In the present embodiment, like the second light emitting diode 33, the first light emitting diode 32 is arranged on the display direction front side of the circuit board 30 toward the display direction. A plurality of such first light emitting diodes 32 are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the dial plate 20 (the left-right direction of the vehicle) and arranged at substantially equal intervals, as in the first embodiment. In addition, on the back surface side of the reflector 10, a reflection surface 15 that reflects light emitted by the first light emitting diodes 32 is formed.

  A part of the reflected light reflected by the reflecting surface 15 enters the lower end surface of the dial plate 20, and the other part of the reflected light illuminates the display side surface of the pointer 40. According to this, the reflected light from the same first light emitting diode 32 can serve as the edge light illumination of the dial plate 20 and the illumination of the pointer 40. In addition, since illumination is performed with reflected light, uniform illumination that does not cause uneven illumination is possible.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a front view of a vehicle meter 1C according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of a portion VII in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7B is a perspective view as seen from b in FIG. Features different from the above-described embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, a light guide prism (light guide member referred to in the present invention) 34 is disposed at the lower end side as the side surface side of the dial plate 20 and at the back surface side of the reflector 10.

  Like the dial plate 20, the light guide prism 34 is a light transmission member having a substantially square pillar shape made of a light transmissive material, for example, an acrylic resin such as a colorless transparent polycarbonate resin or a methyl methacrylate resin. is there. As shown in FIG. 5, the light guide prism 34 is arranged long in the left-right direction along the lower end surface of the dial 20. The first light emitting diodes 32 are disposed at both ends of the light guide prism 34.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the light guide prism 34 reflects a part of the light emitted from the first light emitting diodes 32 at both ends and guided through the light guide prism 34 to the lower end surface side of the dial plate 20. The reflection part 34a is formed in several places. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, a part of the reflected light reflected by these reflecting portions 34a is incident on the lower end surface of the dial plate 20, and the display side surface of the pointer 40 is illuminated with the other portion of the reflected light. I am doing so.

  According to this, while the light from the first light emitting diode 32 arranged at the end is guided by the light guide prism 34, the light is reflected by the reflecting portions 34 a provided at a plurality of locations on the light guide prism 34, and the reflected light The edge light illumination of the dial 20 and the illumination of the pointer 40 can be combined. Further, since the reflecting portion 34a can be arbitrarily formed in the light guide prism 34, it is easy to adjust the illumination light to the dial plate 20 and the pointer 40, and illumination with balanced luminance can be achieved.

(Other embodiments)
The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not construed as being limited to such embodiments, and can be applied to various embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  (1) In the above-described embodiment, the dial plate 20 is formed of a colorless and transparent translucent member. However, the translucent member used for the dial plate 20 is not limited to being colorless and transparent, and is colored. There may be something. In any case, it is possible to clearly display, for example, the pointer 40 to be visually recognized inside the rear surface side of the dial plate 20 for the passenger looking at the dial plate 20.

  (2) In the above-described embodiment, the reflector 10 is formed of a black light-shielding resin material. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a metal layer is provided on either the front or back surface of the translucent member. What formed with the metal vapor deposition film etc. may be used.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the translucent colored layer and the semi-transparent colored layer integrally formed on the dial 20 are provided on the surface of the dial 20 by printing or hot stamping. Not limited to this, it may be provided by physical vapor deposition or the like.

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, the translucent colored layer and the semi-transparent colored layer are provided at least on the display direction front side of the dial plate 20. It is good also as a structure which gives topcoat for UV cutting etc. to the surface of the dial plate 20 in which the light colored layer was formed. As a result, scratches on the translucent colored layer and the light-shielding colored layer can be prevented.

  (5) In the above-described embodiment, the dial plate 20 and the circuit board 30 are assembled to be sandwiched between the reflector 10 and the casing 50. However, the assembly may be fixed using a coupling member such as a screw as necessary. An attached structure may be used.

1 is a front view of a vehicle instrument 1A according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is II-II sectional drawing in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the instrument 1B for vehicles in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion IV in FIG. 3. It is a front view of vehicle instrument 1C in a 3rd embodiment of the present invention. It is VI-VI sectional drawing in FIG. (A) is an enlarged view of the VII part in FIG. 5, (b) is a b view perspective view in (a).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Instrument for vehicles 10 ... Reflector (concealment member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 ... Reflecting surface 20 ... Dial 21 ... Index 32 ... 1st light emitting diode (light source)
34. Light guide prism (light guide member)
34a ... Reflector 40 ... Pointer

Claims (4)

A dial (20) formed of a translucent member and having an index (21) formed on at least one of the front surface and the back surface with respect to the display direction;
A pointer (40) disposed on the back side of the dial (20) and pointing to the indicator (21);
A vehicular instrument comprising a concealing member (10) disposed on the surface side of the dial (20) and concealing a portion other than a movable region in which the pointer (40) is movable,
The same light source (32) as the light source for edge light illumination that illuminates the dial plate (20) by entering from the side surface of the dial plate (20) and the light source for pointer illumination that illuminates the pointer (40) An instrument for vehicles characterized by using the   Part of the light emitted from the light source (32) is incident on the side surface of the dial (20), and the display side surface of the pointer (40) is directly applied to the other part of the light emitted from the light source (32). The vehicle instrument according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle instrument is illuminated.   The light emitted from the light source (32) is reflected by the reflecting surface (15) formed on the back side of the concealing member (10), and a part of the reflected light enters the side surface of the dial (20). The vehicle instrument according to claim 1, wherein the display side surface of the pointer (40) is illuminated with the other part of the reflected light. A light guide member (34) is disposed along the side surface of the dial plate (20) on the side surface side of the dial plate (20) and on the back surface side of the concealing member (10),
The light source (32) is disposed on at least one end of the light guide member (34) in the longitudinal direction,
The light guide member (34) is provided with a plurality of reflecting portions (34a) for reflecting a part of light emitted from the light source (32) and guided through the light guide member (34) to the side surface side. Formed into
A part of the reflected light reflected by the reflecting portion (34a) is incident on the side surface of the dial (20), and the display side surface of the pointer (40) is illuminated by the other portion of the reflected light. The vehicle instrument according to claim 1.

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