JP2011027525A - Lighting system for instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To illuminate a dial plate of an instrument efficiently, so that brightness irregularities are hardly generated, and to shorten a molding cycle of a case such as a resin case which is a component furthermore than hitherto. <P>SOLUTION: A lighting system 3 for an instrument 1 includes: a light source 7 for irradiating directly the dial plate 5 with light emitted within a directivity angle θ; a regular reflection surface 9 formed spherically and provided on a case 13, for reflecting a part of light emitted from the light source 7 to the outside of the directivity angle, and irradiating the dial plate 5 with the reflected light; and a sub-reflection surface 11 provided on the case 13 in connection with the regular reflection surface 9 at the edge 15 of the regular reflection surface 9, for reflecting another part of the light emitted from the light source 7 to the outside of the directivity angle θ, and irradiating the dial plate 5 with the reflected light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an instrument illumination device, and in particular, directly irradiates a dial with a part of light emitted from a light source and irradiates the dial by reflecting another part of light emitted from the light source with a reflecting surface. About what to do.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional automobile meter 202, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the automobile meter 202 in which the conventional lighting device 200 is adopted.

  In the conventional automobile meter 202 (lighting device 200), the triangular ribs 208 and the reflecting walls 209 are radially formed so as to protrude from the bottom surface (plane) 206 of the circular recess 205 formed in the resin case 204. The reflecting surface 210 is formed on the slope of each rib 208. Then, the light emitted from each light source 212 provided between the respective triangular ribs 208 is reflected directly or by the reflecting surface 210 or the reflecting wall 209, and the dial 214 is irradiated from the back surface side ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

  Note that the dial 214 is formed in a circular flat plate shape, and is installed on the rib in each triangular shape shown in FIG. 5 so as to close the opening of the recess 205.

JP 2006-275537 A

  By the way, the conventional illumination device 200 can illuminate the dial 214 of the automobile meter 202 efficiently and with little luminance unevenness, but a large number of triangular ribs projecting from the bottom surface 206. Since 208 and the reflecting wall 209 are provided, there is a problem that the moldability of the resin case 204 is affected and the molding cycle of the resin case 204 becomes long.

  Note that the above-described problem occurs not only in a meter illumination device for a car but also in a lighting device for a meter other than a car meter.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can illuminate the dial of the instrument efficiently and with little luminance unevenness, and the case of a case such as a resin case which is a component. An object of the present invention is to provide an illumination device for an instrument that can shorten the molding cycle as compared with the conventional one.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light source that directly irradiates the dial with light emitted within a directivity angle, and a spherical surface that is provided on the case, and the light emitted from the light source outside the directivity angle of the light source. A specular reflection surface that reflects a part of the reflected light and irradiates the dial with the regular reflection surface, and is connected to the regular reflection surface at an edge of the regular reflection surface. And a sub-reflecting surface that reflects the other part of the light emitted from the light source to the dial and irradiates the reflected light on the dial.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the illuminating device of the liquid crystal display device according to the first aspect, the dial is formed in a plate shape, and when viewed from the thickness direction of the dial, the regular reflection surface Is an illumination device for an instrument that substantially overlaps a portion formed at a crossing portion of the dial and the portion within the directivity angle of the light source.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the illuminating device of the liquid crystal display device according to the first or second aspect, the dial is formed in a disc shape and is viewed from the thickness direction of the dial. When the regular reflection surface and the sub-reflection surface, a fan-shaped reflection surface is formed, and a plurality of the fan-shaped reflection surfaces are formed, and by connecting these fan-shaped reflection surfaces to each other, It is an illumination device for a meter in which a circular reflecting surface similar to a dial is formed.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the instrument illuminating device, it is possible to illuminate the dial of the instrument efficiently and with little luminance unevenness, and the conventional molding cycle of a case such as a resin case as a component part There is an effect that it can be made shorter.

It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the illuminating device of the meter for motor vehicles based on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the illuminating device of the meter for motor vehicles. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the illuminating device of the meter for motor vehicles. It is a top view which shows the conventional car meter schematic structure. It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the meter for motor vehicles by which the conventional illuminating device is employ | adopted.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an illuminating device 3 of an automotive meter (for example, a speedometer) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the illuminating device 3 of the automotive meter 1. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the illumination device 3 of the automobile meter 1 (by a plane including the line segment C3 shown in FIG. 2 and extending in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. FIG. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the display of the dial plate 5 is omitted for easy understanding. FIG. 3 shows a partial cross section of the illumination device 3 of the automobile meter 1.

  The illumination device 3 is a device for illuminating a dial plate 5 of an instrument (an instrument such as an automobile meter) 1. For example, a light source 7 such as an LED that generates visible light such as white light, and an LED 7 emits light. A regular reflection surface 9 for reflecting light and irradiating the dial plate 5 and a sub-reflection surface 11 are provided.

  The LED 7 is integrally provided on a case (for example, a resin case) 13 formed by molding or the like. The resin case 13 constitutes the housing of the meter 1, for example. Then, light emitted within the directivity angle (solid angle; steradian) θ of the LED 7 is applied to the dial plate 5 (region A which is a part of the irradiated region of the dial plate 5) formed in, for example, a flat disk shape. Direct irradiation. That is, the LED 7 is provided on the back side of the dial plate 5 at a predetermined distance from the dial plate 5, and light emitted from the LED 7 is mainly emitted toward the dial plate 5. .

  The regular reflection surface 9 is formed in a spherical shape and provided in the case 13. That is, the regular reflection surface 9 is a shape using a part of a spherical surface (the shape of a small curved surface obtained when a spherical surface of a sphere is divided into two by a plane separated by a predetermined distance from the center of the sphere). Is formed. The regular reflection surface 9 is provided as a part of the resin case 13 on the same side as the LED 7 with respect to the dial 5 so as to surround the LED 7 and around the LED 7.

  The regular reflection surface 9 reflects a part of the light emitted by the LED 7 outside the directivity angle θ of the LED 7, and the reflected light is transmitted to the dial 5 (a part of the irradiated area of the dial 5). A and some other regions B (regions different from region A) are irradiated. Details of the region A and the region B will be described later.

  The regular reflection surface 9 is separated from the dial 5 by a predetermined distance on the back side of the dial 5, and the circular (arc-shaped) edge 15 of the regular reflection surface 9 is substantially parallel to the dial 5. The resin case 13 is such that the edge 15 of the regular reflection surface 9 is located closer to the dial plate 5 than the central portion of the regular reflection surface 9 (the portion where the LED 7 is provided). Is provided. The regular reflection surface 9 is provided so as to be concave on the dial plate 5 side. The LED 7 is provided at the center of the regular reflection surface 9.

  Further, in the vicinity of the central portion of the regular reflection surface 9, the regular reflection surface 9 is developed in a state of being nearly parallel to the dial 5, but as the character moves to the edge (peripheral portion) 15, It is inclined with respect to the plate 5. That is, the crossing angle with respect to the dial 5 is gradually increased.

  In addition, a spherical regular reflection surface 9 serving as a main reflection surface is provided in a range where the directivity angle θ of the LED 7 and the plate surface of the dial plate 5 substantially coincide with each other.

  That is, when viewed from the thickness direction of the dial plate 5 (the direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 2 (vertical direction of FIG. 3)), the arc-shaped edge 15 of the regular reflection surface 9 is the outer edge of the directivity angle θ of the LED 7. It almost overlaps with a circle formed at a portion where one surface in the thickness direction of the dial plate 5 (the surface on the LED 7 side) intersects with each other, in other words, when viewed from the thickness direction of the dial plate 5, The regular reflection surface 9 is formed at the intersection of the portion within the directivity angle of the LED 7 and the dial plate 5 (for example, the plane located on the LED 7 side among the respective surfaces in the thickness direction of the dial plate 5). The reason why the edge 15 is expressed as an arc instead of a circle is as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. And the sub-reflection surface 11 are formed in a substantially fan shape, and a part 15a of the edge of the regular reflection surface 9 is formed in a straight line This is because being.

  The secondary reflection surface 11 is connected to the regular reflection surface 9 at the edge 15 (peripheral portion) of the regular reflection surface 9 and is provided in the case 13. In addition, in the site | part in which the regular reflection surface 9 and the subreflection surface 11 are mutually connected, the regular reflection surface 9 and the subreflection surface 11 do not form a sharp-angle bending part, a steep convex part, etc. It is connected smoothly.

  The sub-reflecting surface 11 is provided around the LED 7 (regular reflecting surface 9) on the same side as the LED 7 with respect to the dial 5 as a part of the case 13. The other part of the light emitted by the LED 7 is reflected outside the directivity angle θ of the LED 7 and the reflected light is irradiated onto the dial plate 5 (the region B of the dial plate 5).

  The sub-reflection surface 11 is formed, for example, in a shape using a part of the side surface of the truncated cone, and is separated from the dial 5 by a predetermined distance on the same side as the regular reflection surface 9 and becomes concave on the dial 5 side. In this way, the resin case 13 is provided. The sub-reflection surface 11 is provided so as to extend the regular reflection surface 9.

  The inclinations of the regular reflection surface 9 and the sub-reflection surface 11 are different. More specifically, in FIG. 3 (a cross-sectional view of the meter 1 cut along a plane including the rotation center axis C1 of the pointer (not shown) of the meter 1, the center of each reflection surface 9, 11 and the center of the LED 7), The inclination of the regular reflection 9 and the inclination of the sub-reflection surface 11 at the connecting portion between the regular reflection surface 9 and the sub-reflection surface 11 are equal to each other. However, since the sub-reflecting surface 11 is linear in the cross section of FIG. 3 and the regular reflecting surface 9 is arcuate, the inclination of the reflecting surfaces 9 and 11 is only partially matched, They are different from each other.

  Note that the line segment indicated by the reference numeral 11 of the sub-reflecting surface 11 shown in FIG. 3 is also a generatrix of the truncated cone forming the sub-reflecting surface 11 (the center line of the sub-reflecting surface 11 and the regular reflecting surface 9). )It has become. Further, the sub-reflecting surface 11 is formed symmetrically with respect to a plane defined by the bus bar and the rotation center axis C1 of the pointer (not shown) of the meter 1.

  Moreover, as already understood, the regular reflection surface 9 and the sub-reflection surface 11 are formed when the resin case 13 is molded.

  When viewed from the thickness direction of the dial plate 5, the regular reflection surface 9 and the sub-reflection surface 11 form a fan-shaped reflection surface and a plurality of sector-shaped reflection surfaces. Then, by connecting these fan-shaped reflecting surfaces to each other, a circular reflecting surface similar to the dial 5 is formed. A plurality of LEDs 7 are provided according to the reflecting surfaces 9 and 11. That is, for example, one LED 7 is provided on one regular reflection surface 9.

  Further, when viewed from the thickness direction of the dial plate 5, each sub-reflection surface 11 is formed in a ring shape and is located on the center side of the dial plate 5, and each regular reflection surface 9 is formed in a ring shape. It is formed and located on the outer peripheral side of the dial 5. When viewed from the thickness direction of the dial plate 5, the portion of the dial plate 5 that overlaps each of the ring-shaped regular reflection surfaces 9 is the region A described above, and each ring-shaped sub-reflection on the dial plate 5. The region overlapping the surface 11 is the region B described above.

  The light emitted by each LED 7 within the directivity angle θ directly irradiates a ring-shaped portion (region A) located on the outer peripheral side of the dial plate 5. The light emitted from each LED 7 outside the directivity angle θ is reflected by the sub-reflecting surface 11, and the reflected light irradiates a ring-shaped portion (region B) located on the center side of the dial. It has become. The light emitted from each LED 7 outside the directivity angle θ is reflected by the regular reflection surface 9, and the reflected light irradiates the region A and the region B.

  The ring-shaped part (area A) located on the outer peripheral side of the dial 5 and the ring-shaped part (area B) located on the center side of the dial 5 are connected to each other.

  The meter 1 is provided with a wiring board 17, a warning lamp 19, and a cover (not shown) made of transparent glass or the like. The wiring board 17 is provided with wiring for supplying power to the LEDs 7. The dial plate 5 is provided with scales and numbers indicated by the hands. The pointer is provided above the dial 5 in FIG. The cover is provided so as to cover the pointer and the dial 5.

  Next, operation | movement of the illuminating device 3 is demonstrated.

  When the LED 7 emits light, the light existing within the directivity angle θ among the emitted light is directly irradiated onto the area A of the dial 5. In addition, among the light emitted from the LED 7, a part of the light that exists outside the directivity angle θ (light in the vicinity of the directivity angle θ region) is directed toward the sub-reflection surface 11 as indicated by an arrow A <b> 5 in FIG. 3. And is reflected by the sub-reflection surface 11. The light reflected by the sub-reflecting surface 11 is applied to the region B of the dial 5 as indicated by an arrow A7 in FIG. Further, of the light emitted from the LED 7, another part of the light existing outside the directivity angle θ (light away from the directivity angle θ region) is a regular reflection surface as indicated by an arrow A1 in FIG. The light travels toward 9 and is reflected by the regular reflection surface 9. The light reflected by the regular reflection surface 9 is applied to the region B of the dial plate 5 as indicated by an arrow A3 in FIG. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the light reflected by the regular reflection surface 9 may be applied to the area A of the dial 5.

  According to the illumination device 3, the light emitted from the LED 7 within the directivity angle θ is directly irradiated to the dial plate 5, and the light emitted from the LED 7 outside the directivity angle θ is reflected by the regular reflection surface 9 and the sub-reflection surface 11. Since the dial plate 5 is irradiated, the dial plate 5 of the meter 1 can be illuminated efficiently and with almost no luminance unevenness.

  That is, the light emitted from the LED 7 within the directivity angle θ goes directly to the dial plate 5 (region A) because there is nothing to block. In addition, a part of the light emitted from the LED 7 and deviating from the directivity angle θ is reflected by the regular reflection surface 9 and is uniformly applied to the dial plate 5 (region A and region B). Further, the sub-reflecting surface 11 connected to and coupled to the specular reflecting surface 9 causes the other part of the light emitted from the LED 7 that deviates from the directivity angle θ to gather light. Without being guided to the periphery (for example, only the periphery of the region A), it is effectively guided to the other part (region B) of the dial 5. Thereby, it is possible to illuminate the dial 5 of the meter 1 efficiently and with little luminance unevenness.

  Moreover, according to the illuminating device 3, since the convex part like the conventional rib 208, the reflective wall 209, etc. is not provided, that is, the regular reflection surface 9 and the subreflection surface 11 are connected smoothly. Therefore, the molding cycle of the case 13 which is a component can be made shorter than before.

  Moreover, according to the illuminating device 3, since the circular reflective surface similar to the dial 5 is formed by forming a plurality of fan-shaped reflective surfaces and connecting these fan-shaped reflective surfaces to each other, It is possible to illuminate the dial 5 formed in a shape efficiently and with little luminance unevenness.

1 meter 3 lighting device 5 dial 7 LED (light source)
9 Regular reflection surface 11 Sub-reflection surface 13 Case θ Directional angle

Claims (3)

A light source that directly irradiates the dial with light emitted within a directional angle;
A regular reflection surface which is formed in a spherical shape and is provided on the case, reflects a part of light emitted from the light source outside the directivity angle of the light source, and irradiates the reflected light on the dial;
The edge of the regular reflection surface is connected to the regular reflection surface and is provided in the case. The other part of the light emitted from the light source is reflected outside the directivity angle of the light source, and the reflected light is A sub-reflective surface that illuminates the dial;
An instrument illumination device comprising: In the illuminating device of the liquid crystal display device of Claim 1,
The dial is formed in a plate shape,
When viewed from the thickness direction of the dial, the specular reflection surface substantially overlaps with a portion formed at a crossing portion of the dial within a directivity angle of the light source and the dial. Lighting equipment. In the illuminating device of the liquid crystal display device of Claim 1 or Claim 2,
The dial is formed in a disc shape,
When viewed from the thickness direction of the dial, the regular reflection surface and the sub-reflection surface form a fan-shaped reflection surface, and a plurality of the fan-shaped reflection surfaces are formed. A lighting device for a meter, characterized in that a circular reflecting surface similar to a dial is formed by connecting the reflecting surfaces to each other.

Images