JP2011180430A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact display device having high flexibility of selection of emission colors of a light source. <P>SOLUTION: The display device 10 includes a plurality of light sources L1 and L2 mounted on a substrate 20 and alternatively lit, and a light transmission body 30 mounted on the substrate 20 and configured to transmit lights emitted from the light sources L1 and L2. The light transmission body 30 has a plurality of side faces 31 and 32 (light entrance surfaces) on which design patterns D1 are printed, and a predetermined common upper bottom 34 (light exit surface). The light sources L1 and L2 are provided respectively in the side faces 31 and 32 of the light transmission body 30. The lights from the lit light sources L1 and L2 are passed through the side faces 31 and 32 of the light transmission body 30 respectively and enter the light transmission body 30, and passed through the upper bottom surface 34 to exit from the light transmission body 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device, for example, a display device suitable for displaying various design symbols in a vehicle instrument.

  As a display device, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, a display device for visually recognizing a design symbol by light transmission, and a plurality of light sources housed in a housing having an opening, and the opening A lens having a plurality of design lenses arranged in a stacked state is known. The plurality of design lenses have light-transmitting display portions each having a different design pattern, and light from a light source predetermined for each design lens is reflected on a portion other than the display portion, but other light sources The masking process is performed so as to transmit the light. As the plurality of light sources, red, blue, and green LEDs having different light wavelengths are used. According to the display device described in Patent Document 1, the design symbol associated with the emission color of the light source can be visually recognized through the opening of the housing by selectively turning on the plurality of light sources.

Japanese Patent No. 3160166

  In the display device described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of design symbols can be displayed at different timings through one opening, and the display device can be made compact. However, due to the characteristics of each design lens, it is necessary to set the light emission color of the light source to be different for each design design, so it is not possible to display all design designs in the same light emission color, and the light emission of the light source There was a problem that the degree of freedom of color selection was low.

  The present invention has been made to address the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a display device that is compact and has a high degree of freedom in selecting the light emission color of the light source.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a display device for visually recognizing a design symbol by transmission of light,
A plurality of light sources that are mounted on the substrate and are alternatively lit;
A light guide that is mounted on a substrate and transmits light emitted from a light source, and
The light guide has a plurality of light incident surfaces on which a design pattern is printed or a printing member on which the design design is printed, and a predetermined common light exit surface. It is provided corresponding to each of the incident surfaces, and the light of the lit light source enters the light guide through the light incident surface corresponding to the light source and exits from the light guide through the light output surface It is characterized by being.

  In the display device of the present invention, a light guide having a plurality of light incident surfaces on which a design pattern is printed and a predetermined common light emitting surface is provided. A light source is provided corresponding to each light incident surface of the light guide. Then, the light of the light source that is lit enters the light guide through the corresponding light incident surface, and exits the light guide through the light exit surface. For this reason, the user can visually recognize the design symbol transmitted and displayed based on the design symbol by printing or the like through the common light emitting surface for the plurality of light incident surfaces. In this case, since the light source is provided corresponding to each light incident surface of the light guide, the emission color of each light source can be freely set. Thereby, since the light emission surface is common, the display device can be made compact. In addition, since the emission color of the light source is not limited, the degree of freedom in selecting the emission color of the light source can be increased.

  In the above invention, the light guide has a light reflection surface corresponding to each light incident surface, and totally reflects light guided into the light guide through the light incident surface toward the light exit surface. Can do.

  By configuring the light path incident on the light guide to be changed by the light reflecting surface, the design pattern formed on the light incident surface can be changed even when the light source and the light guide are mounted on the same substrate. It becomes possible to see well through the light exit surface.

  In addition, the design symbol is associated with various states of the vehicle, and the display device may be incorporated in the vehicle meter so as to function as an indicator light or a warning light representing the various states of the vehicle.

  Usually, a vehicle meter is provided with a plurality of indicator lights or warning lights in order to inform the user of various states of the vehicle. Therefore, by adopting the display device having the above configuration as such an indicator lamp or warning lamp, the vehicle instrument can be configured in a compact manner.

  Further, the display device is provided integrally with a push switch that can switch a target function according to a pressing operation, and a light source that is turned on is selected in conjunction with the switching of the function by the pressing operation of the push switch. It can also be configured so that it can be switched over.

  For example, if a plurality of indicator lamps are provided, a large installation space is required. However, a single display device can serve as an indicator / warning lamp associated with a plurality of functions exhibited by the push switch. By consolidating, the installation space can be effectively reduced as compared with a conventional display device.

The top view which shows an example of the meter for vehicles to which the display apparatus which concerns on this invention is applied. AA sectional drawing of FIG. The left view of FIG. The right view of FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the design symbol visually recognized when the light source L1 exists in a lighting state. Explanatory drawing which shows the advancing path | route of the light in a light guide, when the light source L1 is in a lighting state. Explanatory drawing which shows the design symbol visually recognized when the light source L2 exists in a lighting state. Explanatory drawing which shows the advancing path | route of the light in a light guide, when the light source L2 is in a lighting state. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a display device according to a modification of Example 1; Sectional drawing of the display apparatus which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. Sectional drawing of the display apparatus which concerns on Example 3 of this invention and was integrated with the operation switch.

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

  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a main part of a vehicle meter 1 provided with a display device 10 according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. The vehicular meter 1 is provided as a combination meter in an instrument panel in a vehicle interior, and includes display lights / warning lights that represent various vehicle states in addition to a known speedometer and the like. In the first embodiment, the display device 10 is incorporated in the vehicle meter 1 so as to function as an indicator lamp / warning lamp.

  The display device 10 includes a plurality of (two in this embodiment) light sources L1 and L2 mounted on the substrate 20 and a light guide 30 that is mounted on the substrate 20 and transmits light emitted from the light sources L1 and L2. And.

  The light sources L1 and L2 are configured by one or a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes) that emit light of the same or different colors, and the light guide 30 is irradiated with each light toward the light guide 30. Are arranged opposite to each other. The light sources L1 and L2 are alternatively controlled to be turned on by the substrate 20.

  The light guide 30 has a polygonal (prism) shape having a plurality of surfaces, and is made of a resin material having high light transmittance such as polycarbonate and acrylic. Of the surface of the light guide 30, the side surfaces 31, 32 facing the light sources L 1, L 2 are arranged symmetrically with respect to a virtual reference plane O 1 that extends vertically in FIGS. 1 and 2.

  The side surfaces 31 and 32 are inclined with respect to the substrate 20 so as to intersect above the reference plane O1 in FIG. Mask printing is performed on the side surfaces 31 and 32, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, transparent design patterns D1 and D2 that transmit light and mask portions M1 and M2 that do not transmit light are formed. Has been. In the first embodiment, the side surfaces 31 and 32 of the light guide 30 function as light incident surfaces corresponding to the light sources L1 and L2, respectively.

  A portion of the light guide 30 on the side mounted on the substrate 20 is a recess 33 that is removed in a triangular prism shape having an isosceles triangular bottom surface. In the recess 33, the longitudinal side corresponding to the apex of the isosceles triangle is along the reference plane O1, and the surfaces corresponding to the two sides of the isosceles triangle form the lower bottom surfaces 33a and 33b of the light guide 30. Yes.

  The inclination angle θ of the lower bottom surfaces 33 a and 33 b with respect to the substrate 20, that is, the base angle θ of the above-mentioned isosceles triangle, totally reflects the light guided into the light guide 30 through the side surfaces 31 and 32 toward the upper bottom surface 34. It is set to a predetermined size. In the first embodiment, the lower bottom surfaces 33a and 33b of the light guide 30 function as light reflecting surfaces. A metal film (for example, aluminum) having high light reflectivity may be provided on the lower bottom surfaces 33a and 33b by vapor deposition or the like.

  The light guide 30 is covered with a dial 40, and only the upper bottom surface 34 located on the upper side in FIG. 2 of the surface of the light guide 30 is exposed to the outside through the opening 41 of the dial 40. Yes. In the first embodiment, the upper and lower surfaces 34 of the light guide 30 function as a light emitting surface that allows the design symbol D10 or D20 (see FIGS. 5 and 7) that is transmissively displayed to be viewed through the opening 41 of the dial 40. .

  Next, the operation of the display device 10 configured as described above will be described. When the lighting of the light source L1 is controlled, the light of the light source L1 enters the light guide 30 through the side surface 31 of the light guide 30, and refracts and proceeds toward the lower bottom surface 33a as shown in FIG. The light is totally reflected by the bottom surface 33 a and is emitted to the outside of the light guide 30 through the upper bottom surface 34. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5, the user can visually recognize the design symbol D10 that is transmitted and displayed based on the design symbol D1 through the upper and lower surfaces 34 of the light guide 30.

  On the other hand, when the light source L2 is controlled to be turned on, the light from the light source L2 enters the light guide 30 through the side surface 32 of the light guide 30, and refracts and proceeds toward the lower bottom surface 33b, as shown in FIG. Then, the light is totally reflected by the lower bottom surface 33 b and emitted to the outside of the light guide 30 through the upper bottom surface 34. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 7, the user can visually recognize the design symbol D20 that is transmitted and displayed based on the design symbol D2 through the upper and lower surfaces 34 of the light guide 30.

  As is clear from the above description, according to the first embodiment, the user can see the design transparently displayed based on the design symbol D1 or D2 through the common upper and lower surfaces 34 for the side surfaces 31 and 32 of the light guide 30. The design D10 or D20 can be visually recognized. In this case, since the light sources L1 and L2 are provided corresponding to the side surfaces 31 and 32 of the light guide 30, the light emission colors of the light sources L1 and L2 can be freely set. As a result, since the upper bottom surface 34 as a light emitting surface is common, the display device 10 can be made compact. In addition, since the light emission colors of the light sources L1 and L2 are not limited to each other, the degree of freedom in selecting the light emission colors of the light sources L1 and L2 can be increased.

(Modification)
In the first embodiment, the two light sources L1 and L2 are provided. However, as shown in FIG. 9, for example, the outer shape of the light guide 30 ′ is formed in a quadrangular pyramid shape, and four at the bottom thereof. A pyramidal concave portion 33 may be formed, and four light sources L1, L2, L3, and L4 may be provided corresponding to the side surfaces 31, 32, 35, and 36 of the light guide 30 ′. In this modification, the four side surfaces 31, 32, 35, and 36 function as light incident surfaces, respectively, and the lower bottom surfaces 33a, 33b, 33c, and 33d of the recesses 33 correspond to the side surfaces 31, 32, 35, and 36, respectively. The upper bottom surface 34 functions as a light emitting surface, as well as the reflective surface.

  The number of light sources is not limited to four as in the above modification, but can be three or five or more by appropriately changing the shape and size of the light guide and the recess. is there.

  In the first embodiment, the lower bottom surfaces 33a and 33b of the concave portion 33 of the light guide 30 are used as the light reflecting surfaces. However, as shown in the display device 100 of FIG. You can also.

  In Example 2, the substantially triangular prismatic light guide 130 is fixedly supported by the case body 141 so as to be arranged symmetrically with respect to the reference plane O1. Mask printing including a design pattern is applied to the side surfaces 133a and 133b of the light guide body 130 as in the first embodiment.

  The case body 141 has a frame shape that opens up and down in FIG. 10, and is mounted on the substrate 20 at the lower end thereof. A partition wall 141 a that abuts the light guide 130 is integrally formed at a lower portion of the inner peripheral surface of the case body 141. The case body 141 and the partition wall 141a are formed of a resin material having a light shielding function.

  The internal space of the case body 141 is partitioned into regions S1 and S2 by the partition wall 141a and the light guide 130, and the light sources L1 and L2 are accommodated in the regions S1 and S2, respectively.

  In Example 2, the light from the light source L1 (L2) enters the light guide 130 through the side surface 133a (133b) of the light guide 130, refracts toward the upper bottom surface 134, and is guided through the upper bottom surface 134. The light is emitted out of the light body 130. Thereby, the user can visually recognize the design symbol that is transmissively displayed based on the design symbol of the side surface 133 a (133 b) through the upper bottom surface 134 of the light guide 130.

  Also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the display device 100 can be made compact, and the degree of freedom in selecting the emission colors of the light sources L1 and L2 can be increased.

  In the second embodiment as well, the number of light sources can be appropriately changed as in the above modification.

  The display device 10 according to the first embodiment, the display device 100 according to the second embodiment, and the like can be integrated with various operation switches for a vehicle. FIG. 11 shows an example in which the display device 10 according to the first embodiment is integrated with the push switch 70. In FIG. 11, the same members as those of the display device 10 according to the first embodiment and members having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The push switch 70 can switch a target function in accordance with the pressing operation, and is mounted on the operation board 60. An operation signal based on the operation of the push switch 70 is input to the controller ECU 80, transmitted from the controller ECU 80 to the substrate 20, and the light sources L1 and L2 that are turned on in conjunction with the function switching by the pressing operation of the push switch 70 are turned on. It is configured to be switched alternatively.

  The light sources L 1 and L 2, the substrate 20, and the light guide 30 are incorporated into a modular case body 50 with a bottom having an opening 51, and the display device 10 functions as an operation knob of the push switch 70. ing.

  According to the third embodiment, the role of the indicator lamp / warning lamp associated with a plurality of functions exhibited by the push switch 70 can be integrated into one display device 10, which is compared with the conventional display device. Thus, the installation space can be effectively reduced.

  In the first to third embodiments, the side surfaces 31 and 32 of the light guide 30 functioning as the light incident surface, the side surfaces 31, 32, 35, and 36 of the light guide 30 ′, or the side surfaces 133a and 133b of the light guide 130. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a printing member on which the design pattern is printed may be attached to each light incident surface. In this case, if a printing member having a different design pattern is prepared in advance and the printing member is selected according to the vehicle type, for example, the display device can be shared, so the cost required for the display device can be reduced. Can be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle instrument 10,100 Display apparatus 20 Board | substrate L1, L2 Light source 30,130 Light guide 31,32,133a, 133b Side surface (light incident surface)
D1, D2, D10, D20 Design pattern 33 Recess 33a, 33b Lower bottom surface (light reflecting surface)
34,134 Upper bottom surface (light exit surface)
40 Dial 50 Case body 60 Operation board 70 Push switch 80 Controller ECU
141 Case body O1 Reference plane

Claims (4)

A display device for visually recognizing a design symbol by transmitting light,
A plurality of light sources that are mounted on the substrate and are alternatively lit;
A light guide that is mounted on the substrate and transmits light emitted from the light source, and
The light guide includes a plurality of light incident surfaces on which the design symbol is printed or a printing member on which the design symbol is printed, and a predetermined common light emitting surface, The light source is provided corresponding to each of the light incident surfaces, and the light of the lit light source enters the light guide through the light incident surface corresponding to the light source, and passes through the light output surface. A display device configured to emit light out of a light guide.   The light guide has a light reflecting surface corresponding to each of the light incident surfaces and configured to totally reflect light guided into the light guide through the light incident surface toward the light emitting surface. The display device described.   The said design design is matched with the various states of a vehicle, and the said display apparatus is integrated in the vehicle meter so that it may function as an indicator lamp or a warning light showing various states of a vehicle. Display device.   The display device is provided integrally with a push switch that can switch a target function in accordance with a pressing operation, and a light source that is turned on is selected in conjunction with the switching of the function by the pressing operation of the push switch. 4. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the display device is switched automatically.