JP2012154800A - Pointer member, pointer unit, and pointer instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive pointer member capable of preventing irregular luminance on the upper surface of a pointer part by enhancing use efficiency of light, to provide a pointer unit having the pointer member thereof, and to provide a pointer instrument having the pointer unit thereof.SOLUTION: At a pointer part 50 of a pointer member 31, a hollow reflection part 60 is provided which is opposed to a light receiving part 42 of a base part 40. The hollow reflection part 60 includes a reflection surface 61 in the indication direction, a reflection surface 62 in the rear end direction, and a transmission surface 63. This transmission surface 63 is arranged opposite to an upper surface 53 of the pointer part 50. Moreover, the transmission surface 63 is formed on the convex lens-shaped curved surface formed by making a cross-sectional shape along the width direction of the pointer part 50 formed into a convex curve shape in the direction away from the upper surface 53. As a result, the transmission surface 63 condenses light L3 made incident thereon toward a slit 71 of a cover member 32.

Description

  The present invention relates to a pointer member made of a light-transmitting material that receives light from a light source, a pointer unit having the pointer member, and a pointer instrument having the pointer unit.

  In general, a vehicle is equipped with a vehicle display device that displays measurement values such as a vehicle speed and an engine speed, and in many vehicles, the vehicle display device includes a pointer instrument. The pointer instrument is equipped with a dial with a scale and indicators such as numbers, letters or symbols on the surface, a pointer unit that is placed on the front side of the dial and points to the indicator on the dial, and a pointer unit The meter case includes a driving device that rotates the pointer shaft according to the measurement amount, and a wiring board on which a circuit pattern, electronic components, and the like are provided and the driving device is fixed.

  And in order to make it easy to see the pointer unit provided in such a pointer instrument even in the dark, the pointer member constituting the pointer unit is formed of a light-transmitting synthetic resin as a light-transmitting material. Various techniques have been disclosed in which light from a light source is guided into a member to shine the pointer member. And the light emission pointer | guide shown in patent document 1 etc. has a hollow reflective part provided with the reflective surface which reflects a part of light from a light source toward the front-end | tip direction of a pointer | guide.

  For example, a pointer instrument 901, a part of which is shown in FIG. 6, includes a dial 902, a self-luminous pointer 903 as a pointer unit, a driving device 904 including a pointer shaft 914 that is rotated according to a measurement amount, a wiring A plate 905 and a light source 906 are provided. The self-light emitting pointer 903 includes a pointer main body 931 as a pointer member having a base portion 940 and a pointer portion 950 integrally formed of a translucent synthetic resin, and covers the pointer main body 931 and an upper surface 953 of the pointer portion 950. And a cover member 932 provided with a slit 971 for exposure toward the surface. The pointer main body 931 guides the light received by the base portion 940 to the pointer portion 950 and emits the light from the upper surface 953 of the pointer portion 950 toward the viewer. Light emission is visually recognized through 971.

  The base 940 of the pointer main body 931 includes a cylindrical base main body 941 attached to the tip of the pointer shaft 914 that also serves as a light guide member, a light receiving portion 942 that receives the light L of the light source 906 guided by the pointer shaft 914, Is provided. The pointer portion 950 of the pointer main body 931 is provided with a pointing portion 951 and a rear portion 952 that are extended from the base portion 940 in the pointing direction S1 that intersects the axis P of the pointer shaft 914 and in the opposite rear end direction S2, respectively. Further, a hollow reflecting portion 960 that penetrates the pointer portion 950 in the width direction (front-back direction in FIG. 6) is provided in the pointer portion 950 near the upper end 941a of the base body 941.

  The hollow reflecting portion 960 is formed in a substantially isosceles triangular shape including an instruction direction reflecting surface 961, a rear end direction reflecting surface 962, and a transmitting surface 963. Further, a corner portion 960 a formed by intersecting the indication direction reflection surface 961 and the rear end direction reflection surface 962 is disposed to face the light receiving portion 942 of the base portion 940. As shown in FIG. 6, the pointing direction reflecting surface 961 reflects a part L1 of the light L received by the light receiving unit 942 in the pointing direction S1 (left direction in FIG. 6) and another part of the light L. L3 is transmitted to the transmission surface 963 side. The rear end direction reflecting surface 962 reflects a part L2 of the light L received by the light receiving unit 942 in the rear end direction S2 (right direction in FIG. 6) and transmits another part L3 of the light L. The light passes through the surface 963 side.

  The light L1 travels in the pointing portion 951 in the pointing direction S1 and exits from the upper surface 953 on the pointing portion 951 side, and the light L2 travels in the rear portion 952 in the rear end direction S2 and the rear portion. The light L3 is emitted from the upper surface 953 on the 952 side, and the light L3 enters the transmission surface 963 and then emerges from the upper surface 953 above the hollow reflective portion 960, whereby the entire upper surface 953 of the pointer portion 950 emits light. In the figure, the arrow indicating the light L3 represents the luminance of the light in terms of thickness. The thicker the luminance, the lower the luminance.

  As shown in an example in FIG. 7, the light L3 incident on the transmission surface 963 has the highest luminance at the location 963c of the transmission surface 963 directly above the corner portion 960a, and the direction S1 side from the location 963c. The luminance gradually decreases with increasing distance from the transmission surface end 963a or the transmission surface end 963b on the rear end direction S2 side. Then, the portion with low luminance becomes a dark portion, and luminance unevenness occurs on the upper surface 953 above the hollow reflective portion 960. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, a light diffusing component 970 formed in substantially the same shape as the hollow reflecting portion 960 made of a synthetic resin containing a diffusing agent that transmits and scatters light is inserted into the hollow reflecting portion 960. In the same manner as the light emission guideline disclosed in Patent Document 1, a filter member is provided on the transmission surface 963 to prevent luminance unevenness of the upper surface 953.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-12995

  However, as described above, if a light diffusing component, a filter member, or the like is provided to prevent luminance unevenness generated on the upper surface 953 of the pointer portion 950 above the hollow reflecting portion 960, the number of components increases and the number of man-hours for assembly also increases. There is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the pointer member increases. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the pointer portion 950 is covered with the cover member 932, and only a part of the upper surface 953 of the pointer portion 950 is exposed to the outside through the slit 971 of the cover member 932. Even if the light L3 that has entered the light source 963 exits from the upper surface 953, only a part of the light L3 appears outside the cover member 932 through the slit 971, and the remaining part of the light L3 is blocked by the cover member 932. Thus, the light stays inside the cover member 932, and thus there is a problem that the light use efficiency is poor.

  The present invention aims to solve the above problems. That is, the present invention provides an inexpensive pointer member that can improve the light use efficiency and prevent uneven brightness on the upper surface of the pointer portion, a pointer unit having the pointer member, and a pointer instrument having the pointer unit. It is aimed.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention described in claim 1 is extended to a base portion that receives light from a light source, and to a pointing direction and a rear end direction opposite to the pointing direction from one end of the base portion. And a hollow reflecting portion provided in the pointer portion so as to be opposed to the base portion so as to reflect the light received by the base portion in the indication direction and the rear end direction, In the pointer member made of a translucent material, wherein the pointer portion is housed in a cover member having a slit formed along the longitudinal direction of the pointer portion corresponding to the upper surface of the pointer portion, the hollow reflecting portion is A pointing direction reflecting surface formed so as to reflect a part of the light received by the base in the pointing direction and transmit another part of the light, and intersecting the pointing direction reflecting surface A part of the light received by the base A rear end direction reflecting surface formed so as to reflect in the end direction and transmit another part of the light, and crossed and connected to each of the indication direction reflecting surface and the rear end direction reflecting surface; A transmission surface provided opposite to the upper surface of the pointer portion, and the transmission surface condenses the light transmitted through the indication direction reflection surface and the rear end direction reflection surface toward the slit. A pointer member characterized by being formed in a lens shape.

  The invention described in claim 2 is the invention described in claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the transmission surface along the width direction of the pointer portion is a convex curve in a direction away from the upper surface of the pointer portion. It is characterized by being formed.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 3 accommodates the pointer member according to claim 1 or 2 and the pointer portion of the pointer member, and light from the upper surface of the pointer portion. And a cover member provided with a slit to pass therethrough.

  In order to achieve the above object, a fourth aspect of the present invention is directed to the pointer unit according to the third aspect, and a driving device that rotates the pointer shaft to which the pointer unit is attached in accordance with the measured amount. And a light source that emits light received by the pointer member of the pointer unit.

  According to the present invention, the hollow reflecting portion provided in the pointer portion of the pointer member has the pointing direction reflecting surface, the rear end direction reflecting surface, and the transmitting surface, and the transmitting surface includes the pointing direction reflecting surface and the rear end. Since it is formed in a lens shape that condenses the light that has passed through the direction reflecting surface toward the slit provided in the cover member, it has conventionally been blocked by the cover member even if it is emitted from the upper surface of the pointer part and exits to the outside. The direction of travel of the light that could not be transmitted can be directed to the slit, so that it is possible to increase the brightness of the light that goes out of the cover member through the slit without using a light diffusing member, and to generate a dark part Therefore, it is possible to increase the light use efficiency and to prevent uneven brightness on the upper surface of the pointer portion at low cost.

  In addition, the cross-sectional shape along the width direction of the pointer portion of the transmission surface is formed in a curved shape that is convex in a direction away from the upper surface of the pointer portion, so that the transmission surface becomes a simple convex lens shape. And it can be manufactured at low cost.

It is sectional drawing of the display apparatus for vehicles which is one Embodiment of the pointer instrument of this invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded three-dimensional view of a self-luminous pointer (pointer unit) included in the vehicle display device of FIG. (A) is the partial perspective view which looked at the pointer main body of the self-luminous pointer of FIG. 2 from the diagonal direction, (b) is the partial side view which looked at the pointer part of the pointer main body from the width direction, (c ) Is a view of the cross-section in the width direction of the pointer main body including the axis of the pointer shaft as viewed in the indicated direction. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining light traveling in the pointer main body of FIG. It is a fragmentary sectional view which shows the structure of the modification of the self-light-emitting pointer | guide of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the conventional pointer instrument and a self-light-emitting pointer. It is a figure for demonstrating the light permeate | transmitted in the hollow reflective part of the pointer main body of the self-light-emitting pointer | guide of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure which provided the light-diffusion member in the hollow reflection part in the self-light-emitting pointer | guide of FIG. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the light which advances the inside of the pointer main body of the self-light-emitting pointer of FIG.

  Hereinafter, a display device for a vehicle which is an embodiment of a pointer instrument according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 1, a vehicle display device 1 is a speed meter that displays a vehicle speed, for example, and is a character provided with a scale and an index such as a number, a character, or a symbol on a surface 2 a (a surface visually recognized by a viewer). A driving device 4 having a plate 2, a self-luminous pointer (hereinafter also referred to as a pointer) 3 as a pointer unit disposed on the surface 2 a of the dial 2, and a pointer shaft 14 to which the pointer 3 is attached at the tip; A circuit board 5 provided with a circuit pattern, electronic parts, and the like and a driving device 4 fixed, a plurality of light sources 6 provided on the circuit board 5, and from the center of the circuit board 5 toward the edge of the dial 2. The case 7 having the tapered portion 7 a formed as described above, the back cover 8 covering the back side of the wiring board 5, and the front glass 9 are provided.

  The dial plate 2 is a member formed in a substantially disc shape made of, for example, a transparent or translucent synthetic resin such as polycarbonate. A light-shielding ink (not shown) is printed on the surface 2a of the dial plate 2 respectively. In addition, a light-shielding region and an indicator as a translucent design formed by removing the light-shielding ink along the shape of characters, scales, etc. (without printing the light-shielding ink) are provided. Each index is visually recognized by being illuminated from the back side of the dial 2 by a light source 6 described later.

  The pointer 3 is arranged on the surface 2a side of the dial plate 2, and indicates the measurement amount in cooperation with each of the indicators by indicating each indicator provided on the dial plate 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the pointer 3 is provided in the cover member 32 to balance the pointer 3 by providing a pointer main body 31 as a pointer member, a cover member 32 made of an opaque synthetic resin covering the pointer main body 31. And a balance member 39 to be adjusted.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the pointer main body 31 is a base 40 formed integrally using a light-transmitting synthetic resin as a light-transmitting material, such as a polycarbonate resin or an acrylic resin. And a pointer portion 50.

  The base 40 includes a cylindrical base main body 41 and a light receiving portion 42 provided in the vicinity of the upper end 41 a inside the base main body 41. The base body 41 is fixedly attached to the pointer shaft 14 coaxially by inserting and fitting the tip of the pointer shaft 14 to the lower end 41b. That is, the center of the base body 41 coincides with the axis P of the pointer shaft 14. The light receiving part 42 is formed in the same circular shape and plane as the inside of the base body 41, and is spaced from the end surface 14 a at the tip of the pointer shaft 14 when the pointer shaft 14 is fitted to the base body 41. Are placed relative to each other. Of course, the shape of the light receiving unit 42 is not limited to a planar shape, and may be any shape that can receive light from a light source, such as a curved surface shape or a shape in which a plurality of surfaces are combined. In addition, the light receiving unit 42 may be disposed in close contact with the end surface 14 a of the pointer shaft 14.

  The pointer portion 50 is connected to the upper end 41a of the base main body 41 (that is, one end of the base portion 40), and is perpendicular to the axis P from the upper end 41a with the axis center P of the pointer shaft 14 as a boundary (substantially perpendicular). The indicator 51 extended in one direction intersecting (including the indication direction S1), and the rear portion extended shorter than the indication unit 51 in the other direction opposite to the one direction (ie, the rear end direction S2). 52. That is, the pointer portion 50 extends from the upper end 41a of the base body 41 in the instruction direction S1 and the rear end direction S2. The instruction direction S1 and the rear end direction S2 coincide with (including substantially coincide with) the radial direction of the pointer shaft 14. The instruction direction S1 and the rear end direction S2 are also the longitudinal direction of the pointer portion 50. Further, the pointer portion 50 is provided with a hollow reflection portion 60 as a reflection portion.

  The bottom surface 54, which is the surface of the pointer portion 50 directed toward the base portion 40, is formed by being colored white or silver by a hot stamp or the like so as to reflect light incident on the bottom surface 54 from within the pointer portion 50. The reflective layer 54a is provided so as to overlap. In addition, a diffusion layer 53a formed in a red color or the like with a hot stamp or the like is formed on the upper surface 53 which is the surface of the pointer portion 50 opposite to the bottom surface 54 so as to diffuse light emitted from the upper surface 53. Overlaid. In addition, the reflection layer 54 a and the diffusion layer 53 a may be formed by forming a texture or a fine prism structure on the bottom surface 54 and the top surface 53. In the present embodiment, the reflective layer 54a is provided only on the bottom surface 54 on the indication unit 51 side. However, a similar reflective layer 54a may be provided on the bottom surface 54 on the rear portion 51 side. In the following description, the description “bottom surface 54” represents the surface of the pointer portion 50 including the reflective layer 54 a on the base 40 side, and the description “top surface 53” refers to the diffusion layer opposite to the bottom surface 54. It represents the surface of the pointer portion 50 including 53a, and the bottom surface 54 and the reflective layer 54a, and the top surface 53 and the diffusion layer 53a will be described separately only when necessary. Note that the reflective layer 54a and the diffusion layer 53a may be provided with only one of them.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the hollow reflecting portion 60 is provided in the pointer portion 50 near the upper end 41 a of the base body 41 so as to face the light receiving portion 42 of the base portion 40. The hollow reflection part 60 has a pointing direction reflection surface 61, a rear end direction reflection surface 62, and a transmission surface 63, and penetrates the pointer part 50 in the width direction (front-back direction in FIG. 3B). It is formed in an equilateral triangular shape.

  The pointing direction reflecting surface 61 is formed in a flat shape, and one end closer to the lower side in the figure is arranged in the vicinity of the base 40, and from this one end toward the pointing direction S1 (left direction in FIG. 3B), It is formed so as to be gradually separated from the base portion 40 in the direction of the axis P of the pointer shaft 14 (upward direction in FIG. 3B). As a result, the pointing direction reflecting surface 61 reflects a part L1 of the light L received by the light receiving unit 42 in the pointing direction S1 in the same manner as the pointing direction reflecting surface 961 of the conventional pointer main body 931 described above. The other part L3 of L is transmitted to the transmission surface 63 side.

  The rear end direction reflection surface 62 is formed in a flat shape, and one end is connected to the one end of the indication direction reflection surface 61, and the rear end direction reflection surface 62 is directed from the one end toward the rear end direction S2 (right direction in FIG. 3B). Therefore, it is formed so as to be gradually separated from the base portion 40 in the direction of the axis P of the pointer shaft 14 (upward in FIG. 3B). That is, the rear end direction reflection surface 62 is connected to intersect the indication direction reflection surface 61. Thereby, the rear end direction reflection surface 62 reflects a part L2 of the light L received by the light receiving unit 42 in the rear end direction S2, similarly to the rear end direction reflection surface 962 of the conventional pointer main body 931 described above. The other part L3 of the light L is transmitted to the transmission surface 63 side. Further, a corner portion 60 a formed by intersecting the indication direction reflection surface 61 and the rear end direction reflection surface 62 is disposed on the axis P of the pointer shaft 14 and toward the light receiving portion 42 of the base portion 40. . Of course, the arrangement of the corner portion 60a is not limited to the axis P of the pointer shaft 14, and may be shifted from the axis P toward the instruction direction S1 or the rear end direction S2.

  The transmission surface 63 is formed in a curved surface in which a cross-sectional shape (hereinafter referred to as a cross-sectional shape) along the width direction of the pointer portion 50 is a convex curved shape on the corner portion 60a side. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the transmission surface 63 is constant regardless of the position on the transmission surface 63, that is, the transmission surface 63 has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape in which an axis is arranged in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the pointer portion 50 ( It is formed in a curved surface. Further, the transmission surface 63 is disposed to face the upper surface 53 of the pointer portion 50. That is, the transmission surface 63 is formed in a convex lens shape whose cross-sectional shape is a convex curve shape in a direction away from the upper surface 53. Due to such a convex lens shape, the transmission surface 63 collects the light incident on the transmission surface 63 toward the center in the width direction of the upper surface 53 of the pointer portion 50 where the slit 71 of the cover member 32 described later is disposed. Shine. That is, the transmission surface 63 is formed so as to collect light toward the slit 71 of the cover member 32.

  Further, the transmission surface 63 has a larger amount of light collection as the curvature of the cross-sectional shape is larger, and a smaller amount of light collection as the curvature is smaller. In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the transmission surface 63 is constant regardless of the position on the transmission surface 63, but is not limited to this. For example, the luminance of incident light is high. The curvature of the cross-sectional shape is reduced at the location of the transmissive surface 63, and the curvature of the cross-sectional shape is increased at the location of the transmissive surface 63 where the luminance of the incident light is low. The transmissive surface 63 may be formed by changing the curvature at each location so that the brightness of the light emitted from the central portion in the width direction of the upper surface 53 is appropriately balanced. That is, the cross-sectional shape of the transmissive surface 63 may be a constant shape regardless of the position on the transmissive surface 63 as long as it is a curved shape protruding in a direction away from the upper surface 53, or may be a shape that varies depending on the position. Further, the center of the transmission surface 63 in the longitudinal direction of the pointer portion 50 is disposed on the axis P of the pointer shaft 14. Of course, the shape and arrangement of the transmission surface 63 are not limited to those described above.

  The pointer main body 31 reflects and transmits the light received by the light receiving portion 42 of the base portion 40 through the hollow reflecting portion 60, guides the light in the pointer portion 50, and emits the light from the upper surface 53 of the pointer portion 50. Thereby, the upper surface 53 of the pointer portion 50 emits light, and the upper surface 53 is visually recognized through the slit 71 of the cover member 32.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cover member 32 has an upper cover 33 and a lower cover 38 that are divided into upper and lower parts.

  The upper cover 33 includes a first cover portion 34 formed in a substantially rectangular tube shape that gradually decreases from the rear end 34b toward the tip end 34a in accordance with the outer shape of the pointer portion 50 of the pointer main body 31, and a base portion of the pointer main body 31. And a second cover part 35 formed in a circular dish shape covering the periphery of 40. The first cover portion 34 and the second cover portion 35 are opened downward in the figure, and the pointer portion 50 of the pointer main body 31 is accommodated inside from the opening.

  The upper wall 34c of the first cover part 34 is provided with a slit 71 extending from the rear end 34b to the front end 34a. The slit 71 is formed so that when the pointer main body 31 and the cover member 32 are assembled, the central portion in the width direction of the upper surface 53 of the pointer portion 50 of the pointer main body 31 is exposed in a straight line over the entire longitudinal direction. Yes. That is, the slit 71 is formed along the longitudinal direction of the pointer portion 50 corresponding to the upper surface 53 of the pointer portion 50. The length and width of the slit 71 can be arbitrarily designed according to the design of the pointer 3 and the like. Further, a translucent coloring member or a light diffusing member may be provided in the slit 71, and the slit 71 only needs to be configured so that light emitted from the upper surface of the pointer portion 50 passes therethrough. In addition, a pair of bosses (not shown) are formed on the inner surface of the second cover portion 35 so as to protrude downward in the figure and fit into the pair of fitting holes 38d of the lower cover 38. .

  The lower cover 38 includes a first lid 38 a having an annular plate shape formed in accordance with the opening shape of the second cover portion 35 of the upper cover 33, and the first cover 33 of the upper cover 33 that accommodates the instruction portion 51 of the pointer portion 50. A band-shaped second lid portion 38b extending in the radial direction from the first lid portion 38a, which is formed in accordance with the opening shape of the tip side portion of the one cover portion 34, and a pointer main body provided on the first lid portion 38a 31 through the base portion 40, a pair of fitting holes 38d provided in the first lid portion 38a corresponding to the pair of bosses of the upper cover 33, and a mounting boss to which the balance member 39 is attached. 38e. The lower cover 38 is assembled to the upper cover 33 to close the openings of the first cover portion 34 and the second cover portion 35, and forms a space for accommodating the pointer portion 50 of the pointer main body 31 together with the upper cover 33. And by accommodating the pointer part 50 of the pointer main body 31 in this accommodation space, it is possible to prevent the light emitted from the surface such as the bottom surface 54 of the pointer part 50 from illuminating the dial plate 2 or the like.

  The balance member 39 is formed with a weight set in consideration of the pointer portion 50 of the pointer main body 31, and has a fitting hole 39 a that is fitted to a mounting boss 38 e provided on the lower cover 38 of the cover member 32. Have. The balance member 39 is positioned by the mounting boss 38e and is accommodated in the cover member 32.

  The pointer 3 configured in this manner is assembled as follows, for example. First, the base 40 of the pointer main body 31 is passed through the through portion 38 c of the lower cover 38, the pointer main body 31 is set on the lower cover 38, and the balance member 39 is set on the lower cover 38. Then, the upper cover 33 is placed close to the pointer main body 31 so as to cover the pointer main body 31 from the upper surface 53 side of the pointer main body 31, and the pair of bosses and the lower cover 38 provided in the second cover of the upper cover 33 are covered. By fitting the pair of fitting holes 38d, the upper cover 33 and the lower cover 38 are fixed to each other, the pointer main body 31 is accommodated in the cover member 32, and the assembly is completed.

  The driving device 4 is a well-known stepping motor, and supports a pointer shaft 14 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with a light-transmitting synthetic resin such as polycarbonate resin, and the pointer shaft 14 so as to be rotatable. A main body 15 that rotates the pointer shaft 14 according to the principle of a stepping motor in accordance with a speed measurement amount by a speed sensor that does not. A concave portion 15b is provided in a bottom surface 15a of a main body portion 15 disposed so as to overlap with a wiring board 5 described later, and an end surface 14b on the lower side of the pointer shaft 14 in the figure is exposed in the concave portion 15b. The base portion 40 of the pointer main body 31 described above is attached to the tip of the pointer shaft 14 at the upper side in the drawing. The pointer shaft 14 is configured to turn the pointer main body 31 and guide light to the base 40 as a light guide member.

  The wiring board 5 is a well-known printed circuit board provided with electronic components and wiring patterns for electrically connecting these electronic components. A driving device 4 and a plurality of light sources 6 are mounted on the surface of the wiring board 5 on the dial 2 side.

  The plurality of light sources 6 use LEDs, bulbs, and the like, and are controlled to be turned on and off by a control unit (not shown) provided on the wiring board 5. The plurality of light sources 6 emit light for causing the indicator of the dial 2 and the pointer main body 31 of the pointer 3 to emit light. One of the plurality of light sources 6 is disposed in the recess 15 b of the main body 15 of the driving device 4 so as to be opposed to the end surface 14 b of the pointer shaft 14. Thereby, the pointer shaft 14 guides the light incident on the end surface 14b from the light source 6 and emits the light from the end surface 14a at the tip.

  In the case 7, the tapered surface that is the surface of the tapered portion 7 a is a reflecting surface, and reflects the light emitted from the light source 6 toward the dial 2. Thereby, each index provided on the surface 2a of the dial 2 emits light. The back cover 8 is assembled to the case 7 so as to cover the back of the wiring board 5. The front glass 9 is disposed so as to cover the dial 2, the pointer 3 and the like, and is attached to the case 7 via a turn 10 by fixing means (not shown) such as a locking claw. The back cover 8 and the front glass 9 prevent dust and the like from entering the vehicle display device 1.

  Next, an example of the operation (action) of the pointer (self-luminous pointer) 3 according to the present invention having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIG. In each figure, the arrow described in the pointer main body 31 schematically shows the traveling direction of the light guided to the pointer main body 31.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the light L emitted from the light source 6 is guided by the pointer shaft 14 and then received by the light receiving unit 42 provided on the base 40 of the pointer main body 31. Then, the light L travels in the pointer main body 31 and enters the pointing direction reflecting surface 61 and the rear end direction reflecting surface 62 of the hollow reflecting portion 60, and the pointing direction reflecting surface 61 and the rear end direction reflecting surface 62 are Then, a part of the light L is reflected in the instruction direction S1 (the back direction in FIG. 4) and the rear end direction S2 (the front side in FIG. 4), and the other part L3 of the light L is transmitted to the transmission surface 63 side. To do. The light L3 passes through the hollow reflection part 60 and enters the transmission surface 63.

  Then, the light L3 incident on the transmission surface 63 is condensed toward the central portion in the width direction (left-right direction in FIG. 4) of the upper surface 53 of the pointer portion 50 and is emitted from the central portion in the width direction of the upper surface 53. That is, the light L <b> 3 is collected toward the slit 71 of the cover member 32 that exposes the central portion in the width direction of the upper surface 53 of the pointer portion 50, and is emitted to the outside of the cover member 32 through the slit 71. As a result, light that has been blocked by the cover member 32 and stayed in the cover member 32 can be emitted to the outside through the slit 71, and the light utilization efficiency can be increased, and the light can be emitted to the outside through the slit 71. The brightness of light can be increased.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the hollow reflecting portion 60 provided in the pointer portion 50 of the pointer main body 31 includes the pointing direction reflecting surface 61, the rear end direction reflecting surface 62, and the transmitting surface 63. 63 is formed in a lens shape that condenses the light L3 transmitted through the pointing direction reflection surface 61 and the rear end direction reflection surface 62 toward the slit 71 provided in the cover member 32. Even if light exits from the upper surface 53 of the light source, it is possible to direct the traveling direction of the light, which is blocked by the cover member 32 and cannot go out to the outside, to the slit 71, and therefore through the slit 71 without using a light diffusing member. The brightness of the light emitted to the outside of the cover member 32 can be increased, and the occurrence of dark portions can be prevented. Therefore, the use efficiency of light can be increased, and uneven brightness on the upper surface 53 of the pointer portion 50 can be prevented at a low cost. That.

  Further, since the cross-sectional shape of the transmission surface 63 along the width direction of the pointer portion 50 is formed in a convex curved shape in a direction away from the upper surface 53 of the pointer portion 50, the transmission surface 63 has a simple convex lens shape. The pointer main body 31, the self-luminous pointer 3 having the pointer main body 31, and the vehicle display device 1 including the self-luminous pointer 3 can be manufactured easily and inexpensively.

  In the present embodiment, an expression indicating directions such as upper, lower, left, right, front, rear, etc. used for explaining the configuration and operation of each part of the display device 1 for the vehicle, the self-light emitting pointer 3 and the pointer main body 31. Is relative rather than absolute, and is appropriate when the vehicle display device 1, the self-luminous pointer 3 and the pointer body 31 or parts thereof are in the posture shown in the figure. Should change and be interpreted according to the change in posture.

  Moreover, the shape of the hollow reflection part 60 is not limited to the above-described configuration. For example, the hollow reflection part includes a flat pointing direction reflection surface, a flat rear end direction reflection surface, and a pointer. The pointing direction reflection surface, the rear end direction reflection surface, and the transmission, such as a fan-like shape formed of a curved transmission surface that is curved toward the upper surface side of the part, or a polygonal shape other than a triangle As long as it has a surface and is formed hollow in the pointer portion, these shapes are arbitrary as long as the object of the present invention is not violated. Further, the shapes of the pointing direction reflection surface 61, the rear end direction reflection surface 62, and the transmission surface 63 are not limited to the above-described configuration. The indication direction reflection surface 61 and the rear end direction reflection surface 62 are formed in a substantially flat surface, but each of these surfaces may be a flat surface, a curved surface, an aspherical surface, a composite surface thereof, or a plurality of surfaces. As long as the object of the present invention is not violated, the shape is arbitrary. Further, although the transmission surface 63 is formed in a convex lens-shaped curved surface having a cross-sectional shape that is convex in a direction away from the upper surface 53 of the pointer portion 50, it is not limited thereto. It may be composed of a plane, a curved surface, an aspherical surface, a composite surface thereof, or a plurality of surfaces, and the shape is arbitrary as long as it does not contradict the object of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, the base 40 includes a base body 41 attached to the pointer shaft 14 and a light receiving portion 42 that receives the light of the light source 6 guided to the pointer shaft 14. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower cover 38 is provided with a cylindrical bearing portion 38f attached to the pointer shaft 14 in place of the base main body 41, and the base 40 of the pointer main body 31 is formed only by the light receiving portion 42. As long as the base portion of the pointer main body (pointer member) includes at least a light receiving portion that receives light from the light source, the configuration thereof is arbitrary.

  In the present embodiment, the display device for a vehicle as a speed meter has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention is applied to an engine tachometer, a fuel gauge, and the like in addition to the speed meter. Or may be used for industrial instrument devices other than display devices for vehicles such as instruments used for measuring gas pressure, temperature, etc. in factories, etc. Uses and application devices are arbitrary.

  In addition, embodiment mentioned above only showed the typical form of this invention, and this invention is not limited to embodiment. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 Vehicle display device (pointer instrument)
3 Self-luminous pointer (pointer unit)
4 Driving device 6 Light source 14 Pointer shaft 31 Pointer body (pointer member)
32 Cover member 40 Base 41 Base body 41a Upper end of base body (one end of base)
42 Light-receiving part 50 Pointer part 51 Pointer part 52 Rear part 53 Upper surface of pointer part 54 Bottom surface of pointer part 60 Hollow reflecting part 61 Pointing direction reflecting surface 62 Rear end direction reflecting surface 63 Transmitting surface 60a Pointing direction reflecting surface and rear end direction Corner portion formed by intersecting reflection surfaces 71 Slit S1 Instructed direction S2 Rear end direction

Claims (4)

A base that receives light from a light source; a pointer portion that extends from one end of the base in a pointing direction and a rear end direction that is opposite to the pointing direction; and light that is received by the base in the pointing direction and the A hollow reflecting portion provided in the pointer portion so as to face the base portion so as to reflect in the rear end direction, and is formed along the longitudinal direction of the pointer portion corresponding to the upper surface of the pointer portion In the pointer member made of a translucent material in which the pointer portion is accommodated in the cover member having the slit formed,
The hollow reflector is
A pointing direction reflecting surface formed so as to reflect a part of the light received by the base in the pointing direction and transmit another part of the light;
Rear end direction reflection formed so as to cross the indication direction reflection surface and to be configured to reflect a part of the light received at the base part toward the rear end and to transmit the other part of the light. Surface,
A cross-sectional surface connected to each of the pointing direction reflection surface and the rear end direction reflection surface, and provided opposite to the upper surface of the pointer portion,
The pointer member, wherein the transmission surface is formed in a lens shape that collects light transmitted through the indication direction reflection surface and the rear end direction reflection surface toward the slit.   2. The pointer member according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the transmission surface along a width direction of the pointer portion is formed in a curved shape protruding in a direction away from the upper surface of the pointer portion.   The pointer member according to claim 1, and a cover member that accommodates a pointer portion of the pointer member and is provided with a slit through which light from an upper surface of the pointer portion passes. Pointer unit.   4. The pointer unit according to claim 3, a drive device that rotates a pointer shaft to which the pointer unit is attached according to a measurement amount, and a light source that emits light received by a pointer member of the pointer unit. A pointer instrument characterized by that.

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