JP2012194156A - Display device for on-vehicle use - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve assembling ease and achieve greater resistance to vibration by minimizing the length of the leg (terminal) of an optical sensor mounted on a wiring board, and enable external light to be guided to the optical sensor sufficiently and evenly.SOLUTION: A display device has a dial 7, illuminating means for illuminating the dial, an optical sensor 12 for detecting the brightness of external light around the dial, and dimming means for adjusting the brightness of light emitted by the illuminating means on the basis of the result of detection by the optical sensor. By disposing a light receiving chamber 11 surrounded by a cylindrical light intercepting wall 11a in the installed position of the optical sensor and so arranging a wiring board 6 as to block a rear end opening 11b of the light receiving chamber, the optical sensor is arranged in the deepest part of the light receiving chamber, into which a light guide 20 having a lens part 21 that guides external light coming incident on a front end opening 11c to the optical sensor is inserted.

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device for a vehicle that illuminates a display unit that displays information such as a vehicle state (travel speed, engine speed, etc.) to an occupant with illumination means, and in particular, displays according to ambient brightness. The present invention relates to a vehicular display device having a dimming function for adjusting the illumination brightness of a part.

  Conventionally, as a vehicle display device that displays various vehicle running conditions (hereinafter referred to as vehicle conditions) such as vehicle speed, engine speed, water temperature, hydraulic pressure, etc., the ambient brightness is an optical sensor to improve visibility. A device having a dimming function that is detected by a (light receiving element such as a phototransistor or a photodiode) and adjusts the illumination luminance of a display unit based on the detection result is known.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a combination meter as a conventional vehicle display device, (a) is a front view, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIIb-IIIb of (a), and (c) is IIIc of (b). It is an enlarged view of a part.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 101 denotes a dial plate, and the dial plate 101 is fixed to the front surface of the case 105 in which the wiring board 106 is fixed to the rear surface. A pointer 102 is disposed on the front surface of the dial 101, and a dial 103 is disposed around the dial 101. And the front glass (transparent cover member) 104 is arrange | positioned so that the front side of the dial 101 and the dial 103 may be covered. Further, a light source 107 that illuminates the dial plate 101 from the back surface of the dial plate 101 is disposed on the wiring board 106, and a drive unit 108 that drives the pointer 102 is disposed on the back side of the wiring plate 106. A back case 109 is disposed so as to cover the back. In addition, the dial plate 101 has a light receiving hole 110 for taking in external light around the dial plate 101, and a light receiving chamber 111 surrounded by a cylindrical light shielding wall behind the light receiving hole 110 formed in the dial plate 101. The optical sensor 112 mounted on the wiring board 106 is disposed in the innermost part of the light receiving chamber 111. In addition, a dimming unit (not shown) that adjusts the light emission luminance of the light source 107 based on the detection result of the optical sensor 112 is provided.

  By the way, in the vehicle display device shown in FIG. 3, since the optical sensor 112 is arranged at the deepest position of the light receiving chamber 111, the ambient light around the dial 101 may not reach the optical sensor 112 sufficiently. There is a possibility that the light emission luminance of the light source 107 cannot be adjusted appropriately in accordance with the illuminance around the dial 101.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a structure in which the optical sensor is disposed at a position close to the surface of the dial plate where external light easily reaches around the dial plate or is disposed so as to protrude from the surface of the dial plate. Has been proposed. 4 and 5 show examples of the structure of the arrangement portion of the optical sensor in the vehicle display device described in Patent Document 1. FIG.

  In the case shown in FIG. 4, a light receiving chamber 211 surrounded by a cylindrical light blocking wall 211 a is provided at the installation location of the optical sensor 212 of the case 215, and the wiring board 206 is disposed so as to close the rear end opening of the light receiving chamber 211. Has been placed. On the wiring board 206, an optical sensor 212 having a long terminal 213 is mounted, whereby the optical sensor 212 is arranged near the surface of the dial 207. The dial plate 207 is formed with a convex curved light receiving portion 207a protruding forward, and external light enters the optical sensor 212 through the light receiving portion 207a.

  In the case shown in FIG. 5, a light receiving chamber 211 surrounded by a cylindrical light blocking wall 211 a is provided at the place where the optical sensor 212 of the case 215 is installed, and a wiring board is installed so as to close the rear end opening of the light receiving chamber 211. 206 is disposed, and a light sensor 212 having a long terminal 213 is mounted on the wiring board 206, whereby the light sensor 212 is disposed near the front end opening of the light receiving chamber 211 and mounted in the opening of the light receiving chamber 211. The outside light around the dial 207 enters the optical sensor 212 close to the lens portion 240a through the lens portion 240a.

JP 2006-329711 A JP 2001-260709 A

  However, when the optical sensor is arranged at a position close to the surface of the dial as in the examples described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the legs (terminals) of the optical sensor are lengthened and the legs are used as a wiring board. Since it is necessary to fix, there is a possibility that the support of the optical sensor becomes unstable due to vibration, or the legs (terminals) of the optical sensor may be damaged during assembly.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and the object thereof is to minimize the length of the legs (terminals) of the optical sensor mounted on the wiring board, and to improve the assemblability. Another object of the present invention is to provide a display device for a vehicle that can be made strong against vibrations and that can sufficiently guide outside light to an optical sensor without unevenness and can perform appropriate dimming control.

The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following constitution.
(1) a display unit for displaying information such as the state of the vehicle toward the occupant;
Illumination means for illuminating the display unit;
An optical sensor for detecting the brightness of external light around the display unit;
A light control means for adjusting the light emission luminance of the illumination means based on the detection result of the light sensor;
A vehicle display device comprising:
The light sensor is provided with a light receiving chamber that is surrounded by a cylindrical light-shielding wall and has a front end and a rear end that are open and the outside light is incident from the front end opening.
By arranging the wiring board so as to block the rear end opening of the light receiving chamber, the optical sensor mounted on the wiring board is arranged at the innermost part of the light receiving chamber,
Furthermore, a light guide having a lens portion for guiding external light incident on the front end opening of the light receiving chamber to the photosensor disposed at the innermost portion of the light receiving chamber is inserted into the light receiving chamber. A display device for vehicles.

  (2) The front end opening of the light receiving chamber is expanded outward in a trumpet shape, and the light guide is inserted so as to enter the back of the expanded portion (1) The vehicle display device described in 1.

  (3) A transparent cover member is provided so as to cover the front side of the display unit, and the light guide is integrally formed on the transparent cover member. Display device.

  (4) A light incident surface on which light from the lens portion of the light guide is incident is formed as a concave lens surface, and a light exit surface from which light is emitted toward the light sensor of the light guide is a convex lens surface. The vehicular display device according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the vehicular display device is formed.

  According to the vehicle display device having the configuration (1), the optical sensor that detects the brightness of the external light around the display unit is disposed in the innermost part of the light receiving chamber surrounded by the cylindrical light shielding wall. Therefore, the length of the legs (terminals) of the optical sensor mounted on the wiring board can be minimized, the assembling property can be improved and the vibration can be enhanced. In addition, since a light guide having a lens portion is inserted in the light receiving chamber, the external light can be guided sufficiently evenly to the optical sensor disposed at the innermost portion of the light receiving chamber, and the outside of the periphery of the display portion can be guided. The brightness of the light can be recognized appropriately, and appropriate dimming control can be performed.

  According to the vehicle display device having the configuration (2) above, the front end opening of the light receiving chamber is expanded outward in a trumpet shape, and the light guide is inserted so as to enter the interior of the expanded portion. Therefore, the light receiving side portion of the light guide does not protrude outside the light receiving chamber, and there is no possibility of damaging the light guide during assembly work. In addition, since the front end opening of the light receiving chamber is expanded outward in a trumpet shape, a wide range of external light can be introduced into the light receiving chamber, and the brightness of the external light around the display area can be adjusted appropriately. Can be recognized.

  According to the vehicle display device having the configuration (3), the light guide for guiding the external light to the optical sensor is integrally formed on the transparent cover member provided so as to cover the front side of the display unit. The number of parts can be reduced, and the number of assembly steps can be reduced.

  According to the vehicle display device having the configuration (4), the light incident surface of the lens unit is formed as a concave lens surface and the light output surface is formed as a convex lens surface. Light incident near the center can be efficiently incident on the optical sensor while being diffused and uniformed.

  According to the present invention, the length of the legs (terminals) of the optical sensor mounted on the wiring board can be minimized, so that the assembling property can be improved and the vibration can be strengthened. In addition, since a light guide having a lens portion is inserted in the light receiving chamber, the external light can be guided sufficiently evenly to the optical sensor disposed at the innermost portion of the light receiving chamber, and the outside of the periphery of the display portion can be guided. The brightness of the light can be recognized appropriately, and appropriate dimming control can be performed.

It is an expanded sectional view which shows the structure of the arrangement part of the optical sensor in the display apparatus for vehicles of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the structure of the arrangement | positioning part of the optical sensor in the display apparatus for vehicles of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The structure of the conventional combination meter as a display apparatus for vehicles is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is IIIb-IIIb arrow sectional drawing of (a), (c) is an expansion of the IIIc part of (b). FIG. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the structure of the arrangement | positioning part of the optical sensor in the conventional vehicle display apparatus disclosed by patent document 1. FIG. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the structure of the arrangement | positioning part of the optical sensor in another conventional vehicle display apparatus disclosed by patent document 1. FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the structure of the arrangement portion of the optical sensor in the vehicle display device of the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, this vehicle display device is similar to the one shown in FIG. 3, and a display unit (consisting of a dial, a pointer, etc.) that displays information such as the state of the vehicle to the occupant, An illumination unit (not shown) such as an LED for illuminating the display unit, an optical sensor 12 for detecting the brightness of external light around the display unit, and the light emission luminance of the illumination unit based on the detection result of the optical sensor 12 It has light adjustment means (not shown) for adjustment, a case 15, a wiring board 6, a transparent cover member (not shown), and the like. In FIG. 1, only the dial 7 is shown as an element constituting the display unit.

  The light sensor chamber 11 of the case 15 is provided with a light receiving chamber 11 surrounded by a cylindrical light-shielding wall 11a so that the front end and the rear end are open and light outside the dial 7 is incident from the front end opening 11c. The wiring board 6 is arranged so as to close the rear end opening 11b of the light receiving chamber 11. On the wiring board 6, an optical sensor 12 with the legs (terminals) 12 a being shortest is mounted, whereby the optical sensor 12 is disposed in the innermost part of the light receiving chamber 11.

  Further, inside the front end opening 11 c of the light receiving chamber 11, there is a lens portion 21 for guiding external light incident on the front end opening 11 c of the light receiving chamber 11 to the photosensor 12 disposed at the innermost part of the light receiving chamber 11. A light guide 20 made of a transparent member such as acrylic is provided. In this case, the front end opening 11c of the light receiving chamber 11 is expanded outward in a trumpet shape, and the light guide 20 is inserted so as to enter the back of the expanded front end opening 11c (expanded portion). .

  Here, the widened front end opening 11 c is formed in a substantially conical shape in which the diameter on the dial 7 side is larger than the diameter on the photosensor 12 side, and the dial 7 corresponds to the front end opening 11 c of the light receiving chamber 11. The diameter A of the formed light receiving hole 10 is set larger than the diameter B of the light guide 20. Further, an annular flange 24 protrudes from the outer periphery of the light guide 20, and this flange 24 engages with an annular step 11 d formed on the peripheral wall of the front end opening 11 c of the light receiving chamber 11. The light guide 20 is fixed at a fixed position maintaining a fixed relationship with the optical sensor 12.

  Further, in the lens portion 21 of the light guide 20, a light incident surface on which external light is incident is formed as a concave lens surface 22, and a light output surface from which light is emitted toward the optical sensor 12 is formed as a convex lens surface 23. Has been.

  According to the vehicle display device of the first embodiment configured as described above, the light sensor 12 that detects the brightness of the external light around the dial 7 is received by the cylindrical light shielding wall 11a. Since it is arrange | positioned in the innermost part of the chamber 11, the length of the leg | foot (terminal) of the optical sensor 12 mounted in the wiring board 6 can be made the shortest, an assembly property can be improved, and it can carry out to a vibration. Can be strong. Further, since the light guide 20 having the lens portion 21 is inserted into the light receiving chamber 11, the external light can be guided sufficiently evenly to the optical sensor 12 disposed at the innermost portion of the light receiving chamber 11, and the characters The brightness of the external light around the plate 7 can be properly recognized, and appropriate dimming control can be performed.

  Further, the front end opening 11c of the light receiving chamber 11 expands outward in a trumpet shape, and the light guide 20 is inserted so as to enter the back of the expanded portion. The light receiving side portion of the guide 20 does not protrude, and there is no possibility of damaging the light guide 20 during assembly work. Further, since the front end opening 11c of the light receiving chamber 11 is expanded outward in a trumpet shape, a wide range of external light can be introduced into the light receiving chamber 11, and the brightness of the external light around the dial 7 can be increased. Can be properly recognized.

  Further, since the light incident surface of the lens portion 21 is formed as a concave lens surface 22 and the light exit surface is formed as a convex lens surface 23, the light incident on the vicinity of the center of the lens portion 21 is diffused. The light can be efficiently incident on the optical sensor 12 while being uniform.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the structure of the arrangement portion of the optical sensor in the vehicle display device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, this vehicle display device also has a display unit (including a dial, a pointer, etc.) that displays information such as the vehicle state to the occupant, and an illumination such as an LED that illuminates the display unit. Means (not shown), an optical sensor 12 for detecting the brightness of ambient light around the display unit, and a dimming means (not shown) for adjusting the light emission luminance of the illumination means based on the detection result of the optical sensor 12 ), The case 15, the wiring board 6, and the transparent cover member 4 provided so as to cover the front side of the display unit.

  The light sensor chamber 11 of the case 15 is provided with a light receiving chamber 11 surrounded by a cylindrical light-shielding wall 11a so that the front end and the rear end are open and light outside the dial 7 is incident from the front end opening 11c. The wiring board 6 is arranged so as to close the rear end opening 11b of the light receiving chamber 11. On the wiring board 6, an optical sensor 12 with the legs (terminals) 12 a being shortest is mounted, whereby the optical sensor 12 is disposed in the innermost part of the light receiving chamber 11.

  Further, inside the front end opening 11 c of the light receiving chamber 11, there is a lens portion 41 for guiding external light incident on the front end opening 11 c of the light receiving chamber 11 to the photosensor 12 disposed at the innermost portion of the light receiving chamber 11. A light guide 40 made of a transparent member such as acrylic is provided. In this case, the light guide 40 is formed integrally with the transparent cover member 4 provided so as to cover the front side of the display unit, and the light guide 40 is formed on the dial 7 corresponding to the front end opening 11 c of the light receiving chamber 11. It is inserted into the light receiving chamber 11 through the formed light receiving hole 10.

  In addition, an annular flange 44 protrudes from the outer periphery of the light guide 40, and this flange 44 engages with an annular step 11 d formed on the peripheral wall of the front end opening 11 c of the light receiving chamber 11. The light guide 40 is fixed at a fixed position maintaining a certain relationship with the optical sensor 12. Further, in the lens portion 41 of the light guide 40, the light incident surface on which external light is incident is formed as a concave lens surface 42, and the light output surface from which light is emitted toward the optical sensor 12 is formed as a convex lens surface 43. Has been. The light guide 40 is formed in a long cylindrical shape because it is integrated with the transparent cover member 4, and the concave lens surface 42 is formed at a position on the outer surface of the transparent cover member 4. In this case, a concave lens surface 42 is formed at a position where the transparent cover member 4 is inclined with respect to the axis of the light receiving chamber 11, but this concave lens surface 42 is only with respect to the axis of the light receiving chamber 11. It is formed with reference to the orthogonal plane.

  According to the vehicle display device of the second embodiment configured as described above, the optical sensor 12 that detects the brightness of the external light around the dial 7 is received by the cylindrical light shielding wall 11a. Since it is arrange | positioned in the innermost part of the chamber 11, the length of the leg | foot (terminal) of the optical sensor 12 mounted in the wiring board 6 can be made the shortest, an assembly property can be improved, and it can carry out to a vibration. Can be strong. Further, since the light guide 40 having the lens portion 41 is inserted into the light receiving chamber 11, the external light can be guided sufficiently evenly to the photosensor 12 disposed at the innermost portion of the light receiving chamber 11, and the characters The brightness of the external light around the plate 7 can be properly recognized, and appropriate dimming control can be performed.

  Further, since the light incident surface of the lens portion 41 is formed as a concave lens surface 42 and the light exit surface is formed as a convex lens surface 43, the light incident near the center of the lens portion 41 is diffused. The light can be efficiently incident on the optical sensor 12 while being uniform.

  Further, since the light guide 40 for guiding the external light to the optical sensor 12 is formed integrally with the transparent cover member 4 provided so as to cover the front side of the display unit, the number of parts can be reduced, and the assembly Man-hours can be reduced.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A deformation | transformation, improvement, etc. are possible suitably. In addition, the material, shape, dimensions, number, arrangement location, and the like of each component in the above-described embodiment are arbitrary and are not limited as long as the present invention can be achieved.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the optical sensor 12 is arranged at the position of the dial plate 7 is shown. However, the optical sensor 12 may be arranged at a turning position around the dial plate 7. In such a case as well, a light guide having a light receiving chamber and a lens portion may be arranged as in the above embodiment.

4 Transparent cover member 6 Wiring board 7 Dial (display part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Case 11 Light reception chamber 11a Light-shielding wall 11b Rear end opening 11c Front end opening 12 Optical sensor 20 Light guide 21 Lens part 22 Concave lens surface 23 Convex lens surface 40 Light guide 41 Lens part 42 Concave lens surface 43 Convex shape Lens surface

Claims (4)

A display unit for displaying information such as the state of the vehicle to the passenger,
Illumination means for illuminating the display unit;
An optical sensor for detecting the brightness of external light around the display unit;
A light control means for adjusting the light emission luminance of the illumination means based on the detection result of the light sensor;
A vehicle display device comprising:
The light sensor is provided with a light receiving chamber that is surrounded by a cylindrical light-shielding wall and has a front end and a rear end that are open and the outside light is incident from the front end opening.
By arranging the wiring board so as to block the rear end opening of the light receiving chamber, the optical sensor mounted on the wiring board is arranged at the innermost part of the light receiving chamber,
Furthermore, a light guide having a lens portion for guiding external light incident on the front end opening of the light receiving chamber to the photosensor disposed at the innermost portion of the light receiving chamber is inserted into the light receiving chamber. A display device for vehicles.   2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a front end opening of the light receiving chamber is expanded outward in a trumpet shape, and the light guide is inserted so as to enter a depth of the expanded portion. Display device.   The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein a transparent cover member is provided so as to cover a front side of the display unit, and the light guide is formed integrally with the transparent cover member.   A light incident surface on which light from the lens portion of the light guide is incident is formed as a concave lens surface, and a light exit surface from which light is emitted toward the light sensor of the light guide is formed as a convex lens surface. The vehicle display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vehicle display device is a vehicle.

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