JP2014107174A - Illumination structure of operation panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an illumination structure of an operation panel capable of illuminating the operation part of the operation panel substantially uniformly with a light source of low brightness while suppressing unevenness, and capable of facilitating compaction and design of the operation panel.SOLUTION: As an illumination structure of an operation panel 1 having an operation unit 3 in which operation knobs 7-10 capable of selecting a predetermined operation position and symbols 11-14 indicating the predetermined operation positions are arranged, a protrusion 2 is protruded from the operation panel 1 to the operator side, a light source 4 is housed in a hollow housing space formed in the protrusion 2, and a lens (illumination part) 6 for transmitting the light from the light source 4 is provided on one side face of the protrusion 2 on the operation unit 3 side.

Description

  The present invention relates to an illumination structure of an operation panel having an operation knob capable of selecting a predetermined operation position and an operation unit in which a symbol portion indicating the predetermined operation position is arranged.

  For example, an operation knob, a switch button, or the like is provided on the operation panel as switching means for performing temperature adjustment or air volume adjustment of a heater control device mounted on the vehicle. The operation panel further includes an operation position of the operation knob. Symbol portions (display portions) such as characters and figures to be shown are provided.

  By the way, the symbol part provided in the operation panel has translucency, and the symbol part is lifted by illuminating the symbol part with light from a light source arranged on the back side of the operation panel at night, The symbol part can be seen well even at night. The operation knob is also provided with an indicator portion that indicates the operation position. The indicator portion is made of a translucent material so that the operation position of the operation knob can be understood even at night, and this indicator portion is formed from the back side of the operation panel. Illumination is performed by a light source (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 4098501

  However, in the conventional illumination structure of the operation panel, since a configuration in which a light source is arranged on the back side of the operation panel is employed, there are problems as listed below.

  1) Since the light source is provided at a position distant from the target so that a wide range where the operation knob, switch button, symbol portion, etc. are arranged can be illuminated with a small number of light sources, the depth dimension of the operation panel is increased. A high-intensity light source is required.

  2) In order to prevent heat from the operation unit (operation knob or symbol unit) against heat generated by the light source, it is necessary to separate the light source from the operation unit, which increases the depth of the operation panel.

  3) If another member such as a lens is provided as a countermeasure against uneven illumination, the structure becomes complicated and the number of assembling steps increases.

  4) In the case of adopting a method of improving the overall illumination unevenness by light control printing, the number of times of printing increases, resulting in a cost increase.

  5) Since not only the light source but also the mechanism connected to the operation knob and switch button is provided on the back side of the operation panel, it is necessary to design it to avoid mutual interference in order to prevent uneven illumination. In addition to a decrease in design freedom, the overall size increases and the vehicle layout is poor.

  6) When replacing the light source, it is necessary to remove the heater control device from the vehicle, so the replacement of the light source is troublesome and takes a long time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is that the operation unit of the operation panel can be illuminated almost uniformly with a low-intensity light source while suppressing unevenness, and the operation panel is downsized. An object of the present invention is to provide a lighting structure for an operation panel that can facilitate the design.

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is an illumination structure of an operation panel having an operation knob capable of selecting a predetermined operation position and an operation unit in which a symbol part indicating the predetermined operation position is arranged. A protrusion projecting toward the operator on the operation panel. The light source is stored in a hollow storage space formed inside the protrusion, and one of the protrusions on the operation unit side is stored. An illumination unit that transmits light from the light source is provided on a side surface.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the convex portion is provided to project from both left and right end portions of the operation panel, and the middle portion of the two convex portions is located at the center in the left-right direction. It is characterized in that it is formed into a circular arc curved shape in plan view that protrudes into the plane.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a light-shielding portion that blocks light from the light source is provided on the front surface of the convex portion, and a light-transmitting symbol is provided in a part of the light-shielding portion. Is provided.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, an opening is provided on the bottom surface of the convex portion.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the light source is disposed at a position away from the mechanism that transmits the movement of the operation knob provided on the operation panel, the light from the light source is blocked by the mechanism. Therefore, it is possible to use a low-intensity light source, and it is possible to illuminate the entire operation portion of the operation panel almost uniformly, and it is easy to recognize the position of the operation knob at night, thereby improving the operability of the operation knob. In addition, it is not necessary to study the dimming of individual symbols, and the lighting structure of the operation panel can be easily designed. Furthermore, since the distance from the light source to the operation portion of the operation panel is shortened, the depth dimension of the operation panel can be kept small, and the operation panel can be downsized.

  Since the front surface (front surface) of the operation unit of the operation panel is illuminated by the light from the light source, there is little illumination unevenness, and no separate parts such as dimming printing of the symbol part or a lens are required, and the cost can be reduced. .

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the light emitted from the light source accommodated in the convex portions protruding from the left and right ends of the operation panel is transmitted through the illumination unit and irradiated to the operation unit from both the left and right sides. However, since the operation part is shaped like a circular arc in plan view with the center part in the left-right direction protruding to the operator side, the light can be operated without being blocked by the operation knob etc. in the center part in the left-right direction far from the illumination part. It reaches through the front of the knob. For this reason, the entire operation unit can be illuminated almost uniformly regardless of the distance from the illumination unit, and a low-luminance light source can be used.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, since the translucent symbol is provided in a part of the light shielding portion formed on the front surface of the convex portion, most of the light from the light source is irradiated from the illumination portion to the operation portion. While being used for illumination of the operation unit, part of light can be used for illumination of the symbol, and light from the light source can be used effectively.

  According to the invention of claim 4, since the opening is provided on the bottom surface of the convex portion, the light source can be easily replaced from the opening without removing the operation panel and the like, and the light from the light source is opened. Other devices installed below the operation panel can be illuminated by irradiating downward from the unit.

It is a front view of the operation panel which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a bottom view of the operation panel showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the operation panel which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a front view of the operation panel which shows Embodiment 2 of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Embodiment 1>
1 is a front view of an operation panel showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the operation panel, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the operation panel. For controlling the heater control device shown in the figure, convex portions 2 projecting toward the operator side (the front side in FIGS. 1 and 3) are provided on the left and right sides of the heater control device. An operation unit 3 is disposed between the left and right convex portions 2.

  The protrusions 2 projecting from the operation panel 1 are formed in a hollow triangular prism shape that is pointed toward the operator side, and a hollow storage space is formed inside each of the storage spaces. Each light source 4 is housed. Here, a bulb or an LED (light emitting diode) is used as the light source 4, and the light source 4 is electrically connected to a power supply unit via a terminal, a lead wire, a substrate, etc. (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 2, openings 2 a are respectively formed on the bottom surfaces of the left and right convex portions 2, and a light shielding portion 2 b that blocks light from the light source 4 is provided on each front surface of both convex portions 2. It has been. A light-transmitting symbol (figure) 5a indicating the inside air circulation (RECIRC) in the passenger compartment is provided in a part of the light-shielding part 2b of the left convex part 2, and the light-shielding part 2b of the right convex part 2 is provided. Is provided with a translucent symbol (figure) 5b indicating introduction of outside air (FRESH) into the vehicle interior.

  Further, on one side surface (slope) of the left and right convex portions 2 on the operation unit 3 side, a lens 6 that is an illumination unit that transmits light from each light source 4 is provided. The inner surface or the outer surface of the lens 6 is subjected to uneven processing such as embossing as a light diffusion process.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the operation portion 3 positioned in the middle of the left and right convex portions 2 of the operation panel 1 is formed in a circular arc curved shape in a plan view in which a central portion in the left and right direction protrudes to the operator side. The front surface (front surface) has a plurality of slide-type operation knobs 7, 8, and 9 that can select a predetermined operation position, a dial-type round operation knob 10, and a plurality of symbol portions that indicate the predetermined operation position. 11, 12, 13, and 14 are arranged.

  Specifically, the slide type operation knob 7 switches between the inside air circulation in the vehicle interior and the introduction of the outside air into the vehicle interior by sliding left and right along the lateral guide groove 15. On both sides of the groove 15, the symbol portions 11 of “arrows” are arranged.

  The slide-type operation knob 8 is for selecting a wind blowing location and a blowing direction, and can select a wind blowing location by sliding left and right along a lateral guide groove 16. it can. Above the guide groove 16, a plurality of the symbol portions 12 indicating a wind blowing location and a blowing direction are provided at appropriate intervals in the horizontal direction.

  The sliding operation knob 9 is for adjusting the temperature, and can be adjusted by sliding left and right along the lateral guide groove 17. A plurality of rectangular symbol portions 13 having different sizes and colors indicating the set temperature are provided at appropriate intervals in the horizontal direction.

  The dial-type operation knob 10 is for adjusting the air volume, and the air volume can be adjusted by turning the dial. The surrounding area indicates “OFF” indicating the stop of the fan and the magnitude of the air volume. The symbol part 14 of the numbers “1” to “4” is provided. An indicator portion 18 for indicating a selection position of the operation knob 10 is provided on a part of the outer periphery of the dial type operation knob 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a box 19 on the back side of the operation panel 1 houses a mechanism (not shown) for transmitting the movements of the operation knobs 7 to 10 to the heater control device.

  Thus, at night, when the light source 4 is turned on by energizing the light source 4 disposed in the storage space in the convex portion 2 projecting from the left and right of the operation panel 1, most of the light is projected to the left and right. Since the operation unit 3 is irradiated from the left and right directions through the lens 6 of the unit 2 as indicated by the hatched arrows in FIGS. 1 to 3, the entire operation unit 3 is illuminated almost uniformly. Since the visibility of the various symbol portions 11 to 14 provided in is improved, the operability of the operation knobs 7 to 10 at night is improved. In this case, since the lens 6 provided on the left and right convex portions 2 of the operation panel 1 is subjected to uneven processing such as embossing, the light transmitted through the lens 6 is diffused, and the diffused light is The entire operation unit 3 is illuminated more uniformly. Note that toning is also possible by changing the material of the lens 6 or the like. Further, the lens 6 may be provided on a surface other than the side surface toward the operation portion 3 of the convex portion 2.

  By the way, the indicator portion 18 provided on the dial type operation knob 10 conventionally needs to emit light, but in the present invention, the light from the light source 4 accommodated in the left and right convex portions 2 of the operation panel 1 is emitted. Since the lens 6 is transmitted and irradiated to the operation unit 3 from the left and right to illuminate the entire operation unit 3 substantially uniformly, there is no need to cause the indicator unit 18 to emit light, and adjustment and light guiding with the mechanism unit are possible. There is no need to install a lens.

  Since the opening 2a is provided on the bottom surface of the left and right projections 2 of the operation panel 1, a part of the light from the light source 4 is opened 2a as shown by the hatched arrows in FIGS. , And other devices such as a cup holder (not shown) and an accessory case placed below the operation panel 1 are illuminated. When the light source 4 is replaced, the light source 4 can be easily replaced from the opening 2a on the bottom surface of each convex portion 2 without removing the operation panel 1 or the heater control device.

  In addition, you may make it cover the bottom face of the convex part 2 of the operation panel 1 with the cover member which consists of a light-shielding material. Or you may make it cover the bottom face of the convex part 2 of the operation panel 1 with the opening-and-closing type door which consists of a light-shielding material or a translucent material. In this case, since light may leak from the gap around the door, the door is preferably provided on the bottom surface side of the convex portion 2.

  Further, since the light-transmitting symbols 5a and 5b are provided on a part of the light shielding part 2b formed on the front surface of the convex part 2 of the operation panel 1, a part of the light from the light source 4 is transmitted through the symbols 5a and 5b. The symbols 5a and 5b can be illuminated. For this reason, the visibility of the symbols 5a and 5b is improved, and most of the light from the light source 4 is irradiated from the lens 6 to the operation unit 3 to be used for illumination of the operation unit 3, while a part of the light is symbolized. It can be used for illumination of 5a and 5b, and the light from the light source 4 can be used effectively.

  As described above, according to the illumination structure of the operation panel 1 according to the present invention, the light source 4 is disposed at a position away from the mechanism portion that transmits the movement of the operation knobs 7 to 10 provided on the operation panel 1. The light from the light source 4 is not blocked by the mechanism part, and a low-intensity light source can be used, and the entire operation unit 3 of the operation panel 1 can be illuminated almost uniformly. 10 and the positions of the symbol portions 11 to 14 are easily recognized, and the operability of the operation knobs 7 to 10 is enhanced. Further, it is not necessary to study the dimming of individual symbols, and the illumination structure of the operation panel 1 can be easily designed. Furthermore, since the distance from the light source 4 to the operation unit 3 of the operation panel 1 is shortened, the depth dimension of the operation panel 1 is suppressed to be small, and the operation panel 1 can be downsized.

  In addition, since the front surface (front surface) of the operation unit 3 of the operation panel 1 is illuminated by the light from the light source 4, there is little illumination unevenness, and no separate parts such as light control printing of the symbol units 11 to 14 and lenses are required. Cost reduction can be achieved.

  Further, according to the illumination structure of the operation panel 1 according to the present invention, the light emitted from the light source 4 accommodated in the convex portion 2 protruding from the left and right ends of the operation panel 1 as described above is the lens 6. The operation unit 3 is irradiated from both the left and right sides. However, the operation unit 3 is formed in a circular arc curved shape in plan view in which the central part in the left-right direction protrudes to the operator side, and therefore left and right far from the lens 6. The light passes through the front of the operation knobs 7 to 10 etc. without being blocked by the operation knobs 7 to 10 etc. also in the center of the direction. For this reason, the entire operation unit 3 can be illuminated almost uniformly regardless of the distance from the lens 6, and a low-brightness light source 4 can be used.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a front view of an operation panel showing the second embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the same elements as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Description is omitted.

  The operation panel 1 according to the present embodiment has a dial-type round operation knob 8 for selecting a wind blowing location and a blowing direction, and the illumination structure of the operation panel 1 is the same as that of the embodiment. Same as that of 1.

  Therefore, also in the present embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

  Of course, the present invention can be similarly applied to an illumination structure of an operation panel in which a push switch button type is arranged as an operation knob.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation panel 2 Convex part 2a Opening part of convex part 2b Shading part of convex part 3 Operation part 4 Light source 5a, 5b Symbol 6 Lens (illumination part)
7-10 Operation knob 11-14 Symbol part 15-17 Guide groove 18 Index part 19 Box

Claims (4)

An illumination structure of an operation panel having an operation knob capable of selecting a predetermined operation position and an operation unit in which a symbol portion indicating the predetermined operation position is arranged,
A protrusion projecting toward the operator is provided on the operation panel, and the light source is stored in a hollow storage space formed inside the protrusion, and the one side surface of the protrusion is on the operation unit side. An illumination structure for an operation panel, wherein an illumination unit that transmits light from the light source is provided.   The projection is provided at both left and right ends of the operation panel, and the operation unit in the middle of both projections is formed in a circular arc curved shape in plan view with a central portion in the left-right direction protruding toward the operator side. The illumination structure of the operation panel according to claim 1.   3. The operation panel according to claim 1, wherein a light-shielding portion that blocks light from the light source is provided on a front surface of the convex portion, and a light-transmitting symbol is provided on a part of the light-shielding portion. Lighting structure. The lighting structure of the operation panel according to claim 1, wherein an opening is provided on a bottom surface of the convex portion.

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