JP2663738B2 - Level meter - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a level meter for visually displaying the magnitude of a predetermined quantity such as a physical quantity given as an output of various sensors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a conventional level meter. The level meter 1 is used by being attached to various panels 2, and visually displays, for example, the magnitude of an output of a liquid amount sensor (not shown) for detecting the liquid amount in the water tank. Level meter 1
Has a plurality of light emitting sections 3 arranged in a certain direction, and for example, a light source (not shown) such as a light emitting diode is provided for each light emitting section 3. In the vicinity of the light-emitting section 3,
A scale 4 indicating a liquid amount or the like is formed.

Each light source such as a light emitting diode corresponding to the light emitting section 3 is driven according to the output of the liquid level sensor.
That is, each light source is turned on or off so as to extend from the scale "0" in the direction of arrow 5 to form a band of the light-emitting section 3 in a light-emitting state. As a result, the longer the detected liquid amount, the longer the band is formed.
You can know the liquid volume.

[0004]

However, since the above-described level meter 1 is a flat type attached to one surface of the panel 2, the display by the level meter 1 can be viewed only from the direction facing the panel 2. And cannot be seen from the back side or the side of the panel 2. For this reason,
For example, in the fields of automatic machines, industrial machines, audiovisual equipment, etc., when it is desired to display a predetermined physical quantity or the like so that it can be visually recognized from a wide angle range in the horizontal direction, the above level meter is not necessarily suitable. .

[0005] Further, in the above-described level meter, the display contents cannot be recognized unless the user looks with a clear intention, and the information cannot be reliably transmitted to the user. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problem and to provide a level meter having good visibility from any direction.

[0006]

A level meter according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a level meter for visually displaying the magnitude of a predetermined amount, and is arranged in a line along a predetermined axis. A plurality of light sources arranged and held in
A cylindrical glove that is covered by this light source and transmits light from each light source, a cylindrical base that supports the plurality of light sources and the globe, and an input signal that indicates the magnitude of the predetermined amount. And lighting control means for turning on or off each light source.

According to the above configuration, the plurality of light sources are held in a line along a predetermined axis, and the light from the light sources is transmitted through the cylindrical globe and guided to the surroundings. Light derived from the cylindrical glove can be visually recognized from any direction around the level meter. On the other hand, the lighting control unit turns on or off each light source in response to an input signal indicating a predetermined amount. Therefore, if you visually recognize the light derived from the glove,
The magnitude of the predetermined amount can be known.

As described above, the conventional level meter lacks certainty in transmitting information to the user, whereas the level meter according to the present invention generates a strong signal light in the surroundings so that the user can receive information. Since the information is transmitted, necessary information can be forcibly recognized by the user without the user having a clear intention. The level meter according to claim 2 is
The cylindrical globe is divided corresponding to each light source, and has a color for coloring and transmitting light from each light source, and appropriately displays a desired color in a predetermined amount of large or small display. It is configured to be added.

In this way, the colored light for each light source passes through the globe and is generated around the globe, so that a certain amount of information is added in addition to the display of a predetermined size. Can be notified.

[0010]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the entire configuration of a level meter according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a partially exploded view. The level meter 10 is used, for example, to visually display the magnitude of the liquid amount of the liquid 12 such as water in the water tank 11 detected by the liquid amount 13. The output signal of the fluid level sensor 13 is
4 and converted into data represented by BCD (Binary Decimal Number). This data is input to the level meter 10.

The level meter 10 has a basic structure as a signal indicating lamp for generating light to the surroundings to notify various signals, and for example, a horizontal mounting panel 15
A tubular support pole 21 fixed vertically upward by a nut 16 to a pole boss 2
2 and a pair of shafts 2 inserted into and held by the base 23.
4 and a plurality of light sources 26 that are held in a line along the axis 25. The light source 26 is housed and held in a socket housing 28 attached to the socket plate 27.
Are locked to the shaft 24 at a predetermined interval.

The light source 2 thus connected in a plurality of stages
6 is covered with a cylindrical glove 29 for colored light transmission, and the mounting top plate 30 is attached to a top plate 32 fixed to the distal end portion of the shaft 24 by bolts 31 to stop the glove 29. Is achieved. A light-shielding portion 33 is formed at the lower end of each globe 29 by applying a light-shielding paint or the like, whereby each globe 29 can separate and transmit light from the light source 26 in each stage.

When some meaning is added to the displayed level, the globe 29 may be made of a colored translucent plastic material or the like. In this case, a colored translucent material of a single color may be used for the plurality of globes 29, but the plurality of globes 29 that are divided corresponding to the light sources 26 of each stage may be used for each globe 29 or for each of the plurality of globes 29. If a colored translucent material of a different color is applied to each group of gloves 29,
In addition to the level display, for example, information such as a warning display can be added to notify the user.

A printed circuit board 35 is accommodated in the base 23 which holds the light source 26 and the globe 29 via the shaft 24 and the like. On the printed circuit board 35, a lighting control circuit 36 for turning on or off each light source 26 based on data from the programmable controller 14 is formed. This lighting control circuit 3
6 and the programmable controller 14 are connected by a signal line 38 passing through the support pole 21. The support pole 21 also passes through a power supply line 39, and the lighting control circuit 36 controls the power supply line 39 and each light source 26.
The light source 26 is turned on / off by conducting / cutting off the light.

The lighting control circuit 36 controls each glove 29 based on data from the programmable controller 14.
Light-emitting sections 41 to 5 separated by the light-shielding portion 33 of FIG.
0, the lowermost light emitting section 41 adjacent to the base portion 23
, Light emitting sections 42, 43,...
Is turned on. For example, if the data from the programmable controller 14 is "0110"
When it is ("6" in decimal number), the light sources 26 corresponding to the six light emitting sections 41 to 46 are turned on. In this way, the amount of liquid can be known from the lowermost light emitting section 41 to the number of light emitting sections from which light is emitted.

For example, the globe 29 forming the light emitting sections 41 to 44 is green, the globe 29 forming the light emitting sections 45 to 47 is yellow, and the globe 29 forming the light emitting sections 48 to 50 is red. You may.
As described above, by appropriately combining the colored gloves, information such as a warning display can be added and notified. As described above, the level meter 10 according to the present embodiment has a basic configuration as a signal indicator for generating light around and notifying various signals. Good visibility can be obtained from any horizontal direction extending 360 degrees around the level meter 10. Also,
Not only from a horizontal direction, but also from a direction in an angle range of about 45 degrees up and down can be sufficiently viewed. Further, the base unit 23 of the level meter 10 has a light source 26 corresponding to data input from the programmable controller 14.
Since the lighting control circuit 36 for lighting / turning off the LED is accommodated, the level display corresponding to the output of the liquid amount sensor 13 can be favorably performed only by connecting the programmable controller 14 to the signal line 38.

Further, while the conventional level meter cannot recognize the displayed contents unless the user visually recognizes it with a clear intention, in the configuration of the present embodiment, a strong signal light is generated in the surroundings. Since the information is transmitted in such a manner, even if the user does not have a clear intention, it is possible to force the user to recognize necessary information, so to speak. Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
For example, in the above embodiment, a light bulb is used as the light source, but various light sources such as a light emitting diode, a fluorescent tube, or a discharge tube can be used as the light source. Further, in the above embodiment, the printed wiring board 35 on which the lighting control circuit 36 is formed is accommodated in the base 23, but the lighting control circuit may be provided externally. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the cylindrical globe 29 is applied, but the globe may be configured by a cylindrical body other than the cylindrical shape. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the light sources 2 corresponding to a plurality of continuous light-emitting sections from the lowermost light-emitting section 41 are provided.
6 is turned on to indicate the magnitude of the input data. For example, 1 corresponding to the input data is displayed.
Only the light sources 26 of the light emitting sections may be turned on. In the above embodiment, the case where the programmable controller 14 is connected has been described. However, an arithmetic unit other than the programmable controller may be connected. In the above embodiment, the case where the liquid amount is displayed on the level meter 10 has been described. However, the level meter 10 can be used for displaying the magnitude of various physical quantities or any other predetermined amount. is there. In addition, various design changes can be made without changing the gist of the present invention.

[0018]

As described above, according to the level meter of the present invention, the light from the light sources arranged in a row passes through the cylindrical globe and is guided to the surroundings. Light derived from the cylindrical glove can be visually recognized from any direction around the level meter. Thus, a level meter having good visibility from any direction is provided.

Further, in the level meter of the present invention, since a strong signal light is generated in the surroundings and information is transmitted to the user, necessary information can be transmitted to the user even if the user has no clear intention. Can be forcibly recognized. In addition, if the cylindrical globe is divided corresponding to each light source and has a color that allows the light from each light source to be colored and transmitted, the light colored for each light source is the globe. Is transmitted to the surroundings, so that a certain amount of information can be added to the display in addition to the display of a predetermined amount of magnitude, and the information can be notified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a level meter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a level meter.

FIG. 3 is a simplified front view showing the configuration of a conventional level meter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Level meter 23 Base part 24 Shaft 26 Light source 29 Globe 35 Printed wiring board 36 Lighting control circuit 38 Signal line 39 Power supply line 41-50 Light emission division

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A level meter for visually displaying a predetermined amount of magnitude, comprising: a plurality of light sources arranged and held in a line along a predetermined axis; A cylindrical globe that transmits light, a cylindrical base that supports the plurality of light sources and the globe, and turns on or off each light source in response to an input signal that indicates the magnitude of the predetermined amount. A level meter, comprising: lighting control means. 2. The cylindrical globe is divided corresponding to each light source, and has a color for coloring and transmitting light from each light source. 2. The level meter according to claim 1, wherein the level meter is configured to be added to the display of the size of the level meter.