JP2876956B2 - Display device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device used for an automobile or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a display device represented by an automobile meter has a speedometer,
A so-called combination meter in which various types of indicators, such as a tachometer, a warning display, and a gauge information display, are concentrated and stored in a single meter case, and a transparent protective cover is covered from the front side of the case. The format is increasingly adopted. Recently, from the viewpoint of the interior design of the interior of the automobile, the protection cover on the front of the combination meter is subjected to a dark coloring treatment (smoke treatment) to reduce the light transmittance of the protection cover and to reduce the non-display of the display. During operation, the display inside the case and the display inside the case are not visible from the outside, but when the display is activated, only the light-emitting part of the display is visible, so that the light-emitting part of the display emerges from darkness The construction of a black face meter is also a commonly used technique.

[0003]

However, there are various problems in introducing a black face into a combination meter in which a plurality of indicators are accommodated in a case. For example, a combination meter is
A type in which only the parts that indicate to the vehicle occupant, such as scales and numbers, are left on the surface of the transparent plate, and the other parts are subjected to light-shielding printing that blocks the passage of light and are transmitted and illuminated by the light source provided on the back side , A display such as a fluorescent display tube, which emits light by itself, and a liquid crystal display type, are housed in the case. As described above, it is constituted by any display method or lighting means. Therefore, due to its structure, a display or a display having a lower display luminance than that of the display by another display is generated, and the luminance of the entire combination meter may vary. At this time, it is conceivable to provide a dimming circuit for each display and adjust the luminance of the display to balance the entire luminance. However, not only does such adjustment cause trouble, but also the range of the luminance adjustment can be considered. Had the disadvantage of having limitations.

[0004] Further, particularly in the case of a dark display, if the display is simply put in a black face meter together with another display, the light is further dimmed due to the decrease in the transmittance by the protective cover, and the display is dark and unsightly. turn into. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the illumination brightness or the emission brightness to make the brightness equal to that of other bright display devices, which not only requires expensive devices but also may cause problems such as increased power consumption and heat generation. Therefore, it is difficult to store such a dark display together with other displays in a single blackfaced combination meter.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a plurality of different types of indicators are housed in a case, and a translucent protective cover is provided on the front of the case. Disposed, between the display and the protective cover, facing the display area of the display, and the display light of the display transmitted through the protective cover according to the emission luminance of the display. A brightness adjustment member having a brightness adjustment unit having different light transmittances so that brightness becomes substantially uniform is provided. In addition, several different types of indicators are stored in the case.
A translucent protective cover over the front of the case.
The display is provided between the display and the protective cover.
Light emission brightness of the display device
The display light of the indicator passing through the protective cover according to
Brightness according to the importance and urgency of each indicator
Brightness with brightness adjustment part with different light transmittance so that
It is provided with a degree adjusting member . Further, the brightness adjustment section is provided with an opening in the brightness adjustment member facing the display area of the display.

[0006]

In a case where a plurality of displays having different luminances are mounted in the combination meter, the light emission between the displays is made different by making the transmittance different by the luminance adjusting member in accordance with the luminance of each of the displays. The variation in brightness is reduced, and the translucent protective cover provided on the front side further reduces the overall amount of light by a predetermined amount, and makes the inside of the case and the brightness adjustment member invisible, so that the brightness is substantially uniform, and Display light with good visibility is obtained. Also,
Brightness of display light according to the importance and urgency of each indicator
Can be different.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. In the display device of the present embodiment, a case 1 accommodates a display including an indicating instrument 2 such as a speedometer and a tachometer and a color LCD 3.

The indicating instrument 2 is an analog type meter, and scales, numerals, and the like are formed on the display plate 4 corresponding to the turning position of the hands 5. The display panel 4 is a light-transmissive substrate except for a portion for displaying scales and numerals, and the other portions are shielded from light by black printing or the like. And display board 4
The scales, numerals, and other indications are transmitted and illuminated by a light source 6 provided on the back side. The pointer 5 is a light emitting type that emits light when energized.

The color LCD 3 displays, for example, a map, the state of a vehicle, and the like. In general, a display comprising a color LCD 3 has a lower brightness than that of the indicator 2 and is displayed dark.

[0010] A translucent protective cover 7 which has been subjected to a dark coloring treatment is provided on the front surface of the display comprising the indicating instrument 2 and the color LCD 3. The protective cover 7 protects the indicators 2 and 3 housed in the case 1 and reduces the amount of incident light from the outside or the amount of light from the inside. Alternatively, it is formed by performing smoke printing or the like on a transparent member.

In this embodiment, a brightness adjusting member 8 is provided between the display devices 2 and 3 and the protective cover 7. The brightness adjustment member 8 is integrally formed with a brightness adjustment section (described later) having a light transmittance different according to the light emission brightness of the displays 2 and 3.

As shown in the present embodiment, the indicating instrument 2 and, for example, a color LCD having a lower light emission luminance than the indicating instrument 2
In the combination meter that accommodates the two types of display devices 3 and 3 in the same case 1, the brightness adjusting member 8
Except for a portion facing the display area of the color LCD 3 which is relatively dark on a transparent substrate, a semi-transparent dark black type printed smoked portion 8A and a non-printed transparent portion 8B are printed.
These form a luminance adjustment unit.

With this configuration, the display light of the indicating instrument 2 having a relatively bright emission brightness when energized is dimmed by the smoke processing section 8A of the brightness adjusting member 8 and the translucent protective cover 7 provided on the front of the meter. Therefore, only the display of the scale, the number, and the like and the pointer that emits light are displayed in the dark, without showing the inside of the case 1 and the brightness adjusting member 8. On the other hand, the display light of the color LCD 3 which is relatively dark passes through the transparent portion 8B, on which the smoke printing is not performed, without being reduced in the brightness adjusting member 8 as it is, and is transmitted by the translucent protective cover 7 provided on the front surface of the meter. Since the light is only dimmed, the luminance of the entire combination meter is balanced.

That is, the amount of transmitted light of the displays 2 and 3 is adjusted by making the transmittance different by the brightness adjusting member 8 in accordance with the emission brightness of each of the displays 2 and 3.
Variations in light emission luminance between the display units 2 and 3 are reduced, and a predetermined amount of light is further reduced entirely by the translucent protective cover 7 provided on the front side, so that the inside of the case 1 and the luminance adjustment member 8 cannot be seen. By having a substantially uniform display light,
In addition, a black face combination meter excellent in visibility and design can be provided.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. For example, an indicator 2 and an indicator 2 similar to those of the first embodiment.
In this case, a display device including a fluorescent display tube 9 having a higher luminance than that of the light emission luminance is stored in the combination meter. In this case, a semi-transparent black smoke print is applied to the display area on the front surface of the fluorescent display tube 9 having a high light emission luminance, and the transparent section 8B is not smoke-processed. A brightness adjustment member 8 having a brightness adjustment section is provided between a display device including the indicating instrument 2 and the fluorescent display tube 9 and the front protective cover 7.

With this configuration, the portion of the brightness adjusting member 8 facing the display portion of the fluorescent display tube 9 having a high brightness is reduced in transmittance by the smoke processing portion 8A, and the portion facing the relatively dark indicating instrument 2 is transparent. By increasing the transmittance as the unit 8B, the amount of transmitted light is adjusted in accordance with the emission luminance of each of the displays 2 and 3, and the balance of brightness between the displays is adjusted.

Further, similarly to the first embodiment, a translucent protective cover 7 provided on the front side of the brightness adjusting member 8 further reduces a predetermined amount of light as a whole to achieve a black face.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. As in the case of the first embodiment, when two types of indicators, ie, the indicating instrument 2 and the color LCD 3 having a lower light emission luminance than the indicating instrument 2 are housed in the same case 1, the dark coloring processing is performed. The plate-shaped member subjected to
3 and the protective cover 7, an opening 8C is provided at a position of the plate-like member facing the display area of the color LCD 3 with low light emission luminance, and the opening 8C and the hole are not provided. A brightness adjusting member 8 having a transmittance different from that of the smoke processing unit 8A is provided to constitute the brightness adjusting member 8. Therefore, while the display light of the color LCD 3 having low light emission luminance passes through the opening 8C of the luminance adjustment member 8 as it is, the display light of the indicating instrument 2 having relatively high light emission luminance is
Since the light passes through the smoke processing unit 8A made of a member that has been subjected to a dark coloration process with a low transmittance and is dimmed, the brightness of the display devices can be balanced with a simple structure as described above.

FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. When a plurality of different types of displays (not shown) are accommodated in the black face combination meter, light transmission is performed by opposing to the display area of the display according to the light emission luminance of each display, for example, by shading of black smoke printing. A brightness adjustment member 8 is integrally provided with a brightness adjustment section including a smoke processing section 8A having different rates.
The brightness adjusting member 8 is disposed between each display and the translucent protective cover 7 as in the above-described embodiment, and the display area of the display having high light emission brightness is provided with the above-described smoke printing. A smoke processing section 8A in which the smoke print is formed thinly in the display area of the display device having a low light emission luminance and the lightness of the smoke print is varied stepwise according to the intensity of the light emission luminance of the display. A brightness adjustment unit is provided to adjust the transmitted light according to the light emission brightness of the displays to balance the brightness of each display.

It goes without saying that the device of the present invention can be variously modified within the scope of the gist. For example, the smoke processing unit 8 of the brightness adjustment member 8
A may be a member to which a semi-permeable sheet-like member is attached, or may be a member in which a plurality of members having different transmittances are formed by multicolor molding and provided integrally. Further, the transmittance of the smoke processing unit 8A may be set so that the brightness of the display light varies depending on the importance and urgency of the display contents of the display. When the present invention is applied to a vehicle meter
Include speedometers and tachometers that are directly involved in the running of the vehicle
Etc. are displayed brightly, and the fuel gauge, water temperature gauge, etc.
You may comprise so that it may display relatively dark. Also, it is assumed that the type and arrangement of the display are changed each time by the option setting that the display accommodated inside is provided with another type of display according to the user's request or is removed. Also, by preparing a plurality of types of brightness adjustment members 8 having a brightness adjustment unit corresponding to the above specifications and selecting them as appropriate, the entire display device corresponding to the option setting without particularly adjusting the brightness of the display itself. Of the brightness can be adjusted. Further, the display device of the present invention has been described by taking a vehicle meter as an example, but can be applied to other blackface type display devices.

[0021]

According to the present invention, a plurality of display devices of different types are accommodated in a case, a translucent protective cover is disposed over the front surface of the case, and a gap between the display device and the protective cover is provided. The brightness is different from the display area of the display, and the light transmittance is different so that the brightness of the display light of the display passing through the protective cover according to the emission brightness of the display is substantially uniform. Since a brightness adjustment member having an adjustment unit is provided,
Even when a plurality of displays with different light emission luminances are installed in the combination meter, variation in light emission luminance between the displays is reduced without performing dimming work on the display itself, so that display light is substantially uniform and visible. A black face combination meter with excellent performance and design can be provided. In addition, since the brightness adjustment section has an opening in the brightness adjustment member facing the display area of the display, the brightness of the entire display device can be balanced with a simple configuration, and other display devices can be provided. A dark display having a smaller light emission luminance than that of the other display can be accommodated in a black face type display device together with other displays. In addition, multiple display units of different types
Is stored in the case, and the translucent protective cover is
Disposed so as to cover the front of the display and the protective cover
Between, facing the display area of the display, and
Before passing through the protective cover according to the light emission brightness of the display
The brightness of the display light on the display unit depends on the importance of each display unit.
Brightness with different light transmittance so that brightness varies according to the urgency
Since a brightness adjustment member with an adjustment unit is provided, the weight of the display
The degree of necessity and urgency can be easily understood by the brightness of the display.
This has the effect of improving the visibility of the instrument.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 2 Indicator (display) 3 Color LCD (display) 7 Protective cover 8 Brightness adjustment member 8A Smoke processing part (brightness adjustment part) 8B Transparent part (brightness adjustment part) 8C Opening hole part (brightness adjustment part) 9 Fluorescent display tube (display)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-56-137022 (JP, U) JP-A-2-19093 (JP, U) JP-A 62-91210 (JP, U) 2065 (JP, B2) Jiko 57-54009 (JP, Y2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G01D 11/28 G01D 7/00 302 G01D 7/00 303

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of display devices of different types are accommodated in a case, a translucent protective cover is disposed over a front surface of the case, and the display is provided between the display device and the protective cover. A brightness adjustment unit that faces the display area of the display and has different light transmittances so that the brightness of display light of the display that passes through the protective cover according to the emission brightness of the display is substantially uniform. A display device comprising a brightness adjusting member. 2. A plurality of display devices of different types are housed in a case, a translucent protective cover is disposed over a front surface of the case, and the display is provided between the display device and the protective cover. The brightness of the display light of the display, which faces the display area of the display and passes through the protective cover according to the emission luminance of the display, is adjusted according to the importance and urgency of each display. A brightness adjustment member having a brightness adjustment section having a different light transmittance so as to be different from each other. 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the brightness adjustment section is formed by providing an opening in the brightness adjustment member facing a display area of the display.