JP3098167B2 - Unit lighting structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lighting structure of a unit configured to perform a part of a function of a main device by being incorporated in the main device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As this type of unit, for example, FIG.
Is known. The odometer is provided in a combination meter (main device) (not shown) in an automobile or the like, and has an odometer function and a tripmeter function. This od / trip meter is covered by a case 1 formed in a flat box shape, and one side wall 1a of the case 1 is constituted by a hard printed wiring board (hereinafter, referred to as HPC) 2. Has become. A display window 1 is provided in front of the case 1.
b is open, and the liquid crystal display 3 is arranged inside the display window 1b. The liquid crystal display 3 is HP
While being fixedly connected to the edge of C2, it is electrically connected to the HPC2.

A backlight (light source) 4 is provided at a position near the back wall 1c of the case 1 at a position behind the liquid crystal display 3.
Is provided. This backlight 4 is an auxiliary HPC
5, it can be attached to the case 1. The auxiliary HPC 5 detachably holds the backlight 4 and makes an electrical connection with the backlight 4. The auxiliary HPC 5 is connected to the HPC 2 provided in the combination meter via the connectors 6 and 7.

A push-type switching knob 8 for switching between an odometer and a trip meter and resetting the trip meter is provided on the front of the case 1 so as to protrude. The HPC 2 is provided with electronic components (not shown) such as an IC for controlling the liquid crystal display 3, the backlight 4, and the like.

In the od trip meter configured as described above, since the liquid crystal display 3 is illuminated from behind by the light of the backlight 4, the display unit is extremely easy to see.

[0006]

By the way, the above-mentioned od
In the trip meter, the backlight 4 is used as an auxiliary HP
Since it is attached to the case 1 via C5 and is connected to the power supply via the connectors 6 and 7, there is a problem that the number of parts is large and the number of assembling steps is also large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is to remove a conventionally used part, thereby reducing the number of parts and the number of assembly steps. To provide a lighting structure.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems To achieve the above object, the present invention is incorporated in a main device,
A unit configured to perform a part of a function of a main device, wherein a light source that emits light by electric input, a case having a mounting hole for mounting the light source, and control electronic components of the main device and the unit are incorporated. In the lighting structure of the unit including the hard printed wiring board attached to the case, at the position of the mounting hole of the case,
By arranging a light source conductive portion of the FPC provided in the main device, by sandwiching the light source conductive portion between the light source and the case, by attaching the light source to the mounting hole,
The light source is connected to the power supply side of the FPC, and the unit is incorporated into the main device by bending another conductive portion of the FPC provided in the main device. Is elastically contacted with a connector provided on the hard printed wiring board,
It is characterized in that a PC and a hard printed wiring board are electrically connected.

[0009]

In the lighting structure of the unit configured as described above, the light source conductive portion of the FPC provided in the main device is disposed in the mounting hole of the unit, so that the light source conductive portion is sandwiched therebetween. By attaching the light source to the mounting hole, the light source can be easily connected to the power supply side, and the other conductive part of the FPC can be easily brought into elastic contact with the connector provided on the hard printed wiring board to easily connect The FPC and the hard printed wiring board can be electrically connected. In addition, the auxiliary HPC and the connector conventionally used for mounting the light source can be eliminated, and the number of components such as connectors can be reduced because the main device and the unit are collectively controlled by the hard printed wiring board. And the number of assembling steps can be reduced at the same time.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. However, elements common to those of the conventional example shown in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be simplified.

First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment shows an example in which the lighting structure of the unit of the present invention is applied to an odometer 10.

The od trip meter 1 of the first embodiment.
Numeral 0 has the function of an odometer and the function of a trip meter, and is entirely covered by a case 11. The case 11 is formed in a flat box shape (a rectangular parallelepiped shape), and one side wall 11 a of the case 11 is configured by a hard printed wiring board (hereinafter, referred to as HPC) 12. That is, the part of the one side wall 11a of the case 11 is in an open state as a whole,
The HPC 12 is provided so as to cover the opening. This HPC 12 is provided with a locking claw (not shown).
The case 11 is detachably attached to the case 11.

A display window 11c is opened in a front wall 11b of the case 11 orthogonal to the one side wall 11a, and a liquid crystal display 13 is arranged inside the display window 11c. I have. This liquid crystal display 13 is an HPC
12 fixedly connected to the edge of the HPC 12
Is electrically connected to

The case 11 is provided with a mounting hole 11e for detachably mounting a backlight (light source) 14 on a back wall 11d at a position directly opposite to the front wall 11b. The mounting hole 11e is
The backlight 14 is fixedly held by inserting and rotating the backlight 4 from the outside. Also,
Electrical connection to the backlight 14 is made by a conductive part for bulb (conductive part for light source connection) 15 a of a flexible printed circuit board (hereinafter, referred to as FPC) 15.

As shown in FIG. 2, the valve conductive portion 15a has a hole A1 having the same shape as the mounting hole 11e, and is provided so that the conductive portion A2 is exposed around the hole A1. . The rear wall 11d has a mounting hole 11e.
Are projected around the conductive portion 15a for the valve.
Is formed with a holding hole A3 that fits into the projection B and holds the position with respect to the back wall 11d.

The FPC 15 is, as shown in FIG.
It is provided on the back wall 101a of the meter case 101 of the combination meter (main device) 100. The back wall 101a is provided with a through hole 101b for inserting and fixing the odd trip meter 10. Then, the valve conductive portion 1 of the FPC 15
5a extends along the outer surface of the back wall 11d of the case 11 fixed to the through hole 101b, and is provided with a mounting hole 11e of the back wall 11d.
Is provided at a position corresponding to. The FPC 15 is provided with a case 1 at a position adjacent to the valve conductive portion 15a.
1 and a connector (not shown) which is bent inside the through hole 101b (the connector 17 in the third embodiment).
The conductive part 15 for making an electrical connection with the HPC 12
b is provided.

The HPC 12 controls the liquid crystal display 13, the backlight 14, and the like, as well as a speedometer 102 and a tachometer 103 of a combination meter 100 described later.
Electronic components 12a and 12b such as ICs for controlling the above are provided.

In the od / trip meter 10 configured as described above, the holding hole A of the valve conductive portion 15a is provided.
By fitting 3 to the projection B of the back wall 11d, the hole A1 of the valve conductive portion 15a matches the mounting hole 11e, and the matched state is maintained. Then, the backlight 14 is inserted into the hole A1 and the mounting hole 11e from the outside of the back wall 11d, and rotated by a predetermined angle,
The backlight 14 is fixed to the back wall 11d. At this time, the conductive portion A2 of the valve conductive portion 15a is connected to the back wall 11d.
Between the FPC 15 and the backlight 14 via the conductive portion A2.
Is connected to the power supply side.

Therefore, according to the od / trip meter 10 configured as described above, the auxiliary HPC 5 and the connectors 6 and 7 (see FIG. 9) conventionally used for mounting the backlight 14 can be eliminated. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, and at the same time, the number of assembly steps can be reduced. Moreover, since the bulb conductive portion 15a can be stably held on the back wall 11d by the projection B and the holding hole A3, the backlight 14 can be easily inserted into the mounting hole 11e, and the backlight 14 can be rotated. Also, the position of the valve conductive portion 15a does not shift. Therefore, the work of attaching the backlight 14 is simplified, and the work efficiency can be improved.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. However, components common to the components of the first embodiment shown in FIGS.
The description will be simplified. The main difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the HPC 12 is located above the case 11 in the drawing.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the HPC 12 is provided so as to constitute one side wall 11a of the case 11. It is configured to be locked to the case 11 by being locked to a stop claw 11h. Also, HP
C12 is provided with a connector 17 for connection with the conductive portion 15b (see FIG. 4) of the FPC 15. The connector 17 has a plurality of contact pins 17a that protrude elastically.

The display window 11c of the case 11 is formed to open to the front wall 11b so as to pass through the one side wall 11a, and the liquid crystal display 13 is opened from the opening side.
Is to be inserted. And the liquid crystal display 1
On the back side of 3, a diffusion plate 16 is provided. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a screw 18 is attached to the back wall 101 a of the meter case 101.
Is provided with a flange 11i for fixing via the.

On the other hand, the combination meter 100
As shown in FIG. 4, a meter case 101 for accommodating a speedometer 102, a tachometer 103, a fuel gauge 104, a thermometer 105, and the odometer trip meter 10 is provided on the back side of a back wall 101a of the meter case 10. FPC1
5, a dial 106 covering the other parts except for the display units of the speedometer 102, the tachometer 103, the fuel gauge 104, the thermometer 105, and the odometer 10;
And a front glass 107 provided on the front surface side of No. 6.

Speedometer 102, tachometer 103, fuel gauge 10
4. The thermometer 105 is fixed to the back wall 101a of the meter case 101 by a conductive screw 108, and is electrically connected to the FPC 15.

The odometer 10 is provided with a through hole 1 formed in a back wall 101a of the meter case 101.
01b, and is fixed to the back wall 101a with screws 18 via a flange 11i provided on the case 11. Then, the case 11 is connected to the through hole 10 of the back wall 101a.
When inserted into the through hole 1b, the conductive portion 15b of the FPC 15 is pressed by the connector 17 and bent inside the through hole 101b. At this time, each contact pin 17a of the connector 17
Are elastically bent, and each conductive part 15 of the FPC 15 is
b. In addition, the valve conductive portion 15a of the FPC 15 is provided together with the case 11 together with the through hole 10a.
1b, the valve conductive portion 15a can be easily pulled out since the gap between the through hole 101b and the case 11 is large. Then, when the valve conductive portion 15a of the FPC 15 is pulled out from the through hole 101b, the case 11
Along the outer surface of the rear wall 11d, and the holding hole A3 fits into the projection B of the rear wall 11d.

A through-hole 107a through which the switching knob 8 of the odometer 10 protrudes is formed in the front glass 107.
Is provided.

In the od / trip meter 10 and the combination meter 100 configured as described above, the speedometer 102, the tachometer 103,
The fuel gauge 104, the thermometer 105, and the odometer 10 are electrically connected, and these meters are collectively controlled by the HPC 12 provided in the odometer 10. Therefore, the number of components such as connectors is reduced. Therefore, the number of assembling steps can be reduced.

In the first and second embodiments, an example is shown in which the lighting structure of the unit of the present invention is applied to an od trip meter. However, application to the od trip meter is limited. It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this and may be applied to other instruments and the like.

[0029]

[0030]

[0031]

[0032]

[0033]

[0034]

[0035]

[0036]

[0037]

According to the present invention, an auxiliary HPC and a connector conventionally used for mounting a light source can be eliminated, and a main device and a unit can be collectively provided by a hard printed wiring board mounted on a case of the unit. Therefore, the number of components such as connectors can be reduced, and at the same time, the number of assembly steps can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an od trip meter shown as a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the od / trip meter.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an od trip meter shown as a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a combination meter accommodating the od / trip meter.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an od trip meter shown as a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 unit (odd / trip meter) 11 case 11a one side wall 11e mounting hole 11f other side wall 12 HPC (hard printed wiring board) 13 liquid crystal display 14 light source (backlight) 15 FPC 15a light source conductive part 100 main unit ( Combination meter)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60Q 3/04 H01R 12/28 H01R 33/09

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A unit configured to perform a part of a function of a main device by being incorporated in the main device, comprising: a light source which emits light by an electric input; and a case having a mounting hole for mounting the light source. And a hard printed wiring board mounted with the main device and the control electronic components of the unit and mounted on the case. An FPC provided on the main device at a position of the mounting hole of the case. The light source conductive part is disposed, the light source conductive part is sandwiched between the light source and the case, and the light source is attached to the mounting hole, so that the light source is connected to the power supply side of the FPC, and the unit Of the FPC provided in the main device is bent so as to be folded into the main device. And another conductive portion which is elastically contacted to the connector provided on the hard printed wiring board, the illumination structure of the unit, characterized in that electrically connecting the FPC and a hard printed circuit board.