JP3109715B2 - Instrument pointer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an instrument pointer,
The present invention relates to a self-luminous meter pointer which is disposed on a dial portion of an instrument of a vehicle such as an automobile and indicates a scale or the like of the dial.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, various vehicles such as automobiles are equipped with instruments for displaying measured values such as vehicle speed and engine speed. Among them, as a pointer used for an analog type instrument, there is a self-luminous type having a configuration shown in a sectional view of a main part in FIG.

The dial indicated by reference numeral 4 in FIG. 10 has scales, characters, etc. formed on the surface thereof.
On the back side of the machine, an internal machine (not shown) as a drive source for hands
And a light source (not shown) for shining the pointer, and a light guide plate 5 and the like, which are made of a translucent member and guide the light from the light source to the pointer. At a substantially central portion of the light guide plate 5, a through hole 5a is formed from the front side facing the dial 4 to the back side, and the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 5a has a small diameter on the front side and the back side has a small diameter. It is formed in a substantially conical shape with a large diameter on the side, and a light reflecting surface 5b that reflects light guided inside the light guide plate 5 toward the dial 4 side is formed by this inner peripheral surface.

[0004] A through hole 4a extending from the front surface to the back surface of the dial 4 is formed at a position facing the through hole 5a on the dial 4, and the through hole 4a is formed by the light reflecting surface 5b.
The light guide plate 5 is formed with an inner diameter equal to or larger than the diameter of the through hole 5a on the rear surface side of the light guide plate 5 so that the light reflected on the side can pass therethrough. The inner machine (not shown) is disposed on the back side of the light guide plate 5, and its drive shaft M is inserted through the through holes 5 a and 4 a of the light guide plate 5 and the dial 4, and the tip thereof is The dial 4 extends outward from the surface of the dial 4.

[0005] In FIG. 10, a pointer indicated by reference numeral 1 is provided on the front side of the dial 4. The pointer 1 has a cylindrical pointer hammer 3 which is inserted through the through holes 4a and 5a of the dial 4 and the light guide plate 5 and is press-fitted to the drive shaft M. Dial 4 extending in the radial direction of
And a pointer main body 1A extending substantially in parallel. The pointer main body 1A is made of a translucent member, and has a flat base 1Aa formed concentrically with the pointer hakama 3;
a pointer 1Ab protruding from the outer periphery of the pointer a; Is covered with the pointer cap 2 of FIG.

A light guide plate 5 is provided on the back surface of the base 1Aa facing the dial 4 with the pointer hammer 3 fitted on the drive shaft M.
The light incident surface 1a facing the light reflection surface 5b is formed.
An indicator 1A located outside the pointer cap 2
On the back surface of b, a light-shielding colored layer 1b having a bright color tone such as white, red, or yellow is formed. On the other hand, on the surface of the base 1Aa near the indicator 1Ab, the light incident from the light incident surface 1a is reflected by the indicator 1Ab.
A light reflecting surface 1d that reflects toward the front end side is formed. The light reflecting surface 1d is located on an extension of the extending direction of the pointing portion 1Ab, is formed in a substantially rectangular shape which is long in the extending direction, and extends from the front side to the back side of the pointer main body 1A. It is inclined to approach 3.

The pointer 1 thus formed is reflected by the light reflecting surface 5b of the light guide plate 5, passes through the through hole 4a of the dial 4, and enters the inside of the base 1Aa from the light incident surface 1a. light, as indicated by the optical path L ₁ in FIG. 10, the light reflection surface 1
Irradiated at d and reflected toward the tip end of the indicator 1Ab, the entire indicator 1Ab is configured to shine. According to the pointer 1, since the colored layer 1b is light-shielding, the light reflected on the light reflecting surface 1d is prevented from leaking from the back surface of the indicating portion 1Ab to the dial 4 side. Thereby, the brightness when the indicator 1Ab shines is increased, and the indicator 1Ab can be reliably visually recognized even at night when the surroundings are dark. In addition, since the coloring layer 1b is colored in a bright color, the indicator 1Ab can be visually recognized even in a bright daytime.

However, the above-described guideline 1 of the configuration shown in FIG.
So depending on the angle at which light from the light source is incident on the light reflecting surface 5b of the light guide plate 5, as shown by optical path L ₀ in the figure, light is reflected in a direction shifted to the instruction unit 1Ab near the light reflection This light is not applied to the surface 1d, and this light passes through the notch of the pointer cap 2 that extends the indicator 1Ab outward, and the indicator 1A
In some cases, the surface of b might reach a position near the base 1Aa.
Therefore, the pointer 1 shown in FIG. 10 has a problem that the indicator 1Ab near the base 1Aa is bright and the indicator 1Ab near the tip is dark, causing uneven brightness in the extending direction of the pointer 1. .

Therefore, in the illumination device of the instrument pointer disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 1-136422, which is shown in FIGS.
At the indication portion 1Ab, that is, at the portion near the colored layer 1b,
A rough surface 1c is formed to attenuate the amount of light incident on the base 1Aa by irregularly reflecting the irradiated light, thereby suppressing the amount of light traveling toward the indicator 1Ab near the conventional base 1Aa. Thus, the above-described problem is solved.

By forming the rough surface 1c on the light incident surface 1a near the indicator 1Ab, the indicator 1Ab near the base 1Aa is bright and the indicator 1Ab near the tip is darker. However, on the other hand, there is a problem that the amount of light incident on the pointing unit 1Ab decreases, and the luminance of the pointer 1 decreases as a whole. Therefore, in order to increase the brightness of the pointer 1 as a whole, it has been conventionally performed to enlarge the light incident surface 1a and increase the number of light sources.

First, on the light source side, the light guide plate 5 described above is used.
The light guide plate 5 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and light sources are arranged on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the light guide plate 5, and light from these light sources is reflected by the light reflecting surface 5b, so that the base 1Aa of the pointer 1 is formed. To improve the light quantity by increasing the number of light sources. However, when the light reflecting surface 5b is formed in a conventional substantially conical shape, the light reflecting surface 5 near the periphery of the through hole 5a in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the light guide plate 5 is provided.
Since the direction of light applied to the portion b substantially matches the tangential direction of the light reflecting surface 5b, the light reflected by the light reflecting surface 5b is directed toward the periphery of the through hole 4a of the dial 4, and the base of the hand 1 Since light that does not enter 1Aa is generated, the indicator 1Ab
Of the image will be reduced.

Therefore, as shown in the sectional view and the plan view in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the light from the light source 6 disposed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the light guide plate 5 having a rectangular shape in plan view is transmitted to the dial. The light guide plate 5 of the substantially conical light reflecting surface 5b that reflects light toward the fourth side.
A substantially trough-shaped V-groove as viewed from the back side of the light guide plate 5 is formed in the light reflecting surface 5b opposite to the through-hole 5a in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the V-groove. Are formed on both sides of the light reflecting surface 5c.

In the light guide plate 5 having such a configuration, the light directly traveling from each of the light sources 6 to the through holes 5a is transmitted to the light reflecting surface 5b.
Are reflected toward the dial 4 side, and diffuse from each of the light sources 6 toward both edges in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the light guide plate 5, and are radiated and reflected on both edges to the through holes 5 a while being reflected. The incoming light is reflected toward the dial 4 side by the respective light reflecting surfaces 5c. Thus, the light from each of the light sources 6 can be made incident on the light incident surface 1a of the pointing unit 1Ab without waste.

On the other hand, on the pointer 1 side, the light reflecting surface 5
In order to make effective use of the reflected light from the b and 5c, as shown in the bottom view in FIG. Sub-light incident surfaces 1a 'and 1a' are provided near the both sides to expand the surface on which light is incident. Also, the sub-light incident surface 1
a ′, 1a ′, each sub-light incident surface 1a
', 1a' on the surface of the base 1Aa facing the
Sub-reflection surfaces (not shown) are provided on both sides of the light reflection surface 1d in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the b, and continuous with the light reflection surface 1d, and each sub-reflection surface is directed toward the base 1Aa. The portion 1Ab is formed in a substantially spherical shape with the center of curvature as the center. Thereby, the light incident from the conventional light incident surface 1a and reflected by the light reflecting surface 1d toward the distal end of the pointing portion 1Ab is incident from the sub light incident surfaces 1a ', 1a' and is not shown in the sub-reflection (not shown). Light reflected by the surface on the tip side of the indicator 1Ab is added, and accordingly, the number of the light sources 6 is increased, and accordingly, the light guide plate 5 is provided with a light reflection surface 5c in addition to the conventional light reflection surface 5b. In combination, even if the rough surface 1c is formed on the light incident surface 1a near the indicator 1Ab, the brightness of the pointer 1 is prevented from lowering, and the overall brightness is maintained at a high level.

[0015]

[0009] However, FIG.
When the light guide plate 5 shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B and the pointer 1 shown in FIG. 12 are used, the following new problem occurs. That is, FIG.
As shown by imaginary lines in the explanatory diagram of FIG. 3, when the light guide plate 5 is arranged in a direction in which the longitudinal direction of the light guide plate 5 coincides with the left-right direction of the dial 4, the indicating portion 1Ab sets A, B in FIG. In the state where each direction is indicated, the light incident on the base 1Aa from the light incident surface 1a of the pointer 1 and the sub light incident surfaces 1a ', 1a' on both sides thereof is mainly in the longitudinal direction of the light guide plate 5. Light from one light source 6 of the two light sources 6 is reflected by the light reflecting surface 5b and the two light reflecting surfaces 5c on one side. On the other hand, when the indicator 1Ab indicates the direction C in the drawing, the two light sources reflected on the two light reflecting surfaces 5c of the concave portions on the upper side in the drawing on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the light guide plate 5 6
From the light incident surface 1a and the sub-light incident surfaces 1a ', 1a' on both sides thereof into the base 1Aa.

Therefore, when the indicating unit 1Ab indicates each of the above-mentioned directions, the amount of light reaching the light reflecting surface 1d out of the light incident from the light incident surface 1a into the base 1Aa can be determined in any direction. Although substantially the same, the amount of light reaching the sub-reflection surface (not shown) facing the two sub-light incidence surfaces 1a 'and 1a' is determined by the indicating unit 1Ab indicating each direction of A and B in FIG. Since the light from both light sources 6 is easier to reach when the direction C is instructed than when the operation is performed, the amount of light is larger. For this reason, the brightness of the indicator 1Ab when it shines is higher when the indicator 1Ab indicates the C direction than when the indicator 1Ab indicates the A and B directions. was there.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to guide and reflect light from a plurality of light sources by a light guide plate into a pointer and shine the pointer with this light, regardless of which rotation direction the pointer indicates. It is an object of the present invention to provide an instrument pointer capable of shining with luminance.

[0018]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to a light-transmitting light guide plate in which light is incident from different directions and reflected by a plurality of light reflecting surfaces formed on the light guide plate. A light-transmitting base having a light incident surface to which light from a plurality of light sources is respectively applied, and a dial which is radiated by the light which is extended from the base and is incident on the inside from the light incident surface to indicate the indicated value of the dial. in the instrument pointer and a light-transmitting instruction unit that instructs, to the light incident surface is disposed on both side portions of the light incident surface, the light reflective facing the difference in the face portion, wherein the instruction unit instructs Different faces
A pair of sub-light incident surfaces where the amount of irradiation of light from the opposing light reflecting surface changes, and a pair of sub-light incident surfaces disposed between these sub-light incident surfaces, and depending on the difference in the dial position indicated by the indicating unit .
Irrespective of the difference in the opposing light reflecting surfaces ,
A main light incident surface portion having substantially equal light irradiation amounts of light from opposing light reflecting surfaces is provided, and the sub light incident surface portion is formed in a rough surface.

Further, in the invention, it is preferable that the main light incident surface portion is disposed on the light incident surface portion which is an extension of the pointing portion facing the light guide plate in a direction in which the pointing portion extends, and the sub light incident portion is provided. Surface portions are arranged on both sides of the main light incident surface portion in a direction intersecting with the extending direction. Further, according to the present invention, the light from the light source is incident on the inside of the light guide plate from both side portions of the light guide plate substantially opposed to each other across the light reflection surface, and the main light incident surface portion includes the indicator. Indicate the direction along the optical axis of the light, and have a rectangular shape whose longitudinal direction substantially matches the optical axis direction.

[0020]

According to the present invention, of the reflected light from the light reflecting surface of the light guide plate, a part of the reflected light whose light quantity largely changes depending on the rotation direction of the pointing portion is changed by the sub light incident surface portion formed on the rough surface. Thus, the ratio of the amount of light, which varies greatly depending on the rotation direction of the indicator, in the amount of light incident on the base from the light incident surface decreases, and the partial reflected light is reduced from the light incident surface into the base. There is almost no effect on the amount of incident light. Therefore, regardless of the direction indicated by the indicating unit,
The amount of light incident on the base from the light incident surface becomes substantially uniform.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B show a light-emitting instrument pointer according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a bottom view, FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line BB of FIG. 1B passing through a position displaced from the center of the pointer hakama, and the same members and positions as those in FIGS. 10 and 11 in FIG.
The description is given with the same reference numerals as those given in these figures.

Scales, characters, and the like are formed on the surface of the dial 4 indicated by reference numeral 4 in FIG. 1, and an inner machine (not shown) as a driving source for hands is provided on the back side of the dial 4. )When,
A light source 6 for pointer shine (see FIG. 9), a light guide plate 5 for guiding light from the light source 6 to the pointer, and the like are provided.

The light guide plate 5 is formed of a translucent member, and has a rectangular shape in a plan view as shown in the sectional view and the plan view in FIGS. Light from the light source 6 disposed is guided through the light guide plate 5, and the light is transmitted through the light reflection surfaces 5 b and 5 c formed by the inner peripheral surfaces of the through holes 5 a at substantially the center of the light guide plate 5. It is reflected on the dial 4 side.

The light reflecting surface 5b has a substantially circular arc shape along a cone having a small diameter on the front side of the light guide plate 5 and a large diameter on the back side thereof.
The light-reflecting surface 5c is formed at a pair of side edges of the through-hole 5a opposed in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The two light reflecting surfaces 5c, which are formed two by two and are on one side edge of the through-hole 5a, are arranged on both sides of the top 5d of the substantially valley-shaped V-groove as viewed from the back side of the light guide plate 5.

The light guide plate 5 having such a configuration is arranged such that the longitudinal direction of the light guide plate 5 coincides with the left-right direction of the dial 4 as indicated by imaginary lines in the explanatory view of FIG. In the light guide plate 5, light traveling from each of the light sources 6 toward the through holes 5 a is reflected toward the dial 4 by the light reflecting surface 5 b, and is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the light guide plate 5 from each of the light sources 6. Light, etc., which are directed to the both edges in the direction, are irradiated and reflected on the both edges, and travel toward the through-hole 5a, are reflected toward the dial 4 side by the respective light reflecting surfaces 5c.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a through-hole 4a extending from the front surface to the back surface of the dial 4 is formed at a portion of the dial 4 facing the through-hole 5a. The two light reflecting surfaces 5b on the back side of the light guide plate 5 so that the light reflected by the light reflecting surface 5b toward the dial 4 can pass through.
Are formed with an inner diameter equal to or greater than the interval of The inner machine (not shown) is disposed on the back side of the light guide plate 5, and its drive shaft M is inserted through the through holes 5 a, 4 a of the light guide plate 5 and the dial 4, and the tip is a letter. It extends outward from the surface of the board 4.

In FIG. 1 (a), reference numerals 10 in this embodiment indicate the dials 4 and 5 of the dial 4 and the light guide plate 5.
a, and a pointer cap 12 having a cylindrical pointer hammer 13 which is press-fitted onto the drive shaft M and inserted into the pointer hammer 13, from the pointer hammer 13 in the radial direction of the drive shaft M. There is provided a pointer body 11A extending substantially parallel to the dial 4. The pointer main body 11A is formed of a translucent member, and as shown in FIG. 1 (c), is formed concentrically with the pointer hammer 13 and has a through hole (not shown) through which the pointer hammer 13 can be inserted at the center. It is composed of the formed flat base 11Aa and an indicator 11Ab protruding from the outer periphery of the base 11Aa. The pointer cap 12 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with a light-shielding member having an inner end corresponding to the through hole 4a of the dial 4 and having an open end.
The pointer hakama 13 is protruded from a substantially central portion of the inner wall of the end face,
The base 11Aa is covered with the pointer cap 12 in a state where the pointer hammer 13 is inserted into the through hole (not shown) and the base 11Aa is fitted to the pointer hammer 13.

A light-shielding colored layer 11b having a bright color tone such as white, red, or yellow is formed on the back surface of the indicator 11Ab located outside the pointer cap 12. On the other hand, the indicator 11A on the surface of the base 11Aa
b, the light reflecting surface 11 facing the light incident surface 11a
The light reflecting surface 11d includes two sub-reflecting surface portions 11f and a main reflecting surface portion 11e disposed between the two sub-reflecting surface portions 11f.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the main reflection surface portion 11e is located on an extension of the direction in which the pointing portion 11Ab extends, and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view and long in the extension direction. The main body 11A is inclined so as to approach the pointer hakama 13 from the front side to the rear side. Further, as shown in FIG. 1C, each of the sub-reflection surface portions 11f has a base portion 11Aa.
The main reflecting surface portion 1e has a substantially spherical shape with the pointed portion 11Ab closer to the center of curvature, and is provided on both sides of the main reflecting surface portion 11e in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the pointing portion 11Ab.
1e. The light reflecting surface 11d is configured to reflect light incident from a light incident surface 11a, which will be described later, toward the tip end of the indicator 11Ab.

As shown in FIG. 1 (a), a light incident surface 11a is provided at a back surface of the base 11Aa of the pointer main body 11A facing the light reflecting surface 11e. As shown in FIG. 1B, the light incident surface 11a is formed in a substantially semicircular shape in plan view on the back surface of the base 11Aa closer to the indicator 11Ab than the peripheral surface of the pointer hammer 13. Surface 11a
Are two rough surface portions 11c, 11c (corresponding to sub-light incident surface portions) arranged on both sides of the light incident surface 11a,
Mirror portion 11 disposed between the two rough surface portions 11c, 11c
b (corresponding to the main light incident surface portion). The mirror part 11
b is located on an extension of the extending direction of the pointing portion 11Ab and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the extending direction in a plan view, and each of the rough surface portions 11c, 11c is extended by the mirror surface portion 11b. They are arranged on both sides in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which they are located. The light incident surface 11a is connected to the light guide plate via the through-hole 4a of the dial 4 regardless of the direction of rotation of the indicator 11Ab in a state where the pointer hammer 13 is fitted to the drive shaft M. 5 faces at least one of the light reflecting surfaces 5b and 5c.

The mirror surface portion 11b of the light incident surface 11a
In the state where the indicator 11Ab indicates the direction along the longitudinal direction of the light guide plate 5, as shown by the imaginary line a in FIG. 3, the light guide surface 5b faces the light reflection surface 5b on the left side in the figure, or conversely, The light from the light source 6 on the left side or right side in the figure, which is reflected on the light reflecting surface 5b on the right side in the drawing and is reflected by the light reflecting surface 5b, is irradiated on the mirror surface portion 11b. Further, in a state where the pointing unit 11Ab indicates the direction of B in FIG. 2, the mirror surface 11b faces one light reflection surface 5c at the lower right in the figure as shown by an imaginary line b in FIG. Almost all the light from the light source 6 on the right side in the figure reflected by the light reflecting surface 5c is applied to the mirror surface portion 11b.
Note that, in a state in which the direction of the direction A in FIG. 2 is indicated by the instruction unit 11Ab, a position where the mirror surface unit 11b faces the state in which the direction of the direction B in FIG. FIG.
The light from the light source 6 on the left side in the figure is almost entirely applied to the mirror 11b.

Further, the direction of C in FIG.
In the state indicated by b, as shown by the imaginary line C in FIG. 5, the mirror surface portion 11b partially overlaps the two light reflection surfaces 5c on both sides of the top 5d with the upper V groove in the diagram. Then, a part of the light from the two light sources 6 reflected by the two light reflecting surfaces 5c is applied to the mirror surface portion 11b.

That is, when the indicating section 11Ab indicates the direction C in FIG. 2, the light applied to the mirror section 11b is the light from both the left and right light sources 6 in the figure, while In a state in which the indicating unit 11Ab indicates a direction other than the middle C direction, the light irradiated on the mirror surface 11b is the light from one of the left and right light sources 6 in the drawing, and is irradiated on both sides. There is a difference in the number of light sources 6 for light. However, mirror part 1
In the state where the indicating unit 11Ab indicates the C direction in which the number of the light sources 6 of the light radiated to 1b is large, the number of the light reflecting surfaces 5c facing the mirror surface 11b is two, so that one light reflecting surface 5c Is smaller than the state in which the indicator 11Ab indicates a direction other than the C direction in which only the light from one light source 6 is irradiated on the mirror 11b. The light amount of the light applied to the unit 11b hardly changes regardless of which direction the instruction unit 11Ab indicates.

On the other hand, of the light incident surface 11a, both rough surface portions 11
In the state in which the indicator 11Ab indicates the direction along the longitudinal direction of the light guide plate 5, c and 11c face the upper and lower two light reflecting surfaces 5c on the left side in the figure, respectively, as indicated by the imaginary line d in FIG. , Reflected on the two light reflecting surfaces 5c,
Light from the two light sources 6 irradiates the rough surface portions 11c. Further, in a state where the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 2 is indicated by the indicating section 11Ab, as shown by an imaginary line E in FIG. 7, one of the rough surface portions 11c and the light reflection surface 5b on the right side in the figure are lower right. Of 1
One light reflecting surface 5c straddles a part near the right light reflecting surface 5b, and the other rough surface portion 11c has one light reflecting surface 5c at the lower left and one light reflecting surface 5c at the lower right in the figure. The light from the light sources 6 on the left and right sides reflected in the two light reflecting surfaces 5b and 5c irradiates the two rough surface portions 11c and 11c, respectively. Is done.
Note that, in a state where the pointing unit 11Ab indicates the direction of A in FIG. 2, the two rough surface portions 11c and 11c are respectively different from a state where the pointing unit 11Ab indicates the direction of B in FIG. The facing portion is reversed left and right in the left and right direction in FIG. 7, and therefore, the light sources 6 on both the left and right sides in the figure are provided on both rough surface portions 11c.
Respectively.

Further, the direction of C in FIG.
In the state indicated by b, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 8, both the rough surface portions 11c, 11c are connected to the two light reflecting surfaces 5c on the left and right sides of the mirror surface portion 11b by the V-grooves in the upper part of the figure. The two rough surface portions 11c, 11c straddle the upper half of the left and right light reflecting surfaces 5b adjacent to each other below the two light reflecting surfaces 5c in the figure. A part of the light from the two light sources 6 reflected by a part of each of the two light reflecting surfaces 5b, 5c is partially transmitted to the two rough surface portions 11c, 1c.
1c.

That is, in the state where the indicating unit 11Ab indicates each direction of A, B, and C in FIG.
The light applied to the light guide 11c is light from both the right and left light sources 6 in the figure. On the other hand, when the indicator 11Ab indicates the direction along the longitudinal direction of the light guide plate 5, both the rough surfaces 11
The light irradiated to c and 11c is light from one of the right and left light sources 6 in the figure, and there is a difference in the number of light sources 6 of the irradiated light in both. Further, both rough surface portions 11c, 11c
The state in which the indicating unit 11Ab indicates the directions of A and B where the number of the light sources 6 of the light irradiated to the light source is large, and the indicating unit 1 indicates the direction C.
Even during the state indicated by 1Ab, each rough surface portion 11c,
The light reflecting surface facing 11c is a light reflecting surface 5b and a light reflecting surface 5c.
There is a difference as to whether it straddles the two light reflecting surfaces 5c. Therefore, due to these differences, the light amount of the light radiated to both the rough surface portions 11c, 11c greatly changes depending on which direction is indicated by the indicating portion 11Ab.

As described above, in this embodiment, the light incident surface 11a is connected to the pointing unit 11Ab by, for example, A, B,
Regardless of which direction C is designated, the mirror surface portion 11b always faces a portion where the amount of light reflected from the light reflecting surfaces 5b and 5c does not substantially change, while the two rough surface portions 1 on both sides of the mirror surface portion 11b.
1c and 11c are configured to always face a portion where the amount of light reflected from the light reflecting surfaces 5b and 5c greatly changes depending on the rotation direction of the pointing unit 11Ab.

Next, the operation will be described. The light source 6
Is incident on the light guide plate 5 from both end surfaces in the longitudinal direction of the light guide plate 5 and is directly or directly reflected from the both end surfaces in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the light guide plate 5 while passing through the through hole 5a. , The light is reflected toward the dial 4 by the light reflecting surfaces 5b and 5c. The amount of reflected light at this time is such that the straight light from the light source 6 is more radiated to the light reflecting surface 5b than to the light reflecting surface 5c.
higher than c. Further, in the plane of the light reflecting surface 5b, the pointer 1
1 is closer to the back of the light guide plate 5 than the pointer 11
The closer to the surface of the light guide plate 5, the higher the amount of reflected light,
Similarly, in the surface of the light reflecting surface 5c, the portion closer to the top 5d of the V-groove near the pointer 11 is closer to the skirt (not shown) of the V-groove away from the pointer 11, that is, the light guide plate 5 The amount of reflected light is higher than that of the portion near the back surface.

The light reflected by the light reflecting surfaces 5b and 5c is
The base 11Aa of the pointer 10 passes through the through hole 4a of the dial 4
Although the irradiation on the back, light irradiated to these rough surface portion 11c, as shown by optical paths L ₃ in FIG. 1 (c), the attenuated is irregularly reflected by the rough surface portion 11c, therefore, the rough surface portion through 11c is amount of light incident suppression within the base 11Aa, therefore, the majority of light incident on the base portion 11Aa, as indicated by the optical path L ₂ in FIG. 1 (a), the mirror unit 1
1b. Then, this light incident surface 11
a incident on the base 11Aa from the light reflection surface 11a.
d, and is reflected, whereby the reflected light is guided toward the tip end of the indicator 11Ab, and the entire indicator 11Ab shines.

At this time, since the colored layer 11b is light-shielding, the light reflected by the light reflecting surface 11d does not leak from the back surface of the indicator 11Ab to the dial 4 side.
Therefore, the brightness when the indicator 11Ab shines is maintained at a high level, so that not only the indicator 11Ab can be surely visually recognized even at night when the surroundings are dark, but also the colored layer 11b itself is bright. Because it is colored
The indicator 11Ab can be visually recognized reliably even in a bright daytime.

Further, in this embodiment, most of the light incident on the base 11Aa from the light incident surface 11a is
No matter which rotation direction Ab indicates, the light reflecting surfaces 5b, 5
c is the irradiation light to the mirror surface portion 11b where the amount of light reflected from the light-reflection surfaces 5b and 5c changes substantially depending on the rotation direction of the pointing portion 11Ab.
Irradiation light to 1c, 11c is applied to each of these rough surface portions 11c, 1c.
The light is attenuated by 1c and hardly enters the base 11Aa. Accordingly, the specular portion 11b is located at a position indicated by imaginary lines A and B in FIGS. 3 and 4, and the indicating portion 11Ab indicates a direction in which only the light from one of the two light sources 6 is irradiated on the light incident surface 11a. 5 and the mirror surface portion 11b is located at the position indicated by the imaginary line C in FIG. 5, and the direction in which both light from the two light sources 6 are applied to the light incident surface 11a is indicated by the instruction portion 11
Ab from the light incident surface 11a to the base 1
The amount of light incident on 1Aa is substantially equal.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the light from the two light sources 6 disposed on both sides of the light guide plate 5 having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view is reflected by the light reflection surfaces 5b and 5c substantially at the center of the light guide plate 5. The reflected light is transmitted from the light incident surface 11a of the pointer 11 to the base 11Aa.
Into the light reflecting surface 1 of the base 11Aa.
In order to further reflect the light at 1d and guide it toward the tip end of the indicator 11Ab, the light incident surface 11a is divided into the mirror surface 11b and the two surfaces on both sides thereof.
It is composed of two rough surface portions 11c, 11c, and the mirror surface portion 11b is
Irrespective of the direction of rotation of the indicator 11Ab, it always faces a portion where the amount of light reflected from the light reflecting surfaces 5b and 5c does not substantially change. It was configured to always face the part where the amount of reflected light from 5b and 5c greatly changes.

Accordingly, of the reflected light from the light reflecting surfaces 5b, 5c, a part of the reflected light, whose light quantity largely changes depending on the rotation direction of the indicating portion 11Ab, is attenuated by the rough surface portions 11c, 11c, whereby the light is incident. From surface 11a to base 11A
The ratio of the light amount which greatly changes depending on the rotation direction of the pointing unit 11Ab in the light amount incident on the inside a decreases, and the part of the reflected light is reduced to the light amount of the incident light from the light incident surface 11a into the base 11Aa. There is almost no effect. For this reason, regardless of the direction instructed by the pointing unit 11Ab, the amount of light incident on the base 11Aa from the light incident surface 11a is substantially uniform, and the pointing unit 11Ab can be illuminated with uniform luminance. .

The shape and size of the light incident surface 11a and the shapes of the mirror surface portion 11b and the rough surface portion 11c are not limited to those described in this embodiment. For example, the light reflection surface of the light guide plate may be used. It can be arbitrarily changed according to the structure, shape and the like. Further, in this embodiment, the pointer 11 in which the pointer hakama 13 is provided on the pointer cap 12 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is also applicable to a pointer in which the pointer hakama is provided at the base of the pointer main body.
Further, whether or not the pointer 11 includes the pointer cap 12 and the colored layer 11b is optional. In this embodiment, the pointer 11 in which the light incident surface 11a is provided on the back surface of the base 11Aa has been described as an example. However, in the present invention, the light incident surface extends in the direction in which the pointing portion extends and orthogonal to the direction. The present invention is also applicable to a pointer provided on the side surface of the base in any one of the directions in which the light is emitted. Needless to say, it can be widely applied.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, light enters the light-transmitting light guide plate from different directions,
A light-transmissive base having a light incident surface to which light from a plurality of light sources reflected by a plurality of light reflecting surfaces of the light guide plate is respectively applied; and a light incident surface extending from the base and entering the inside from the light incident surface. A light-transmitting indicating portion that shines with the light to indicate the indicated value of the dial, wherein the indicator is disposed on both sides of the light-entering surface, and the indicator is instructed. It is opposed by the difference of the dial portion of
A pair of sub-light incident surface portions in which the amount of irradiation of light from the opposing light reflecting surface changes due to the different light reflecting surfaces,
Is disposed between the sub-light incident surface, the light reflected to thus face the difference of the dial locations the instruction unit instructs
Irrespective of the difference in the surfaces, a main light incident surface portion having substantially equal light irradiation amounts of light from the opposing light reflecting surfaces is provided, and the sub light incident surface portion is formed to be a rough surface.

For this reason, of the reflected light from the light reflecting surface of the light guide plate, a part of the reflected light whose light quantity largely changes depending on the rotation direction of the pointing portion is attenuated by the sub light incident surface portion formed on the rough surface, Thereby, the ratio of the amount of light, which varies greatly depending on the rotation direction of the pointing unit, in the amount of light incident on the base from the light incident surface decreases, and the reflected light partially enters the base from the light incident surface. There is almost no effect on the amount of light. Therefore, irrespective of the direction instructed by the indicating unit, the amount of light incident on the base from the light incident surface becomes substantially uniform,
Therefore, there is an effect that the indicator can be made to shine with uniform luminance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an instrument provided with a light-emitting instrument pointer according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (b) is a bottom view and (a) is a cross section taken along line AA of (b) passing through the center of the pointer hakama. FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a mutual positional relationship among a pointer indicating portion, a light guide plate, and a dial shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between a mirror surface portion of a light incident surface and a light reflecting surface of a light guide plate according to a pointing direction of a pointing unit shown in FIG.

4 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between a mirror surface portion of a light incident surface and a light reflecting surface of a light guide plate according to a pointing direction of a pointing unit shown in FIG.

5 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between a mirror surface portion of a light incident surface and a light reflecting surface of a light guide plate according to a pointing direction of a pointing unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between a rough surface portion of a light incident surface and a light reflecting surface of a light guide plate according to a pointing direction of a pointing unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between a rough surface portion of a light incident surface and a light reflecting surface of a light guide plate according to a pointing direction of a pointing unit shown in FIG.

8 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between a rough surface portion of a light incident surface and a light reflecting surface of a light guide plate according to a pointing direction of a pointing unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 shows the light guide plate shown in FIG. 1, (a) is a sectional view,
(B) is a plan view.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a main part showing an example of a conventional instrument provided with a luminous instrument pointer.

FIG. 11 shows another example of a meter provided with a conventional light-emitting meter pointer that solves luminance unevenness in the extending direction of the pointer,
(A) is a bottom view and (b) is a sectional view of a main part.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of another conventional luminous instrument pointer in which the light incident surface of the pointer shown in FIG. 11A is expanded.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a mutual positional relationship between a pointer indicating portion, a light guide plate, and a dial shown in FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Dial 5 Light guide plate 5b, 5c Light reflecting surface 6 Light source 10 Instrument pointer 11Aa Base 11Ab Indicator 11a Light incident surface 11b Mirror surface (main light incident surface) 11c Rough surface (sub light incident surface)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01D 11/28 G01D 13/28 G12B 11/04

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A light incident surface which is incident on the inside of a translucent light guide plate from different directions, and which is irradiated with light from a plurality of light sources reflected by a plurality of light reflecting surfaces formed on the light guide plate , respectively. An instrument pointer comprising: a translucent base having: a translucent indicator that extends from the base and is illuminated by the light incident on the inside from the light incident surface to indicate a dial indication value. , the light incident surface is disposed on both side portions of the light incident surface, opposed by the difference of the dial locations the instruction unit instructs
The light reflecting surfaces are different from each other, so that a pair of sub-light incident surface portions in which the irradiation light amount of light from the opposing light reflecting surfaces changes, and the sub-light incident surface portions are disposed between the pair of sub-light incident surface portions, and the indicating portion is instructed the light thus opposed to the difference of the dial portion of
Irrespective of the difference in the reflection surface, a main light incident surface portion in which the irradiation light amount of light from the opposing light reflection surface is substantially uniform is provided, and the sub light incident surface portion is formed in a rough surface. Instrument pointer to do. 2. The main light incident surface portion is disposed on the light incident surface portion, which is an extension in the direction in which the pointing portion extends in a direction of the pointing portion facing the light guide plate, and the sub light incident surface portion is extended. 2. The instrument pointer according to claim 1, wherein the instrument pointer is arranged on both sides of the main light incident surface in a direction intersecting with the existing direction. 3. The light from the light source is incident on the inside of the light guide plate from both sides of the light guide plate substantially opposed to each other across the light reflection surface. 3. The instrument pointer according to claim 1, wherein the instrument pointer is formed in a rectangular shape whose longitudinal direction substantially coincides with the optical axis direction in a state where a direction along the optical axis of the light is specified.