JP3144575B2 - Display panel - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a visual display panel capable of displaying an image having a three-dimensional effect. Such a display panel is used, for example, as a dial of a vehicle meter, a display panel, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A dial image of a vehicle meter or a display image of a display panel is generally formed on a resin substrate by screen printing or the like, and is usually a planar image. It has been studied to give a display image a three-dimensional effect in response to the increasing tendency toward productization and diversification of products.

In order to impart a three-dimensional effect to an image, it is conceivable to form irregularities on the surface of the image by molding or the like. However, this method requires a mold and is not suitable for many kinds and small quantities.
In order to solve this problem, the present inventors have previously proposed a method of forming unevenness using a photoreactive resin (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-122220).

[0004]

However, in the case of using the above-mentioned photoreactive resin layer, a mold is not necessary, and it is suitable for small-lot production of many kinds. It becomes complicated and increases in material costs and processing costs are inevitable. As described above, it has been conventionally difficult to create a three-dimensional effect while suppressing an increase in cost.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a display panel capable of expressing a three-dimensional effect while suppressing an increase in cost.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a display panel comprising: a light-transmitting substrate; a front image portion disposed on the front surface of the substrate; and a position behind the front image portion on the back surface of the substrate. a negative image portion which is disposed as a shade of the table image portion, the negative
A back image portion surrounded by the negative image portion is provided on the same plane as the image portion . Note that the above-mentioned shaded position refers to a position where incident light slightly deviated from the direction perpendicular to the substrate is incident on the back surface of the substrate.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a display panel
Has a plurality of light transmissive table image portions that transmit light,
The back image portion is the light transmittance table on the back surface of the substrate.
Light transmissivity that is located at the back of the image area and transmits light
A back image portion, wherein the negative image portion has a back surface for reducing incident light;
It has a back-and-forth image part.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, in the display panel, the light-transmitting back image portion has substantially the same shape as the light-transmitting front image portion.

[0009]

In the display panel according to the present invention, a front image portion is formed on the surface of the light-transmitting substrate, and a negative image portion which shades the front image portion is disposed on the back side of the substrate. ing. As a result, when viewed from the front side of the substrate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the substrate, the shadow is formed deeper in the viewing direction, and an image with excellent three-dimensional effect can be obtained.

[0010] Further, as compared with the above-mentioned conventional various concavo-convex molding methods, it is possible to remarkably reduce the manufacturing steps and costs,
In addition, an effect of enhancing the contour can be obtained. In addition, since the light-transmitting substrate functions as an excellent light guide (light guide) when the background light is emitted from the back light source,
Brighter light can be emitted near the front image. Change
The back image part surrounded by the negative image part on the same plane as the negative image part
Is provided, the three-dimensional effect can be further improved.

In a display panel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of light-transmitting back-faces are positioned directly behind the plurality of light-transmitting front image parts on the surface of the light-transmitting board, and on the back surface of the substrate. An image portion is formed, and a background back image portion for reducing the incident light is provided on the back surface of the substrate so as to surround the light transmitting front image portion and the light transmitting back image portion, respectively. As a result, when light enters the substrate from the back side of the substrate, the incident light is attenuated by the background back image portion, selectively passes through the light-transmitting back image portion, further passes through the substrate, and passes through the substrate to reach the surface of the substrate. Reach The light reaching the surface of the substrate is transmitted to the vicinity of the light-transmitting front image portion and projected to the outside.

As a result , in addition to the above-described effects of the present invention, on the substrate surface, only the portions of the plurality of light-transmitting front image portions are individually irradiated with the light transmitted through the respective light-transmitting back image portions, respectively, to thereby increase the brightness. Glow, so that each light-transmitting front image portion appears to rise from each light-transmitting back image portion by the thickness of the substrate, and each light-transmitting front image portion appears to rise from a dark background front image portion, respectively. As a result, it is possible to display an image with an excellent three-dimensional effect.

Further, as compared with the above-mentioned various conventional concavo-convex molding methods, the manufacturing steps and costs can be remarkably reduced. In recent years, in the present technology, in a luxury car, a black face meter, that is, a meter of a type in which a front case has a transparent black color and displays an instrument illuminated regardless of day and night, and the display rate is increasing, is increasing the mounting rate. For example, the above-described meters can produce an effect of increasing the image value.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the first invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12, and subsequently, an embodiment of the second invention will be described with reference to FIGS. However, common functional elements are denoted by the same reference numerals in each embodiment. (Embodiment 1) A sectional view of a display panel of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 1, and a front view thereof is shown in FIG.

This display panel is used for a vehicle tachometer (rotometer), 1 is a transparent substrate made of an acrylic resin or a polycarbonate resin or the like, and 2 is attached to the surface of the substrate 1. This is a table image portion of scales, numbers, characters, and the like. The front image portion 2 generally has light transmittance, and has a color such as white, orange, and blue. 3
Is a shadow image portion of the front image portion 2 formed by light emitted from the display side (in FIG. 1, from above), and is affixed to the back surface of the substrate 1.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a back image portion having the same shape as the front image portion 2 and is attached to the back surface of the substrate 1. The back image portion 4 has a light transmitting property and is colored in the same color or a different color as the front image portion 2. The back image portion 4 is attached to a position where the front image portion 2 is projected by light perpendicular to the substrate 1, and the negative image portion 3 borders the back image portion 4 with a width of about 0.1 to 1.0 mm. Reference numeral 5 denotes a background image portion of the tachometer, which is also attached to a portion other than the back image portion 4 on the back surface of the substrate 1. The background image portion 5 is affixed so as to overlap the negative image portion 3, and the color of the background image portion 5 is preferably silver, gray, or the like that can enhance the shadow image portion 3.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a concealed image portion (a so-called mask) for shielding the light from the back side light source 7 and displaying only the front image portion 2 and the back image portion 4 at night, and is of a black system. Here, the thickness of the transparent substrate 1 is 0.5 mm to 2 mm.
mm. When the thickness is smaller than 0.5 mm, the three-dimensional appearance is poor. When the thickness is larger than 2 mm, the front image portion 2 and the back image portion 4 are double-viewed when viewed obliquely, and the beauty is impaired.

By setting the width, color, brightness, and shape of the shadow image section 3, the visual three-dimensional effect can be adjusted. In this manner, when viewed at right angles to the substrate 1, the negative image portion 3 is seen behind the front image portion 2 by the thickness of the substrate 1, so that an excellent three-dimensional effect can be obtained. (Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a display panel of another embodiment.

This display panel shows a structure of a reflection-only type. The area of the back image section 4 of the first embodiment is also a negative image section 3 (the same color as the negative image section of the first embodiment). The portion 5 and the concealed image portion 6 are superimposed on the back image portion 4 so that the back light does not pass through the back image portion 4. In this way, a three-dimensional effect can be provided even in a reflection-only format.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a display panel according to another embodiment. This display panel replaces the substrate 1 of Example 1 with two laminated substrates 1a and 1b.
The black intermediate negative image portion 3a is interposed between the portions a and b. Also in this embodiment, the inner contour of the intermediate negative image portion 3a substantially overlaps the contour of the front image portion 2 when viewed at right angles to the substrate 1a.

Further, in this embodiment, the width of the negative image portion 3 attached to the back side of the lower substrate 1b is formed to be wider than the width of the intermediate negative image portion 3a. I try to make the feeling more natural. (Embodiment 4) A sectional view of a display panel of another embodiment is shown in FIG.

This display panel is composed of two substrates 1 of the third embodiment.
In this embodiment, an intermediate image portion 2a having the same shape as the front image portion 2 is sandwiched between a and 1b instead of the intermediate negative image portion 3a. Also in this embodiment, the outline of the intermediate image portion 2a substantially overlaps the outline of the front image portion 2 when viewed at right angles to the substrate 1a. Note that the color, lightness, and light transmittance of the intermediate image portion 2a may be the same as or different from those of the front image portion 2.

In this manner, the front image portion 2, the intermediate image portion 2a, and the back image portion 4 can express an image thick. (Embodiment 5) FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a display panel of another embodiment. In this display panel, in the first embodiment, a transparent second substrate 9 is disposed at a predetermined interval below the substrate 1, and
The negative image portion 3, the back image portion 4, and the background image portion 5 are stuck on the front surface of the second substrate 9 instead of the back surface of the substrate 1, and the concealed image portion 6 is stuck on the back surface of the second substrate 9. .

The substrate 1 and the second substrate 9 are fixed by a frame 8 made of resin. By doing so, it is possible to suppress an increase in the weight of the display panel due to an increase in the thickness of the substrate 1, although the negative image section 3 and the back image section 4 can be arranged deeply away from the front image section 2. it can. In each of the above embodiments, the concealment image 6 may be omitted.

Next, the shape of the negative image section 3 will be described. 7 is a shade when the front image part 2 is illuminated by the point light source 10 above the substrate 1. At this time, the point light source 10 is located just above the center of the front image part 2. . In this case, the negative image portion 3 extends from the contour of the front image portion 2 evenly in all directions. FIG. 9 shows a display example in this case.

On the other hand, the shadow image portion 3 in FIG. 8 is also a shadow when the front image portion 2 is illuminated by the point light source 10 above the substrate 1. At this time, the point light source 10 is obliquely above the front image portion 2. It is located in. In this case, the negative image portion 3 has a shape that extends unequally from the contour of the front image portion 2. In addition, it is also possible to blur the front-end | tip part of these negative image parts 3. FIG. 10 shows a display example in this case.

(Embodiment 6) FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a display panel of another embodiment. In this display panel, the concealed image section 6 is used also as the negative image section 3 in the first embodiment.
By doing so, the step of attaching the back image portion 4 can be omitted, and the processing cost can be reduced.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the back image portion 4 may be pasted on the concealed image portion 6 and then overlaid thereon. In this way, the operation of aligning the position of the back image portion 4 can be greatly simplified, and the processing cost can be further reduced. (Embodiment 7) An embodiment of the display panel of the second invention will be described below.

FIG. 14 is a front view of the display panel, and FIG.
3 is a perspective view in which a part thereof is cut into a rectangle and enlarged. This display panel is of a light transmission type used for a vehicle tachometer (tachometer), and is illuminated by a back light source 7 from the back. Reference numeral 10 denotes a transparent substrate made of an acrylic resin or a polycarbonate resin.
Reference numeral 0 denotes a light-transmissive table image portion (hereinafter, simply referred to as a table image portion) formed on the surface of the substrate 10 such as scales, numerals, and characters. The front image portion 20 has a light transmitting property and is formed in white.

On the back surface of the substrate 10, a black shielding layer (background image area in the present invention) 30 capable of blocking light is formed. The shielding layer 30 is viewed in a direction perpendicular to the main surface of the substrate 10. A cutout portion 40 having the same shape as the front image portion 20 is provided at a position directly behind the front image portion 20, and the cutout portion 40 having the same shape as the front image portion 20 is a light-transmitting back image portion referred to in the present invention. Is composed.

Here, the front image portion 20 is formed by pasting, printing, or the like, and a color such as red, orange, or blue can be appropriately selected. The shielding layer 30 does not need to have complete light-shielding properties, as long as the desired contrast with the cutout portion 40 can be secured. Also, the color of the shielding layer 30 can be appropriately selected, such as blue or dark blue.

The cutout section 40 may have the same shape as the front image section 20 or may be a linear slit cut along the center line of the front image section 20 directly behind the center line.
Similar shapes that are slightly larger or slightly smaller may be used. However, if the front image portion 20 is too small with respect to the cutout portion 40, light leaks from the periphery of the front image portion 20 to make it difficult to see. Impair. Therefore, if the cutout portion 40 is slightly smaller than the front image portion and has a substantially similar shape, the light transmitted through the cutout portion 40 causes the front image portion 2
This is preferable because 0 is almost uniformly radiated.

Here, the thickness of the substrate 10 is 10
For an instrument panel or the like having a size of about cm square, about 0.5 to 2 mm is effective, and about 1 mm is particularly preferable. If the thickness is thinner than 0.5 mm, the three-dimensional appearance will be poor and 2 mm
If the thickness is larger, the transmitted light of the cutout portion 40 is directly visually recognized when viewed obliquely, which causes a problem that characters on the surface are difficult to read. Therefore, in the display panel of this embodiment, the thickness of the substrate has a correlation with the front image portion 20, particularly the size of characters, numerals, and scales, which gives an aesthetic three-dimensional effect. More specifically, there is a correlation between each size of the front image section 20 and the cutout section 40 and the optimum thickness of the substrate 10.

The relationship between the general thickness 50 of the numeral 1, the letter R, and the scale shown in FIG. 15 and the thickness of the substrate 10 was examined. FIG. 16 shows the result. In this experiment, the size of the cutout portion 40 was the same shape as the front image portion 20, the distance between the viewer and the substrate 10 was 100 cm, the illuminance directly behind the substrate 10 was 3000 to 5000 lux, and the test room Illuminance was 50 to 100 lux.

In FIG. 16, a circle indicates a good three-dimensional effect, a triangle indicates a slight lack of a three-dimensional effect, X indicates a poor three-dimensional effect, and a triangle with an asterisk indicates light emitted from the cutout portion 40 through the periphery of the front image portion 20. Those with reduced visibility and those with an asterisk “x” are those with insufficient three-dimensional effect and significantly reduced visibility due to light radiated from the cutout portion 40 through the periphery of the front image portion 20. From FIG. 16, it was found that there is a linear relationship between the thickness (short side distance) 50 of the front image portion 20, the thickness of the substrate 10, and the three-dimensional effect.

It is to be noted that a table image portion 2 for characters, numerals, scales, etc.
As 0 becomes larger, the optimum use distance from the display panel to the viewer usually becomes longer, and as a result, the transmitted light from the light-transmitting portion on the back surface becomes less visible, and the thickness of the substrate can be increased. Also, large characters and the like have a poor stereoscopic effect unless the distance between the front and back images is increased. So the letters,
There is a substrate suitable thickness corresponding to the size of the numeral and the scale, and the thickness 50 of the character, the numeral and the scale is 1t to 4t, preferably about twice as large as the substrate thickness t. It was excellent in expressing a three-dimensional effect.

It was found that figures (circles, stars, etc.), illustration images (see FIG. 17), and photographic images, which are difficult to quantify based on the size, thickness, etc., are excellent in the three-dimensional effect in the above range. Next, the visual effect when viewed obliquely will be described. Normally, the display angle range may be considered to be within the range of 45 degrees left and right with respect to the display direction perpendicular to the plane direction of the substrate 10. Therefore, when the display panel is viewed from the angle of 45 degrees left and right, FIGS. 19.

In the case of FIG. 18, since the substrate 10 is thin, the viewer sees the cutout portion 40 in connection with the front image section 10 together with the front image section 10. The cutout portion 40 is a bright portion similar to the front image portion 20, and 60 is an edge bordering the cutout portion 40. When visually recognized in this manner, the front image portion 20 appears to be raised, giving a very three-dimensional effect.
However, in the case of FIG. 19, since the substrate 10 is thick, the shielding layer 30 on the far side beyond the cutout portion 40 and the edge 60 ′ on the far side can be seen. Are visible, making it difficult to see. Therefore, the maximum substrate thickness is effective up to the same width as the image width, which is the limit of viewing the image outline on the opposite side from the 45 ° direction.

Next, as a result of examining what the image width of figures, illustrations, and the like should be considered, as shown in FIG.
It has been found that the width (thickness) 80 near the position of the center of gravity of the image graphic should be used as the reference. In these figures, illustrations, and the like, the thickness of the substrate 10 is the standard thickness 8.
About half of 0 was the most excellent in both three-dimensional appearance and aesthetic appearance. The light diffusion by the substrate 10 becomes gradually more noticeable as the thickness of the substrate 10 increases. According to the study of the present inventors, a hot cathode tube and a diffusion panel (made of acrylic resin) generally used as a light source for a display are used. )), The thickness was limited to about 50 mm. Therefore, it is desirable to set the optimum thickness within a range of 50 mm or less.

The substrate 10 is not necessarily a single substrate, but includes a multilayer body and a hollow body. Further, the substrate 10 can be bonded so that the substrate is thick at the portion of the wide front image portion and thin at the portion of the narrow front image portion. As described above, in this embodiment, the cutout portion 40
Thus, the front image portions 20 are uniformly illuminated locally by the light from the light source, and thus the front image portions 20 appear to be floated, so that an excellent effect of realizing an image display excellent in a three-dimensional effect can be achieved.

When viewed obliquely, since the cutout portion 40 has the same shape as the front image portion 20, a part of the periphery of the front image portion 20 is bordered by the backside luminous portion and its edge. Three-dimensional feeling increases. . Furthermore, when viewed obliquely even in the non-illumination state, the edge of the cutout portion 40 similarly borders a part of the peripheral edge of the front image portion 20, so that the three-dimensional effect is increased. (Embodiment 8) Another embodiment of the second invention is shown in FIG.

This embodiment is characterized in that a light-transmitting white light-transmitting layer 90 is formed to cover the cutout portion 40 in the seventh embodiment shown in FIG. By doing so, the front image portion 20 and the cutout portion, that is, the light-transmissive back image portion 40 of the present invention have substantially the same color, so that a natural feeling can be obtained. Of course, the color of the light transmitting layer 90 can be appropriately selected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of a vehicle tachometer dial according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the dial.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a reflective display panel according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a display panel according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a display panel according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a display panel according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an example of the shape of a shadow image portion.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing another example of the shape of the shadow image portion.

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged front view of the display panel of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged front view of the display panel of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a modification of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of a vehicle tachometer dial according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a front view of a vehicle tachometer dial according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing characters, numerals, and scales used for the dial of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a substrate thickness, a thickness of a front image portion, and a three-dimensional effect.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a front image portion composed of an illustration image and a cutout having the same shape as the front image portion.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a case where the thickness of the substrate is appropriate and the contour on the opposite side of the cutout is not visible.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing a case where the substrate is too thick and the contour on the opposite side of the cutout is visible.

FIG. 20 is a schematic perspective view showing a reference width in a table image portion having an indefinite width;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged sectional view showing Example 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Transparent substrate 2 ... Surface image area such as scales, letters, numbers, etc.
3 ... Negative image part, 4 ... Back image part, 5 ... Background image part, 6 ... Hiding image part, 10 ... Substrate, 20 ... Front image part (light transmitting front image part), 30 ... Shielding layer, 40 ... Cut-out part (light transmissive back image part)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-49-34357 (JP, A) JP-A-4-32718 (JP, A) JP-A-61-197596 (JP, U) JP-A-3-19756 101423 (JP, U) JP-A 61-89116 (JP, U) JP 1-59895 (JP, U) JP 2-45781 (JP, Y2) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01D 13/04

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A light-transmissive substrate, a front image portion disposed on a front surface of the substrate, and a front image portion disposed on a rear surface of the substrate as a shadow of the front image portion. And a back image surrounded by the negative image portion on the same plane as the negative image portion.
A display panel comprising: an image unit . 2. The front image section has a plurality of light transmissive front image sections that transmit light , and the back image section is located on a back side of each of the light transmissive front image sections on the back surface of the substrate. A light-transmissive back image portion that is disposed in the light-transmitting portion , and the negative image portion has a background back image portion that diminishes incident light.
Display panel according to claim 1, wherein the that. 3. The display panel according to claim 2, wherein said light transmissive back image portion has substantially the same shape as said light transmissive front image portion.