JP3301268B2 - Transmitted illumination meter - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transillumination type meter for performing display by transmitting light from the back side to a resin substrate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 8 and 9 show a conventional transmission illumination type meter of this type (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-99315).

[0003] As shown in FIG. 8, a transmission illumination type meter 101 used as a display device for an automobile has a case 10.
3 and a dial 105 fixed to the front of the case 103
A speedometer and a tachometer (not shown) fixed to the back side of the dial 105 in the case 103, a pointer 107 supported by the speedometer and the tachometer and rotating on the surface of the dial 105,
Character 121 and scale 1 printed on the surface of dial 105
A display unit 109 including 23, a numeral 125, and the like, and a dial 1
And a return plate 111 disposed between the outer peripheral edge of the case 05 and the case 103.

The dial 105 is a light-transmitting synthetic resin plate. As shown in FIG.
A light-transmitting layer 113 made of a light-transmitting ink and a light-shielding layer 115 made of a light-shielding ink are applied in an overlapping manner. The light-shielding layer 115 is applied from above the light-transmitting layer 113 so as to remove the display portion 109, and has a base color that colors the surface of the dial 105. A bulb 117 is provided in the case 103, and in the display portion 109 where the light transmitting layer 113 is exposed, light emitted from the valve 117 passes through the light transmitting layer 113 to emit light.

The combination of the base color of the dial 115 (the color of the light-shielding layer 115) and the illumination color emitted from the bulb 117 and transmitted through the display unit 109 is intended to improve fashionability and sportiness. There is a tendency to diversify. For example, a transmission illumination type meter in which a base color and an illumination color are unified with the same system color such as a white system or a green system has been put into practical use.

[0006] In the transmission illumination type meter in which the base color and the illumination color are similar to each other, when the transmission illumination is performed in a dimly lit state such as at dusk or the like, both the base color and the illumination color are used. May be in a color recognizable state, and the illumination color may melt into the base color, making it difficult to visually recognize the display unit 109. Therefore, as shown in FIG. Surrounded by part 119,
The lighting color does not blend with the base color. The width of the rim portion 119 varies depending on the size and shape of the display portion 109, but is generally set to about 0.5 mm to 0.8 mm.

[0007]

Here, the dial 105
As a method of applying the border 119 to the surface of the substrate, a screen printing method is generally used. The minimum width (resolution) at which stable printing is guaranteed is about 0.3 mm, and the positional accuracy is about 0.25 mm. Therefore, in order to ensure that the border 119 is positioned at the outer periphery of the scale 119 even if the printing is shifted, the border 11 having a width of 0.25 mm or more by design is required.
9 must be provided. Further, in order to prevent the scale portion 119 from being crushed by the border portion 119, the gap between the border portions 119 must be made 0.3 mm or more. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 10, the width D of the scale portion 123, which is an elongated and substantially rectangular shape, is at least the border portion 119.
It was necessary to form the film thicker than 0.8 mm obtained by adding the resolution (0.3 mm) to twice the width (0.25 mm × 2).

On the other hand, the finger pointing adjustment for aligning the position of the pointer 107 with the scale 123 is performed by aligning the center of the scale 123 in the width direction with the center of the pointer 107.
If the width of 23 is narrower, higher finger accuracy can be obtained. Therefore, the rim portion 119 is provided and the scale portion 123 is provided.
If the width of is widened, it becomes difficult to adjust the finger.

Further, in a transillumination type meter which can use a digital display such as a head-up display in addition to an analog display using a pointer 107 and a scale section 123 in addition to an analog display using a pointer 107 and a scale section 123, the analog display and the digital display are used. Must be kept as small as possible. That is, if the difference between the analog display and the digital display is large, a phenomenon occurs, for example, in which the analog display indicates about 40 km / h but the digital display indicates 45 km / h. Will be given. For this reason, in a transillumination type meter that can use both an analog display and a digital display, it is necessary to suppress the display difference between the two to a maximum of about ± 1.5 km / h. It is difficult to make the display difference between the two within such a range when the width is increased.

The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a transmission illumination type meter capable of improving both finger accuracy and visibility. .

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an elongated scale indicated by a pointer is printed on the surface of a resin substrate, and the scale is transmitted through the scale. A transillumination type meter for illuminating, wherein one side in the longitudinal direction of the scale section is a translucent section, and the other side is a light-shielding section which is blackened.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the transmissive illumination meter according to the first aspect, wherein the base color of the resin substrate and the illumination color transmitted through the translucent portion are similar colors. It is a feature.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the transmission illumination type meter according to the first aspect, wherein a base color of the resin substrate is a glossy color having a high reflectance.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the transmission illumination meter according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the width of the scale is less than 0.8 mm. Things.

[0015]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the daytime or the like when no transmissive illumination is performed, the translucent portion and the light-shielding portion both appear black because the translucent portion is darker than the surroundings, and the entire scale portion is integrally formed. It can be visually recognized, and at night or the like when performing transmissive illumination, the scale portion can be visually recognized by the transmissive illumination from the translucent portion, and further, under a situation in which the illumination color of the transmissive illumination melts into the surface of the resin substrate. Since only the light shielding portion appears to remain black, the scale portion can be visually recognized by the light shielding portion.

Further, since the other side in the longitudinal direction of the graduation portion is used as a light-shielding portion, the light-shielding portion may be printed so that the other side of the graduation portion is painted, and a positional accuracy and resolution in printing are required. There is no. Therefore, even when the width of the scale portion is set to be small, the light-shielding portion can be reliably printed at a predetermined position, and the finger adjustment for aligning the hands with the scale portion can be performed with high accuracy.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect of the present invention, if the base color of the resin substrate and the illumination color transmitted through the light transmitting portion are similar colors, it can be used at dusk or the like. When the transmitted illumination is performed in a dimly lit area, the color of both the base color and the illumination color can be recognized, and the illumination color blends into the base color, but the light-shielding part blends into the base color. The scale portion can be visually recognized by the light-shielding portion since the scale portion remains black.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the function of the first aspect of the present invention, when the base color of the resin substrate is a glossy color having a high reflectance, the external light is turned on at night or the like when performing transmissive illumination. If the external lamp color is similar to the illumination color transmitted through the light-transmitting part because it is reflected on the surface of the resin substrate, the illumination color will dissolve into the external lamp color reflected on the resin substrate surface, but the light-shielded part will reflect the external light Since it looks black without being mixed into the color, the scale portion can be visually recognized by the light shielding portion.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect of the present invention, since the width of the scale portion is less than 0.8 mm, the pointer is provided on the scale portion. Adjustment of the finger power can be performed with higher accuracy.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall front view of a transmission illumination type meter according to this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the scale section, and FIG. 5A is a plan view and FIG. 5B is a schematic cross-sectional view.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transmitted illumination meter 1 is used as a display device for an automobile, and includes a case 3, a front cover 5, a return plate 7, and a resin substrate. Dial 9, speedometer 11 and tachometer 13
(Not shown in FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 3, the return plate 7 is engaged with the case 3 vertically in the figure so as to cover the front surface of the case 3,
The front cover 5 is engaged with the facing plate 7 at the top and bottom in the figure so as to cover the front surface of the facing plate 7.

As shown in FIG. 2, the speedometer 11 and the tachometer 13 are accommodated between the case 3 and the return plate 7 and are fixed to the bottom plate 3a of the case 3. Holes 15, 17 opening in front of the speedometer 11 and the tachometer 13 are formed in the return plate 7.
The dial 9 is attached so as to cover the holes 15 and 17 from the back side. Speedometer 11 and tachometer 13
The rotating shafts 11a and 13a are inserted through the dial 9, and hands 19 and 21 that pivot on the surface of the dial 9 are supported at the ends of the rotating shafts 11a and 13a. Further, a bulb 31 for transmitted illumination is fixed to the bottom plate 3a of the case 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, a display portion 29 including characters 23, a scale portion 25, a numeral 27, etc. is printed on the surface of the dial 9, and the scale portion 25 is shaken in accordance with the tips of the hands 19, 21. Have been.

As shown in FIG. 5, the dial 9 is a synthetic resin plate having translucency. On the surface of the dial 9, a translucent layer 33 made of white translucent ink and a black A first light-shielding layer 33 made of light-shielding ink and a second light-shielding layer 35 made of white light-shielding ink are applied in an overlapping manner.
The light-transmitting layer 33 is directly applied to the dial 9, and the first light-shielding layer 3 is formed.
5 is applied from above the light-transmitting layer 33, and the second light-shielding layer 35 is applied from above the first light-shielding layer 33 so as to remove the scale 25. The graduation portion 25 partitioned by the second light-shielding layer 35 is formed in an elongated substantially rectangular shape having a width d of approximately 0.7 mm.

The first light-shielding layer 33 is applied so as to remove one side of the scale portion 25 in the longitudinal direction. That is, one side of the scale portion 25 where the first light-shielding layer 35 is not applied constitutes the light-transmitting portion 41, and the other side where the first light-shielding layer 35 is applied constitutes the light-shielding portion 43 which is blackened. are doing.

The illumination light L from the bulb 31 is transmitted to the light transmitting portion 41.
Only the light passes through and emits white light. Further, the second light-shielding layer 35 has a white base color that colors the surface of the dial 9. The reason why the combination of the base color and the illumination color is made similar is to improve the fashionability and the sportiness.

A transparent surface layer 37 is applied from above the second light-shielding layer 35 for matting treatment, and the rear surface of the dial 9 is adjusted with the illumination light L from the bulb 31 to provide a clear transmitted illumination. A light control layer 39 for applying a color is applied.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 (a) shows the situation during the daytime when the transmitted illumination is not performed.
As shown in FIG. 7, since the light-transmitting portion 41 is not turned on, the light-transmitting portion 41 looks darker and blacker than the surroundings. Therefore, both the light transmitting portion 41 and the light shielding portion 43 look black, and the entire scale portion 25 can be visually recognized integrally.

When the surroundings are dim, such as at dusk,
As shown in FIG. 6B, both the base color and the illumination color can be recognized in color, and the illumination color blends into the base color. Since it looks black without being mixed into the color, the scale portion 25 can be visually recognized by the light shielding portion 43.

At night when performing transmissive illumination, as shown in FIG. 6C, only the translucent portion 41 shines, and the light-shielding portion 43 looks black with the base color of the second light-shielding layer 35 that does not emit light. , The scale portion 2 by the transmitted illumination from the light transmitting portion 41.
5 can be visually recognized.

As described above, even at dusk or the like when the illumination color is mixed with the base color, the scale portion 25 can be visually recognized with certainty, and the visibility of the scale portion 25 can be improved.

In the daytime, the light transmitting portion 41 and the light shielding portion 43 are provided.
And the light-shielding portion 43 melts into the base color at night, so that only the light-transmitting portion 41 appears to shine. be able to.

Further, since the other side in the longitudinal direction of the scale portion 25 is used as the light shielding portion 43, the light shielding portion 43 may be printed so that the other side of the scale portion 25 is painted, and the positional accuracy and the resolution in the screen printing are sufficient. Is not required. Therefore,
Even if the width of the scale portion 25 is set to be small, the light shielding portion 43 can be reliably printed at a predetermined position, and the centers of the hands 19 and 21 are aligned with the center of the scale portion 25 in the width direction as shown in FIG. The finger adjustment can be performed with high accuracy. That is,
By a printing method similar to the conventional method, the width d of the scale portion 25 is
0.8 which is the minimum limit width when the conventional rim is provided.
It can be set to approximately 0.7 mm, which is smaller than mm, and the finger strength adjustment can be performed with higher accuracy.

In particular, in a light-transmitting illumination type meter that can use a digital display such as a head-up display in addition to the analog display by the hands 19 and 21 and the scale section 25, it is necessary to eliminate the sense of incongruity due to the difference between the two displays. However, even with such a transillumination type meter that can use both analog display and digital display, since the finger adjustment of analog display can be performed with high accuracy, the difference between analog display and digital display can be suppressed. And will not give the occupants a sense of discomfort.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

This embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment except that the base color of the dial 9 is a glossy color having a high reflectance and the illumination color is orange. That is, the second light-shielding layer 35 is made of a metallic light-shielding ink having a high reflectance, and the light-transmitting layer 33 is made of an orange-based light-transmitting ink.

According to this embodiment, when the vehicle is running under an external light having a similar color to the illumination color, such as when driving in a tunnel where a sodium lamp is lit, at night, the external light is placed on the surface of the dial 9. The illumination color is mixed with the external light color reflected on the surface of the dial 9 because of the reflection of the light.
3 does not dissolve in the reflected external light color and remains black, so that the scale portion 25 can be visually recognized by the light shielding portion 43 as in the first embodiment.

It should be noted that, even when the vehicle is not driven under an external light having a similar color to the illumination color, there is no unnatural feeling in appearance, and the finger adjustment can be performed with high accuracy. Same as the example.

[0042]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the scale portion can be visually recognized by the light-shielding portion even in a situation where the illumination color of the transmissive illumination melts into the surface of the resin substrate. During the daytime when there is no transillumination,
Both the light-transmitting part and the light-shielding part look black, so that the entire scale part can be visually recognized as a single unit. The visibility of the scale portion can be improved without causing the occurrence.

Further, since the light shielding portion does not require printing position accuracy or resolution, the light shielding portion can be reliably printed at a predetermined position even when the width of the scale portion is set to be small. It is possible to perform the finger adjustment for adjusting the pointer to the scale portion with high accuracy.

Therefore, both the visibility and the finger accuracy can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first aspect is provided.
In addition to the effects of the invention described in the above, even when the base color of the resin substrate and the illumination color transmitted through the light-transmitting portion are similar colors, the surrounding area is light and bright, such as at twilight, and light is blocked. Since the portion appears to remain black without dissolving in the base color, the scale portion can be visually recognized by the light-shielding portion.

According to the invention set forth in claim 3, according to claim 1
In addition to the effects of the invention described in the above, even when the base color of the resin substrate is a glossy color having a high reflectance, under an external light of a similar color to the illumination color, the light shielding portion may blend in the reflected external light color. The scale portion can be visually recognized by the light-shielding portion because it looks black without any color.

According to the invention set forth in claim 4, according to claim 1
In addition to the effects of the invention described in any one of the third to third aspects, the width of the scale portion is set to less than 0.8 mm, so that even higher finger accuracy can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall front view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a scale portion, (a) is a plan view,
(B) shows a schematic sectional view.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a scale portion for explaining an operation;
(A) shows the state at daytime, (b) shows the state at dusk, and (c) shows the state at night.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a state at the time of finger strength adjustment.

FIG. 8 is an overall front view of a conventional example.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of a conventional example.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state at the time of conventional finger power adjustment.

[Description of Signs] 1 Transmitted illumination type meter 9 Dial (resin substrate) 19 Pointer 21 Pointer 25 Scale section 41 Light transmitting section 43 Light shielding section

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (56) References JP-A 4-99027 (JP, U) JP-A 63-83613 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01D 11/28 G01D 13/20 G12B 11/02

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A transmissive illumination type meter for printing an elongated scale portion indicated by a pointer on a surface of a resin substrate and transmitting and illuminating the scale portion, wherein one side in the longitudinal direction of the scale portion is transparent. A transmission illumination type meter comprising a light part and a light-shielding part on the other side which is blackened. 2. The transmissive illumination meter according to claim 1, wherein a base color of the resin substrate and an illumination color transmitted through the translucent portion are similar colors. . 3. The transmission illumination meter according to claim 1, wherein a base color of the resin substrate is a glossy color having a high reflectance. 4. The transmission illumination meter according to claim 1, wherein the width of the scale is less than 0.8 mm.