JP3374370B2 - Light-emitting pointer for instrument - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light emitting type pointer for instruments, and more particularly to a light emitting type pointer used in a combination meter of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 4 and 5 show a conventional example of a light emitting pointer used in a combination meter of an automobile. The light emitting pointer 10 is connected to a movement (not shown) of a cross coil type or the like by a pointer shaft 11 penetrating an opening 21 formed in the light guide plate 20, and rotates around the central axis of the pointer shaft 11.

The inner surface of the opening 21 of the light guide plate 20 forms a conical reflection surface 22 and reflects the light propagating inside the light guide plate toward the bottom surface 12 of the base end of the light emitting pointer 10.

In the light emitting pointer 10, the light from the light guide plate 20 is made incident on the inside of the needle body from the bottom surface 12 of the proximal end portion, and this incident light is provided at the inclined reflecting surface 13 provided by the inner surface of the inclined upper surface of the proximal end portion. The light is reflected toward the portion 14. The inclination angle θ of the inclined reflecting surface 13 with respect to the axial direction of the pointer shaft 11 is set to an angle such that the incident light can be evenly distributed over the entire surface of the hot stamp surface 15 provided on the bottom surface of the pointer for emitting light in the indicator color. Has been done.

With the structure as described above, the light emitting pointer 10
The whole thing appears to emit light according to the indicator color.

[0006]

However, since the incident light from the light guide plate 20 is not necessarily parallel light, even if the inclination angle θ of the inclined reflection surface 13 is set to the optimum value, all of the incident light is inside the needle body. Part of the light a
Enters at a right angle to the needle tip surface and leaks from the needle tip 14 to the outside of the pointer. This light leakage is reflected by the dial plate 30 on the outer surface of the instrument.
To illuminate the dial plate 30 with spot light. The spotlight illumination of the dial plate 30 is unnecessary and unpleasant, and reduces the visibility and aesthetics of instruments such as combination meters.

As a countermeasure against this, as shown in FIG. 6, it is conceivable to make the needle tip portion 14 of the light emitting pointer 10 semicircular or hemispherical. If the needle tip 14 is semicircular or hemispherical, the amount of light leakage from the needle tip 14 is reduced as compared with the case where the needle tip 14 is flat, but the center of the semicircle or hemisphere is reduced. It is not possible to prevent light from leaking from the needle, and it is inevitable that the angled light b reflected by the inner surfaces on both sides of the light emitting pointer 10 leaks from the needle tip 14. For this reason, it is impossible to completely prevent the dial plate 30 from being illuminated by spot light.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is a combination meter which is completely free from the spotlight illuminating of the dial plate and is excellent in visibility and aesthetics. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved light emitting type pointer for an instrument, which makes it possible to provide such an instrument.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a light emitting type pointer for an instrument according to the present invention according to claim 1 extends in a radial direction of a pointer shaft, and the extending direction and the pointer. The light incident surface of the base portion is formed to have a predetermined size in the width direction intersecting with both the axial direction of the shaft and has a base portion near the pointer axis and a tip portion spaced from the base portion in the extending direction. In the light emitting type pointer for the instrument, which reflects the light incident from the inside to the front side by the light reflecting surface of the base portion that is spaced from the light incident surface of the base in the axial direction, By forming the surface so that the center is located on the front side rather than both sides of the light reflecting surface in the width direction ,
At least most of the light reflected from the reflecting surface is the above-mentioned pointer.
While being reflected by the surfaces on both sides in the width direction,
It is configured to reach .

Further, in the light emitting type pointer for an instrument according to the present invention as defined in claim 2, the light reflecting surface is a curved surface having a substantially arcuate cross section, so that the center of the light reflecting surface in the width direction is on the front side of both sides of the light reflecting surface. It is assumed that it is formed so as to be located on the part side.

According to the light emitting type pointer for a meter according to the present invention as defined in claim 1, the light reflecting surface of the base portion of the pointer is formed such that the center is located on the tip side of the pointer rather than both sides in the width direction of the pointer. Therefore, the light incident on the inside of the pointer from the light incident surface is given a vector component toward both sides in the width direction of the pointer by the reflection on the light reflecting surface and travels toward the tip end side of the pointer. As a result, at least most of the reflected light from the light reflecting surface reaches the pointer tip surface while being reflected by the surfaces on both sides in the width direction of the pointer, and is not irradiated at a right angle to the pointer tip surface. There is no internal reflection at the tip of the pointer and no leakage from the tip of the pointer to the outside of the pointer.

Further, according to the light emitting type pointer for an instrument according to the present invention as defined in claim 2, since the light reflecting surface is formed by a curved surface having a substantially arcuate cross section, the light reflected by the light reflecting surface is used as a pointer. Both sides of the needle in the width direction should be uniformly illuminated over the entire length in the extension direction of the pointer, and while preventing light leakage from the tip surface of the pointer, the entire pointer from the base to the tip should be evenly illuminated. Is possible.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiments of the present invention described below, parts having the same configurations as those of the above-described conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the above-described conventional example, and description thereof will be omitted.

1 to 3 show one embodiment of a light emitting type pointer according to the present invention.

The light emitting pointer 1 is entirely made of a light-transmitting material and extends in the radial direction of a pointer shaft (not shown) for rotating the light emitting pointer 1, similar to the conventional one. In addition, a base end bottom surface (corresponding to a light incident surface) 2 of a base end portion in the extending direction X (see FIG. 1) of the light emitting type pointer 1 for injecting light into the needle body from a light guide plate (not shown), and , An inclined reflecting surface (light reflection surface) provided by an inner surface of the base end inclined upper surface 3 facing the base end bottom surface 2 at a distance from the base end bottom surface 2 in the axial direction Y (see FIG. 1) of the pointer axis. (Corresponding to a surface) 4 and the inclined reflecting surface 4 is arranged so as to be separated from the bottom surface 2 of the base end portion from the base end to the tip of the light emitting pointer 1.

The inclined reflecting surface 4 is constructed so as to reflect the incident light entering the inside of the light emitting pointer 1 from the bottom surface 2 of the base end portion toward the needle tip side, and also the light emitting pointer. A hot stamp surface 5 is provided on the bottom surface portion except the base surface 2 of the base end portion 1 in order to emit light in the indicator color.

Further, the base end inclined upper surface 3 is formed as a concave cylindrical surface, and this concave shape is, in detail, a light emitting type which intersects both the extending direction X of the light emitting type pointer 1 and the axial direction Y of the pointer axis. The center of the pointer 1 in the width direction Z (see FIG. 2) is formed on the tip side of the light emitting pointer 1 rather than on both sides thereof.

That is, the inclined reflecting surface 4 provided by the inner surface of the base end inclined upper surface 3 is cylindrical when viewed from the inside of the light emitting pointer 1, that is, a plane substantially parallel to the base bottom surface 2. It has a curved surface with a substantially arcuate cross section when cut by. Since the inclined reflection surface 4 has a cylindrical shape, the inclination angle θ of the inclined reflection surface 4 with respect to the axial direction Y of the pointer axis is constant and set to an optimum value equivalent to the conventional one.

According to the above-mentioned structure, the incident light that has entered the inside of the needle body from the bottom face 2 of the base end portion is reflected by the inclined reflecting surface 4 and is on both sides in the width direction Z of the light emitting pointer 1 (shown in FIG. 2). As described above, the vector component is directed to the left and right sides in a top view, and the light is directed to the needle tip side while being internally reflected by the side surfaces 8 on both sides in the width direction Z.

The light traveling toward the tip of the needle due to the reflection on the inclined reflecting surface 4 is extended by the inclination angle θ as shown in FIG. In the present direction X, the light is uniformly dispersed over the entire length of the hot stamp surface 5 and is incident on the hot stamp surface 5, and the light-emitting pointer 1 is illuminated by the color displayed by the hot stamp surface 5 by reflection on the hot stamp surface 5.

Further, since the inclined reflecting surface 4 is a cylindrical convex mirror, the reflection on the inclined reflecting surface 4 gives a vector component toward both sides in the width direction Z of the light emitting pointer 1, and the needle tip side. In the unlikely event that a part of the reflected light from the inclined reflecting surface 4 does not reach the hot stamp surface 5,
Even if the needle tip surface 6 of the light emitting pointer 1 is directly reached, this light
As shown in FIG. 2, in the width direction Z of the light emitting pointer 1, the light is always internally reflected by the side surfaces 8 and 8 and reaches the needle tip surface 6, so that the light is not perpendicular to the needle tip surface 6,
Therefore, the light is not internally reflected by the needle tip surface 6 and leaks from the needle tip portion 7 to the outside of the pointer.

As a result, it is possible to completely avoid that the facing plate (not shown) located on the extension line of the needle tip portion 7 is spot-lighted by the light leaking from the needle tip portion 7 to the outside of the pointer. It is possible to provide an instrument such as a combination meter having excellent aesthetics and aesthetics.

The inclined reflection surface 4 has a cross section when cut along a plane substantially parallel to the bottom surface 2 of the base end portion, for example, a mountain shape formed by two equilateral sides of an isosceles triangle, or a part of a regular polygon. It may be a surface having a shape similar to a curved surface constituted by side portions, or so to speak, a surface formed by combining a plurality of flat surfaces having a shape such as a part of a side surface portion of a regular polygonal prism.

However, if the inclined reflecting surface 4 is formed by a curved surface having a substantially arcuate cross section when cut along a plane substantially parallel to the base end bottom surface 2 as in this embodiment, the base end bottom surface 2 is formed.
Irrespective of whether the light incident on the inside of the light emitting pointer 1 is parallel light or not, the light after being reflected by the inclined reflecting surface 4 extends to the side surfaces 8, 8 of the light emitting pointer 1. Since the light emission type pointer 1 is uniformly irradiated over the entire length of X and can be evenly emitted over the entire extending direction X from the base end bottom surface 2 side to the needle tip 7. It is advantageous.

[0025]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the light emitting type pointer for an instrument according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, it extends in the radial direction of the pointer shaft and the extension direction and the pointer shaft. It is formed with a predetermined dimension in the width direction intersecting with both the axial direction, and has a base portion near the pointer axis and a tip portion spaced from the base portion in the extending direction, and the inside from the light incident surface of the base portion. In a light emitting type pointer for an instrument for reflecting the light incident on the front side by the light reflecting surface of the base portion that is spaced from the light incident surface of the base in the axial direction, the light reflecting surface is ,
By forming the center of the light reflecting surface in the width direction to be closer to the front side than the both sides of the light reflecting surface,
At least most of the reflected light is
To reach the tip of the pointer while being reflected by the side surface
Configured to.

As a result, the light reflecting surface at the base of the pointer is formed such that the center is located on the tip side of the pointer rather than both sides in the width direction of the pointer. The incident light is given a vector component toward both sides in the width direction of the pointer by reflection on the light reflecting surface, and travels toward the tip side of the pointer. As a result, at least most of the reflected light from the light reflecting surface reaches the pointer tip surface while being reflected by the surfaces on both sides in the width direction of the pointer, and is not irradiated at a right angle to the pointer tip surface. There is no internal reflection at the tip of the pointer and no leakage from the tip of the pointer to the outside of the pointer. As a result, it is possible to completely prevent the dial plate from being illuminated by spotlight, and it is possible to provide an instrument such as a combination meter having excellent visibility and aesthetics.

According to the light emitting type pointer for an instrument of the present invention as defined in claim 2, the light-reflecting surface is a curved surface having a substantially arcuate cross section, so that the center of the light-reflecting surface in the width direction is closer to the center than both sides of the light-reflecting surface. It is configured to be located on the front side.

Thus, since the light reflecting surface is formed by the curved surface having a substantially arcuate cross section, the light reflected by the light reflecting surface is provided on both sides in the width direction of the pointer and the entire length in the extending direction of the pointer. It is possible to uniformly irradiate the entire area of the pointer from the base portion to the tip portion while surely preventing light leakage from the tip end surface of the pointer, and to uniformly emit light.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of a light emitting type pointer for an instrument according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing one embodiment of a light emitting type pointer for instrument according to the present invention.

3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a conventional example of a light emitting type pointer for instrument.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a conventional example of a light emitting type pointer for instrument.

FIG. 6 is a partial plan view showing another conventional example of the light emitting type pointer for instrument.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 luminous pointer 2 Base end bottom surface (light incident surface) 4 Inclined reflective surface (light reflective surface) X extension direction Y-axis direction Z width direction

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A base portion that extends in the radial direction of the pointer shaft and has a predetermined dimension in a width direction that intersects both the extending direction and the axial direction of the pointer shaft, and includes a base portion near the pointer shaft and the base portion. With a tip portion spaced apart in the extending direction, the light incident inside from the light incident surface of the base portion, of the base portion spaced in the axial direction from the light incident surface of the base portion. in the light-emitting-type pointer for instrument for reflecting the destination side by the light reflecting surface, the light reflecting surface, the center than opposite sides of the light reflecting surface in the width direction is formed to be located on the destination side This
And at least most of the light reflected from the light reflecting surface is
In front of the pointer while being reflected by the surfaces on both sides in the width direction of the needle
A light emitting type pointer for instrument, characterized in that it is configured so as to reach the tip . 2. The light-reflecting surface is formed by a curved surface having a substantially arcuate cross section so that the center of the light-reflecting surface is located closer to the front side than both sides of the light-reflecting surface in the width direction. Luminous type pointer for instrument.