JP3562376B2 - Front panel mechanism of in-vehicle electronic equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a front panel mechanism of an in-vehicle electronic device collectively referred to as a so-called car audio or car AV, and particularly to a front panel mechanism that is effective in preventing theft.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Currently, in-vehicle electronic devices are not only AM / FM radio tuners, but also expensive electronic devices having a built-in playback device such as a compact cassette, CD (compact disc), MD (mini disc) as a recording medium for music and the like. As a result, car AV equipment such as a car navigation system incorporating a digital versatile disk (DVD) playback device has been developed. Theft of these expensive in-vehicle electronic devices is also increasing year by year (especially overseas, theft is even a daily occurrence).
[0003]
Conventionally, as a means of preventing the in-vehicle electronic device from being stolen, various measures such as a structure in which a front panel including a switch portion and a display portion can be removed from the device body to disable the device, and an alarm sounds when the device is removed, etc. The so-called camouflage means is one of the noticeable anti-theft means.
[0004]
That is, it is customary to apply a blind black panel (cover) to a vacant location of an unmounted vehicle in which the in-vehicle electronic device is not mounted at a mounting location such as a center cluster of the car. According to the custom, even though the in-vehicle electronic device is installed, there is only a black panel with a blindfold at first glance and it seems that the in-vehicle electronic device is not installed, preventing theft before it happens. Things.
[0005]
Specific examples of the camouflage means include: (a) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-330487 discloses a camouflage method in which the entire operation panel surface on the front of the device is covered with a single smoke plate separate from the device. In addition, (b) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-123842 has a drive mechanism that rotates and rotates an operation panel unit disposed in front of the device so that the operation panel unit is turned over. The normal operation surface with the switches and display surface and the other surface (back) should appear on the front, and when not in use, the flush back that would be mistaken for a blind black panel should appear on the front. A camouflage means for camouflaging is disclosed.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the camouflage means (a) eliminates the need to remove the front panel itself from the device body and carry it. However, when using the device, the switches can be operated unless the smoke plate and the fixing plate are removed from the device. It is inconvenient. In addition, the fact that a smoke panel that is so dark as to be mistaken for a blind black panel (cover) when not in use is attached to the front side means that it becomes difficult to visually recognize the display through the smoke board. According to the description of the above publication, the display can be seen even through a smoke plate. However, in general, a fluorescent display tube or a color liquid crystal is used as a light source of a display of an electronic device, which themselves have low luminous intensity (about 200 candela). It is difficult to secure sufficient visibility through the dark black smoke plate. In this regard, it is considered that the contents of the invention disclosed above have unclear technical problems to be solved.
[0007]
Next, since the camouflage means of (b) can make an opaque black panel (usually the back of the operation panel surface) other than the operation surface of the operation panel unit on which the button switches and the display unit are arranged, a camouflage surface, This can be said to be an extremely effective means of camouflage, but the rotation drive mechanism that rotates the operation panel to turn it over must be an extremely complicated mechanism (such as using a planetary gear mechanism). Also, the processing of the wiring lines of the display device provided with the above requires a complicated mechanism, which is a problem in terms of cost. In addition, this drive mechanism has a structure in which the operation panel is firmly supported by levers that inevitably protrude from the left and right sides of the device to rotate the operation panel. With the vertical and horizontal dimensions, it is difficult to arrange the above drive mechanism inside the device, and even if it can be realized with the simple mounting specification of in-vehicle electronic equipment adopted in American cars and European cars, it will be realized by Japanese manufacturers If the mounting specifications are different (approximately mounting the dedicated mounting panel with screws on the left and right sides of the device), it may be difficult to adapt.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and realizes a camouflage means as a measure for preventing theft of an in-vehicle electronic device by a novel front panel mechanism incorporating a slide mechanism, effectively and at low cost.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention
(1) In the front panel mechanism of the in-vehicle electronic device 10 having a built-in recording medium reproducing apparatus, the front panel mechanism is disposed on the front surface of the device so as to cover the recording medium insertion slot 11 on the front side of the device and on the rear side. A display panel 5 including a display device 4 using a fluorescent light 1 as a backlight and a liquid crystal 2 as a display light source; and an operation surface of a power switch SW attached to the display panel 5 and disposed on the back side thereof , A display switch panel section 9, and a front face of the switch section 6 which is disposed below the display switch panel section 9 and in which operation button switches S 1, S 2,. The entire front surface of the device 10 is composed of an open / close switch unit opening / closing panel 7 that covers the side, and one of the left and right side surfaces of the device 10 a first drive unit M1 for sliding the display / switch panel unit 9 up and down on the side A; and a second drive for sliding the switch unit 6 and the switch unit open / close panel 7 back and forth on the other side B of the device. A means M2 is provided, and the display panel 5, the switch panel 8, and the switch unit opening / closing panel 7 are smoke panels exhibiting dark black, by providing a front panel mechanism of the vehicle-mounted electronic device 10. This achieves the above object.
[0010]
(2) The front panel mechanism of the in-vehicle electronic device 10 described in (1) above, further comprising a first driving unit M1 and a second driving unit M2 that are sequence-controlled by a control microcomputer built in the device 10. A second operation (step 1) in which the second drive means M2 operates to cause the switch section 6 to push open the switch section opening / closing panel 7 and slide so as to protrude to the front to make the switch section 6 operable. Then, the second driving means M2 operates again, and the switch section 6 retreats from the front side to the inside of the device together with the switch section opening / closing panel 7, and then the first driving means M1 operates to operate the display / switch panel section 9 Is lowered, the recording medium insertion / exit opening 11 appears on the front surface, and the recording medium can be inserted / inserted, and a second operation (step 2) is performed. 1 operates to raise the display / switch panel section 9, and then the second drive means M2 operates to cause the switch section 6 retracted inside the device to slide to the front together with the switch section opening / closing panel 7 and to move to the front. A third operation (step 3) in which the switch unit 6 is opened by pressing the switch unit opening / closing panel 7 to protrude to the front and the switch unit 6 can be operated, and only the switch unit 6 is retracted by operating the second driving unit M2. A fourth operation (step 4) in which the switch unit opening / closing panel 7 is closed and the power is turned off is provided, and a front panel mechanism of the vehicle-mounted electronic device is provided. To achieve.
[0011]
The dark smoke panel is a translucent panel that is smoked to such an extent that the presence of the internal display device 4 is not seen through when the device 10 is not operating in the display panel 5.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the front panel mechanism of the in-vehicle electronic device according to the present invention, the front 2 showing the front state of the CD player as a typical in-vehicle electronic device according to the present invention FIG. 4A is a camouflage state when the power is off when not in use, FIG. 4B is a state in which a display appears when the device is operating and the operation switch unit is operable, and FIG. 4C is a CD recording on a recording medium. This shows a state in which the medium can be inserted into the medium insertion insertion opening. FIG. 3 is a side view showing substantially all of the first drive mechanism and a part of the second drive mechanism according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a view showing the inside of the device for explaining the arrangement of the drive mechanism inside the CD player. FIG.
[0013]
Hereinafter, a front panel mechanism of an in-vehicle electronic device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1. In FIG. 1, the front panel mechanism of the in-vehicle electronic device in which a storage medium insertion / exit port is not disposed on the front side (in other words, a playback device is not built in) such as a tuner or a main amplifier is provided. A display panel 5 having a display device 4 disposed on the front of the electronic device 10 and having a backlight 1 and a liquid crystal 2 as a display light source, and operation button switches S1, S2,. And a switch-type opening / closing panel 7 that covers the front side of the switch unit 6 that constitutes the entire front of the device. The display panel 5 and the switch-type opening / closing panel 7 are used when the internal display device 4 is not operated. Is formed as a smoke panel that exhibits a dark black color to the extent that the presence of (for example, the shape of a segment) cannot be seen through .
[0014]
As described above, a fluorescent lamp 1 (CFL having a diameter of about 3 mm and a length of about 100 mm) having an extremely high luminous intensity of tens of thousands of candela is used as the backlight of the display, and a liquid crystal 2 (which has a relatively high luminous intensity and easily emits multicolor light) By using a color liquid crystal) as a display light source, a smoke panel (typically, having a thickness of 1 to 2 mm) having a dark black color so that the presence of the internal display device 4 cannot be seen through when the device is not used (when the power is turned off) (Acrylic resin panel) can provide sufficient visibility for the display during operation.
[0015]
In the front panel mechanism, the entire front surface of the device is covered with a dark black smoke panel display panel 5 and a closed switch unit opening / closing panel 7 flush with the display panel 5. The camouflage effect can be obtained, which can be mistaken for a dark blindfold panel of a vehicle without equipment.
[0016]
Note that the term “dark black” here is generally dark black, dark brown, dark blue, or the like, and means a color similar to that of a normal blindfold panel. In general, the liquid crystal display of general in-vehicle electronic equipment has a surface that is slightly blacked out to make the internal display device difficult to see, but the shape of the liquid crystal segment is reflected by light reflection. Please note that it does not lead to camouflage because it becomes known.
2. Since the front panel mechanism of the in-vehicle electronic device does not have a special panel driving mechanism, it can be applied to a device such as a single amplifier, a tuner, a graphic equalizer, etc., which does not take a recording medium in and out from the front. However, in the case of an in-vehicle electronic device having a built-in playback device for a recording medium such as a compact cassette, a CD, an MD, a DVD, etc., the recording medium insertion / extraction port is usually arranged on the front panel side. It cannot be covered with a flat smoke panel, and it is necessary to provide a panel drive mechanism for exposing the recording medium insertion / exit opening to the front.
[0017]
In order to prevent theft by the camouflage effect for an in-vehicle electronic device having a built-in storage medium reproducing device such as a CD player, as shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 or FIG. The front panel mechanism is disposed on the front side of the device so as to cover the recording medium insertion / insertion opening 11 on the front side of the device, and has the fluorescent lamp 1 of the backlight as shown in FIG. A display panel 5 provided with a display device 4 using the liquid crystal 2 as a display light source; a switch panel 8 and a seesaw which are provided flush with the display panel 5 and serve as an operation surface of a power switch SW arranged on the back side. A display switch panel section 9 comprising another switch panel 8 'such as a switch; The switch unit opening / closing panel 7 (which is always closed by a coil spring (not shown)) that covers the front side of the switch unit 6 that is disposed below the panel unit 9 and has the operation button switches S1, S2,. When energized), the entire front surface of the CD player 30 is formed (the frame 14 is a dark black resin frame that hides the gap between the center cluster and the device), and one of the left and right sides of the device. A first drive unit M1 for sliding the display / switch panel unit 9 up and down on the side side A, and a second drive unit for sliding the switch unit 6 and the switch unit open / close panel 7 back and forth on the other side B of the device. And the display panel 5, the switch panels 8, 8 ', and the switch opening / closing panel 7 are internally transparent when not in operation. A structure consisting of smoked panel exhibiting a dark color to the extent not.
[0018]
Thus, the switch unit 6 and the switch unit open / close panel 7 are slid backward by the second drive means M2 from the state shown in FIG. 3A to the state shown in FIG. As a result, an empty space is secured under the display / switch panel section 9, and the display / switch panel section 9 can be moved downward by the first driving means M1, and the recording medium inserted above the front of the apparatus can be inserted. The insertion port 11 will appear on the front.
[0019]
The first driving means M1 will be described in detail. As shown in a side view on the side A side of FIG. 3A, a reduction gear formed by a combination of a screw gear G1 of a driving motor T1 and a plurality of gears G2 to G5. The final gear G5 becomes the lever's power point F1 to rotate the arm 15 right / left around the fulcrum C1 to pivotally support the display / switch panel unit 9 at the point of action Y1 of the arm 15 and pivot the other arm 16 The display / switch panel unit 9 is slid up and down while always keeping the front surface vertical.
[0020]
Further, the second driving means M2 is disposed on the side B side of the side of the side A on which the driving means M1 of FIG. 4 is disposed, and has a pinion gear by a driving motor T2 and a reduction gear (not shown) similar to the driving means M1. By rotating the rack 17, the rack 18 is slid back and forth, and the elongated switch unit 6 connected to the end of the rack 18 is slid back and forth (rack and pinion mechanism). At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the driving force is transmitted to the side A side by the shaft 21 so that the switch unit 6 slides in parallel, and the rack 18 '(one end is connected to the switch unit 6) is slid synchronously. Is preferred. Reference numerals 22 and 22 'denote guide rails for restricting the racks 18 and 18' from sliding forward and backward. Reference numerals 24 and 24 'denote weak coil springs constantly biased to prevent the switch portion 6 from wobbling.
[0021]
By providing the first drive means M1 and the second drive means M2, when not in use, the entire front surface of the device is completely and flush with the display panel 5, switch panels 8, 8 'and switch opening / closing panel 7. In operation, the operation switch section 6 projects to the front to enable switch operation when used, and when the storage medium is inserted / ejected, the insertion / exit port appears at the front and the storage medium is inserted into the camcorder. Insertion and removal are possible.
[0022]
As described above, the drive mechanism of the front panel according to the present invention is a slide mechanism combining a combination of a simple reduction gear and a general-purpose simple mechanism such as a rack-and-pinion mechanism. Therefore, the cost is suppressed and the drive mechanism is small. It is easy to arrange them inside the equipment, and the flexibility on the left and right sides is widened, so that it can be easily installed not only on European and American cars but also on Japanese cars with different installation specifications depending on the manufacturer.
3. Next, in the front panel mechanism of the CD player 30, it is desirable that the first driving means M1 and the second driving means M2 are sequence-controlled by a control microcomputer (not shown) built in the CD player 30. The details from the user side are as follows.
[0023]
First, in the power-off non-use state (= initial state), as shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 3A, the front surface is the display panel 5, the switch panels 8, 8 'and the switch unit is opened and closed. The panel 7 is in a camouflage state in which the panel 7 has a uniform dark black color.
[0024]
Next, when the switch panel 8 of the power switch SW is pressed, the second driving means M2 operates, and the switch section 6 pushes the switch section opening / closing panel 7 open against the spring and slides so as to project to the front. As shown in FIGS. 2B and 3B, the first operation (step 1) is performed in which the switch unit 6 is exposed to the front surface to be in an operable state.
[0025]
Next, when a predetermined button switch Sx is pressed, the second drive means M2 is operated again, and the switch section 6 is retracted from the front side together with the switch section open / close panel 7 toward the inside of the device. After the M1 is operated and the display / switch panel section 9 is lowered, the recording medium insertion / exit opening 11 appears on the front surface through a two-step slide from FIG. 3B to FIG. A second operation (step 2) is performed.
[0026]
Next, when a CD is inserted, the first drive means M1 operates to raise the display / switch panel unit 9 to the original position, and then the second drive means M2 operates to retreat into the device. While the switch unit 6 that has been slid to the front together with the switch unit open / close panel 7, the switch unit 6 pushes the switch unit open / close panel 7 open and protrudes to the front to put the switch unit 6 in an operable state (CD reproducible state) ( A third operation (step 3) of performing a two-step slide from c) to (b) is performed.
[0027]
Next, by a power-off operation by a predetermined button switch operation, the second drive means M2 operates, and only the switch section 6 is retracted to just below the display / switch panel section 9 and the switch section open / close panel 7 is moved by a spring. A fourth operation (step 4) of closing and turning off the power.
[0028]
As described above, the front panel mechanism of the in-vehicle electronic device according to the present invention has a unique front panel mechanism in which the front panel is divided into a flush switch unit and a display switch panel unit, and is slid up and down or back and forth. When the entire front panel is not in use, it is blacked out as it is and becomes a dark black panel similar to the blindfold panel, so that a camouflage effect of theft prevention can be obtained.
[0029]
It should be noted that the front panel mechanism of the present invention can be applied not only to the CD player but also to almost all types of in-vehicle electronic devices.
[0030]
In addition, even if the purpose is not to prevent theft directly, the configuration that completely blacks out the entire front panel with the display of the electronic device by combining the display device and the smoke panel with the backlight fluorescent light, the liquid crystal, and the liquid crystal is a switch. The electronic device does not expose the knobs and knobs and does not make the user aware of the presence of the display device, so that a clear and novel form effect can be obtained.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
Since the front panel mechanism of the in-vehicle electronic device according to the present invention is configured as described above, it has an excellent effect that theft prevention by the camouflage effect is realized.
[0032]
In addition, since the driving mechanism is simple and does not require a large installation space, it is excellent in cost, and has an excellent effect that it can be applied to European, American and domestic vehicles of various mounting specifications.
[0033]
Further, since the entire front panel having the display surface is completely blacked out as it is, there is an effect that the effect of the functional aspect is high.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a front panel mechanism of a vehicle-mounted electronic device according to the present invention .
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a front state of a CD player (integrated type with a built-in power amplifier) as a typical example of an in-vehicle electronic device according to the present invention , wherein (a) is a camouflage state when the power is off and not used; (B) shows a state in which a display appears when the device is operating and the operation switch unit is operable, and (c) shows a state in which a recording medium can be inserted into a recording medium insertion / extraction opening of a recording medium.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are side views showing a part of a first drive mechanism and a second drive mechanism according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A is a camouflage state when the power is off and is not used, and FIG. The display appears and the operation switch can be operated, and (c) shows the state in which the recording medium CD can be inserted and inserted.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the inside of the device for explaining the arrangement of the drive mechanism inside the CD player according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fluorescent lamp 2 Liquid crystal 4 Display device 5 Display panel 6 Switch part 7 Switch part opening and closing panel 8, 8 'Switch panel 9 Display / switch panel part 10 In-vehicle electronic equipment 11 Recording medium insertion / exit opening 15, 16 Arm 17 Pinion gear 18 , 18 'Rack 21 Shaft 22, 22' Guide rail 24, 24 'Coil spring 30 CD player M1 First drive means M2 Second drive means S1, S2... Sx Operation button switch SW Power switch T1, T2 Drive motor G1 Screw gear G2-G5 gear

Claims (2)

In the front panel mechanism of the in-vehicle electronic device incorporating the recording medium playback device,
A display panel provided on a front surface of the device so as to cover a recording medium insertion / insertion opening on a front side of the device and having a display device using a fluorescent light of a backlight and a liquid crystal as a display light source on a back side; A switch panel, which is provided flush with the panel and serves as an operation surface of a power switch disposed on the rear side, and a display switch panel portion, which is disposed below the display switch panel portion. An open / close type switch unit opening / closing panel that covers the front side of a switch unit in which operation button switches are continuously provided, and the entire front surface of the device is configured, and the display / switch panel unit is provided on one of the left and right side surfaces of the device. A first drive unit that slides up and down, and the switch unit and the switch unit open on the other side surface of the device; A second driving means for sliding the panel back and forth, wherein the display panel, the switch panel, and the switch unit opening / closing panel are smoke panels exhibiting dark black color, wherein a front panel mechanism of the vehicle-mounted electronic device is provided. . 2. A front panel mechanism for an in-vehicle electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a first driving unit and a second driving unit that are sequence-controlled by a control microcomputer built in the device, wherein the second driving unit operates. A first operation to open the switch unit opening / closing panel and slide it so as to protrude to the front to make the switch unit operable; and that the second driving means operates again to open and close the switch unit. With the panel, it retreats from the front to the inside of the device, and then the first drive means operates to lower the display / switch panel unit, and the recording medium insertion / exit opening appears on the front, and the recording medium can be inserted / inserted. The second operation, and when the recording medium is inserted, the first driving means operates to raise the display / switch panel section, and then the second driving means operates to operate the device. A third operation in which the switch unit, which has been retracted to the unit, slides to the front together with the switch unit opening / closing panel, pushes the switch unit opening / closing panel open and projects to the front to make the switch unit operable, and a second operation. A front panel mechanism for in-vehicle electronic equipment, comprising: a driving mechanism comprising: a fourth operation in which only the switch section is retracted by driving means and the switch section open / close panel is closed to turn off the power.

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