JP3744000B2 - Pointer lighting equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an illumination device for a pointer that is applied to a pointer-type instrument such as a vehicle and is operated by a drive shaft of a predetermined drive device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a pointer illumination device, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-239252, a plurality of light sources composed of light-emitting diodes are concentrically centered on a pointer axis below a pointer base (rotation center region). A light guide is disposed between the base portion of the pointer and a plurality of light sources composed of light emitting diodes, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 13-41780. What illuminates a pointer through a light guide is known. Particularly in recent years, the use of surface mount (SMD) type light emitting diodes as the light source has become the mainstream. In this case, the light source is disposed on the surface of the circuit board disposed behind the pointer and provided on the circuit board. The circuit pattern is mounted by means such as soldering.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the configuration in which the former pointer is directly illuminated illuminates the indicator that extends long by taking the irradiation light from the light source into the rotation center region of the pointer. There is a limit in concentrating the light sources on the drive shaft, which causes a problem that the rotation center area of the pointer is enlarged, and accordingly, the pointer cover for concealing this area is enlarged. In the configuration using the latter light guide, the light taken in through the light receiving part (opposite the light source) of the light guide is transferred from the irradiation part of the light guide (opposite the rotation center area of the pointer) to the rotation center area of the pointer. The indicator part that illuminates and illuminates is illuminated, but since the light receiving part is positioned directly under the irradiating part of the light guide, as in the former case, the rotation center area of the pointer is enlarged, Along with this, there was a problem that the pointer cover was enlarged.
[0004]
Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide an illumination device for a pointer that can reduce the light introduction portion of the pointer.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Since the present invention is to achieve the above object, provided between the guide to operate by the drive shaft of the drive device has an indication portion of the translucent, a plurality of light sources for illuminating the pointer, and the pointer and the light sources and a resulting light guide, a plurality of light receiving portion to which the light guide corresponding to the respective light sources, a plurality of light-receiving-side reflecting portion corresponding to each of these light receiving portions, each of these light-receiving-side reflecting portion A plurality of corresponding irradiation-side reflecting portions, and a plurality of irradiation portions that are formed corresponding to each of the irradiation-side reflecting portions and face the rotation center region of the pointer, and the irradiation portion is more than the light receiving portion. for all proximity to Rutotomoni the respective irradiation unit to the drive shaft, each of the irradiation section, to correspond to said different radiation side reflection section and the light receiving-side reflecting unit and the light receiving portion and said light source in these irradiated portions with each other characterized in that was.
[0008]
According to the present invention, the light guide has a hole or a notch corresponding to the drive shaft, and the drive shaft of the first and second flat portions is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the hole or notch. It is characterized in that the closest sides touch each other.
[0009]
Further, the invention is characterized in that the light receiving part is formed in a convex shape.
[0010]
According to the present invention, the light source is a light emitting diode.
[0011]
Further, the present invention has a circuit board for mounting the driving device and the light source behind the pointer, the light source is mounted on a plate surface of the circuit board facing the pointer side, and the driving device is attached to the pointer. On the other hand, it is a board surface of the circuit board facing the opposite side, and is arranged so as to penetrate the circuit board.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a pointer-type instrument to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a top view of a light guide, and FIG. It is a bottom view of a body.
[0013]
In FIG. 1, the pointer-type instrument is arranged on a drive device 2 having a drive shaft 1 projecting forward, a circuit board 3 positioned on the front side of the drive device 2, and a front side of the circuit board 3. A cylinder 4, a display board 5 supported by the cylinder 4, a pointer 6 that is positioned on the display board 5 and is operated (rotated) by the drive shaft 1 of the driving device 2, and a position behind the display board 5 The light source L is disposed in the cylindrical body 4, and the light guide 7 guides the irradiation light of the light source L to the pointer 6.
[0014]
The drive device 2 is a known coil-type electric motor such as a stepping motor gauge or an air core gauge, and is mounted on the back surface of the circuit board 3 so that the drive shaft 1 penetrates the circuit board 3.
[0015]
The circuit board 3 is made of a well-known hard printed circuit board and has a circuit pattern (not shown) that supplies power to the driving device 2 and the light source L.
[0016]
The cylindrical body 4 is formed in a cylindrical shape with, for example, a white synthetic resin having a high light reflectance, and houses the components of the drive shaft 1, the light source L, and the light guide 7.
[0017]
The display board 5 consists of a well-known printing display board, and has the index parts which are not shown in figure, such as a scale corresponding to the pointer | guide 6, the character, and a mark. The display board 5 also has a through hole 51 that allows the drive shaft 1 and the pointer 6 to be connected, and the through hole 51 is fitted to the open end of the cylindrical body 4.
[0018]
The pointer 6 includes a translucent body 61 made of, for example, a translucent synthetic resin, and a pointer cover 62 made of, for example, a light-shielding synthetic resin that conceals a necessary portion of the translucent body 61.
[0019]
The translucent body 61 includes an instruction portion 63 extending toward the indicator portion of the display plate 5 and a rotation center region R including a connection portion with the drive shaft 1 and mainly covered front and side by a pointer cover 62. .
[0020]
In the rotation center region R, a boss portion 64 inserted and fixed to the drive shaft 1, a pointer light receiving portion 65 that receives light from the light source L (light guide 7), and light taken from the pointer light receiving portion 65. Is provided with a pointer reflecting portion 66 that reflects the light toward the instruction portion 63 side.
[0021]
The light source L is composed of, for example, a plurality (four) of light emitting diodes arranged concentrically around the drive shaft 1, and these are mounted on the circuit board 3 as first to second light sources L1 to L4. . These are all surface mount (SMD) types,
[0022]
The light guide 7 is composed of, for example, a translucent synthetic resin that extends in the axial direction of the drive shaft 1 and surrounds the periphery of the drive shaft 1. It is provided between.
[0023]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the light guide 7 has a hole 71 corresponding to the drive shaft 1 in order to pass the drive shaft 1. A notch may be provided.
[0024]
A plurality of (four) light receiving portions 72 that receive the light emitted from the light source L and take the light into the light guide 7 are formed outside the hole portion 71 and facing the light sources L. ing. These light receiving units 72 include first to fourth light receiving units 72a to 72d provided to correspond to the four light sources L1 to L4, respectively.
[0025]
A plurality of light beams that are directed through the light guide 7 are irradiated to the rotation center region R at positions outside the hole 71 and facing the rotation center region R of the pointer 6 (the rotation range of the pointer light receiving unit 65). (Four) irradiation units 73 are provided. These irradiation units 73 include first to fourth irradiation units 73a to 73d provided to correspond to the four light sources L1 to L4 or the same number of light receiving units 72a to 72d, respectively.
[0026]
Between the irradiation unit 73 and each light receiving unit 72, there is a light receiving side reflection unit 74 corresponding to the light receiving unit 72 and an irradiation side reflection unit (reflection unit) 75 corresponding to the light receiving side reflection unit 74 and the irradiation unit 73. The light formed and received from the light receiving part 72 by the light receiving side reflection part 74 is reflected to the irradiation side reflection part 75 side, and this reflected light is reflected to the irradiation part 73 side through the irradiation side reflection part 75, thereby the irradiation part 73. Through this, light is supplied to the rotation center region R.
[0027]
The light receiving side reflection unit 74 and the irradiation side reflection unit 75 are also provided in correspondence with the four light sources L1 to L4, the same number of light receiving units 72a to 72d, or the same number of irradiation units 73a to 73d, respectively. It consists of fourth light receiving side reflecting parts 74a to 74d and first to fourth irradiation side reflecting parts 75a to 75d.
[0028]
The illumination light path by the light guide 7 configured in this way is as follows.
(1) First light source L1 → first light receiving unit 72a → first light receiving side reflecting unit 74a → first irradiation side reflecting unit 75a → first irradiation unit 73a → rotation center region R.
(2) Second light source L2 → second light receiving unit 72b → second light receiving side reflecting unit 74b → second irradiation side reflecting unit 75b → second irradiation unit 73b → rotation center region R.
(3) Third light source L3 → third light receiving unit 72c → third light receiving side reflection unit 74c → third irradiation side reflection unit 75c → third irradiation unit 73c → rotation center region R.
(4) Fourth light source L4 → fourth light receiving part 72d → fourth light receiving side reflecting part 74d → fourth irradiation side reflecting part 75d → fourth irradiating part 73d → rotation center region R.
[0029]
Here, when the positional relationship between the irradiation unit 73 and the light receiving unit 72 is viewed, the irradiation unit 73 is disposed closer to the drive shaft 1 than the light receiving unit 72.
[0030]
The detailed structures of the light receiving unit 72, the irradiation unit 73, the light receiving side reflection unit 74, and the irradiation side reflection unit 75 are as described below.
[0031]
The light receiving unit 72 is formed in a spherical surface that protrudes toward the light source L in order to collect the radiated light of the light source L.
[0032]
The irradiation part 73, the light-receiving side reflection part 74, and the irradiation side reflection part 75 are each formed as a substantially rectangular plane part. Among these, the light receiving side reflection unit 74 and the irradiation side reflection unit 75 are inclined at about 43 to 45 degrees with respect to the axis of the drive shaft 1.
[0033]
In the irradiation unit 73 and the irradiation side reflection unit 75, the extension line of the side closest to the drive shaft 1 in one plane portion intersects the side closest to the drive shaft 1 in the other adjacent plane portion. As described above, four plane portions are sequentially combined, and these plane portions are arranged in contact with each other.
[0034]
That is, the above configuration will be described by taking the irradiation unit 73 as an example. Of the four first to fourth irradiation units 73a to 73d configuring the irradiation unit 73, for example, the first irradiation unit 73a is set as the first plane unit. When the second irradiation part 73b is the second plane part, the extension line E of the side S1 closest to the drive shaft 1 in the first irradiation part 73a serving as the first plane part is the second plane part. In the second irradiation unit 73b, the side S2 closest to the drive shaft 1 is intersected, and the same applies to the other plane portions (third and fourth irradiation units 73c and 73d).
[0035]
Further, the side of the flat portion closest to the drive shaft 1 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the hole 71 of the light guide 7.
[0036]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the pointer 6 having the light-transmitting instruction unit 61 and operated by the drive shaft 1 of the driving device 2, the plurality of light sources L that illuminate the pointer 6, the light source L and the pointer The light guide 6 includes a light receiving portion 72 that faces the light source L, an irradiation portion 73 that faces the rotation center region R of the pointer 6, and a light receiving portion. The light-receiving side reflection unit 74 and the irradiation-side reflection unit 75 are located on the optical path from 72 to the irradiation unit 73, and the irradiation unit 73 is closer to the drive shaft 1 than the light reception unit 72. The irradiation part 73 of the body 6 can be reduced in size (reduced area) compared to the conventional case. Thereby, the rotation center region R and the pointer cover 62 which are the light introduction portions of the pointer 6 can be reduced in size.
[0037]
Moreover, in this embodiment, the irradiation part 73 and the irradiation side reflection part 75 are formed in a some plane part (The 1st-4th irradiation part 73a-73d, the 1st-4th irradiation side reflection part 75a-75d). The planar portions are sequentially combined such that the extension line of the side closest to the drive shaft 1 in one plane portion intersects the side closest to the drive shaft 1 in the other adjacent plane portion. By arranging the flat portions so as to be in contact with each other, the light emission luminance (intensity) per unit area in the irradiating unit 73 can be increased, and thereby a reduction in luminance due to downsizing of the irradiating unit 73 can be suppressed.
[0038]
In the present embodiment, the combination / joining configuration of each plane part described above is applied to both the irradiation part 73 and the irradiation side reflection part 75, but can be applied to either one, but at least the irradiation side reflection part. Adoption to 75 is desirable.
[0039]
In the present embodiment, the light guide 7 has a hole 71 corresponding to the drive shaft 1, and a flat surface (first to fourth irradiation parts 73 a to 73 d, first, The side closest to the drive shaft 1 of the fourth to fourth irradiation side reflecting portions 75a to 75d) is in contact with this, and this point also contributes to the miniaturization of the irradiation portion 73.
[0040]
In the present embodiment, the efficiency of introducing the irradiation light to the light guide 7 can be increased by forming the light receiving portion 72 in a convex shape.
[0041]
Further, in the present embodiment, the light source L uses a light emitting diode, in particular, a surface mount type light emitting diode, which also contributes to the miniaturization of the irradiation unit 73.
[0042]
In the present embodiment, the circuit board 3 for mounting the driving device 2 and the light source L is provided behind the pointer 6, and the light source L is mounted on the plate surface of the circuit board 3 facing the pointer 6 side. 6 is disposed so as to penetrate the circuit board 3 on the surface of the circuit board 3 facing the opposite side to the main body 6, so that the main body of the driving device 2 is in a space immediately below the rotation center region R of the pointer 6. Since it is not positioned, the configuration around the drive shaft 1 can be made compact.
[0043]
In the present embodiment, the illumination efficiency is increased by providing the cylindrical body 4.
[0044]
FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and in this example, the shape of each plane part constituting the irradiation part 73 (73a to 73c) or the irradiation side reflection part 75 (75a to 75c) is a parallelogram. In this embodiment, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.
[0045]
FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, and in this example, the shape of each planar portion constituting the irradiation unit 73 (73a to 73d) or the irradiation side reflection unit 75 (75a to 75d) is set to a triangle. Even in this embodiment, the same operational effects as those in the first and second embodiments can be obtained.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an illumination device for a pointer that can achieve the initial purpose and can reduce the light introduction portion of the pointer.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a pointer-type meter according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view of the light guide according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the light guide according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a top view of a main part of a light guide in a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a top view of main parts of a light guide according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Drive shaft 2 Drive apparatus 3 Circuit board 4 Cylindrical body 5 Display board 6 Pointer 7 Light guide 61 Light-transmitting body 62 Pointer cover 63 Pointer part 64 Boss part 65 Pointer light-receiving part 66 Pointer reflection part 71 Hole 72 Light-receiving part 72a- 72d 1st-4th light-receiving part (plane part)
73 Irradiation part (flat part)
73a-73d 1st-4th irradiation part 74 Light reception side reflection part 74a-74d 1st-4th light reception side reflection part (plane part)
75 Irradiation side reflection part (flat part)
75a-75d 1st-4th irradiation side reflection part (plane part)
E extension line L light source L1 1st light source L2 2nd light source L3 3rd light source L4 4th light source R rotation center area | region S1, S2 side

Claims (5)

A pointer having a translucent indicator and operated by a drive shaft of the drive device;
A plurality of light sources for illuminating the pointer,
A light guide provided between the light source and the pointer,
A plurality of light receiving portion to which the light guide corresponding to the respective light sources, a plurality of light-receiving-side reflecting portion corresponding to each of these light receiving portion, and a plurality of irradiation-side reflecting portion corresponding to each of these light-receiving-side reflecting portion A plurality of irradiation portions formed corresponding to each of the irradiation side reflection portions and opposed to the rotation center region of the pointer,
For all the than the light receiving portion is closer to the irradiation portion to the drive shaft Rutotomoni each irradiating unit, each of the irradiation portion, the irradiation-side reflecting unit and the light receiving-side reflecting portion and different in these irradiated portions with each other An illumination device for a pointer, wherein the illumination device corresponds to the light receiving unit and the light source . The light guide has a hole or a notch corresponding to the drive shaft, and an inner peripheral surface of the hole or notch has a side closest to the drive shaft of the first and second flat portions. 2. The pointer illumination device according to claim 1 , wherein the pointer illumination device is in contact with the pointer. The pointer illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving portion is formed in a convex shape . 2. The pointer illumination device according to claim 1 , wherein the light source is a light emitting diode . A circuit board for mounting the driving device and the light source is provided behind the pointer, the light source is mounted on a plate surface of the circuit board facing the pointer side, and the driving device faces the opposite side to the pointer. 2. The pointer illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the pointer illumination device is disposed on the surface of the circuit board so as to penetrate the circuit board .

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