JP4291720B2 - Vehicle dial controller - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular dial controller, and particularly includes a dial that operates a switch, and a display plate on which a plurality of marks representing each of a plurality of modes that can be selected by operating the dial are arranged circumferentially. The present invention relates to a vehicle dial controller provided indoors.

  In a passenger compartment of an automobile or the like, a dial controller is provided so that an operation of a switch for switching the mode of the electronic device can be easily performed by hand by rotating the dial in order to operate the electronic device mounted on the vehicle. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an operation switch with a night illumination device in an air conditioner. Here, a design plate is used in which display preparations for displaying a plurality of modes that can be selected by switching the switch of the air conditioner are arranged on a transparent plate. An annular sliding housing is connected to a substrate on which a rotary switch, an LED (Light Emission Diode) and the like are mounted, and an annular operation knob that is rotated by an operator by gripping is connected to the outer periphery of the sliding housing. The design plate is attached to a pedestal of a guide member disposed in the internal space of the annular sliding housing, and the back side is illuminated by the LED. Then, as shown in FIG. 3 and the like of the same document, the operator can see which mode is selected by looking at the relationship between the mark provided on the annular operation knob and the display plate display preparation design. It is like that.

  As described above, in the dial controller, in order to notify the operator of the selected mode or position, an indication mark, an indicator, or the like serving as a mark is used in combination with the display preparation designer. For example, FIGS. In FIG. 5, a display plate 20 is provided outside the dial 10 that is rotated by the operator, and the display plate 20 is provided with a plurality of marks 30 for displaying each of a plurality of modes. An instruction mark 40 is provided at the tip of the knob portion of the dial 10, and the operator is notified of which mode is selected by matching the instruction mark 40 with the mode display mark 30. FIG. 6 shows an example in which a rotatable dial 12 is arranged around the display plate 22. Here, an instruction mark 42 is provided on the annular dial 12, and the operator is notified of which mode is selected by matching the instruction mark 42 with the mode display mark 32. Further, in FIG. 7, an annular dial 14 is provided with an indicator 44 indicating its position by blinking or the like. By matching the indicator 44 with the mode display mark 34 on the display plate 24, which mode is given to the operator. It tells you what you have selected.

Japanese Patent No. 3437921

  As described above, in the dial controller, an indication mark, an indicator, or the like serving as a mark is used in combination with a display preparation designator. However, as shown in FIGS. The instruction mark, the indicator, and the like are arranged so as to coincide with the mode display mark when viewed from the front. Therefore, it may appear that the dial controller is pointed away from the mark from the seat in the passenger compartment when viewed from an angle rather than the front.

  The objective of this invention is providing the dial controller for vehicles which makes it easy to see the mode selected.

A vehicle dial controller according to the present invention includes a dial for operating a switch, and a display plate on which a plurality of marks representing each of a plurality of modes that can be selected by operating the dial are arranged circumferentially. A vehicle dial controller provided with a switch and a substrate on which a light emitting body for illuminating a display plate is mounted, and is overlapped in parallel with a gap between the display plate and one of a plurality of marks on the display plate An indicator plate having a translucent portion corresponding to the size of the mark, a holder attached to the substrate, supporting the display plate or indicator plate, and guiding light from the light emitter to the display plate and indicator plate side; Rotate around the holder with the indicator plate or display plate that can move freely, switch mode Switch comprising: a dial, and Yes in the visible the mode selected by the mark display plate corresponding to the light transmitting portion of the indicator plates by operation of the dial is changed, the display plate has a plurality of marks of each other There is a partition allowance between them, they are arranged at equal intervals with the same mark arrangement pitch as the rotation angle pitch when switching the dial mode, and the indicator plate is approximately the same size as the inside of the partition allowance of one mark on the display plate A translucent part, at least one smoke part having a first light transmittance arranged circumferentially at the same pitch as the mark arrangement pitch from the translucent part, and a second different from the translucent part and the smoke part And a base portion having a light transmittance of.

  According to at least one of the above-described configurations, an indicator plate is used that has a light-transmitting portion that overlaps with the display plate in parallel with a gap and corresponds to the size of one mark among a plurality of marks on the display plate. The selected mode is made visible by changing the mark on the display plate corresponding to the light-transmitting portion of the indication plate by operating the dial. Accordingly, since only one mark corresponding to the selected mode is displayed brightly, the selected mode is easy to see.

  Further, the light transmittance of the translucent portion, the smoke portion, and the base portion is made different by at least one of the above-described configurations. Thus, only one mark corresponding to the selected mode is displayed brightly while making a plurality of modes visible. For example, when the user wants to switch the selection mode, a mark for displaying another mode is also visible, which makes the dial selection operation more convenient.

  As described above, according to the vehicle dial controller according to the present invention, it is possible to make the selected mode easy to see.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the vehicle dial controller is described as being connected to the in-vehicle heater controller and switching its operation mode. However, in addition to the operation mode, the vehicle dial controller is used for switching air volume switching, temperature switching, and the like. May be. Moreover, the vehicle-mounted apparatus which has the switching function of operation | movement or setting conditions other than a vehicle-mounted heater controller may be sufficient.

  1 is a front view of the dial controller 50, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. The vehicle dial controller 50 is mounted on, for example, a substrate 52 attached to a panel or the like in the vehicle interior, and switches 54, LEDs 56, display plates 58, switches for switching a plurality of operation modes of a vehicle-mounted heater controller (not shown). 54, a dial 60 that is rotated by gripping by an operator to switch the operation mode, an instruction plate 62, a holder 64 that is disposed inside the dial 60 and supports the display plate 58, and a push button 70.

  The board 52 is a circuit board for connecting electronic components such as the switch 54 and the LED 56 by wiring. Further, the holder 64 is fixed, the dial 60 is connected to the switch 54, and the dial 60 is rotatably supported around the holder 64. It also has a function as a mechanical component. As the substrate 52, a substrate made of a material suitable for in-vehicle use such as a glass epoxy substrate can be used.

  The switch 54 is a switch that is mounted on the board and has a common contact and a plurality of connection contacts. The common contact sequentially contacts one of the plurality of connection contacts by the rotation operation of the dial 60 to switch the contact state. This is a connection switching element having a function. The common contact and the plurality of connection contacts are connected to a switching terminal or the like of a vehicle heater controller (not shown), and the operation mode of the vehicle heater controller can be switched by switching the connection state of the switch 54. In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, six operation modes can be selected by a combination of the blowing direction of warm air and the defrosting of glass and the automatic mode. As such a switch, a small rotary switch such as a so-called shuttle switch can be used.

  The LED 56 is connected to a lighting circuit (not shown), lights up at night, etc., passes through the internal space of the holder 64 as indicated by a broken line arrow shown in FIG. This is a light-emitting body having a function of brightly projecting a plurality of marks arranged on the display plate 58 when 50 is viewed from the front. The LED 56 is disposed on the substrate 52 at a position suitable for the illumination.

  The display plate 58 is a disc-shaped plastic plate material on which six marks corresponding to six operation modes are arranged, and is supported by an appropriate pedestal portion of the holder 64 so as not to rotate and take a fixed position with respect to the substrate 52. . The six marks are arranged in a circle around the central axis of the display plate 58 at equally spaced mark arrangement pitches. The mark arrangement pitch is the same as the rotation angle pitch for mode switching of the dial 60. The six marks are provided with an appropriate partition margin between each other. The six marks may be arranged on the front side or on the back side. As the base color of the display plate 58, an appropriate color can be selected as long as light is transmitted. The arrangement of the mark can be performed by printing, or a printed thin sheet may be pasted. A carved pattern or the like may also be used. In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, the display plate 58 has a central hole for placing the push button 70 in the center.

  Here, the holder 64 will be described in relation to the display plate 58. The holder 64 is a substantially annular plastic member that supports the display plate 58. The root portion of the holder 64 is fixed to the substrate 52 so as to take the LED 56 into the internal space. In other words, the holder 64 has the display plate 58 on the ceiling portion, the root portion is fixed to the substrate 52, has a form like a dome, and the LED 56 is in the root portion. Accordingly, when the LED 56 is turned on, the inside of the holder 64 becomes a bright space, and the light illuminates the back surface of the display plate 58 and also illuminates the push button 70 disposed at the center portion of the holder 64. The illumination color of the display plate 58 can be any color produced by the emission color of the LED 56, the resin color of the display plate 58, printing, and the like.

  The dial 60 has an annular shape that is easy for an operator to grip, and is a member that can rotate around the central axis of the dial controller 50. The dial 60 is connected to the switch 54, and has a function of rotating the rotating portion of the switch 54 by the rotation operation of the operator and switching the operation mode of the in-vehicle heater controller not shown as described above. . As shown in FIG. 2, the dial 60 can be pivotally supported by providing an attachment portion on an annular switch 54 attached to the substrate 52 and connecting it thereto. In addition, it is good also as a structure which provides a sliding housing and rotates along the circumference | surroundings. Even in that case, of course, it is connected to the switch 54. It is desirable to place a ball biased by an appropriate spring so that the switching of the six operation modes is clear, and to give a click feeling to the rotation operation of the dial 60.

  The indication plate 62 is a disc-shaped plastic plate that rotates together with the dial 60. As shown in FIG. 1, the indication plate 62 has three different light transmittance portions, and the light transmission portion 80 having the best light transmittance. By the way, the member has a function of instructing an operation mode selected by operating the dial 60. The instruction plate 62 is arranged in parallel with the display plate 58 with a gap. The size of the translucent portion 80 is set to be approximately the same as the size of the interior of the six mark partitioning margin of the display plate 58. In addition, the smoke portion 82 having a good light transmittance after the light transmitting portion 80 has the same size as that of the light transmitting portion 80, and the same pitch as the mark arrangement pitch of the six marks on the display plate 58. 62 is arranged circumferentially around the central axis. Further, a base portion 84 having a lower light transmittance is formed between the translucent portion 80 and the adjacent smoke portion 82 and between the adjacent smoke portions 82. In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, the instruction plate 62 has a center hole for arranging the push button 70 in the center.

  The indicator plate 62 forms a smoke portion 82 on a clear plastic plate material by painting, printing, sputtering, vapor deposition, or the like, and paints, prints, sputters, except the smoke portion 82 and the transparent portion 80 that remains clear. It can be obtained by forming the base portion 84 by vapor deposition or the like. The clear color may be accompanied by an appropriate coloring having a transparent feeling in addition to the transparent color. It is preferable that the smoke portion 82 has such light transmittance that the mark on the display plate 58 can be visually recognized through this portion, and the base portion does not transmit light. As another manufacturing method, a so-called multicolor molding technique can be used, in which the whole is made of a clear resin material and a resin having a different light transmittance is molded in a predetermined portion. In addition, the outer shape of the indicator plate is made of a material that does not transmit light, and at that time, a hole is formed so that the portion of the light transmitting portion 80 and the smoke portion 82 can be fitted, and the member of the light transmitting portion and the smoke portion that are separately prepared later It can also be obtained by fitting a member.

  The mounting relation of the dial 60, the switch 54, the display plate 58, and the instruction plate 62 is designed and set as follows. That is, the dial 60, the switch 54, the display plate 58, and the indication plate 62 are designed so that the central axes are all coaxial. Then, when the dial 60 is rotated and the switch 54 is sequentially switched for mode switching, the light-transmitting portion 80 of the instruction plate 62 that rotates in the same manner sequentially captures the six marks of the fixed display plate 58 one by one. Each angular position is set as follows. That is, when the dial 60 is at an arbitrary selection position, the respective angular positions are set so that the center position of the translucent portion 80 coincides with the center position of the mark corresponding to the selection position of the display plate 58. .

  The operation of the vehicle dial controller 50 having such a configuration will be described. In a state where the dial controller 50 is provided in the vehicle interior, the LED 56 is turned on by the operation of an illumination circuit (not shown), and the back surface of the display plate 58 is illuminated. If the positional relationship between the mark on the display plate 58 and the indicating plate 62 at this time is as shown in FIG. 1, for example, the mark at the translucent portion 80 looks clearly bright and warm air is blown to the feet now. Can be visually recognized in a state that it is easy to see. The other marks are covered with the smoke portion 82, and although the meaning of the mark is visible, it is clearly distinguished from the translucent portion 80. Further, the partition between the marks is opaque at the base portion 84. As described above, the light transmittance is different between the light transmitting portion 80 and the smoke portion 82, and the partition between the marks does not transmit light and the portion cannot be seen. Therefore, the selected mode can be clearly distinguished from other modes and is easy to see.

  Next, a description will be given when it is desired to change the operation mode of the in-vehicle heater controller. For example, if you want to defrost the glass together with the ventilation at the foot, in the state of FIG. I know that there is. Therefore, the dial 60 is turned clockwise by one mark. The state is shown in FIG. Here, the translucent portion 80 is aligned with a mark indicating the air blowing + defrosting mode at the foot, and the mark is brightly displayed for easy viewing. Thus, whenever the selection of the operation mode is changed by the dial 60, the translucent portion 80 of the instruction plate 62 shows the corresponding mark brightly, so that the dial controller 50 can be easily seen. That is, when the dial 60 is operated, the mark on the display plate 58 corresponding to the translucent portion of the instruction plate 62 is changed, so that the selected mode can be easily seen.

  In the above description, the display plate 58 is fixed and the instruction plate 62 is rotated together with the dial 60. However, as shown in FIG. 4, the instruction plate 62 is fixed and the display plate 58 is rotated together with the dial 60. It is good also as what to do. 4, elements similar to those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. In the dial controller 51, the instruction plate 62 is fixed to the substrate 52. On the other hand, the display plate 58 is supported by the holder 65. Since the holder 65 is connected to the dial 61 via the gear 72, the display plate 58 rotates in the same manner as the dial 61 rotates. The holder 65 and the dial 61 may be connected using a belt, a shaft, a wire or the like instead of the gear 72. With such a configuration, the mark on the display plate 58 corresponding to the translucent portion of the indication plate 62 is changed by the operation of the dial 61, so that the selected mode can be easily viewed.

  In the above description, the LED 56, the display plate 58, and the indicator plate 62 are arranged in this order. However, the LED 56, the indicator plate 62, and the display plate 58 may be arranged in this order.

It is a front view of the dial controller in the embodiment according to the present invention. It is sectional drawing in the AA of FIG. In embodiment which concerns on this invention, it is a figure explaining a mode when the dial of a dial controller is turned. It is sectional drawing of the dial controller in other embodiment. It is an example of a prior art dial controller. It is another example of the dial controller of a prior art. It is a further another example of a prior art dial controller.

Explanation of symbols

  10, 12, 14, 60, 61 Dial, 20, 22, 24, 58 Display plate, 30, 32, 34 mark, 40, 42 Indicator mark, 44 Indicator, 50, 51 Dial controller, 52 Board, 54 Switch, 56 LED, 62 Indicator plate, 64, 65 holder, 70 push button, 72 gear, 80 translucent part, 82 smoke part, 84 ground part.

Claims (1)

A dial controller for a vehicle provided in a vehicle interior, including a dial for operating a switch, and a display plate in which a plurality of marks representing each of a plurality of modes that can be selected by operating the dial are arranged circumferentially,
A substrate on which a switch and a light emitter for illuminating the display plate are mounted;
An indicator plate having a light-transmitting portion corresponding to the size of one mark among a plurality of marks on the display plate, and being overlapped in parallel with the display plate with a gap;
A holder attached to the substrate, supporting the display plate or the indicator plate, and guiding the light from the light emitter to the display plate and the indicator plate side;
A dial that rotates around the holder with an indicator plate or display plate that can move freely with respect to the holder, and switches the mode of the switch;
It is made possible to see the selected mode by changing the mark on the display plate corresponding to the translucent part of the indication plate by operating the dial ,
The display plate is provided at equal intervals with the same mark arrangement pitch as the rotation angle pitch at the time of switching the dial mode, by providing a partition allowance between the plurality of marks.
The indicator plate has a light-transmitting portion having a size substantially the same as the inside size of one mark partition of the display plate, and a first light arranged circumferentially at the same pitch as the mark arrangement pitch from the light-transmitting portion. A vehicular dial controller comprising: at least one smoke portion having a transparency; and a translucent portion and a base portion having a second light transmittance different from the smoke portion .

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