JP4293059B2 - Lighting structure of dial type switch - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an illumination structure for a dial switch, and more particularly to an illumination structure for illuminating a pointer display portion of a rotatable operation knob and a fixed display portion provided around the operation knob.

  In general, a switch for setting the temperature of an air conditioner in a passenger compartment is provided with a rotatable operation knob, and a dial switch that switches input based on the rotation angle of the operation knob is used. This type of switch is illuminated by a fixed display section indicating the temperature setting position and the like provided around the operation knob and a pointer display section of the operation knob so that it can be easily operated in a dark passenger compartment at night. . In general, the fixed display section and the pointer display section are provided with transparent design or translucent letters or designs that transmit light on the opaque design plate or the operation knob plate surface. And light is transmitted through the design.

  As a conventional illumination structure described in Patent Document 1 below, as shown in FIG. 5, an annular operation knob 1A is arranged around a circular design plate 20 provided with a fixed display portion 2A indicating temperature setting. In the switch, a mortar-shaped light guide 80 is installed between the design plate 20 and the light source 90 installed at the center position on the back side thereof, and the light path from the light source 90 is regulated by the light guide 80. Thus, it has been proposed to illuminate the fixed display portion 2A and the pointer display portion 3A of the operation knob 1A with a single light source 90. The light guide 80 is arranged with the opening on the small diameter terminal side facing the light source 90 and the opening on the large diameter terminal side facing the fixed display portion 2A, and light from the light source 90 passes through the hollow interior of the light guide 80. The fixed display part 2A is illuminated through.

  The light guide 80 is provided with a partially transparent or translucent lens portion 81, and is arranged so that the end of the lens portion 81 on the large diameter side faces the back of the pointer display portion 3A of the operation knob 1A. The light from the light source 90 enters the lens unit 81 from the edge on the small diameter side of the lens unit 81, and the pointer display unit 3A is illuminated with the light passing through the lens unit 81. In this illumination structure, illumination is performed by a single light source 90. Therefore, when it is desired to color-code the range indicating the temperature setting of the fixed display unit 2A or the pointer display unit 3A, each display unit must be colored.

As another conventional illumination structure, there is one in which a fixed display portion is illuminated in different colors using a plurality of light sources having different emission colors. As shown in FIG. 6, a switch in which a fixed display portion 2B is provided around an operation knob 1B provided with a knob 11 on the surface of a circular member, and a pointer display portion 3B is provided at one end of the knob 11 of the operation knob 1B. 1B, the fixed display portion 2B is divided into a display area 2a indicating a low set temperature range, a display area 2b indicating a high range, and a display area 2c indicating an intermediate range therebetween, and each display area 2a, 2b, 2c is divided. Each of the light sources 6a, 6b, and 6c having different light emission colors installed on the back side thereof is individually illuminated with different colors. In the display area 2c indicating the middle range having a long illumination range, illumination is performed by diffusing light from a plurality of light sources 6c of the same color over the entire length of the display section by a lens member (not shown). The pointer display unit 3B is illuminated by taking in light from the light source 6c by a lens member (not shown).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-231101

  However, in any of the conventional illumination structures, even if the operation knobs 1A and 1B are rotated to change the setting range indicated by the pointer display units 3A and 3B, the pointer display units 3A and 3B are illuminated with the same color. However, there is a problem that it does not look good because there is no change, and it is difficult to understand the range in which the operation knobs 1A and 1B are currently set, and the operability of the switch is not good. Therefore, the present invention changes the illumination color of the pointer display portion of the operation knob to the same color according to the illumination color of the display area of the fixed display portion indicated by the pointer display portion, and has a good appearance, An object of the present invention is to provide an illumination structure of a dial switch that allows easy confirmation of an operation position and improves operability of the switch.

The invention according to claim 1, a rotary steerable circular operation knob, and a circular arc-shaped fixing the display unit to the outer periphery of the operating knob, dial switch for switching the input based on the rotation angle of the operation knob In the illumination structure of the dial switch for illuminating the pointer display unit provided on the operation knob and the fixed display unit,
The fixed display part is divided into a plurality of display areas,
A plurality of light sources having different emission colors provided on the back side of the fixed display unit corresponding to each display region, and a light source provided between the fixed display unit and each light source to transmit light from each light source to the fixed display unit With the guiding lens member, illumination with different light colors is performed for each of the display areas,
The pointer display unit emits light from the light source that illuminates the display area of the fixed display unit indicated by the pointer display unit with a rotation operation of the operation knob by a lens member provided on the back side thereof. For each display area of the fixed display section indicated by the pointer display section, and lighting the same color as the display area ,
When the operation knob approaches the second display area from the first display area of the fixed display section by rotating operation, a part of the light of the light source that illuminates the second display area comes from the lens member of the fixed display section. By being guided to the lens member of the pointer display unit, the emission color of the pointer display unit gradually changes from the light color of the first display region to the light color of the second display region .
The pointer display section is illuminated with the same color as the display area of the fixed display section to which the pointer display section emits, and when the operation knob approaches the second display area from the first display area of the fixed display section by rotating operation, the emission color of the pointer display section is changed. Since the light color of the first display area gradually changes from the light color of the second display area , the appearance is good, the operation position of the operation knob is known at a glance, and the operability of the switch is improved.

The invention of claim 2 is the illumination structure of the dial switch according to claim 1,
The lens member of the fixed display portion includes a cylindrical small diameter portion and a large diameter portion expanded by a step, and light from each light source is taken into the lens from a light incident surface provided at an edge of the small diameter portion. The light from the respective light sources corresponding to the display areas of the fixed display section provided at the edge of the large diameter section is guided to the display areas of the lens members of the fixed display section . Provide a light-shielding part that blocks the light from the adjacent display area at the boundary, so that the light from each light source is illuminated with a different light color for each display area,
The step of the lens member of the fixed display portion has a light transmitting surface that transmits light from the light incident surface to the back side of the operation knob at a position corresponding to the second display region of the display region. Provided,
The lens member of the pointer display portion includes a circular large-diameter portion that is inserted into the large-diameter portion of the lens member of the fixed display portion, and the small-diameter of the lens member of the fixed display portion that protrudes from the back side of the large-diameter portion. A cylindrical small-diameter part that is inserted into the part,
The lens member of the pointer display portion is provided with the pointer display portion on the surface side of the large-diameter portion, and light from a light source that illuminates the first display area on the edge of the small-diameter portion enters the lens. When the first light incident surface to be taken in is provided and the pointer display unit points to the second display region on the back side of the large diameter portion, the light transmitting surface of the lens member of the fixed display portion faces the light transmitting surface. A second light incident surface for taking light from the translucent surface into the lens is provided, and when the pointer display portion points to the first display area , the pointer display portion is light that is taken from the first light incident surface. while performing the first display area and the same color illumination, a second display area and the same color lighting the pointer display unit when said pointer display unit indicates the second display area.
It is possible to change the illumination color of the pointer display portion when pointing to the first display area and the second display area , and to perform illumination of the same color as the indicated display area.

  According to the illumination structure of the dial type switch of the present invention, the illumination color of the pointer display portion of the operation knob is changed to the same color according to the illumination color of the display area of the fixed display portion indicated by the pointer display portion. Therefore, the appearance is good, the operation position of the operation knob can be easily confirmed, and the operability of the switch can be improved.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The dial type switch of the present embodiment is used for setting the temperature of an air conditioner of a vehicle. As shown in FIG. 1, an annular fixed display portion 2 is installed on the outer periphery of a circular operation knob 1 that can be rotated. is there. The operation knob 1 is provided with a knob 11 extending in the diameter direction on the surface of a disk-shaped knob, and a pointer indicator 3 is provided at one end of the knob 11. The fixed display unit 2 is divided into a display area 2a indicating a low temperature range of the set temperature, a display area 2b indicating a high temperature range, and a display area 2c indicating an intermediate range.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the fixed display portion 2 is constituted by an annular lens member 4. The lens member 4 is made of a synthetic resin that can transmit transparent or translucent milky white light, and includes a cylindrical small-diameter portion 4a and a large-diameter portion 4c that is enlarged by a step 4b coaxially with the small-diameter portion 4a. ing. On the edge of the small diameter portion 4a, a light incident surface 41 for taking in light from light sources 6a, 6b, 6c described later into the lens is formed. An opaque masking coating 42 is applied to the inner peripheral surfaces of the step 4b and the large diameter portion 4c so that light taken from the light incident surface 41 into the lens does not leak.

  A fixed display portion 2 is provided on the end surface of the large diameter portion 4 c of the lens member 4. The fixed display portion 2 is provided with a slit-shaped paint that constitutes each display region 2a, 2b, 2c on the masking coating applied to the end surface of the large-diameter portion 4c, and the top of each display region 2a, 2b, 2c. The display areas 2a, 2b, and 2c are illuminated by transmitting light from the light sources 6a, 6b, and 6c introduced from the writing light surface 41.

The lens member 4 is made of opaque synthetic resin at each boundary between the low temperature range display region 2a and the intermediate range display region 2c and between the high temperature range display region 2b and the intermediate range display region 2c. Thus, the light-shielding portion 43 is integrally formed so that light for illuminating the adjacent display areas 2a, 2b, and 2c does not enter.

  Further, on the inner peripheral surface of the step 4b of the lens member 4, a portion that is not painted on the masking coating 42 is provided at a position corresponding to each of the low temperature range and the high temperature range display regions 2a, 2b, and the edge of the small diameter portion 4a A light-transmitting surface 44 is formed to transmit light from each of the light sources 6a and 6b taken in from the light incident surface 41 toward the back side of the operation knob 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the operation knob 1 has a structure in which a lens member 5 for guiding light to the pointer display unit 3 is assembled on the back side of a circular knob body. The knob body is formed of an opaque synthetic resin cover member that covers the surface of the lens member 5, and the knob 11 that bulges to the surface side is integrally formed at the center of the knob body. A through hole for the pointer display unit 3 is formed at one end of the knob 11.

  The lens member 5 is made of a synthetic resin capable of transmitting transparent or translucent milky white light, and has a circular large-diameter portion 5a covered with a knob body, and protrudes coaxially with the large-diameter portion 5a on the back side. The cylindrical small diameter part 5b to be formed is integrally formed. The lens member 5 has a shape slightly smaller than the lens member 4 of the fixed display portion 2, and the large diameter portion 5 a is inserted into the large diameter portion 4 c of the lens member 4, and the small diameter portion 5 b is inserted into the small diameter portion 4 a of the lens member 4. It is designed to be inserted inside. The rear surface of the large-diameter portion 5a of the lens member 5 is configured to face and face the step 4b of the lens member 4.

The lens member 5 has a pointer display portion 3 protruding from the surface of the large diameter portion 5a so as to be fitted into the through hole of the knob body. The small-diameter portion 5b is provided with a first light incident surface 51 that takes light from the light source 6c that illuminates the display region 2c in the intermediate range of the fixed display portion 2 into the lens at the edge . The large-diameter portion 5 a is formed with a light guide path 52 that guides light incident from the first light incident surface 51 to the pointer display portion 3 at a position corresponding to the pointer display portion 3. Further, the light guide path 52 is provided on the back side at the step 4b of the lens member 4 of the fixed display unit 2 when the operation knob 1 is rotated to the low temperature range display area 2a or the high temperature range display area 2b. A second light incident surface 53 that faces the light transmitting surface 44 and takes light transmitted from the light transmitting surface 44 into the light guide path 52 is formed.

A locking claw 54 is provided on the outer periphery of the large-diameter portion 5 a of the lens member 5, and is fitted and locked in a locking hole on the outer periphery of the knob body covering the surface of the lens member 5. Further, a mounting boss 55 is provided on the back surface of the large-diameter portion 5a so as to be fitted to the switch shaft of the switch body SW at the center position.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation knob 1 and the lens member 4 of the fixed display unit 2 are assembled in the mounting opening of the operation panel 70. The mounting opening of the operation panel 70 has a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 71 protruding from the opening edge to the back side and surrounding the mounting opening, a bottom wall 72 forming the bottom surface of the mounting opening, and an outer peripheral wall. 71 is provided with a cylindrical inner peripheral wall 73 protruding from the surface of the bottom wall 72 and facing the outer peripheral wall 71 with a predetermined gap, and the outer peripheral wall 71 and the inner peripheral wall 73 form a double peripheral wall structure. .

At the center of the mounting opening, a switch shaft of the switch body SW projecting through the bottom wall 72 from the back side protrudes. The switch body SW is fixed to the surface of the circuit board 75 installed on the back side of the operation panel 70 and is electrically connected to the circuit board 75.

  The fixed display portion 2 is configured such that the small diameter portion 4 a of the lens member 4 is fitted into the gap between the outer peripheral wall 71 and the inner peripheral wall 73 of the mounting opening of the operation panel 70, and the outer periphery of the small diameter portion 4 a is in contact with the inner surface of the outer peripheral wall 71. At the same time, the step 4b of the lens member 4 and the outer periphery of the large diameter portion 4c are brought into contact with the opening edge of the mounting opening and fixed.

  The operation knob 1 inserts the small-diameter portion 5b of the lens member 5 into the gap between the small-diameter portion 4a of the lens member 4 previously attached to the operation panel 70 and the inner peripheral wall 73 of the attachment opening. The large-diameter portion 5a of the coated lens member 5 is inserted into the large-diameter portion 4c of the lens member 4, and the mounting boss 55 of the lens member 5 is fitted into the switch shaft of the switch body SW so that it can be rotated. . At this time, the back surface of the large diameter portion 5a is close to and opposed to the surface of the step 4b of the lens member 4.

  Each light source 6a, 6b, 6c is fixed at a predetermined arc-shaped position centering on the switch body SW on the surface of the circuit board 75, and is disposed at an inner position of the outer peripheral wall 71 of the mounting opening. Each light source 6a, 6b, 6c is electrically connected to the circuit board 75. The light source 6 a is made of a blue LED and is installed at a position corresponding to the display region 2 a in the low temperature range of the fixed display unit 2. The light source 6 b is made of a red LED and is installed at a position corresponding to the display area 2 b in the high temperature range of the fixed display unit 2. The light source 6c is made of an orange LED, and a plurality of light sources 6c are installed at predetermined intervals at positions corresponding to the display area 2c in the intermediate range of the fixed display unit 2 (two in the illustrated example).

  Corresponding to each light source 6a, 6b, 6c, the light of each light source 6a, 6b, 6c is applied to the bottom wall 72 of the mounting opening of each lens member 4, 5 of the fixed display unit 2 and the pointer display unit 3. Slits 76a, 76b, and 76c for irradiating the light incident surfaces 41 and 51 are formed. The slit 76c corresponding to the light source 6c has a slit diameter so that the light from the light source 6c hits the light incident surfaces 41 and 51 of both lens members 4 and 5. The slits 76a and 76b corresponding to the light sources 6a and 6b have slit diameters set so that the light from the light sources 6a and 6b hits only the light incident surface 41 of the lens member 4, and the first light incident on the lens member 5 is achieved. The surface 51 is shielded by the bottom wall 72 and is not exposed to light.

  According to the illumination structure configured as described above, the blue light of the light source 6a hits the light incident surface 41 of the lens member 4 through the slit 76a at the position corresponding to the display region 2a indicating the low temperature range of the fixed display unit 2, and enters the light incident surface 41. Light enters the lens from the light surface 41. The light that has entered the inside of the lens passes through the inside of the lens and illuminates the display area 2a from the back side, and the display area 2a is illuminated in blue. Similarly, in the display region 2b indicating the high temperature range, red light from the light source 6b enters the lens member 4, and red light is emitted from the back side by this light. A part of the light that enters the lens member 4 from the light sources 6 a and 6 b passes through the light transmitting surface 44 of the lens member 4 and hits the back side of the operation knob 1, but the light hits the lens member 5. Cannot be incorporated.

  At a position corresponding to the display area 2c indicating the intermediate range of the fixed display section 2, the orange light of each light source 6c hits the light incident surface 41 of the lens member 4 through the slit 76c and enters the lens from the light incident surface 41. Shine. The light that has entered the inside of the lens passes through the inside of the lens and illuminates the display area 2c from the back side, and the display area 2c is illuminated in orange. In this case, the light from each light source 6c that has entered the lens is diffused inside the lens, and a wide range of the display area 2c is illuminated uniformly.

  In this way, the display areas 2a, 2b, and 2c have a good appearance because the illumination colors are color-coded by the light sources 6a, 6b, and 6c having different emission colors. Since the lens member 4 is provided with a light-shielding portion 43 at the boundary between the display areas 2a, 2b, and 2c, the colors of both the display areas 2a and 2b adjacent thereto are not mixed even at both ends of the display area 2c in the intermediate range. . Further, since the masking coating 42 is applied to the inner peripheral surface of the step 4b and the large diameter portion 4c of the lens member 4, light does not leak from the gap between the fixed display portion 2 and the operation knob 1.

  On the operation knob 1 side, the orange light of each light source 6c passes through the slit 76c when the pointer display unit 3 is at a position (X range in FIG. 1) indicating the intermediate display region 2c. The light hits the light incident surface 51 and enters the lens from the first light incident surface 51. The light that has entered the inside of the lens travels through the light guide path 52 to the back side of the pointer display unit 3, and the pointer display unit 3 is illuminated in orange from the back side by this light. The pointer display unit 3 is illuminated in orange by light incident from the first light incident surface 51 at a position corresponding to the display area 2c in the intermediate range.

  Next, when the operation knob 1 is rotated and the pointer display unit 3 approaches the display region 2b in the high temperature range, a part of the light from the light source 6b leaks from the translucent surface 44, and the pointer display unit 3 is orange. Gradually changes from red to red, and when the pointer display section 3 reaches a position (Z range in FIG. 1) pointing to the display area 2b, the light guide path 52 of the lens member 5 of the operation knob 1 is shown in FIG. The second light incident surface 53 on the back surface of the lens member 4 and the light transmitting surface 44 of the lens member 4 of the fixed display unit 2 face each other. At this time, a part of the light of the light source 6 b passing through the lens member 4 passes through the light transmitting surface 44 and hits the second light incident surface 53 of the lens member 5 and enters the light guide path 52. The light that has entered the light guide path 52 reaches the pointer display unit 3, and the pointer display unit 3 is illuminated with red light from the back side thereof. Even at the position where the pointer display unit 3 points to the display area 2 b, the light of the light source 6 c is incident on the lens member 5 from the first light incident surface 51, but from the light source 6 b close to the pointer display unit 3. Since the incident light is strong, the pointer display unit 3 is illuminated by this.

  Similarly, when the operation knob 1 is rotated and the pointer display unit 3 is set to a position (Y range in FIG. 1) indicating the display region 2a in the low temperature range, the second light incident on the lens member 5 is performed. The surface 53 faces the translucent surface 44 of the lens member 4 on the display area 2a side, and a part of the light of the light source 6a passing through the lens member 4 passes through the translucent surface 44 and the second incident light of the lens member 5 The light hits the surface 53 and enters the light guide path 52. With this light, the pointer display unit 3 is illuminated in blue from the back side.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the operation knob 1 is rotated, the pointer display unit 3 displays the light color of the illumination of the pointer display unit 3 according to the display areas 2a, 2b, and 2c of the fixed display unit 2 indicated thereby. Changes and is illuminated with the same color as the display areas 2a, 2b, 2c to be pointed, so that the appearance is good. Further, the current operation position of the operation knob 1 can be confirmed at a glance, and the operability of the switch is improved. In the present embodiment, the display area is divided into three parts to illuminate three colors. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the display area may be divided into multiple parts to perform multi-color illumination.

It is a front view of the dial type switch to which the illumination structure of the present invention is applied. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along a line IIA-IIA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line IIB-IIB in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the state which decomposed | disassembled the said dial type switch. It is a front view of the lens member used for the fixed display part of the said dial type switch. FIG. 5A shows a conventional dial type switch, FIG. 5A is a front view, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line VB-VB in FIG. 5A. It is a front view of the other conventional dial type switch.

Explanation of symbols

1 Operation Knob 2 Fixed Display 2a Low Temperature Display Area ( Second Display Area )
2b High temperature display area ( second display area )
2c Intermediate display area ( first display area )
3 Pointer display portion 4 Lens member of fixed display portion 4a Small diameter portion 4b Step 4c Large diameter portion 41 Light incident surface 43 Light blocking portion 44 Light transmitting surface 5 Lens member of pointer display portion 5a Large diameter portion 5b Small diameter portion 51 First entry Light surface 53 Second light incident surface

Claims (2)

A rotary steerable circular operation knob, and a circular arc-shaped fixing the display unit to the outer periphery of the operating knob, a dial switch for switching the input based on the rotation angle of the operation knob, the operation knob In the illumination structure of the dial type switch for illuminating the pointer display unit and the fixed display unit provided in
The fixed display part is divided into a plurality of display areas,
A plurality of light sources having different emission colors provided on the back side of the fixed display unit corresponding to each display region, and a light source provided between the fixed display unit and each light source to transmit light from each light source to the fixed display unit With the guiding lens member, illumination with different light colors is performed for each of the display areas,
The pointer display unit emits light from the light source that illuminates the display area of the fixed display unit indicated by the pointer display unit with a rotation operation of the operation knob by a lens member provided on the back side thereof. For each display area of the fixed display section indicated by the pointer display section, and lighting the same color as the display area ,
When the operation knob approaches the second display area from the first display area of the fixed display section by rotating operation, a part of the light of the light source that illuminates the second display area comes from the lens member of the fixed display section. The light emission color of the pointer display unit gradually changes from the light color of the first display region to the light color of the second display region by being guided to the lens member of the pointer display unit. The lighting structure of the dial type switch. The lighting structure of the dial switch according to claim 1,
The lens member of the fixed display portion includes a cylindrical small diameter portion and a large diameter portion expanded by a step, and light from each light source is taken into the lens from a light incident surface provided at an edge of the small diameter portion. The light from the respective light sources corresponding to the display areas of the fixed display section provided at the edge of the large diameter section is guided to the display areas of the lens members of the fixed display section . Provide a light-shielding part that blocks the light from the adjacent display area at the boundary, so that the light from each light source is illuminated with a different light color for each display area,
The step of the lens member of the fixed display portion has a light transmitting surface that transmits light from the light incident surface to the back side of the operation knob at a position corresponding to the second display region of the display region. Provided,
The lens member of the pointer display portion includes a circular large-diameter portion that is inserted into the large-diameter portion of the lens member of the fixed display portion, and the small-diameter of the lens member of the fixed display portion that protrudes from the back side of the large-diameter portion. A cylindrical small-diameter part that is inserted into the part,
The lens member of the pointer display portion is provided with the pointer display portion on the surface side of the large-diameter portion, and light from a light source that illuminates the first display area on the edge of the small-diameter portion enters the lens. When the first light incident surface to be taken in is provided and the pointer display unit points to the second display region on the back side of the large diameter portion, the light transmitting surface of the lens member of the fixed display portion faces the light transmitting surface. A second light incident surface for taking light from the translucent surface into the lens is provided, and when the pointer display portion points to the first display area , the pointer display portion is light that is taken from the first light incident surface. A dial switch that illuminates the same color as the first display area while the pointer display section illuminates the same color as the second display area when the pointer display section points to the second display area ; Lighting structure.

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