JP4455142B2 - Lighting structure of operation panel - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting structure of a vehicle operation panel.

  As is widely known, audio, a heater control device, a storage tray, an ashtray, and the like are disposed on a vehicle instrument panel. Each of these devices is provided with a light source, and each device is illuminated. Patent Document 1 below discloses an illumination structure in which the light source of each device is shared to reduce the number of light sources and reduce power consumption.

  In the illumination structure of Patent Document 1, a light-emitting device having a light source for illumination is provided with a light-emitting portion that emits light from the light source to the outside, and light emitted from the light-emitting portion is combined with the device that is combined with the light-emitting device And a light receiving portion that transmits light to the illumination portion. And the light from a light source and a light-receiving part is guide | induced to the predetermined illumination position by the light guide member.

JP-A-11-353914

  However, when the light from the light source is guided to a predetermined illumination position by the light guide member to uniformly illuminate each illumination unit, it is necessary to provide a light guide member for each illumination unit. A member is required and the manufacturing cost is high. In addition, if one light guide member is provided to extend to all the illumination positions, the light guide member becomes large, which may hinder the layout of the internal components of the equipment to be illuminated.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and illumination of a display panel that can simultaneously illuminate an illumination unit of an operation panel and an illumination unit of another device with a small number of light sources and light guide members. The purpose is to provide a structure.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a dial knob, an operation panel on which the dial knob is rotatably attached and provided with a translucent display unit indicating an operation position of the dial knob, and the display unit In a lighting structure of the operation panel in which a light source that illuminates the operation panel is disposed and disposed on the back side of the operation panel, and a substantially box-shaped storage tray is provided adjacent to the operation panel, A first opening for communicating the storage tray and a light guide member arranged on the front side of the base for guiding light from the light source to a predetermined illumination position are provided, and the light guide member includes the first opening. Extending to the vicinity of the opening and guiding the light from the light source into the storage tray through the first opening, and refracting the light from the light source according to the illumination range of the storage tray A first light guide section having made the inclined surfaces provided on the inclined surface of the first light guide portion includes a first inclined portion for refracting the light to at least the back side of the storage tray, the light on the front side A second inclined surface to be refracted is provided, and the first inclined surface is formed to have a larger area than the second inclined surface .

  If comprised in this way, a storage tray can also be illuminated with the light source which illuminates an operation panel, and the light source for exclusive use of a storage tray becomes unnecessary. In addition, by providing an inclined surface on the first light guide portion of the light guide member, it is possible to illuminate a wider range of the storage tray only with light from the first light guide portion, and thus a plurality of light guide members There is no need to provide a separate light source.

In addition, with a simple configuration, the front side of the storage tray can be darkened and the back side can be brightly lit, the recognition of articles in the back of the storage tray can be improved, and the driver is dazzled by the illumination light. It is also possible to prevent feelings.

Furthermore, even when an object is placed in the back of the storage tray, it can be easily confirmed, so that it is possible to prevent the object from being left in the storage tray.

  Furthermore, the light guide member may be formed with a through hole in which the light source is arranged and opens toward the operation panel.

  If comprised in this way, since an operation panel can be illuminated with the direct light from a light source, it is not necessary to extend a light guide member to each illumination position, and a light guide member can be reduced in size. Moreover, since the heat from the light source is radiated, it is possible to prevent illumination unevenness due to melting of the lens.

  Furthermore, in an illumination structure of an operation panel in which an operation switch having a push knob provided with a translucent display portion is attached adjacent to the base, the operation switch penetrates from the outside to the inside of the push knob. A second opening is provided, and the light guide member is provided with a second light guide that protrudes into the push knob through the second opening and guides light from the light source to the display of the push knob. May be.

  If comprised in this way, an operation switch can be illuminated, without providing a dedicated light source for an operation switch. In addition, if a plurality of second light guides are provided in the light guide member corresponding to the plurality of operation switches, the plurality of operation switches can be illuminated simultaneously without increasing the number of light sources and light guide members. Is possible.

  Furthermore, in an illumination structure of an operation panel in which an operation lever that can be rotated in a horizontal direction with respect to the operation panel is pivotally supported by the base and attached, a part of the operation lever is exposed on the front side of the grip portion. A translucent lens member attached to the light guide member, a third light guide portion for guiding light from the light source to the lens member, and the third light guide portion to the lens. You may provide so that a member may follow the range which moves by rotation operation of the said operation lever.

  If comprised in this way, an operation lever can be illuminated, without providing a dedicated light source for an operation lever. Further, since the third light guide portion is provided so as to be along the range in which the lens member moves by the rotation operation of the operation lever, the lens member can be illuminated uniformly regardless of the position of the operation lever. Can do.

  As described above, in the operation panel illumination structure of the present invention, the operation panel and the storage tray can be illuminated with a small number of light sources and light guide members. Moreover, it becomes possible to illuminate the wider range of a storage tray by providing an inclined surface in the 1st light guide part of a light guide member.

  Further, by arranging the light source in the through hole provided in the light guide member, the operation panel can be illuminated by direct light from the light source, so that the light guide member can be reduced in size.

  Furthermore, it is possible to illuminate a plurality of locations with a small number of light sources by efficiently dispersing light with a single lens using operation switches and operation levers other than the storage tray.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the illumination structure of the operation panel of the present invention is adopted in a heater control device of an automobile. FIG. 1 shows a state in which a heater control device 2 is mounted on an instrument panel 1 of the automobile. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of an operation lever, and FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of an operation switch. In this specification, “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, “front” (front side of the paper), and “rear” (back side of the paper) are described with reference to the orientation of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a heater control device 2 is installed on an instrument panel 1 of an automobile. The heater control device 2 is provided with a dial knob 3 for adjusting the air direction, a dial knob 4 for adjusting the air volume, a dial knob 5 for adjusting the temperature, and an operation lever 6 for switching between the inside and outside ventilation. The air volume, temperature, and internal / external ventilation settings can be changed freely. Further, an upper part of the heater control device 2 includes a warning display section 7 for warning that the passenger seat is forgotten to wear the seat belt, a hazard operation switch 8 for blinking both turn signals, and a fogging operation for the rear window. A rear differential operation switch 9 to be performed and an A / C operation switch 10 to perform cooling and dehumidifying operations are arranged in a row in the instrument panel 1.

  An operation panel 12 is formed integrally with the instrument panel 1 on the front side of the heater control device 2. The operation panel 12 is formed with three insertion holes (not shown) through which the dial knobs 3, 4, and 5 are inserted. There are provided a plurality of figures 14 each having a figure indicating a function at each operation position and a shape such as a number. The display unit 14 is translucent, and the shape of the display unit 14 can be recognized by natural light from the outside during the daytime. At night, the display unit 14 is lifted up by irradiating light from the back surface. It can be recognized.

  In addition, a lever insertion hole 15 in which an operation range region of the operation lever 6 is opened is formed in the lower portion of the operation panel 12. A display film 16a indicating an outside air introduction mode and a display film 16b indicating an inside air circulation mode are mounted on the left and right sides of the lever insertion hole 15, and illuminated by light from the back surface. Furthermore, a switch insertion hole 17 is formed in the upper part of the operation panel 12 to expose the warning display section 7 and the three operation switches 8, 9, 10 to the front side.

  A substantially box-shaped storage tray 19 that is integrally formed with the instrument panel 1 and that opens on the front side is provided below the heater control device 2. In the upper wall of the storage tray 19, two first openings 20 communicating with the inside of the operation panel 12 are formed.

  Next, the mechanism part of the heater control device 2 mounted on the back side of the operation panel 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. The heater control device 2 includes a base 22 formed of a white resin material such as an acrylic-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin colored white. A substantially box-shaped bulb box 25 in which bulbs 23 and 24, which are light sources for illumination, are arranged is formed on the front surface of the base 22, and the bulb box 25 transmits light from the bulbs 23 and 24 to the operation panel 12 side. It serves as a reflective plate that reflects. The left and right ends of the bulb box 25 are provided with substantially arc-shaped reflectors 26 that are inclined toward the front surface and reflect light from the bulbs 23 and 24 toward the operation panel 12. The entire operation panel 12 can be illuminated almost uniformly by direct light from 24.

  In the center of the valve box 25, three dial knobs 3, 4, 5 are arranged in a substantially horizontal row, and the valves 23, 24 are positioned between the dial knobs 3, 4, 5 respectively. . Each of the dial knobs 3, 4, and 5 is operated to rotate an operation mechanism unit (not shown) by rotating and adjusting the wind direction, the air volume, and the temperature, respectively. The dial knobs 3, 4, and 5 are provided with illumination units 32. As shown in FIG. 4, the illuminating unit 32 is formed by partially exposing a translucent bearing member 33 that transmits light from the bulbs 23 and 24 to the front side, and the bulbs 23 and 24. The operation position of the dial knobs 3, 4 and 5 can be recognized even at night.

  Around the bulbs 23 and 24, a light guide member 40 is provided which is made of a light-transmitting synthetic resin material and guides the light from the bulbs 23 and 24 to a predetermined illumination position. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the light guide member 40 is provided with a substantially V-shaped substrate 41, and two through holes for mounting the valves 23, 24 therein are provided at both ends of the substrate 41. 42 and 43 are formed. Engaging claws 44 for attaching the light guide member 40 to the base 22 are provided at both the left and right ends of the substrate 41 so as to be elastically deformable. By engaging with the attachment portion 27 of the base 22, the light guide member 40 is provided. Can be easily attached to the base 22.

  Further, two first light guide portions 45 extending from the periphery of the through holes 42 and 43 to the vicinity of the first opening 20 of the storage tray 19 are provided on the lower side of the substrate 41. The first light guide 45 guides light from the bulbs 23 and 24 to the vicinity of the first opening 20 so that the inside of the storage tray 19 can be illuminated by light emitted from the tip thereof. As shown in FIG. 3, the front end (left side in FIG. 3) is cut out at the front end of the first light guide 45, and the rear side (right side in FIG. 3) is provided. A second inclined surface 47 provided by being cut out is formed. The light radiated from the tip of the bulbs 23 and 24 through the first light guide 45 is refracted to the back side of the storage tray 19 by the first inclined surface 46 and the storage tray by the second inclined surface 47. The entire storage tray 19 can be illuminated by being refracted to the front side of 19 so that light is diffused in a wider range in the front-rear direction. If the area of the first inclined surface 46 is formed larger than the area of the second inclined surface 47, the amount of light refracted to the back side of the storage tray 19 can be increased, and the back side of the storage tray 19 can be made brighter. It becomes possible to illuminate. In addition, it is possible to make an inverted V-shaped cut on the end surface of the first light guide portion 45 and to make the both side surfaces be inclined surfaces 46 and 47, but the inclined surfaces 46 and 47 are formed outside as in the present embodiment. By providing, the inclined surfaces 46 and 47 can be easily set according to the size of the storage tray 19.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2 (only the first inclined surface 46 is shown), the inner inclined surface 46a and the outer outer surface 46b are formed on the first inclined surface 46 and the second inclined surface 47 so as to be inclined. ing. Then, the light emitted from the tip of the bulbs 23 and 24 through the first light guide 45 is refracted by the inner side surface 46a toward the width direction end of the storage tray 19, and the width of the storage tray 19 by the outer side surface 46b. The entire storage tray 19 can be illuminated by refracting toward the center in the direction so that light diffuses over a wider range in the width direction. That is, it is possible to adjust the brightness of illumination at each position in the storage tray 19 by changing the area and angle of each inclined surface provided at the tip of the first light guide 45.

  On the upper side of the substrate 41 of the light guide member 40, three second light guide portions 48 extending from the periphery of the through holes 42, 43 to the inside of the operation switches 8, 9, 10 are provided. The second light guide 48 guides light from the bulbs 23 and 24 to the operation switches 8, 9, and 10, and each display unit (to be described later) of the operation switches 8, 9, and 10 by light emitted from the tip thereof. 71 can be illuminated. As shown in FIG. 3, the tip of the second light guide 48 is formed to be curved forward and the tip surface 48 a is directed to the front side.

  A third light guide portion 49 that is linearly formed in the horizontal direction is formed below the substrate 41 of the light guide member 40. The third light guide 49 is formed along a range in which an operation lever 6 described later moves.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the operation lever 6 is provided with a rod-shaped lever main body 51 pivotally supported by the shaft portion 28 of the base 22, and is provided on the lower side of the base 22 so as to be rotatable. A grip portion 52 having a substantially rectangular tube shape is provided on the front side of the lever main body 51. By gripping the grip portion 52 and operating it to the left and right, the rear end portion of the lever main body 51 moves, and the lever main body is moved. A control wire (not shown) connected to the rear end of 51 is operated to perform a predetermined switching operation. A lens member 53 is fitted into the grip portion 52 so that the front end is exposed on the front side of the grip portion 52. The lens member 53 is formed of a light-transmitting synthetic resin material, the main body is a lens member 53 having a substantially quadrangular cross section, and the rear end side (right side in FIG. 4) is the third light guide portion of the light guide member 40. In order to reflect the light from 49 in the front end direction, the end surface 53a is formed as an inclined surface. The third opening 29 for inserting light from the third light guide portion 49 of the light guide member 40 at the position of the base 22 corresponding to the end surface 53a is a lens when the operation lever 6 is operated. It is formed along the movement range of the end surface 53 a of the member 53.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation lever 6 configured in this manner is movable from the outside air introduction position indicated by the solid line to the inside air circulation position indicated by the two-dot chain line. And since the 3rd light guide part 49 of the light guide member 40 is formed so that this operation lever 6 may be moved, it will be in the end surface 53a of the lens member 53 no matter what position the operation lever 6 is operated. Light can be irradiated, and the lens member 53 of the operation lever 6 can be illuminated uniformly even if the operation position changes.

  On the other hand, the operation switches 8, 9, 10 and the warning display unit 7 are attached to the upper part of the base 22. As shown in FIG. 5, the operation switch 8 includes a case 62 having a substantially cylindrical shape and a plurality of fixed contacts 61 provided on the inner peripheral surface thereof, and is held in the case 62 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. A push knob 64 provided with a movable contact 63 that slides, a spring 65 that biases the push knob 64 forward, a known heart cam 66 for holding the push knob 64 in a rear position, and a heart cam pin 67 And is composed of. The push knob 64 further includes a slider 69 to which the movable contact 63 is attached, and a cap 70 fitted to the front portion of the slider 69.

  The operation switch 8 is turned on when the movable contact 63 fixed to the push knob 64 conducts the plurality of fixed contacts 61 by pressing the push knob 64 backward. A second opening 62 a into which the tip of the second light guide part 48 of the light guide member 40 is inserted is formed in the lower part of the case 62. Further, the slider 69 of the push knob 64 is provided with an opening hole 69 a for inserting the tip of the second light guide part 48 of the light guide member 40 at the lower part of the slider 69. The opening 69a is opened to the front end of the slider 69, and is formed in a range where the slider 69 does not interfere with the second light guide 48 when the slider 69 moves when the push knob 64 is pressed. The cap 70 of the push knob 64 is provided with a translucent display portion 71 representing the function of the operation switch 8, and the second guide inserted into the opening hole 69 a of the slider 69 through the second opening portion 62 a of the case 62. Illumination is performed by light emitted from the front end surface 48 a of the optical part 48. Since the operation switches 9 and 10 have the same structure as the operation switch 8, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted. On the other hand, since the warning display unit 7 is illuminated only when the passenger seat seat belt is not worn, a light source (not shown) is separately provided therein.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the lens member 53 of the operation lever 6 and the display unit 71 of each of the operation switches 8, 9, and 10 located relatively far from the valves 23 and 24 are the second light guide unit. Illumination can be ensured by guiding light through the light guide 48 and the third light guide 49. Further, the storage tray 19 provided on the lower side of the heater control device 2 illuminates the interior with light emitted from the tip of the first light guide part 45 of the light guide member 40 through the first opening 20. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide individual light sources, and the number of parts can be reduced.

  Further, the display unit 14 of the operation panel 12 provided on the operation panel 12, the display films 16 a and 16 b, and the illumination units 32 of the dial knobs 3, 4, and 5 are provided in the through holes 42 and 43 provided in the light guide member 40. Thus, the front side of the bulbs 23 and 24 is in an open state, so that it can be illuminated by direct light from the bulbs 23 and 24. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide the light guide member 40 to the back side of each illumination part 32, and it becomes possible to make the light guide member 40 small. Further, since there is no attenuation of light by the light guide member 40, the small valves 23 and 24 with less power consumption can be obtained.

  As described above, according to the illumination structure of the operation panel 12 of the present embodiment, the heater control device 2 and the storage tray 19 are illuminated at a time with only two valves 23 and 24 and one light guide member 40. This is an excellent effect that can eliminate a large number of valves.

  In the present embodiment, the operation panel 12 and the storage tray 19 are provided integrally with the instrument panel 1, but may be provided separately. The first opening may be provided on the operation panel side, or may be formed at the boundary between the operation panel and the storage tray.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, two light sources and one light guide member are provided for illumination. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the light source and the light guide are determined according to product specifications and the like. The number of members may be changed.

It is a front view of the heater control device of the vehicle which employ | adopted the illumination structure of the operation panel of this invention. It is a partial cross section front view of FIG. It is side surface sectional drawing of FIG. It is side surface sectional drawing of FIG. It is side surface sectional drawing of the operation switch of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  3, 4, 5 ... dial knob, 12 ... operation panel, 14 ... display unit, 19 ... storage tray, 20 ... first opening, 22 ... base, 23, 24 ... light source, 40 ... light guide member, 45 ... first 1 light guide part, 46, 47 ... inclined surface.

Claims (4)

A dial knob, an operation panel to which the dial knob is rotatably attached and provided with a translucent display unit indicating an operation position of the dial knob, and a light source that illuminates the display unit is attached to the operation panel. And a first opening for communicating the inside of the operation panel with the storage tray in a lighting structure of the operation panel in which a substantially box-shaped storage tray is provided adjacent to the operation panel. A light guide member that is disposed on the front side of the base and guides light from the light source to a predetermined illumination position. The light guide member extends from the light source to the vicinity of the first opening. The first light guide unit having an inclined surface formed to guide the light of the light source into the storage tray through the first opening and refract the light from the light source according to the illumination range of the storage tray. Provided, the inclined surface of the first light guide portion is provided with a first inclined portion for refracting the light to at least the back side of the storage tray, and a second inclined surface that refracts light to the front side, the first The lighting structure of the operation panel, wherein the inclined surface has a larger area than the second inclined surface . The illumination structure of the operation panel according to claim 1, wherein the light guide member is formed with a through-hole in which the light source is arranged and opens toward the operation panel. The operation panel illumination structure according to claim 1, wherein an operation switch having a push knob provided with a light-transmitting display portion is attached adjacent to the base. And a second light guide part that projects into the push knob through the second opening and guides light from the light source to the display part of the push knob. An illumination structure of an operation panel characterized by being provided. The operation panel illumination structure according to claim 1, wherein an operation lever that is pivotable in a horizontal direction with respect to the operation panel is pivotally supported by the base and attached to the operation lever. A translucent lens member is provided so as to be partially exposed, and the light guide member is provided with a third light guide portion that guides light from the light source to the lens member, and the third light guide portion. A lighting structure for an operation panel, wherein the lens member is provided along a range in which the lens member is moved by a rotation operation of the operation lever.

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