JP4539020B2 - LED indicator - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an LED display that displays a character, a figure, or the like by lighting a plurality of LED (light emitting diode) elements arranged on a substrate.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In addition, there is a display that displays characters, figures, and the like using a light emitting element such as an LED as a light source. The LED display appropriately arranges a plurality of LED elements, and controls lighting / extinguishing of each LED element, thereby displaying characters, figures, and the like from the entire display. The LED display is used for the purpose of alerting, guiding, guiding, etc. to surrounding people such as users through such display. For example, it is installed in factories, production lines, and facilities to display material shortages and machine failures, and is attached to vehicles such as road work vehicles to indicate that work is in progress. . Recently, it has been used on the rear wall of the vehicle body to display warning characters in response to emergencies and alert the surrounding vehicles and the like.
[0003]
Among them, when a small number of characters or figures to be displayed are specified, it is sufficient to prepare only the LED elements corresponding to the display. Therefore, the LED elements are arranged and mounted on the substrate by following each character or every figure. There is a specification to make it. In this specification, the LED elements mounted in a predetermined section on the substrate are turned on at the same time, so that characters and the like appear on the display following the LED arrangement. Even when there are a plurality of characters or figures to be displayed, LED elements can be mounted on the substrate so that they are stacked in the same section, and can be switched and displayed via switching means such as a switch. These specifications allow the number of LED elements to be prepared to be kept to a minimum source compared to specifications in which LED elements are arranged and mounted in a matrix to accommodate many display patterns, and a complicated control circuit is prepared separately. There is no need. As a result, the cost can be greatly reduced, the weight of the product can be reduced, and the maintenance can be improved by simplifying the structure.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-225626 A
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in this kind of LED display, the LED element is exposed to the outside and appears on the display, or a translucent panel is arranged facing the arrayed LED, and the LED element is exposed to rainwater from the outside. It is divided roughly into the structure which prevents from dust and the like. In any of the configurations, the LED element is visually recognized from the outside in terms of the configuration in which characters are displayed using the LED element as a medium. In such a case, even if the LED element is not lit, the LED element is visually recognized by external light. In particular, a display device using LED elements has a configuration in which the background of the arranged LED elements is made dark, such as black, and the brightness of the light of the LED elements is widened to compensate for the light quantity of the LED elements to ensure visibility. It is common. Therefore, the three-dimensional effect of the LED element appears in the background with the dark color as a background, and the presence of the LED element is sufficiently visible without being lit.
In such a configuration, not only the presence of the LED elements but also the arrangement thereof are visually recognized. For this reason, when the specification is based on the above-described characters, characters and the like are visually recognized from the outside due to the arrangement of the LED elements even when the LED elements are not lit, and pseudo lighting may occur.
[0006]
Therefore, a specification is devised to make the LED surface inside the case difficult to see by fogging the surface of the panel, but in this configuration, if the degree of fogging is too large, the light transmission of the LED element is blocked, and on the contrary, sufficient visibility is obtained. It cannot be used for specifications that do not have panels. In addition, there is a method that makes it difficult to see the arrangement of the LED elements by applying a silicon agent or the like on the substrate on which the LED elements are mounted, and in this case, a large amount of silicon agent must be prepared. Further, it takes time and labor to dry the silicon agent, and as a result, the product becomes expensive.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above technical problem and to provide an LED display that does not cause misidentification when the lamp is turned off.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the LED display according to claim 1 is arranged inside a case, and transparent LED elements are appropriately arranged on a dark-colored substrate so as to follow characters, figures, or symbols. The LED display is mounted on the substrate surface outside the area where the LED element is mounted. There is an applied light reflecting film, and the light reflecting film and the LED element are arranged in a dot matrix form on the entire area of the substrate visually recognized from the outside, and from the outer edge of the light reflecting film toward the center of the light reflecting film. The substrate is characterized in that the dark and equidistant radial lines of the substrate appear .
[0008]
According to the present invention, an LED display has a transparent LED element mounted on a dark-processed substrate surface, and white or a color similar to white on a substrate surface outside the region where the LED element is mounted. And a light reflecting film applied in (1). By making the light reflection film white or the like, it approximates the transparent color of the mounted LED element. Further, by applying the light reflecting film to the size of a dot unit, a dot matrix pattern formed by combining the LED element and the light reflecting film on the substrate is completed. For this reason, even when the LED elements are arranged so as to follow characters, figures, symbols, etc., an orderly pattern in a dot matrix shape is visually recognized by the viewer. Therefore, even when the LED elements are not turned on, characters or the like formed by the arrangement of the LED elements are not mistaken. If the size of the light reflecting film is the dot unit of the LED element that is visually recognized, it is difficult to distinguish the LED element from the LED element, and the effect of preventing misidentification increases. Further, by expressing a radial line in the dark color of the substrate from the center of the light reflecting film, an effect of giving an impression as if there is a raised portion on the plane is brought about. Since the area where the LED element is mounted does not have a light reflecting film, the LED element is mounted as designed by finding a vacant spot in the dot matrix pattern that is created after the LED element is mounted. You can check if you did. For this reason, the mounting confirmation of the LED element can be easily performed at the time of manufacture. Furthermore, since the effect of preventing the pseudo lighting can be exhibited only by applying the light reflecting film on the substrate, it can be performed at low cost and is also economically preferred.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an LED display in which transparent LED elements are appropriately arranged and mounted on a dark-colored substrate supported inside a case so as to form characters, figures or symbols. On the surface of the substrate, a light reflecting film applied in white or a color similar to white in a dot matrix with a dot unit size of the LED element to be visually recognized, and a light reflecting film as appropriate There is a mounted LED element, and dark lines at equal intervals on the substrate appear from the outer edge of the light reflecting film toward the center of the light reflecting film.
According to the present invention, an LED display includes a light-reflecting film applied in white or a color similar to white on a dark-processed substrate surface, and a transparent LED element mounted on the light-reflecting film. As a result, the light that leaks to the bottom surface of the LED element is reflected by the light reflecting film and emitted to the outside. Further, by applying the light reflecting film to white or the like, it is sufficiently visually recognized even if a slight amount of light is applied. For this reason, the amount of light radiated to the outside increases to make it brighter, and the visibility can be improved without applying a special load to the LED element. In addition, since the light reflecting film is applied in a dot matrix form on the substrate that is visible, the dot matrix pattern will be lost on the board even if the LED element is mounted so as to follow the characters. There is no. Further, by expressing a radial line in the dark color of the substrate from the center of the light reflecting film, an effect of giving an impression as if there is a raised portion on the plane is brought about. Therefore, it is effective for preventing misidentification when the lights are turned off. In carrying out the present invention, as described in claim 3, the LED element has a substantially bell shape with a hemispherical tip, and the contour of the tip of the LED element is at the center of the light reflecting film. a circular line that expresses, said radial line so as to abut against the circular line are present, the circular line may appear in the dark substrate. According to this invention, the three-dimensional effect of the LED element can be further expressed.
[0010]
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external front view (a) and a side sectional view (b) of an embodiment of the LED display of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the LED display 1 is configured by housing an LED (light emitting diode) element serving as a light source and its control mechanism in a case 2 that forms an outer shape. The LED display 1 is attached to a wall surface of a vehicle body, a building, equipment, or the like, and displays characters, figures, and the like from a display surface in front of the case through irradiation light from the LED element. The overall shape of the LED display 1 varies depending on the rows and columns of characters to be displayed, but in this embodiment, a description will be given taking up specifications that display a single character string by arranging a plurality of characters vertically.
[0011]
The case 2 is configured by combining a front case 21 provided with an opening for forming a display surface and a plate-like rear case 22 arranged facing the front case 21. Both the front case 21 and the rear case 22 are formed by processing a resin material such as plastic or a sheet metal, but are formed of a non-translucent material so as not to transmit irradiation light from a light source to be accommodated, or Processing such as coloring. Accordingly, the LED display 1 is configured so that light source light does not pass through portions other than the opening. If case 2 is applied in a dark color, the brightness and darkness of the light emitted from the light source becomes clear, and the displayed characters are more clearly visible and effective.
[0012]
The panel 3 is fitted into the opening 21a of the front case 21 to form a display surface. The panel 3 is a plate-like member made of a light-transmitting material such as methacrylic resin or glass resin. The panel 3 may be colorless and transparent, but if the surface facing the inside of the case 2 is subjected to a surface or partial surface treatment, the degree of transmission may be moderately suppressed. In other words, it becomes difficult to see the pattern inside the case projected on the panel, which can prevent false lighting, while maintaining necessary and sufficient visibility. In order to fit the panel 3 into the front case 21, in addition to forming fitting means for each, various methods such as applying and fixing an adhesive (not shown) around the panel 3 fitted into the opening, etc. The method is mentioned. In addition, the panel 3 can be provided with a function as a lens, and the area of characters or the like to be displayed by diffusing the light of the LED element 42 can be increased.
The rear case 22 can fix the circuit board 41 on which the LED elements 42 are appropriately arranged, the opposite side of the surface on which the circuit board is arranged can be attached to the wall surface, and the LED display 1 can be mounted via a screw mechanism. . The screw mechanism is a bolt 62 having a shaft portion, and a nut 63 is screwed into the shaft portion via a washer 64 and fastened. The screw mechanism is provided above and below the case 2. When attaching to the wall surface, the bolt 62 is inserted into the rear case 22, the shaft portion protruding to the rear surface of the rear case 22 is inserted into the surface to be attached, and a washer 64 and a nut 63 are assembled and fastened to the end. .
A cabtyre wiring 51 connected to the circuit board 41 is inserted in the center of the rear case 22 and is wired to the circuit board 41 via a connection terminal such as a connector 43. The inserted cabtire wiring 51 is subjected to a retaining treatment such as a cable tie 52, and a waterproof sealant 53 is applied from the inside of the case so as to fill a gap with the inserted hole. Prevent water intrusion.
The front case 21 and the rear case 22 are combined through fitting means applied to the front case 21 and the male case 61 is inserted and fastened from the upper and lower sides and the left and right sides on the rear case 22 side. In FIG. 1, the joining piece 21b is given to the peripheral edge of the front case 21, and the corresponding rear case 22 is similarly provided with a peripheral wall groove 22b along the peripheral edge. By combining the front case 21 and the rear case 22, the joining piece 22b is fitted into the recess of the peripheral wall groove 21b and coupled. The circuit board 41 fixed to the rear case 22 is accommodated in a closed space formed by combining the front case 21 and the rear case 22.
[0013]
The circuit board 41 is plate-shaped, and the surface on which the LED element 42 is mounted is colored with a dark color such as black. This is to make the irradiation light appear clearer by darkening the circuit board that is the background of the LED element to be irradiated. The circuit board 41 is disposed on a plurality of screw hole pillars 22a formed at predetermined positions of the rear case 22, and is fixed to the rear case 22 by screwing. A plurality of LED elements 42 are appropriately arranged on the circuit board 41, and an output from the connected cabinet wiring 51 is received to supply power to each LED element 42. By controlling the supplied pattern, the light emission of the LED element 42 can be controlled.
[0014]
2A and 2B are diagrams showing a process of mounting the LED element 42 on the circuit board 41, where FIG. 2A shows a state before mounting, and FIG. 2B shows a state after mounting. Characters to be displayed vary depending on the application of the LED indicator, but in this embodiment, they are attached to the rear part of the vehicle body such as a shared bus and notified to the outside when an emergency such as a bus jack or fire occurs. The LED display for emergency display used for this purpose will be described. In this specification, in the event of an emergency, an emergency operation switch (not shown) installed near the driver's seat is turned on, so that the LED display attached to the rear of the bus body “SOS”. "Is displayed.
[0015]
In FIG. 2, LED element 42, as imitates each character of the "S""O""S", are prepared required number fraction, you adopt a transparent color. On the corresponding circuit board 41 side, mounting holes (not shown) for mounting to face the array of the LED elements 42 are formed at predetermined positions. And in the area | region 41a which does not mount the LED element 42, the circular light reflection film 7 is formed in the dot matrix form. What is necessary is just to determine the magnitude | size of the light reflection film 7 according to the magnitude | size of the dot unit of the LED element 42 visually recognized. In this embodiment, the LED element 42 to be used has a substantially bell shape, and the LED element 42 mounted on the circuit board 41 is visually recognized as a continuous form in a circular dot unit. The size of the light reflecting film 7 is determined in accordance with the size of the circle. As this, by performing light reflection film in accordance with the size of the LED elements to be visually recognized, after mounting the LED element 42, identify the peripheral of the light reflection film 43 is no longer stuck, preventing the pseudo lighting Can be improved.
[0016]
Light reflecting film 7, which contains the light reflecting member into the material, may be silk printing can do with ink particles containing such metal, for example. Silk printing has the property of reflecting when exposed to light, and a light reflecting film can be applied to the entire area of the circuit board in a single process, leading to a reduction in manufacturing time and cost reduction. The light reflecting film 7 is drawn as a circle filled with light ink in FIG. 2 (the same applies to FIG. 3), but actually, a light reflecting film 7 having a white color or a similar color is adopted. In addition to approximating the transparent color of the mounted LED element 42 by setting it to white, it is sufficiently visible even when a small amount of light is applied, and is efficient in improving the brightness of the dot matrix pattern LED element . Light reflecting film 7 may facilities silk printed on a circuit board 41 which is processed in dark.
[0017]
When the LED element 42 is mounted, as shown in FIG. 2B, a pattern in which one surface is formed into a dot matrix can be formed on the circuit board 41. This pattern is a mixture of the mounted LED element 42 and the light reflecting film 7 formed on the circuit board 41. The front case 21 covers the circuit board 41 and is combined with the rear case 22. At this time, the above-described dot matrix pattern is displayed on the panel 3 in the front case 21. For this reason, when the light is turned off, the viewer visually recognizes that there is a dot matrix pattern on the panel 3. That is, since the characters (“S”, “O”, “S”) that the LED element 42 arranged cannot be read, a person who has seen the LED display 1 such as a driver of the rear vehicle in a normal situation where the light does not light. , And no action will be taken in the event of an emergency. Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, the light reflecting film 7 is not applied to the region 41 b in which the LED element 42 is disposed on the circuit board 41. Therefore, if the LED element 42 is not mounted, the surface of the circuit board remains visible in the state of FIG.
Then, since the periphery is a dot matrix pattern, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the LED element 42 is mounted as designed by finding a vacant part in the pattern at the time of manufacture.
[0018]
3A and 3B show the second embodiment. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a state before the LED element 42 is mounted, and FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of a main part in a state where the LED element 42 is mounted. FIG. In the second embodiment, the LED element 42 has a transparent color, and the light reflection film 7 of white or a color similar to white is applied to the entire area of the circuit board 41 in a dot matrix . When the LED element 42 is mounted on the circuit board 41, a dot-matrix pattern is created as in the case shown in FIG. At this time, at the place where the LED element is mounted, the LED element 42 is disposed on the light reflecting film 7 as shown in FIG. Then, from the LED element 42, the light leaking to the bottom surface or the like of the LED element 42 is reflected and irradiated on the light reflecting film 7 located on the lower surface while being directly irradiated toward the panel 3 in the front. For this reason, the brightness of the irradiated light increases as a whole, and the visibility is improved. Therefore, the light source light can be used effectively.
In addition, about the mounting of the LED element 42, in FIG.3 (b), although it mounted in the state which floated on the circuit board 41 slightly, not only this but the mounting so that it may contact | attach on the circuit board 41 You can do anything. In addition, the characters to be displayed are not limited to the above “S”, “O”, and “S”, but can also be characters such as “getting on and off”, “110”, figures, and symbols. Furthermore, in the specification for switching and displaying a plurality of character strings on the same screen, such as the specification for switching display between “in / out” and “SOS”, if one superimposed character string can be read, The present invention can be used without misunderstanding.
[0019]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a pattern of the light reflection film 7 to be formed, and each shows the light reflection film 7 in a plan view. The dotted line drawn in each figure shows the area | region of a light reflection film, and the pattern which does not contain a dotted line is actually formed.
In addition, a solid line or a black area drawn in each figure indicates an area where the light reflecting film 7 is not applied, and the ground on the surface of the circuit board 41 appears.
Examples of the pattern of the light reflecting film 7 include the methods ( a) to ( b ), all of which are for showing the stereoscopic effect of the mounted LED element 42 on a plane. FIG. 4A shows the shape of the light reflecting film 71 formed by cutting a radial line 71a around a circular shape. In this case, the three-dimensional effect of the LED element 42 is expressed using the line 71a, and by giving the line 71a radially, an effect of giving an impression as if there is a raised part on a plane is brought about. Similarly, the light reflection film 72 shown in FIG. 4B using lines shows a shape in which a circular line 71b appears in the center based on the shape of FIG. In this case, the LED element 42 is formed according to a shape in which the tip is hemispherical like a substantially bell shape, and the contour of the tip or the like is expressed as a line.
As described above, various shapes of the light reflecting film 7 are exemplified, but the shape is not limited to this, and for example, the light reflecting film 73 shown in FIG. 4C may be used. The light reflecting film 73 shown in FIG. 4C shows a shape in which a triangular cutout 73a is added to the four sides of a circle. In this shape, the shadow appearing in the three-dimensional effect of the LED element 42 is expressed by a surface, and the three-dimensional effect of the LED element 42 is expressed by adopting a form in which the black area expands toward the periphery. Furthermore, other patterns are conceivable, such as a shape in which a plurality of circular lines are drawn concentrically, or a shape in which the center is circularly cut and a black circle is provided.
[0020]
The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various design changes can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, in addition to silk printing, it is possible to take measures such as bonding a film-like material on the circuit board or spraying a paint having a light-reflective material, or embedding a light-reflecting member on the circuit board. The same effect can be obtained by incorporating the structure. In addition, if the optimum color of the light reflecting film is selected in accordance with the LED element to be mounted, the effect of preventing the pseudo lighting is obtained. Furthermore, since it is only necessary to be visible in the form of a dot matrix within an area visually recognized from the outside, the area to which the light reflecting film is applied can be suppressed to the minimum necessary, not the entire circuit board. In addition, in the specification of assembling the LED element to be mounted by covering it with a dome-shaped lens, a light reflecting film may be applied so as to resemble the shape of the visually recognized lens, and the shape of the light reflecting film is limited to the LED element. It is not a thing.
In addition, various modes may be adopted for the shape of the LED display, the characters to be displayed, and the like depending on the application to be used.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external front view (a) and a side sectional view (b) of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating an assembling process according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 2A illustrates a state before mounting, and FIG. 2B illustrates a state after mounting;
FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating an assembling process according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of a main part before mounting, and FIG.
Is a diagram showing an embodiment of a light reflection film in the present invention; FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 LED indicator 21 Front case 22 Rear case 3 Panel 41 Circuit board 41a Area | region 41b which does not mount an LED element Area | region 42 which mounts an LED element 42 LED element 7 Light reflection film

Claims (3)

An LED display in which transparent LED elements are appropriately arranged and mounted on a dark-colored substrate supported inside the case so as to follow characters, figures, symbols, etc. On the outer substrate surface, there is a light reflecting film applied in white or a color similar to white at equal intervals in the size of the dot unit of the LED element to be visually recognized, and the light reflecting film and the LED element are: It is arranged in the form of a dot matrix across the entire area of the substrate that is visible from the outside, and the dark radial lines appear evenly spaced from the outer edge of the light reflecting film toward the center of the light reflecting film. Characteristic LED display. An LED display that is supported in the case and mounted with a transparent LED element arranged appropriately so as to follow a character, figure, or symbol on a dark-colored substrate, on the substrate surface, There is a light-reflecting film applied in white or a color similar to white in the form of a dot matrix in the size of a dot unit of the LED element to be visually recognized, and an LED element appropriately mounted on the light-reflecting film. An LED display characterized in that radial lines at equal intervals appear on the substrate from the outer edge of the film toward the center of the light reflecting film. The LED element has a substantially bell shape with a hemispherical tip, and a circular line representing the outline of the tip of the LED element at the center of the light reflecting film and the radial line so as to contact the circular line . lines are present, a circular line, LED display of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that appearing in the dark substrate.

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