JP4712461B2 - Display panel connection cable protection structure and vehicle instrument assembly method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention protects an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) or FFC (Flexible Flat Cable) connected to a display panel (LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) such as a liquid crystal monitor or liquid crystal display, EL display) attached to a vehicle instrument, for example. The present invention relates to a protective structure for a display panel connection cable and a method of assembling a vehicle instrument.

As an example of a conventional protective structure for a display panel connection cable, a liquid crystal panel to which an FPC or FFC (hereinafter simply referred to as FPC) is connected is placed on a holder, and the holder is attached to a printed circuit board. The thing soldered to the printed circuit board is known (for example, refer patent document 1).
JP 2002-296614 A

  However, the structure as in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the FPC is damaged by an external force.

  As a structure for solving the above problem, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a protection structure for a display panel connection cable in which an FPC is supported can be considered. Such a protection structure for the connection cable for the display panel is such that a reflector 53 is assembled on a substrate 52 on which a light source 51 is mounted, a display panel 54 is placed on the reflector 53, and a bezel 55 is sandwiched between the display panels 54. Is assembled to the reflector 53. Then, the connector 58 at the end of the FPC 57 that is pressed toward the substrate 52 by the projecting piece 56 protruding from the side of the bezel 55 is attached to a connector (not shown) on the substrate 52. By this protrusion 56, no external force is applied to the FPC 57, and by pressing the FPC 57 with the protrusion 56, the movement of the FPC 57 is restricted and the FPC 57 is prevented from being scratched by rubbing with a meter case (not shown). Can do.

  In such a protective structure of the connection cable for the display panel, normally, in order to prevent a positional shift with respect to the reflector 53 and the substrate 52 when the display panel 54 is mounted, no stress is applied to the display panel 54. After the display panel 54 is assembled to the substrate 52 via the reflector 53 and the bezel 55, the FPC 57 is connected to the substrate 52. And the board | substrate 52 with which the display panel 54 was assembled | attached is mounted | worn with the display panel storage part provided in the meter case not shown.

However, since the protruding piece 56 is provided on the bezel 55, it is difficult to align the bezel 55 assembled to the substrate 52 with respect to the display panel housing portion of the meter case, and the display panel 54 is attached to the substrate 52. In the assembled state, the connector 58 of the FPC 57 extending from the display panel 54 must be connected to the substrate 52. At that time, the FPC 57 is pressed against the board 52 by the projecting piece 56 of the bezel 55, and the space between the connector 58 of the FPC 57 and the projecting piece 56 of the bezel 55 is a small space L1, so that the mounting space for the connector 58 is provided. Therefore, the connector 58 cannot be securely mounted, and the FPC 57 is twisted or bent to damage the connector on the board 52 side, or the terminals in the connector are electrically connected due to incomplete mating of the connector. May become incomplete.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to improve the work efficiency by facilitating the alignment of the display panel and enabling the connection cable to be reliably connected to the meter board. Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective structure for a connecting cable for a display panel and a method for assembling a vehicle instrument.

1) A protective structure for a display panel connection cable according to the present invention includes a display panel assembled on the upper surface of a meter board, and a display panel storage portion formed in a hole shape surrounding and surrounding the display panel. to comprising a meter case, and a protective structure of the display panel and the connecting cable for a display panel to protect the connecting cable for connecting the meter board,
The meter case is characterized in that the display panel housing part has a connection cable protective pressing part that protrudes toward the meter board and regulates movement and deflection of the connection cable.

  According to the invention described in 1), since the protective pressing portion for the connection cable has in the meter case, it is easy to align with the meter case. Further, since there is no obstacle when connecting the connection cable extending from the display panel to the meter substrate, the mounting space for the connector is increased. As a result, the connection cable can be reliably connected to the meter board. And since a connection cable is connected to a meter board | substrate using a space without an obstruction and a high freedom degree, a connection cable can be reliably connected to a meter board | substrate. Thereafter, the meter board is assembled to the meter case, so that the connection cable protection pressing portion can press the connection cable toward the meter board to protect the connection cable. Accordingly, the working efficiency can be improved by facilitating the alignment of the display panel and by reliably connecting the connection cable to the meter board.

According to the invention described in 1) above, since the protective pressing portion for the connection cable is formed to protrude toward the meter substrate in the display panel housing portion of the meter case, when the meter substrate is assembled to the meter case In addition, by pressing and supporting the connection cable to the meter substrate side, the connection cable can be protected without jumping forward of the meter case, being caught in the display panel housing portion, or being bent.

2) The display panel connection cable protection structure according to the present invention is the display panel connection cable protection structure described in 1) above , wherein the connection cable is a flexible flat cable or a flexible printed circuit body. It is said.

According to the invention described in 2) , the effect is further enhanced by applying the protection structure to a flexible flat cable or a flexible printed circuit body having a large elastic force.

3) assembling method for a vehicle meter according to the present invention, a display panel and a meter case which is disposed on an upper surface of the display panel have a display panel housing portion for accommodating the display panel, the display panel is the top surface A method of assembling a vehicle instrument, comprising: a meter board to be assembled with a connection cable provided on the display panel side; and a connector provided on the meter board,
The meter case includes a connection cable protection pressing portion that is formed in the display panel housing portion so as to project toward the meter substrate and restricts movement and vibration of the connection cable, and the connection cable is fitted to the connector. Then, the protective pressing part restricts the movement of the connection cable by assembling the meter board to the meter case.

According to the invention described in 3) above , the meter board is assembled to the meter case, so that the connection cable protection pressing portion can press the connection cable toward the meter board to protect the connection cable. Thereby, while making it easy to align the display panel, work efficiency can be improved by making it possible to reliably connect the connection cable to the meter board.
Also, when the meter board is assembled to the meter case, by pressing and supporting the connection cable on the meter board side, it is possible to resist the elastic repulsion force in the direction away from the meter board accumulated in the connection cable. The connection cable can be protected without jumping forward of the meter case, being caught in the display panel storage section, or being bent.

  According to the protective structure of the display panel connection cable and the vehicle instrument assembly method of the present invention, since the connection cable is not supported, workability is not good, and it is difficult to align the bezel with the meter case. This eliminates the problem that the connector cannot be mounted reliably because there is no room for mounting space. This makes it easier to align the display panel and allows the connector of the connection cable to be mounted securely. The effect that work efficiency can be improved is acquired.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 is an exploded perspective view of a meter assembly in which an embodiment of a protective structure for a display panel connection cable according to the present invention is used, FIG. 2 is a partially broken external perspective view around a display panel storage portion of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a display panel storage unit illustrated in FIG. 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a meter assembly 10 using a protective structure for a display panel connection cable according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a clear cover 11, a cluster lid 12, a dial 13, and a meter case. 14, a meter substrate 15, a rear cover 16, a bezel 17, an LCD 18 as a display panel, a backlight module 19, and a reflector 20.

  The clear cover 11 is made of a transparent resin and covers the front surface of the cluster lid 12 and is assembled to the cluster lid 12. The cluster lid 12 is assembled to the meter case 14 so as to cover the display portion of the dial 13.

  For example, the dial 13 is made of polycarbonate, the LCD window portion 21 is arranged in the center, the speedometer 22 and the tachometer 23 are arranged on both sides, and various warning display design portions 24 including a direction indication design portion are provided. It has a horizontally long shape arranged at the top. In addition, the dial plate 13 is formed with pointer holes 27 and 28 through which the pointer rods of the pointers 25 and 26 corresponding to the respective meters pass.

  The meter case 14 is made of plastic, for example, and is formed in a horizontally long dish shape corresponding to the shape of the dial 13. The meter case 14 is integrated with the back cover 16 and accommodates the meter substrate 15 so as to be sandwiched from both sides. In the meter case 14, an LCD storage portion 29 formed in a square hole shape is disposed in the center corresponding to the LCD window portion 21 of the dial 13, and corresponding to various warning display design portions 24. A plurality of optical path holes 30 are arranged.

  The meter case 14 has an FPC protection pressing portion 31 in the LCD housing portion 29. The FPC protection pressing portion 31 is a plate member that protrudes in an L shape from the bottom of the LCD storage portion 29 toward the meter substrate 15.

  The meter substrate 15 has a horizontally long shape that is substantially the same shape as the dial plate 13. On the meter substrate 15, electronic components (not shown) such as IC chips are attached, and a plurality of LEDs 32 corresponding to the optical path holes 30 of the meter case 14 are attached. The meter substrate 15 has four support holes 33 formed at the center thereof.

  The rear cover 16 is formed in a horizontally long dish shape, for example, made of plastic, similar to the meter case 14. The rear cover 16 is integrated with the meter case 14 so that the meter substrate 15 is sandwiched from both sides.

  The bezel 17 is formed in a rectangular frame shape, has a light transmission opening 34 at the center, and is attached to the LCD 18 so as to cover the outer edge of the LCD 18.

  The LCD 18 is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) such as a liquid crystal monitor or a liquid crystal display. When the LCD 18 is electrically connected to the meter substrate 15 to form a multi-information display, air conditioner information, vehicle information, audio information, TV information, navigation Various information such as information, hands-free telephone information, etc. is displayed. The internal circuit of the LCD 18 is electrically connected to a terminal (not shown) in the connector 36 assembled at the end through the FPC 35. The LCD 18 is assembled integrally with the backlight module 19, sandwiched between the bezel 17 and the reflector 20, fixed to the meter substrate 15, and then disposed in the LCD housing portion 29 of the meter case 14.

  The backlight module 18 includes a BEF (Band Elimination Filter) 37, a diffusion plate 38, a prism 39, and an LED substrate 41 on which a plurality of LEDs 40 are mounted. An LCD structure (see FIG. 2) 41 is formed by assembling the LCD 18 on the LCD.

  The reflector 19 has a reflected light opening 42 at the center, and four support shafts 43 at the four corners of the back surface. The reflector 19 has an outer dimension composed of the length in the horizontal direction and the length in the vertical direction slightly smaller than the inner dimension of the LCD housing portion 29 of the meter case 14.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the LCD housing portion 29 of the meter case 14 is formed in a rectangular opening, and the FPC protection pressing portion 31 is directed from the bottom edge 44 to the upper edge 45 in the LCD housing portion 29. And a second plate portion 47 that is bent at a right angle from the front end portion of the first plate portion 46 and extends toward the meter substrate 15.

  The bezel 17 has a pair of engagement holes 48 arranged on each side. The engaging holes 48 are provided with a pair of locking projections 49 formed on each outer side of the reflector 20 by placing the LCD structure 41 on the reflector 20 and then pressing the bezel 17 toward the reflector 20. The bezel 17 is integrally assembled to the reflector 20 by being engaged.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when assembling the LCD structure 41, first, the LCD structure 41 is disposed on the reflector 20, the bezel 17 is disposed on the LCD structure 41, and the bezel 17 is assembled to the reflector 20. Then, the LCD structure 41 is fixed onto the meter substrate 15 by fitting the support shaft 43 of the reflector 20 into the support hole 33 of the meter substrate 15. At this time, the connector 36 of the FPC 35 is connected to a connector (not shown) on the meter board 15 using a space L2 having no obstacle on the meter board 15 and having a high degree of freedom.

  Then, the FPC 35 is electrically connected to the meter substrate 15, and the meter substrate 15 is assembled to the meter case 14 while the bezel 17 of the LCD structure 41 fixed to the meter substrate 15 is aligned with the LCD housing portion 29. At this time, since the bezel 17 has a simple square shape and does not have protrusions such as protrusions, the bezel 17 can be easily aligned with the LCD housing portion 29 of the meter case 14. As a result, the FPC 35 is pressed and supported on the meter substrate 15 side by the FPC protection pressing portion 31 of the meter case 14 and jumps forward of the meter case 14, or is sandwiched or bent between the LCD housing portion 29 and the bezel 17. The FPC 35 is protected without any problems.

  In such a meter assembly 10, the dial 13, the hands 25 and 26, the cluster lid 12, and the clear cover 11 are sequentially assembled on the front surface of the meter case 14. Then, the meter substrate 15 to which the LCD structure 41 is fixed is assembled to the meter case 14 with the bezel 17 of the LCD structure 41 placed in the LCD housing 29, and the rear cover 16 is assembled to the rear surface of the meter case 14. .

  A power supply terminal disposed on the meter board 15 is supplied with power, an LED 32 with various warning lamp circuits, a movement circuit (not shown) of the hands 25 and 26, a movement circuit, an LCD structure 41 with an LCD display circuit, respectively. Electrically connected, the meter case 14 is screwed to the instrument panel. After that, when the engine is started, the pointer 26 of the tachometer 23 starts to operate through the movement circuit, the LED 32 is turned on through various warning light circuits, and the LCD structure 41 is operated through various LCD display circuits. Display information.

  According to the embodiment of the protection structure for the display panel connection cable described above, the FPC protection pressing portion 31 is provided in the meter case 14, so that the shape of the bezel 17 is simplified, so that the position relative to the meter case 14 is reduced. Easy to match. Further, since there is no obstacle when connecting the FPC 35 extending from the LCD structure 41 to the meter substrate 15, the space is increased, and as a result, the FPC 35 can be reliably connected to the meter substrate 15. .

  Since the FPC 35 is connected to the meter board 15 using a space with no obstacles and a high degree of freedom, the FPC 35 can be reliably connected to the meter board 15. Thereafter, the meter substrate 15 is assembled to the meter case 14, whereby the FPC protection pressing portion 31 can press the FPC 35 toward the meter substrate 15 to protect the FPC 35. Thereby, it is possible to improve the working efficiency by facilitating the alignment of the LCD structure 41 and by allowing the FPC 35 to be reliably connected to the meter substrate 15.

  Further, since the FPC protection pressing portion 31 is formed in the LCD housing portion 29 of the meter case 14 so as to protrude toward the meter substrate 15, when the meter substrate 15 is assembled to the meter case 14, the FPC 35 is connected to the meter substrate 15 side. Since the elastic repulsion force in the direction away from the meter substrate 15 accumulated in the FPC 35 can be resisted by pressing and supporting the meter case 14, the front of the meter case 14 jumps up or the LCD housing portion 29 and the bezel 17 The FPC 35 can be protected without being sandwiched or bent.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A deformation | transformation, improvement, etc. are possible suitably. For example, the engaging means between the bezel and the reflector is not limited to the illustrated one, and various structures can be applied.

  Moreover, the instrument equipped in a meter assembly is not limited to what was shown in figure, For example, you may arrange | position a hydraulic meter and a water temperature meter.

It is a disassembled perspective view of the meter assembly in which one Embodiment of the protection structure of the connection cable for display panels which concerns on this invention is used. FIG. 2 is a partially broken external perspective view around the display panel storage portion of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a display panel storage unit illustrated in FIG. 2. It is a perspective view explaining the protection structure of the conventional connection cable for display panels. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the display panel storage unit illustrated in FIG. 4.

Explanation of symbols

10 Meter assembly 14 Meter case 15 Meter substrate 17 Bezel 18 LCD (Display panel)
29 LCD storage (display panel storage)
31 FPC protection pressing part (connection cable protection pressing part)
35 FPC (connection cable)

Claims (3)

A display panel is assembled on the upper surface of the meter board, and a meter case for have a display panel housing portion formed in a hole shape housed inside to surround the display panel, provided with, the meter board and the display panel A display panel connection cable protection structure for protecting a connection cable to be connected,
The meter case includes a connection cable protective pressing portion that protrudes from the display panel housing portion toward the meter substrate and restricts movement and vibration of the connection cable. Protection structure. 2. The protective structure for a display panel connection cable according to claim 1, wherein the connection cable is a flexible flat cable or a flexible printed circuit body. A display panel, a meter case which is disposed on an upper surface of the display panel have a display panel housing portion for accommodating the display panel, and a meter board which the display panel is assembled to the top surface, provided on the display panel side A method of assembling a vehicle instrument comprising a connection cable and a connector provided on the meter board,
The meter case includes a connection cable protection pressing portion that is formed in the display panel housing portion so as to project toward the meter substrate and restricts movement and vibration of the connection cable, and the connection cable is fitted to the connector. Thereafter, the meter board is assembled to the meter case, so that the protective pressing portion restricts the movement of the connection cable.

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