JP4732629B2 - Combination meter - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a combination meter mounted on various vehicles (mounted objects) represented by, for example, automobiles, motorcycles, ships, agricultural construction machines, and aircraft.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, a dashboard of an automobile is equipped with a combination meter (composite meter) in which a plurality of meters that display various types of measurement values in a pointer manner are combined into one integrated unit body.
[0003]
Many of such combination meters have a plurality of circuit boards, a plurality of instrument movements mounted on these circuit boards, and a rotary shaft provided in each of these instrument movements. In Therefore, a plurality of pointers to be driven and a plurality of display design portions corresponding to each of these pointers are formed, and a plurality of types of pointer-type display portions (typical) according to the number of instrument movements in these display design portions and each pointer. A scale plate that forms a speedometer display unit, an engine tachometer display unit, a water temperature meter display unit, and a fuel meter display unit), a case body that houses these components, and a combination of the case body and each case It is composed of a turning member (covering member) that exposes the pointer type display part and hides other necessary parts, and a transparent cover that is disposed in front of the pointer type display part and allows the pointer type display part to be seen through.
[0004]
By the way, in this kind of combination meter, the number of pointer-type display units to be incorporated may differ depending on, for example, the grade development of a specific vehicle type (target to be mounted) or its type variation. For example, in a certain grade, the number of pointer type display units differs depending on each grade when the first type of indicator type display unit to be incorporated is two types and the second grade that is one type. It is necessary to prepare the required number of circuit boards and instrument movements according to the number of pointer-type displays, and accordingly, the structure of the case body, pointers, turning members, etc. will change and new parts will increase, cost Therefore, in order to make the circuit board common among the grades, it is possible to make the circuit board a single board whose size is common to each grade, and to electrically connect the required number of instrument movements to this single board. Conceivable.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the past, instrument movements for speedometer display units or engine tachometers that require rapid response to the movement of the target, such as travel speed and engine rotation, have been required to be circuit-based. On board For a fuel gauge display unit or a water thermometer display unit that is driven through a microcomputer (control means) mounted on the, and has a gentle change in the measurement target, such as the remaining fuel level and water temperature, and does not require a quick response to the pointer operation. This instrument movement is driven directly according to the change in resistance value according to the sensor output, etc. without using an element such as a microcomputer, and the structure of the instrument movement varies depending on the difference in the driving method. Depending on the type of pointer-type display unit, the structure of the instrument movement may differ between grades.In this case, for example, in addition to the number and position of connection terminals connected to the circuit board, In addition to the presence or absence of elements, the circuit pattern on the circuit board changes greatly, which increases the load required to produce the circuit board. , It is difficult to obtain a sufficient cost advantage.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of this point, and its main purpose is to reduce the load required to produce a circuit board and to reduce the cost when the circuit board is shared between grades and variations. A combination meter is provided.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a circuit board composed of a hard single board extending along the display surface, a plurality of instrument movements electrically connected to the circuit board, and a rotation provided for each of these instrument movements. A plurality of pointers driven by the shaft and a plurality of display design portions corresponding to each of the pointers are formed, and a plurality of types of pointer-type display portions having different measurement objects are formed between the display design portions and the pointers. A combination meter including a scale plate, wherein the combination pattern of the type of the pointer type display unit is set to be different according to the grade to be mounted or its variation, and each instrument movement is a type of the pointer type display unit And said grade or That It is set to the same structure regardless of variations, The instrument movement is set to be controlled and driven according to the type of the pointer-type display unit to which all of the instrument movement is applied and is driven through a control means mounted on the circuit board. The number of each instrument movement and the position of the rotation axis with respect to the circuit board are the grade or That It is characterized by being set in common among variations.
[0009]
In the present invention, all or part of the display design portion of the scale plate may be the grade or That It is characterized by making it different for each variation.
[0010]
The present invention also includes a case body between the scale plate and the circuit board, and the structure of the case body is the grade or That It is characterized in that it is set in common among the variations.
[0011]
The present invention also includes a covering member that exposes a required portion of each pointer type display portion, and the structure of the covering member is the grade or That It is characterized by the common setting among the variations.
[0012]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that the pointers are set to have the same structure regardless of the type of the pointer-type display unit and the grade or variations thereof.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A combination meter according to the present invention includes a circuit board, a plurality of instrument movements electrically connected to the circuit board, and a rotating shaft provided in each of the instrument movements. In Accordingly, a plurality of pointers to be driven and a plurality of display design portions corresponding to the respective pointers are formed, and a plurality of types of pointer type display portions corresponding to the number of instrument movements are formed by the display design portions and the respective pointers. A single or a plurality of scale plates. The circuit board is set to a single board with the same or the same outer size between grades or variations, and the combination pattern of the type of the pointer-type display section is different according to the variation of the grade to be mounted or its type, etc. Each instrument movement is set to the same or common structure regardless of the type, grade or variation of the pointer-type display unit, and the number of each instrument movement and the position of the rotation axis of each instrument movement relative to the circuit board Common or the same between variations.
In this way, the combination pattern of the type of the pointer type display section is made different according to the grade to be mounted or the variation of the type, etc., each instrument movement is set to the same structure or common structure, and the number and circuit of each instrument movement By sharing the rotation axis position of each instrument movement with respect to the board, it is possible to suppress large changes in circuit patterns and reduce the burden of artwork (pattern design) during board production, thereby achieving cost reduction. be able to.
[0014]
In this case, all or part of the display design part differs depending on each grade, but if there is a display design part corresponding to the type of the pointer type display part, the scale plate is one. It may be a sheet material or a sheet material divided into a plurality.
[0015]
In addition, if all instrument movements are configured to be driven through control means mounted on the circuit board, it is advantageous for the common use of instrument movements. In this case, the control means does not depend on the type or grade of the pointer-type display section. A program for controlling and driving the instrument movement having a common structure in accordance with the type of the indicator type display unit to be applied (for example, a speedometer display unit, an engine tachometer display unit, a fuel gauge display unit, a water temperature meter display unit) It can consist of a microcomputer.
[0016]
In addition, when a case body is provided between the scale plate and the circuit board, if the structure of this case body is made common, it is not necessary to produce a dedicated case body for each grade to be mounted or its variations, further reducing costs. It is valid.
[0017]
In addition, if you have a covering member that exposes the required part of each pointer-type display unit, if you make the structure of this covering member common, you do not have to create a dedicated covering member for each grade or variation of the mounting target, further cost Effective for down.
[0018]
If each pointer is set to a common structure regardless of the type of the pointer-type display section and the grade or variation of the target, the pointer structure can be shared, which is effective for further cost reduction.
[0019]
【Example】
Embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, taking as an example the case where the combination meter according to the present invention is applied to a combination meter for automobiles.
[0020]
FIGS. 1 and 2 are front views of a combination meter according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 includes a pointer-type display unit (first combination pattern) including a speedometer display unit and an engine tachometer display unit. FIG. 2 shows a combination meter in which a pointer type display unit (second combination pattern) including a speedometer display unit and a fuel meter display unit is incorporated. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of a combination meter according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. It is. FIG. 5 is a front view of a circuit board according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 and 7 show an instrument movement according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a front view of the instrument movement, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the instrument movement. FIG. 8 is a front view of the case body according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0021]
On the display surface of the combination meter of FIG. 1, a pointer type display unit SP consisting of a speedometer display unit is arranged at the center thereof, and a pointer type display unit TA consisting of an engine tachometer display unit is arranged on the left side thereof. A display panel DP1 composed of a liquid crystal display for displaying vehicle mileage data and remaining fuel data is arranged on the right side. A predetermined number of symbols are displayed on the display panel DP by turning on a light source to be described later. An indicator display section DP2 for displaying an alarm or a notification is arranged.
[0022]
On the display surface of the combination meter in FIG. 2, a pointer type display unit SP including a speedometer display unit is disposed at the center, and a pointer type display unit FU including a fuel meter display unit is disposed on the left side. A display panel DP1 comprising a liquid crystal display for displaying vehicle mileage data is arranged on the side, and a plurality of symbol marks are provided above the display panel DP1 to display predetermined information as an alarm or notification by turning on a light source to be described later. Indicator display part DP2 is arrange | positioned.
[0023]
The combination meter shown in FIG. 1 and the combination meter shown in FIG. 2 differ in the combination of the types of pointer-type display units SP, TA, FU incorporated according to the grade development of a specific vehicle type. The combination meter shown in FIG. 1 in which the pointer-type display part SP and the pointer-type display part TA, which are combination patterns, is combined with the first grade, and the pointer-type display part SP and the pointer type display part FU, which are the second combination pattern. The combination meter shown in FIG. 2 is combined with the second grade.
[0024]
In FIG. 3, the combination meter shown in FIG. 1, which is the first grade, includes a circuit board 1, an instrument movement 2, a holding body 3 that supports a display panel DP1, a pointer 4, a scale plate 5, a case body 6, a turning member ( A covering member 7 and a transparent cover 8.
[0025]
In FIG. 4, the combination meter shown in FIG. 2, which is the second grade, is similar to the combination meter shown in FIG. 1, the circuit board 1, the instrument movement 2, the holding body 3 supporting the display panel DP1, the pointer 4, and the scale plate 5. , A case body 6, a facing member (covering member) 7, and a transparent cover 8.
[0026]
The circuit board 1 is made of a paper phenolic or glass epoxy material, and is composed of a hard single board extending along the display surface of the combination meter. The outer dimensions of the circuit board 1 are the first grade and the second grade. Similarly, all or most of circuit patterns (not shown) are set to be the same (common). Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the circuit board 1 is equipped with an instrument movement 2 and a holding body 3, and circuit elements and pointers including a microcomputer (control means) 2 </ b> A for driving and controlling the instrument movement 2. 4, a scale plate 5, a display panel DP1, and a light source L made of a light emitting diode for illuminating the indicator display portion DP2 are mounted. These points are also common to the first and second grades.
[0027]
The instrument movement 2 uses a common (same) structure movement regardless of the types of the first and second grades and the pointer type display units SP, TA, and FU, and all of them are driven and controlled through the microcomputer 2A. As shown in detail in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a drive shaft 22 to which the rotor magnet 21 is fixed, and a rotary shaft 23 provided at a predetermined interval from the drive shaft 22, The shaft 24 is supported by a housing 24 made of synthetic resin, and the drive shaft 22 and the rotary shaft 23 are connected to each other via a transmission mechanism TR that rotates the rotary shaft 23 at a reduced speed with respect to the drive shaft 22. The four terminals 2 are protruded outward (forward) from 24, and a pair of coils 25 and 26 are wound around the outer periphery of the housing 24, and ends of the coils 25 and 26 are fixed to the housing 24. Formed by connecting to. Two instrument movements 2 configured in this way are mounted on the back surface of the circuit board 1 at a predetermined interval, and their rotating shafts 21 and terminals 27 pass through the circuit board 1 and protrude forward. 27 is soldered (electrically connected) to the circuit pattern on the front side of the circuit board 1. At this time, two instrument movements 2 are mounted for each grade, and the position of the rotary shaft 23 and the position of the terminal 27 are the same on the circuit board 1 between the grades. It is set to be.
[0028]
A drive control signal from the microcomputer 2A is supplied to the coils 25 and 26 of each instrument movement 2 via the circuit pattern and terminal 27, whereby a combined magnetic field is generated in each of the coils 25 and 26. The rotation of the rotor magnet 21 is transmitted to the rotation shaft 23 via the transmission mechanism TR, and the pointer 4 attached to the rotation shaft 23 thereby rotates.
The microcomputer 2A is a microcomputer (one-chip microcomputer) including a program that can control all the pointer-type display units SP, TA, and FU applied within one grade, a PWM driver that drives the instrument movement 2 in accordance with this program, and the like. ) And controls the instrument movement 2, which has a common structure regardless of the type of the pointer-type display units SP, TA, FU and the grade of the combination meter, according to the type of the pointer-type display units SP, TA, FU to be applied. It is set so that it can be driven, and switching of the application program according to the type of the pointer type display units SP, TA, FU is performed based on predetermined switching means or discrimination means. As described above, in this example, the microcomputer 2A is also shared (program sharing) regardless of the types and grades of the pointer type display units SP, TA, and FU, but the pointer type display units SP, The program to be incorporated may be selected according to the type and grade of TA and FU.
In this example, the control means is constituted by the microcomputer 2A including the control program and driver. However, the microcomputer 2A and the driver can be constituted by separate circuit elements, or the control means itself is constituted by the microcomputer 2A. Instead, it can be configured with a logic circuit.
[0029]
The holding body 3 is formed in a frame shape with white synthetic resin, supports the display panel DP1 on the front side thereof, and houses a light source (not shown) for backlighting the display panel DP1 inside. The structure is similarly set in the first and second grades.
[0030]
Further, the display content of the display panel DP1 is different in that the first grade side (FIG. 1 side) displays travel distance data and fuel data, and the second grade (FIG. 2 side) displays only travel distance data. Other than, the size is set the same between each grade.
[0031]
As the pointer 4, a light emitting pointer is used which is composed of a linear indicator portion made of a translucent material that receives light from the light source L on the circuit board 1 and a light-shielding cover that covers the rotation center of the indicator portion. These are mounted on the rotation shaft 23 of each instrument movement 2. The pointer 4 is also set to a common (same) structure regardless of the types of the first and second grades and the pointer type display portions SP, TA, and FU.
[0032]
The scale plate 5 has a point having a through-hole 51 that allows the rotary shaft 23 and the pointer 4 to be connected, and an extension (not shown) that extends above the display panel DP1, and an indicator is displayed on the extension. A point where a plurality of symbol marks of the part DP2 are formed, a point having a display design part (speedometer display part) 52 which forms a pointer type display part SP which displays a traveling speed in combination with the pointer 4, and a point of an external size However, in the case of the first grade, the display design portion (engine tachometer display) that forms the pointer type display portion TA that displays the engine speed in combination with the pointer 4 in the case of the first grade. In the case of the second grade, there is a difference in that it has a display design portion (fuel gauge display portion) 54 that forms a pointer type display portion FU that displays the remaining fuel in combination with the pointer 4 in the case of the second grade. is doing. In this example, the scale plate 5 is composed of a single plate, but can also be divided into a plurality of plates. In this case, for example, the scale plate 5 forming the pointer type display portion SP is common to each grade. The scale plate 5 constituting the pointer type display unit TA and the pointer type display unit FU may be set as the scale plate 5 having the dedicated display design units 53 and 54 and selected according to each grade. .
[0033]
The display design portions 52, 53, 54 and the indicator display portion DP2 are formed so as to have a light-transmitting portion, and the other portions are set to have a light-shielding property. The portions 52, 53, and 54 and the symbol mark forming portion are backlit by the light of the light source L.
[0034]
The case body 6 is formed of a white synthetic resin in the same structure between the grades, and is disposed between the circuit board 1 and the scale plate 5 to support the scale plate 5 from behind. As shown also in FIG. 8, the cylindrical portion 61 that guides the light from the light source L arranged around the rotation shaft 23 to the pointer 4, and the light from the light source L arranged outside the cylindrical portion 61 to the scale plate 5. And a plurality of lamp chambers 64 positioned between the symbol mark and the light source L. The reflecting portion 62 reflects to the side, the opening 63 exposes the holding body 3 and the display panel DP2 to the front.
[0035]
The facing member 7 is made of a synthetic resin having a light shielding property and is formed in the same structure between grades, and has a window portion 71 that exposes the pointer-type display portions SP, TA, FU, the display panel DP1, and the indicator display portion DP2. Have.
[0036]
The transparent cover 8 is formed in the same structure between the grades by a synthetic resin having translucency, and covers the display surface of the combination meter so as to be seen through.
[0037]
As described above, in this embodiment, the circuit board 1, the plurality of instrument movements 2 mounted on and electrically connected to the circuit board 1, and the rotary shaft 23 provided in each of these instrument movements 2. In Accordingly, a plurality of pointers 4 to be driven and a plurality of display design portions 52, 53, 54 corresponding to the pointers 4 are formed, and the display design portions 52, 53, 54 and the pointers 4 constitute the instrument movement 2. A scale plate 5 that forms a plurality of types of pointer-type display units SP, TA, FU corresponding to the number, and the circuit board 1 is a single substrate whose outer size is at least common between grades. The combination pattern of the types of parts SP, TA, FU is set to be different depending on the grade to be mounted, and each instrument movement 2 has the same structure regardless of the type and grade of the pointer type display parts SP, TA, FU, By setting the number of each instrument movement 2 for one circuit board 1 and the position of the rotary shaft 23 for those circuit boards 1 in common between grades, the size of the circuit pattern Suppressing variation, load artwork during substrate production (pattern design) can be reduced, and thereby it is possible to achieve cost reduction.
[0038]
Further, in this embodiment, since all the instrument movements 2 are driven through the control means 2A mounted on the circuit board 1, it is advantageous for common use of the instrument movements.
[0039]
Further, in this embodiment, since the structure of the case body 6 is made common, it is not necessary to produce a dedicated case body 6 for each grade to be mounted, which is effective for further cost reduction.
[0040]
Further, in this embodiment, the structure of the facing member 7 and the transparent cover 8 is made common, so that it is not necessary to produce a dedicated facing member 7 and transparent cover 8 for each grade to be mounted, which is effective for further cost reduction. is there.
[0041]
Further, in this embodiment, since the pointers 4 have the same structure regardless of the types of the pointer-type display units SP, TA, and FU and the grades to be mounted, the pointer structures can be made common, which is effective for further cost reduction. .
[0042]
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the combination of the types of the pointer type display units SP, TA, and FU is changed according to the grade development of the specific vehicle type is shown. The combination may be changed depending on Further, such grade development or variation development is not limited to two patterns as in the above-described embodiment, but may be a number of patterns larger than that.
[0043]
Moreover, in the said Example, although the case where the combination of the kind of pointer type | mold display part SP, TA, FU showed two types was shown, the kind of pointer type | mold display part SP, TA, FU combined is not restricted to two. There may be three or more.
[0044]
Further, in this embodiment, the rotary shaft 23 position and the terminal 27 position of the instrument movement 2 are set to the same position regardless of the grade and the type of the pointer type display units SP, TA, FU, but at least the rotary shaft 23 position is at least. It suffices to have the same (common) position between the grades, and the position of the terminal 27 may be different depending on each grade or the type of the pointer type display portions SP, TA, FU. However, the change in the circuit pattern can be reduced by setting the same position including the terminal 27 as much as possible.
[0045]
In this embodiment, the instrument movement 2 is directly mounted on the circuit board 1 and the terminal 27 is soldered to the circuit pattern of the circuit board 1. However, the instrument movement 2 is not necessarily mounted directly on the circuit board 1. The instrument movement 2 may be mounted (supported or held) on an arbitrary part, for example, the case body 6, and the electrical connection between the instrument movement 2 and the circuit board 1 is not limited to soldering, but is optional. For example, the connection structure may be connected using a dedicated connection terminal or connector.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, the present invention is provided in a circuit board composed of a hard single board extending along the display surface, a plurality of instrument movements electrically connected to the circuit board, and each of these instrument movements. A plurality of pointers driven by the rotating shaft and a plurality of display design portions corresponding to each of the pointers are formed, and a plurality of types of pointer-type display portions having different measurement objects are formed between the display design portions and the pointers. A combination meter including a scale plate that is configured so that a combination pattern of the type of the pointer type display unit is different depending on a grade to be mounted or a variation thereof, and each of the instrument movements of the pointer type display unit Type and grade or That It is set to the same structure regardless of variations, The instrument movement is set to be controlled and driven according to the type of the pointer-type display unit to which all of the instrument movement is applied and is driven through a control means mounted on the circuit board. The number of each instrument movement and the position of the rotation axis with respect to the circuit board are the grade or That Providing a combination meter that can reduce the load required to produce circuit boards and achieve cost reductions when circuit boards are shared between grades and variations by being set in common between variations. be able to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a combination meter according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a front view of a combination meter in which a pointer type display unit (first combination pattern) including a speedometer display unit and an engine tachometer display unit is incorporated. .
FIG. 2 is a front view of a combination meter according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a front view of a combination meter in which a pointer type display unit (second combination pattern) including a speedometer display unit and a fuel meter display unit is incorporated.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a front view of a circuit board according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a front view of an instrument movement according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an instrument movement according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a front view of a case body according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Circuit board
2 Instrument movement
2A Microcomputer (control means)
3 Holder
4 Guidelines
5 Scale plate
6 Case body
7 Turning member (coating member)
8 Transparent cover
21 Rotor magnet
22 Drive shaft
23 Rotating shaft
24 Housing 24
25, 26 coils
27 terminals
51 Through hole
52, 53, 54 Display design part
61 Tube
62 Reflector
63 opening
64 light room
71 Exposed area
DP1 display panel
DP2 indicator display
L light source
SP, TA, FU Indicator type display
TR transmission mechanism

Claims (5)

A circuit board composed of a hard single board extending along the display surface;
A plurality of instrument movements electrically connected to the circuit board;
A plurality of hands driven by a rotating shaft provided in each of these instrument movements;
A combination meter having a plurality of display design portions corresponding to each of the pointers, and a scale plate that forms a plurality of types of pointer type display portions having different measurement targets in the display design portions and the pointers. ,
The combination pattern of the type of the pointer type display unit is set to be different depending on the grade to be mounted or its variation,
Each instrument movement is set to the same structure regardless of the type of the pointer-type indicator and the grade or variations thereof ,
The instrument movement is set to be controlled and driven according to the type of the pointer-type display unit to which all of the instrument movement is applied and is driven through a control means mounted on the circuit board.
A combination meter characterized in that the number of each instrument movement and the position of the rotation axis with respect to the circuit board are set in common between the grades or variations thereof . The combination meter according to claim 1, wherein all or part of the display design portion of the scale plate is made different for each grade or its variation. 2. The combination meter according to claim 1, wherein a case body is provided between the scale plate and the circuit board, and the structure of the case body is set in common between the grades or variations thereof . The combination meter according to claim 1, further comprising a covering member that exposes a required portion of each pointer type display portion, and a structure of the covering member is commonly set between the grades or variations thereof . The combination meter according to claim 1, wherein each of the pointers is set to have the same structure regardless of the type of the pointer type display unit and the grade or a variation thereof .

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