JP5041862B2 - Lighting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention belongs to the field of illumination device technology that requires illumination by guiding light from a small light source, and is particularly useful for a lighting device for a vehicle instrument.

Conventionally, in order to efficiently illuminate the display design portion with a small number of point light sources, the first conical surface that reflects the light introduced from the light source disposed near the pointer in the light guide shape in the radial direction; A second conical surface that is formed in a size including the display design portion so as to surround the first conical surface and reflects light from the first conical surface toward the irradiation surface (for example, (See Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-130693 A (page 2-5, full view)

  However, in the conventional illumination device, there is a problem in that uniform illumination is obtained due to strong illumination in a part of the vicinity of the light source.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an illumination device capable of obtaining uniform illumination even in the vicinity of the light source.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention guides light from a light source to a position away from the light source, emits the guided light and illuminates the entire light guide range, and the light source. and light that is not directed to the emitted light guide body, the light emitted from the light guide to the other illumination direction, the illumination device having a reflective portion for reflecting toward the light guide or illumination direction, wherein The illumination device is a vehicle meter device that performs meter display in a vehicle, and the light source is mounted on a substrate arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval on the back side of the dial of the vehicle meter device, and the reflection The light control means for adjusting the reflected light to weaken the reflected light at a position opposite to the light guide direction of the light guide and in the vicinity of the light source, and from the vicinity of the light source to the outer periphery of the meter and to the dial The outer peripheral side portion facing and the light source The light source that penetrates toward the substrate side, and an inner peripheral side portion that forms an internal space on the substrate on the pointer shaft side so as to be directed toward the pointer shaft of the vehicle meter device from near and toward the dial plate A hole portion that forms a surface surrounding the periphery of the hole portion, and the light control means is a notch portion that is provided on the pointer shaft side of the hole portion and communicates with the internal space. Features.

Therefore, in the present invention, uniform illumination can be obtained even in the vicinity of the light source. In addition, dimming at the notch is advantageous because the cost is very low.

Hereinafter, an embodiment for realizing the illumination device of the present invention will be described based on Example 1 corresponding to the invention according to claim 1 .

First, the configuration will be described.
In the first embodiment, a vehicle meter device will be described as an example of a lighting device.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle meter device that is a lighting device according to the first embodiment.
The vehicle meter device 1 has a dial 2, a reflecting wall 3, a substrate 4, a pointer shaft 5, a pointer driving unit 6, a light source 7, a light guide 8, and a pointer 9 as main components.

The dial 2 has a scale with respect to the pointer shaft 5 arranged in a circumferential shape, and the scale and the design portion to be displayed such as characters are translucent, and the design portion which is the other background is not translucent. Like that. As a more specific example, the transparent member is left as a transparent member, and the transparent member is blacked on the transparent member.
In addition, the arrangement | sequence of a character and a scale shall be arrange | positioned circularly centering on the pointer axis | shaft 5 in FIG.

  The reflecting wall 3 is a member that reflects light from a plurality of light sources 7 arranged around the pointer shaft 5 around the pointer and closer to the pointer than a character or scale as a display design to the dial plate 2 side. In the cross section shown in FIG. 1, the outer peripheral side portion 301 has a shape toward the outer periphery of the design portion of the dial 2 while being gently curved, and the inner peripheral side portion 302 is gently curved with the shape of the pointer shaft 5. It is the part that goes to the vicinity.

  The substrate 4 is provided in parallel with the dial 2 at a distance, and is provided with a light source 7 and a drive circuit for the light source 7, a pointer drive unit 6 for driving the pointer shaft 5, and a pointer drive unit 6. Necessary circuit parts are installed.

  The pointer shaft 5 is a shaft of a pointer of a vehicle meter device (not shown). The pointer shaft 5 is driven by the pointer driving unit 6 to perform a predetermined rotational angular displacement. Thereby, the pointer 9 indicates the scale of the dial 2 and displays, for example, the vehicle speed and the engine speed.

  The light source 7 is specifically an LED. The structure directly provided on the substrate 4 is inexpensive and easy to assemble. The light source 7 is provided in a plurality of circumferential shapes around the pointer shaft 5, and the reflecting wall portion 3 takes a curved shape corresponding thereto. That is, in a portion where the light source 7 is not provided, the outer and inner sides are connected so as to form a bottom portion at a position closer to the dial 2 than the light source 7, and only a portion where the light source 7 is provided is gently formed with a hole. Yes.

The light guide 8 has a fan shape and has a sectional shape with a flat bottom portion facing the light source 7 as shown in FIG. 1, and then gently curves along the upper surface of the outer portion of the reflection wall portion 3. The shape is directed toward the outer periphery of the display design portion.
The pointer 9 is attached to the pointer shaft 5 and rotates as the pointer 9 of the meter to indicate the scale. The pointer 9 may use a light guide member. In that case, light is projected to the base end portion by a light source different from the light source 7 provided on the substrate 4, the inside is guided, and the tip shines. It is preferable to do so.

Furthermore, the structure of the reflection wall part 3 is demonstrated.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a light guide body, a light source, and a substrate of a reflection wall portion of the vehicle meter device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a reflection wall portion of the vehicle meter device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the vehicle meter device according to the first embodiment.
In the reflection wall portion 3 of the first embodiment, the outer peripheral side portion 301 and the inner peripheral side portion 302 shown in FIG. 1 are not separate bodies. This is because FIG. 1 shows a cross section at the position of the light source 7 for the sake of explanation. In the portion where the light source 7 is not provided, the outer side and the inner side are connected so as to form a bottom portion at a position closer to the dial 2 than the light source 7, and only a portion where the light source 7 is provided is gently formed with a hole.
That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of light guide hole portions 31 penetrating from the dial plate 2 side to the substrate 4 side are provided for light guide from the light source 7, and other portions form a bottom portion. This is the structure.

In the reflection wall portion 3 of the vehicle meter device of the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the light guide hole portion 31 has a circular hole shape with the light source substantially in the center.
Furthermore, in Example 1, the notch part 32 is provided in the side of the pointer shaft 5 of the light guide hole part 31 of the reflection wall part 3.
The notch 32 has a structure in which a fan shape whose planar shape is larger than the circular shape of the light guide hole 31 is connected to the pointer shaft 5 side so that the internal space is integrated.
Further, the notch 32 has an opening in the inner peripheral side portion 302 of the reflecting wall portion 3 by notching the inner peripheral side portion 302 of the reflecting wall portion 3 in this fan shape. Therefore, the cutout 32 connects the space 321 covered by the inner peripheral portion 302 and the space 311 in which the light guide hole 31 surrounds the light source 7 in a circle.
Moreover, the reflecting wall part 3 in Example 1 is made of white resin so as to easily reflect the light from the light source 7 and to go to the light guide 8 for illumination.

Next, the operation will be described.
[Uniform lighting effect]
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of reflection in the vicinity of the light source of the vehicle meter device of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state of reflection in the vicinity of the light source of the vehicle meter device. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a reflection wall portion of the vehicle meter device.
In the meter display illumination of the vehicle meter device, the light emitted from the light source 7 enters the light guide 8 from the base end portion of the light guide 8 positioned so as to correspond to the light path shown in FIG. As an example, 100 is guided to the outer peripheral side of the light guide 8 and emitted to the dial 2 side to illuminate the entire light guide 8.

Here, as shown in FIG. 7, a configuration in which the light guide hole 31 is provided so as to surround the light source 7 can be considered. In this configuration, the light is emitted from the light source 7 and enters the light guide 8. The light that did not shine is reflected by the inner wall of the light guide hole 31 provided so as to surround the periphery of the light source 7, so that part of the light again enters the light guide 8 and improves the illumination luminance. Light is guided.
However, since a part of the light reflected from the inner wall of the light guide hole 31 is different from the state where the light incident on the light guide 8 is originally planned, the dial immediately after entering the light guide 8. Some are emitted to the second side (see the optical path 300 in FIG. 6).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the light guide 8 has a light source 7 located substantially in the center of the light guide hole 31 at the base end position on the inner peripheral side, so that the light guide 8 is on the inner side (pointer shaft 5 In the light guide hole portion 31 on the second side, the light reflected by the reflection wall portion 3 toward the dial plate 2 is directed toward the dial plate 2 without entering the light guide 8. Since this light is a position close to the light source 7 and is a direct light that is guided to the outer peripheral side by the light guide 8 and does not produce an overall illumination effect, the illumination portion of the light guide 8 Produces stronger illumination than

  In particular, when a white LED is used as the light source 7, the light emitting portion of the light source is excited and emitted by a phosphor, so that the directivity range is wide. It is folded back to the body 8 and causes strong reflection due to material diffusion, resulting in strong illumination in the vicinity of the light source 7.

In the vehicle meter device 1 according to the first embodiment, the notch 32 is provided in the light guide hole 31 provided in the light source portion of the reflection wall 3. Therefore, the light emitted from the light source 7 and not incident on the light guide 8 is reflected by the inner wall of the light guide hole 31 provided so as to surround the light source 7, but from the light source 7 to the pointer shaft 5. As shown by the optical path 200 in FIG. 5, the light traveling toward the side is guided to the space 321 covered by the inner peripheral side portion 302 of the reflection wall portion 3, and the contribution to the illumination by reflection is extremely high. It becomes low.
Similarly, as shown in FIG. 6, the light acting like an optical path 300 that enters the light guide 8 and immediately goes to illumination is also greatly reduced.

In other words, the notch 32 is provided, so that the inner wall of the light guide hole 31 on the side of the pointer shaft 5 is high as shown in FIG. As a result, the reflection area is retracted to a position farther away from the opening.
It can be said that this also contributes very little to the reflection and illumination. For this reason, an effect of synergistically suppressing the illumination light can be obtained by both eliminating the reflection surface considered to be provided if the notch 32 is not provided, and guiding the light to the internal space.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper end position where the notch 32 opens the inner peripheral portion 302 of the reflecting wall 3 is close to the position where the light guide 8 is curved toward the outer peripheral direction in FIG. 1. The light diffusely reflected in the space 321 is generally in the same direction as the outer circumferential direction, that is, the direction in which the light guide 8 guides light.

Thus, the intensity of illumination in the vicinity of the light source 7 is alleviated, and more uniform illumination can be performed.
Therefore, even if a white LED having a wide directivity range is used as the light source 7, uniform illumination can be performed.

In recent years, the display and design of the vehicle meter display is important because it is a place where the driver always sees the vehicle every time he gets on the vehicle. For other purposes, other displays such as patterns and gradations may be provided in parts other than the scale display, and it is considered that the number will increase in the future.
In that case, in the vehicle meter device 1, uniform illumination including the inner peripheral side close to the pointer shaft 5 is very important.
In particular, in recent years, there is also one that always turns on the illumination of the meter, and the uniformity of the illumination has become more important in the display quality of the vehicle meter.
Thus, in the vehicle meter device 1 of the first embodiment, it can be said that the display quality is improved by making the illumination more uniform.

  Further, in the vehicle meter device 1 according to the first embodiment, uniform illumination can be performed without, for example, dimming printing that thickens the printing ink on the inner peripheral side of the dial 2, and the cost is suppressed. Can be achieved.

Explain the effect.
In the lighting device of the first embodiment, the effects listed below can be obtained.
(1) A light guide 8 that guides light from the light source 7 to a position far from the light source 7 and emits the guided light to illuminate the entire light guide range, and a light guide emitted from the light source 7. In the illuminating device having the reflection wall portion 3 that reflects the light not directed to the light 8 and the light emitted from the light guide 8 in the direction other than the illumination direction toward the light guide 8 or the illumination direction, the reflection wall portion 3 includes: Since the notch 32 that adjusts the light intensity to weaken the reflected light is provided on the side opposite to the light guide direction of the light guide 8 and in the vicinity of the light source 7, the light directed from the light source 7 toward the notch 32 is transmitted through the notch 32. Uniform illumination can be obtained even in the vicinity of the light source so as to escape to the outside.

(2) The lighting device is a vehicle meter device 1 that performs meter display in a vehicle, and the light source 7 is mounted on a substrate 4 arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval on the back side of the dial 2 of the vehicle meter device 1. The reflecting wall 3 is directed from the vicinity of the light source 7 toward the outer periphery of the meter and toward the dial plate 2, from the vicinity of the light source 7 toward the pointer shaft 5 of the vehicle meter device 1, and from the dial plate 2. And a light guide hole that penetrates toward the substrate 4 and forms a surface surrounding the periphery of the light source 7, and an inner peripheral portion 302 that forms an internal space 321 on the substrate 4 on the pointer shaft 5 side. Since the light adjusting means is a notch 32 provided on the pointer shaft 5 side of the light guide hole 31 and communicating with the internal space 321, the light control means is directed from the light source 7 toward the pointer shaft 5. The light enters the space 321 covered by the inner peripheral portion 302 of the reflecting wall 3. Will be withering, reflected moderately suppressed by performing illumination in the vicinity of the light source 7, the illumination is eased that becomes stronger, it is possible to obtain even uniform illumination in the vicinity of the light source position.
In addition, dimming at the notch 32 is advantageous because it is performed with a very low cost.

As mentioned above, although the illuminating device of this invention has been demonstrated based on Example 1, it is not restricted to these Examples about concrete structure, The summary of the invention which concerns on each claim of a claim is shown. Unless it deviates, design changes and additions are allowed.
For example, in the first embodiment, the vehicle meter device 1 has been described as the lighting device, but other devices may be used.
For example, in the first embodiment, the light source is described as an LED, but other light sources may be used. Further, the number of light sources provided may be determined from the required specifications for the apparatus.

It is sectional drawing of the vehicle meter apparatus which is an illuminating device of Example 1. FIG. It is a top view of the light guide of the reflective wall part of the vehicle meter apparatus of Example 1, a light source, and a board | substrate. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a reflection wall portion of the vehicle meter device according to the first embodiment. It is a partial expanded sectional view of the vehicle meter apparatus of Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the reflection in the light source vicinity of the vehicle meter apparatus of Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the reflection in the light source vicinity of a vehicle meter apparatus. It is explanatory drawing of the reflective wall part of a vehicle meter apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle meter apparatus 2 Dial 3 Reflecting wall part 301 Outer peripheral part 302 Inner peripheral part 31 Light guide hole part 311 (Circular shape which a light guide hole part surrounds) Space 32 Notch part 321 (It is formed in an inner peripheral part. ) Space 4 Substrate 5 Pointer shaft 6 Pointer drive unit 7 Light source 8 Light guide 9 Pointer 100 Optical path 200 (indicating a normal illumination optical path) Optical path 300 (guided by the notch) Light path

Claims (1)

A light guide that guides the light of the light source to a position away from the light source, emits the guided light, and illuminates the entire light guide range; and
A reflector that reflects the light emitted from the light source and not directed to the light guide, and the light emitted from the light guide in a direction other than the illumination direction toward the light guide or the illumination direction;
In a lighting device having
The lighting device is a vehicle meter device that performs meter display in a vehicle,
The light source is mounted on a substrate arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval on the back side of the dial of the vehicle meter device,
The reflective portion is
Dimming means for dimming reflected light to be weak at a position opposite to the light guide direction of the light guide and in the vicinity of the light source ;
From the vicinity of the light source to the outer periphery of the meter and the outer peripheral side toward the dial,
An inner peripheral side portion that forms an internal space on the pointer shaft side substrate, from the vicinity of the light source toward the pointer shaft of the vehicle meter device and toward the dial plate,
A hole that penetrates toward the substrate and forms a surface surrounding the periphery of the light source;
With
The light control means includes
A notch that is provided on the pointer shaft side of the hole portion and communicates with the internal space;
A lighting device characterized by that.

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