JP5287836B2 - Instrument device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an instrument device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile or a motorcycle, a vehicle such as a ship or a construction machine.

  The instrument device mounted on the vehicle preferably has good appearance and excellent visibility. Patent Document 1 discloses an instrument device that has a good appearance and excellent visibility by elaborating the configuration of the display panel. The instrument device includes a light emitting diode and a light guide that is provided on the display panel and guides light emitted from the light emitting diode. The light guide body is formed with a plurality of reflecting surfaces (concave portions) that reflect the guided light and emit the light to the outside, and a plurality of scales (convex portions) provided at positions facing the respective reflecting surfaces. Yes. By visually recognizing the light emitted from the scale, the display of the instrument device can have a three-dimensional effect.

JP 2007-52032 A

  However, in the instrument device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the amount of emitted light varies from one scale to another and becomes non-uniform, or the amount of light emitted from even one scale becomes non-uniform, which may cause poor appearance. It was.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an instrument device with improved appearance.

In order to achieve the above object, an instrument device according to the present invention is an instrument device comprising a pointer and a plurality of scales pointed to by the pointer, the plurality of scales on the surface side, and from a light source A light incident portion that is incident on the light incident portion, guides the light incident from the light incident portion and emits the light from the plurality of graduations, abuts the back surface of the light guide, and the light guide A light reflecting portion for reflecting the light to be guided, and the light reflecting portion is a layer of a predetermined color formed on a display board in contact with the light guide, and guides the incident light. A first region that is aligned along the light guide direction, and a second region that has a darker color than the first region and reflects less light than the first region.

According to the instrument device according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent or reduce unevenness in the amount of emitted light for each scale, so that the appearance is improved .

The front view of the instrument apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The disassembled perspective view of the meter apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The top view of the display panel in the instrument apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The perspective view of the light guide in the instrument apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the enlarged view which showed the light guide in the instrument apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (a) is the side view shown by arrow Va-Va in FIG. 4, (b) is in FIG. 5 (a). The top view shown by arrow bb. It is the enlarged view which showed the light guide in the instrument apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (a) is the perspective view shown by arrow VI-VI in FIG. 4, (b) is in FIG. 6 (a). The top view shown by arrow bb. The top view which showed a mode that the display panel and light guide in the instrument apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention were piled up.

  Hereinafter, an instrument device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of an instrument device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the instrument device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the instrument device 1 includes an instrument casing 10 that houses various instruments therein. The instrument device 1 whose outer shell is formed by the instrument casing 10 in this way is installed, for example, in front of the driver's seat of an automobile. The instrument housing 10 has a first display window 13 and a second display window 14 formed on the front surface (the surface facing the user). The first display window 13 and the second display window 14 are formed by providing a transparent synthetic resin such as acrylic glass in an opening opened in the front surface of the instrument housing 10. The user can visually recognize the instrument housed in the instrument housing 10 from the first display window 13 and the second display window 14. For example, the user can visually recognize the speedometer from the first display window 13 and the engine speedometer from the second display window 14.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the instrument housing 10 (FIG. 1) includes a front cover 11 that constitutes the front side and a rear cover 12 that constitutes the rear side. By fitting the front cover 11 and the rear cover 12 together, a space for accommodating various instruments is formed inside.

  The instrument housing 10 has a display board 20 printed with characters representing measurement values, a pointer 15 that rotates on the display board 20 to indicate the measurement values, and a plurality of scales (convex parts) on the surface. The formed light guide 30 and the light shield 40 covering the light guide 30 are accommodated. The display panel 20 is placed on the rear cover 12 and covers devices such as a drive mechanism housed in the rear cover 12.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view of the display board 20 in the instrument device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The display panel 20 includes a first display unit 21 and a second display unit 22 that display measurement values and the like. On the first display unit 21, for example, a number representing a speed is printed in the circumferential direction. Further, the second display unit 22 is printed with, for example, a number representing the rotational speed of the engine in the circumferential direction. Further, the display panel 20 is formed with a ring-shaped light amount adjustment region 23 (light reflecting portion) that is in contact with the outer periphery of the first display unit 21 and the second display unit 22 (surrounds the outer periphery) by printing or the like. Yes. In the light amount adjustment region 23, a plurality of regions are arranged in the circumferential direction (light guide direction). In the present embodiment, the light amount adjustment region 23 is, for example, a reflection region 23a (substantially total reflection region) painted in white or a color close to white, and a color having a lightness lower than the color of the reflection region 23a (for example, A semi-reflective area 23b (gray) that is painted in gray) and an absorbing area 23c (reflective) that is painted in a lighter color (for example, black) than the semi-reflective area 23b. This is a region that absorbs less light than the region 23a and the semi-reflective region 23b). The light amount adjustment region 23 is formed on the display panel 20 by painting a plurality of colors or printing a plurality of colors in an overlapping manner.

  Further, an opening for inserting a light incident body (FIG. 4) of the light guide 30 installed on the first display unit 21 and the second display unit 22 or a notch (hereinafter, both are guided together). A plurality of light body insertion openings 24 are formed on the display panel 20. In the present embodiment, a total of eight light guide outlets 24 are formed around the first and second display portions 22 every four places.

  In addition, the display panel 20 has a pointer insertion port 25 for attaching the pointer 15 to a pointer shaft (not shown) arranged behind the dial at the center of the first display unit 21 and the second display unit 22. Is formed. The operation and effect of the light amount adjustment area 23 will be described later.

  The pointer 15 is fitted to a pointer shaft (not shown) accommodated behind the display panel 20 and rotates on the display panel 20 by driving by a driving mechanism. The pointer 15 rotates based on the measurement data and indicates the measurement value written on the display board 20.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the light guide 30 in the meter device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The light guide 30 has a ring shape, and a hook (not shown) provided on the rear cover 12 (FIG. 2) is hooked on the engaging portion 31, and on each light amount adjustment region 23 (FIG. 3) of the display panel 20. Fixed. The light amount adjustment region 23 and the back surface of the light guide 30 are in contact with each other. The light guide 30 is made of a transparent synthetic resin such as polycarbonate. On the surface of the light guide 30, first convex scale portions 32 and second convex scale portions 33 are formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. The first convex scale portion 32 is larger than the second convex scale portion 33 and functions as a scale corresponding to the numbers printed on the display board 20. For example, the first convex scale portion 32 of the light guide 30 installed at a position visually recognized from the first display window 13 (FIG. 1) is a number 0, 20, 40,. Functions as a scale corresponding to The second convex scale portion 33 functions as a scale that interpolates between the adjacent first convex scale portions 32. For example, as for the light guide 30 installed in the place visually recognized from the 1st display window 13 shown in FIG. 1, the 2nd convex scale part 33 is a scale corresponding to 10, 30, 50, ... Function.

  The light guide 30 is made of a transparent synthetic resin or the like as a material, and as shown in FIG. 4, a main body 30b formed in a ring shape and a flange 30c formed to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the main body 30b. have. The lower surfaces in FIG. 4 of the main body portion 30b and the flange portion 30c are formed to be flush with each other. Further, the upper surface of the main body portion 30b is higher than the upper surface of the flange portion 30c, and a step is generated between them. The light guide 30 makes light from the outside incident and guides the incident light mainly in the circumferential direction in the main body 30b. The flange portion 30c functions as an auxiliary light guide for increasing the light propagation efficiency of the entire light guide 30. Then, the light guide 30 emits the guided light from the first convex scale portion 32 and the second convex scale portion 33 and is visually recognized by the user as the scale emitting the first and second convex scale portions 33. Let

  As shown in FIG. 4, the light guide 30 includes a first light incident body 34 and a second light incident body 35 that are formed to project toward the light source 50. The light guide 30 includes the rear cover 12 (in the state in which the first light incident body 34 and the second light incident body 35 are inserted into the corresponding light guide insertion port 24 of the display panel 20 (FIG. 3). Fig. 2) is fixed. A light source 50 made of, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) is provided in the back of each light guide insertion port 24 of the display panel 20. Therefore, the protruding end surface 34 c of the first light incident body 34 and the protruding end surface 35 b of the second light incident body 35 face the light source 50. Thereby, the light emitted from the light source 50 can be incident from the protruding end surface 34 c of the first light incident body 34 and the protruding end surface 35 b of the second light incident body 35.

  The first light incident body 34 includes a protruding portion 34a protruding downward in FIG. 4 and a connecting portion 34b bent from the protruding portion 34a and connected to the light guide 30 main body. Light enters the first light incident body 34 from the protruding end surface 34c of the protruding portion 34a. The incident light is repeatedly reflected inside the light guide 30 and is guided to the main body of the light guide 30 through the projecting portion 34a and the connecting portion 34b as shown by arrows (two-dot chain lines) in FIG. The In the present embodiment, the light guide 30 has two first light incident bodies 34.

  The second light incident body 35 is formed to project downward from the light guide 30 main body in FIG. 4, and light enters from the projecting end surface 35b. The incident light reaches the light distribution surface 35 a formed at the upper part of the second light incident body 35 in the drawing. This light distribution surface 35a is a surface constituting a substantially V-shaped groove formed in the upper part of the second light incident body 35, and is guided upward as indicated by an arrow (two-dot chain line) in the figure. It has a function to distribute the emitted light left and right. The light distributed to the left and right is guided in the circumferential direction while being repeatedly reflected inside the light guide 30.

  Next, the structure details of the light guide 30 will be described. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing the light guide 30 in the meter device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a side view indicated by an arrow Va-Va in FIG. 4, and (b) is a side view. It is the top view shown by arrow bb in Fig.5 (a). FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing the light guide 30 in the meter device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a perspective view shown by arrows VI-VI in FIG. ) Is a plan view indicated by arrows bb.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the back surface of the light guide 30 has a V-shaped cross section at positions corresponding to the first convex scale portion 32 and the second convex scale portion 33. A V-shaped groove 36 is formed. The V-shaped groove 36 extends so as to cross the light guide direction of the guided light. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 5A, the surface on which the V-shaped groove 36 is formed has a first convex scale portion 32, or a second convex scale, for light guided in the circumferential direction of the light guide 30. It functions as a reflecting surface that reflects toward the portion 33. Thereby, light can be emitted from the 1st convex scale part 32 and the 2nd convex scale part 33, and it can be made to recognize visually as a scale which emitted light to the user.

  Note that the V-shaped groove 36 is formed at a position facing the first convex scale portion 32 and the second convex scale portion 33. For this reason, when the first and second convex scale portions 32 and 33 are viewed (particularly when viewed from an oblique direction), the V-shaped groove 36 is inevitably formed in the first convex scale portion 32 and the second convex scale portion. It is reflected on the rear surfaces 32a and 33a of 33 and visually recognized by the user. Therefore, the V-shaped grooves 36 reflected on the back surfaces (rear surfaces with reference to the pointer 15) 32a and 33a of the first convex scale portion 32 and the second convex scale portion 33 are visually recognized in an unnatural manner. Preferably not. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the V-shaped groove 36 formed in the light guide 30 is formed so that one end thereof reaches the outer peripheral surface 30 a of the light guide 30. . That is, each V-shaped groove 36 is continuously formed in the main body portion 30b and the flange portion 30c. As a result, the V-shaped groove 36 in the thickness direction of the light guide 30 is a portion that does not directly face the first convex scale portion 32 or the portion that directly faces the second convex scale portion 33 (main body portion 30b) ( It has a flange part 30c). Thereby, the user can visually recognize the V-shaped groove 36 reflected over the entire length of the back surfaces 32a and 33a of the first convex scale portion 32 and the second convex scale portion 33, and may feel unnaturalness. Absent. On the other hand, when the V-shaped groove 36 does not reach the outer peripheral surface 30a of the light guide 30, only a partial range of the back surfaces 32a and 33a of the first convex scale portion 32 and the second convex scale portion 33 is obtained. The V-shaped groove 36 is reflected on the screen, and the appearance is inferior.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the side surface of the light guide 30 is arranged so that the first convex scale portion 32 closest to the first light incident body 34 is sandwiched in the light guide 30. On the (outer peripheral surface), a first reflection groove group 37 and a second reflection groove group 38 in which a plurality of grooves are arranged in parallel are formed. The first reflection groove group 37 and the second reflection groove group 38 are formed side by side with the first convex scale portion 32 sandwiched along the light guide direction of the light to be guided. In the present embodiment, the first reflection groove group 37 and the second reflection groove group 38 are formed with three reflection grooves in parallel. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 6B, the first reflection groove group 37 reflects a part of the light guided inside the light guide 30 toward the first light incident body 34. The second reflection groove group 38 reflects a part of the light guided inside the light guide 30 to the first convex scale portion 32 side.

  Here, the operation and effect of the first reflection groove group 37 and the second reflection groove group 38 will be described. When the first reflection groove group 37 and the second reflection groove group 38 are not formed in the light guide 30, part of the light guided inside the light guide 30 is the first of the V-shaped grooves 36. The light is reflected from the reflective surface 36 a to the first convex scale portion 32. In addition, since the 1st reflective surface 36a is formed so that the progress of light may be interrupted, the quantity of the light reflected to the 1st convex scale part 32 is comparatively large. On the other hand, the amount of light reflected from the second reflecting surface 36b formed so as to be turned away from the light traveling direction toward the first convex scale portion 32 is reflected by the first reflecting surface 36a. It is less than the amount of light. Therefore, the light emitted from the first convex scale portion 32 becomes non-uniform, and the user recognizes that the light emission of the first convex scale portion 32 is uneven.

  On the other hand, when the first reflection groove group 37 is formed as in the light guide 30 described in the present embodiment, the light that should be reflected to the first convex scale portion 32 by the first reflection surface 36a. Is reflected by the first reflecting groove group 37 toward the first light incident body 34 (on the side opposite to the traveling direction of the light guide direction). Therefore, the amount of light reflected from the first reflecting surface 36a to the first convex scale portion 32 is smaller than when the light guide 30 in which the first reflecting groove group 37 is not formed is used. In addition, since the second reflection groove group 38 is formed in the light guide 30, the first convex scale portion 32 side (on the V-shaped groove 36 side from the second reflection groove group and in the light guide direction). Light is reflected to the opposite side of the traveling direction. This reflected light also reaches the second reflecting surface 36 b of the V-shaped groove 36. Therefore, the amount of light reflected from the second reflective surface 36b to the first convex scale portion 32 is larger than when the light guide 30 in which the second reflective groove group 38 is not formed is used.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, by forming the first reflection groove group 37 and the second reflection groove group 38, the amount of light reflected by the first reflection surface 36a of the V-shaped groove 36 is reduced, The amount of light reflected by the second reflecting surface 36b can be increased. This makes it possible to make uniform the light that irradiates the first convex scale portion 32. That is, in this embodiment, the amount of light emitted from one scale is prevented or reduced, and the appearance is improved. The first reflection groove group 37 and the second reflection groove group 38 are formed with respect to the first convex scale portion 32 in the vicinity of the first light incident body 34. Since the first convex scale portion 32 has a large amount of light to be irradiated and is likely to have non-uniformity, by providing the first reflective groove group 37 and the second reflective groove group 38 in this portion, one scale is provided. It is better prevented or reduced that the amount of light emitted in is non-uniform. Furthermore, as a result, the amount of emitted light can be harmonized with other scales, and the overall illumination balance can be adjusted.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the light shielding body 40 (covering portion) is attached so as to cover the light guide body 30. The light shield 40 is made of, for example, black synthetic resin, and shields light emitted from the light guide 30. The light blocking body 40 has a first opening 40a for exposing the first convex scale portion 32 of the light guide 30 and a second opening for exposing the second convex scale portion 33 of the light guide 30. An opening 40b is formed. Therefore, only the 1st convex scale part 32 and the 2nd convex scale part 33 are visually recognized by the light guide 30 covered with the light-shielding body 40. FIG. Accordingly, the user can surely visually recognize the first convex scale portion 32 and the second convex scale portion 33 as the emitted light scale.

  As described above, the light incident from the first light incident body 34 and the second light incident body 35 travels inside the light guide 30 main body formed in a ring shape, and the first convex scale portion 32 and The light is emitted from the second convex scale portion 33. Therefore, the amount of light guided in the vicinity of the first light incident body 34 and the second light incident body 35 is increased. Therefore, the amount of emitted light tends to increase as the first convex scale portion 32 and the second convex scale portion 33 located near the first light incident body 34 or the second light incident body 35. Therefore, in the instrument device 1 according to the present embodiment, in order to make the emitted light from the first convex scale portion 32 and the second convex scale portion 33 uniform, the display panel 20 has a display panel 20 as shown in FIG. A light amount adjustment region 23 that contacts the back surface of the light guide 30 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the absorbing region 23c and the semi-reflective region 23b (for example, the semi-reflective region 23b as shown in FIG. The first convex scale part 32 (or the second convex scale part 33) is formed so as to overlap with the first convex scale part 32). In FIG. 7, the light guide 30 is indicated by a broken line in order to facilitate understanding of the drawing. As shown in FIG. 7, since the first light incident body 34 and the second light incident body 35 of the light guide 30 are inserted into the light guide outlet 24, the light guide in the vicinity thereof is inserted. A large amount of light is guided in the body 30. Therefore, by arranging the absorption region 23 c or the semi-reflective region 23 b in the light amount adjustment region 23 in the vicinity of the light guide insertion port 24, a part of the light guided inside the light guide 30 is absorbed. Thereby, in this embodiment, the quantity of the light radiate | emitted from the 1st convex scale part 32 (or 2nd convex scale part 33) in the 1st light incident body 34 and the 2nd light incident body 35 vicinity. As a whole, the instrument device 1 as a whole can adjust the amount of emitted light and make it uniform. In particular, the semi-reflective region 23b can reduce the light emitted from the first convex scale portion 32 (or the second convex scale portion 33) that is on the upper side, that is, overlapped when viewed in plan. Thus, in this embodiment, since the emitted light quantity can be prevented or reduced from being different for each scale and being nonuniform, the appearance is improved. In addition, each area | region (semi-reflective area | region 23b etc.) which comprises the light quantity adjustment area | region 23 is wider than these so that the 1st and 2nd convex scale parts 32 and 33 may be included when planarly viewed. Is preferred (see FIG. 7). This makes it possible to easily adjust the amount of light emitted from the first and second convex scale portions 32 and 33.

  The absorption area 23c and the like of the light amount adjustment area 23 are printed on the display panel 20. Therefore, even when it becomes necessary to finely adjust the amount of light emitted from the first convex scale portion 32 or the like, it is only necessary to change the printing mode of the display panel 20. Furthermore, between the 1st convex scale part 32 and the 2nd convex scale part 33 is hidden by the light-shielding body 40, and each scale part is recognized through the light guide 30 by being recognized rapidly. Since the color change in the light amount adjustment region 23 is not conspicuous, it looks good.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the area | region (The absorption area | region 23c and the semi-reflective area | region 23b) with low brightness was set in the vicinity of the light guide insertion port 24. However, the scale located farther than the scale near the light guide outlet 24 may be illuminated brightly depending on the shape of the light guide. In that case, you may set the area | region with low brightness in the location away from the light guide insertion port 24. FIG. Such a change can also be easily performed because the light amount adjustment region 23 is formed by printing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Instrument apparatus 10 Instrument housing 11 Front cover 12 Rear cover 13 1st display window 14 2nd display window 15 Pointer 20 Display panel 21 1st display part 22 2nd display part 23 Light quantity adjustment area 23a Reflection area 23b Semi-reflective region 23c Absorption region 24 Light guide insertion port 25 Pointer insertion port 30 Light guide 30a Outer peripheral surface 31 Locking portion 32 First convex scale portion 33 Second convex scale portion 34 First light incidence Body 34a Protruding portion 34b Connection portion 35 Second light incident body 35a Light distribution surface 36 V-shaped groove 36a First reflection surface 36b Second reflection surface 37 First reflection groove group 38 Second reflection groove group 40 40a 1st opening 40b 2nd opening 50 Light source

Claims (2)

An instrument device comprising a pointer and a plurality of scales pointed to by the pointer, comprising the plurality of scales on the surface side, and having a light incident part on which light from a light source is incident, from the light incident part A light guide that guides incident light and emits the light from the plurality of scales, and a light reflecting portion that abuts the back surface of the light guide and reflects light guided by the light guide,
The light reflecting portion is a layer of a predetermined color formed on a display board in contact with the light guide, and a first region that is aligned along a light guide direction for guiding the incident light ; A second region that has a darker color than the first region and reflects less light than the first region.
An instrument device characterized by that. The instrument device according to claim 1 , further comprising a cover portion that covers an area other than the scale of the light guide.

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