JP5557095B2 - Vehicle instrument - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle instrument mounted on a vehicle and visually recognized by an occupant (especially a driver) of the vehicle.

  In an approximate hybrid vehicle (a vehicle that switches between a driving motor and an internal combustion engine as a driving power source), a specific lamp provided on the front panel is turned on when the driving state is high in fuel efficiency. In this way, the driver is conscious of energy-saving driving (hereinafter referred to as “eco-driving”). The lamp that is turned on at this time is called an “eco indicator”. This eco-indicator does not light up during normal operation, but lights up in green when a certain condition is reached.

  However, since this eco-indicator is small, the driver may not be aware even if it is lit.

  For this reason, when an instrument that is provided close to the eco-indicator and is normally lit in a color other than green is lit in green (at least the same color as the eco-indicator) at the same time as the eco-indicator is lit, The driver can easily notice the lighting of the eco-indicator, and a so-called ambient effect is produced by the sudden change in display color (see, for example, Patent Document 1). However, if a two-color light emitting diode is used as a light source or two light sources are provided in order to light the instrument in different colors, the cost increases.

JP 2007-155613 A

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive vehicle instrument that provides an ambient effect to a vehicle occupant.

The present invention for solving the above problems is as follows.
A vehicle instrument mounted on a vehicle and visually recognized by an occupant of the vehicle,
A panel board provided with a plurality of display units that receive light to emit light;
In order to irradiate light to the plurality of display portions of the panel plate, a plurality of light sources arranged corresponding to each display portion,
A case body that supports the panel plate and the plurality of light sources;
The display unit of the panel board is configured by a first display unit that emits and displays the color of the light by the light emitted from the first light source among the plurality of light sources, and the light emitted from the first light source. with the light-emitting display in a color of light, the light emitted from the second light source of said plurality of light sources, the said color of light emitted from the first light source is displayed emitting light in different colors 2 A partition section that divides the case body so that the first display section does not emit and display light by the light from the second light source;
Equipped with a,
The partition portion is provided by hanging from the back surface portion of the panel plate, and a space portion is formed between a position directly below the lower end portion and the bottom surface portion of the case body,
The first light source is arranged in the space portion so that both the first display portion and the second display portion are equally illuminated and displayed .

By the partition part provided in the case body, the first display part is lit and displayed in the color of light emitted from the corresponding first light source. Further, the second display unit while being light-emitting display in a color of the light emitted from the corresponding second light source is a light emitting display in the color of the light emitted from the first light source. That is, since one display unit can be displayed in different colors, it is not necessary to arrange a plurality of light sources for one display unit or use a single light source that emits multiple colors. That's it. And a 2nd display part can be displayed with the color of the light irradiated from a 1st light source, or can be displayed with the color of the light irradiated from a 2nd light source. As a result, the ambient effect can be provided to the driver with an inexpensive configuration.

  The partition portion is arranged close to the first light source and away from the second light source so that the light emitted from the first light source reaches the second display portion, and The light emitted from the second light source is prevented from reaching the first display unit.

  Specifically, the partition portion is provided so as to hang from the back surface portion of the panel plate, and a space portion is formed between a lower end portion of the partition portion and a bottom surface portion of the case body so that the case body is formed. Partially partitioned.

  By arranging the first light source in the space part, both the first display part and the second display part can be lit and displayed. Accordingly, the first display unit and the second display unit can be surely displayed with light emission.

  The case body is preferably provided with a reflecting portion for reflecting the light emitted from the plurality of light sources and increasing the amount of light that irradiates the display portion corresponding to the reflected light.

  The display unit emits light more brightly by the reflection unit. Thereby, the light irradiated from the light source is not wasted.

  The display unit may be an indicator or a liquid crystal display unit formed by combining at least one of letters, numbers, scales, symbols, marks and other symbols, or a combination thereof.

It is a front view of the combination meter 101 of 1st Example. (A) is the X1-X1 sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 1, (b) is the X2-X2 sectional view taken on the line of (a). (A) is a front view of a state in which the liquid crystal display unit 15 of the combination meter 101 is lit and displayed in orange, and (b) is a front view of a state in which the liquid crystal display unit 15 and the eco-indicator 16 are lit and displayed in green. It is. (A) is sectional drawing of the principal part of the combination meter 102 of 2nd Example, (b) is sectional drawing of the principal part of the combination meter 103 of 3rd Example. It is a front view of the combination meter 104 of 4th Example. (A) is a front view of the state in which the speed meter 1 of the combination meter 104 of the fourth embodiment is lit and displayed in orange, and (b) is a state in which the speed meter 1 and the eco-indicator 16 are lit and displayed in green. It is a front view. It is a front view of the combination meter 105 of 5th Example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

  1 is a front view of the combination meter 101 of the first embodiment, FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along line X1-X1 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line X2-X2 in FIG.

  Initially, the vehicle instrument of 1st Example is demonstrated. In this specification, a combination meter 101 which is an example of a vehicle meter (refers to a meter, a lamp, and the like in consideration of overall unification in order to accurately convey necessary information and warnings to the driver) Will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the combination meter 101 is attached to a front panel (not shown) of an automobile. A speed meter 1 indicating a speed is arranged at the center of the combination meter 101, and various indicators are arranged around it. This indicator is formed of at least one of letters, numbers, scales, symbols, marks and other designs, or a combination thereof. In the case of the combination meter 101 of the first embodiment, the arrow-shaped indicators 2 and 3 for displaying the lighting state of the side turn lamps are arranged on both sides of the speed meter 1. An upper portion of the right side turn lamp 2 is provided with an indicator 4 that indicates the lighting state of the headlight, an indicator 5 that indicates the operating state of the airbag, and an indicator 6 that indicates the wearing state of the seat belt. Further, an indicator 7 (flashing at a constant interval when the ignition key is removed) and an indicator 8 indicating the water temperature are arranged in the lower portion of the speed meter 1 for security when the automobile is not in use. Arranged in the lower part thereof, an indicator 9 indicating the state of the electronic control system of the engine, an indicator 10 indicating the oil pressure in the engine, an indicator 11 indicating the state of charge of the battery, an indicator 12 indicating the electric power steering, An indicator 13 indicating the use state of the parking brake and an indicator 14 indicating the operation preparation state of the ABS device are arranged side by side.

  In the lower part on the right side of the speed meter 1, a liquid crystal display unit 15 and an eco-indicator 16 for informing the eco-driving state are arranged close to each other. The liquid crystal display unit 15 has a remaining amount display unit 17 for displaying the remaining amount of fuel in a level, a shift position display unit 18 for indicating the current shift position, and a total travel distance (odometer) and a trip meter (section travel distance). Is displayed.

  The speed meter 1 is a semi-ring-shaped speed display section on which numbers “0”, “20”, “40”, “60”, “80”, “101”, “120”, “140” are written. 21 and a pointer 22 that is rotatable about the center point of the speed display unit 21 as an axis. The speed display unit 21 is visually recognized as white in a normal running state in the daytime (a state where the vehicle light switch is off). The pointer 22 is colored in advance in red.

  The speed meter 1, the indicators 2 to 14, 16 and the liquid crystal display unit 15 are provided on the panel 23. The panel 23 is painted, for example, in black, and the indicators 2 to 14 are lit and displayed so that the driver can visually recognize them by turning on the light sources attached to their back portions. For this reason, it is difficult for the driver to visually recognize when the light is turned off. In addition, in FIG. 1, the state which made all the indicators 2-14 and 16 light-emit is illustrated.

  Next, a vehicle instrument, which is a characteristic requirement of the present invention, will be described with reference to a configuration of a portion that causes the liquid crystal display unit 15 and the eco-indicator 16 to emit light. As shown in FIG. 2, a liquid crystal panel 24 is disposed in a portion of the panel 23 immediately below the liquid crystal display unit 15. A substrate 25 is disposed below the liquid crystal panel 24, and a light source (LED 26) is mounted on a portion of the substrate 25 facing the substantially central portion of the liquid crystal display unit 15. The LED 26 emits, for example, orange light (arrow 26a) when the LED 26 is turned on. When the LED 26 is turned on, the liquid crystal display unit 15 emits light in orange.

  Similarly, a light source (LED 27) is mounted on a portion of the substrate 25 immediately below the eco indicator 16. The LED 27 emits, for example, green light (arrow 27a) when the LED 27 is lit, and the eco indicator 16 is lit in green when the LED 27 is lit. In the case of the combination meter 101 of this embodiment, the LED 27 is not directly under the eco-indicator 16 but is arranged in a state of being slightly moved toward the liquid crystal display unit 15 (that is, in a state of being close to a partition unit 31 described later). . The eco indicator 16 is lit and displayed only when the driver is performing eco driving (see FIG. 3B).

  The liquid crystal display unit 15 and the eco-indicator 16 are accommodated in a case body 28 mounted between the panel 23 and the substrate 25 and are isolated from other display units (for example, the speedometer 1). That is, the case body 28 has a rectangular frame portion 29 in a plan view surrounding the liquid crystal display portion 15 and the eco indicator 16. And the partition part 31 is provided in the part which divides the liquid crystal display part 15 and the eco-indicator 16 in a frame part. Edge portions 32 project from the inner peripheral surface of the partition portion 31 and the inner peripheral surface of the frame portion 29 corresponding to the liquid crystal display portion 15. The edge portion 32 supports the liquid crystal panel 24, and the size of the inner peripheral edge portion thereof is slightly smaller than the size of the outer peripheral edge portion of the liquid crystal panel 24. A surface glass 33 is provided above the panel 23, and a lower cover 34 is provided below the substrate 25.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the upper end portion of the partition portion 31 is the same as the upper end portion of the frame portion 29, but the lower end portion 31 a of the partition portion 31 is slightly higher (height H) than the upper surface of the substrate 25. It is set apart. That is, the partition part 31 partitions the case body 28 partially. In the conventional combination meter, the partition portion 31 extends to the substrate 25. For this reason, the inside of the case body 28 is clearly divided into a lamp chamber P1 of the liquid crystal display unit 15 and a lamp chamber P2 of the eco-indicator 16, and LEDs 26 and 27 are arranged in the lamp chambers P1 and P2, respectively. Yes. For this reason, the liquid crystal display unit 15 arranged in the lamp chamber P1 is always lit and displayed in the color of light emitted from the LED 26 (for example, orange), and the eco indicator 16 arranged in the lamp chamber P2 emits light. When displayed, the light was always displayed in a light color (for example, green) emitted from the LED 27. Since the eco-indicator 16 is small, there is a problem that it is difficult for the driver to notice even if the traveling vehicle enters the eco-driving mode and the eco-indicator 16 is lit.

  On the other hand, in the case body 28 in the combination meter 101 of the present embodiment, a space portion Q is provided between the lower end portion 31a of the partition portion 31 and the substrate 25, and the LED 27 is disposed in the vicinity of the space portion Q. Has been. As shown in FIG. 3A, when the LED 26 is lit, the liquid crystal display unit 15 emits light in orange (indicated by a diagonal line rising to the right). However, since the light irradiated from LED26 is interrupted | blocked by the partition part 31, the eco indicator 16 is not light-emitted and displayed. Then, when the traveling car enters the eco driving mode, the LED 27 is turned on. At the same time, the LED 26 is turned off. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3B, the eco indicator 16 is lit and displayed in green (indicated by a slanting line at the lower right). Moreover, the light emitted from the LED 27 passes through the space Q formed between the lower end portion 31 a of the partition portion 31 and the substrate 25 and causes the liquid crystal display portion 15 to emit light in green. As a result, the driver visually recognizes that both the liquid crystal display unit 15 and the eco-indicator 16 emit green light, so that the driver can easily know that the vehicle has entered the eco-operation mode.

  This means that the liquid crystal display unit 15 that has been lit and displayed in orange until then is suddenly lit and displayed in green. Here, if the display unit is lit and displayed in the same color over a long period of time, human vision becomes accustomed to that color, and the state of being lit and displayed in that color feels normal. However, when a color change occurs in the display unit, a strong impact may be felt. Such an action is called an “ambient effect”. That is, the combination meter 101 of the present embodiment has a configuration greatly different from that of the conventional combination meter (for example, the number of light sources is increased or an expensive light source is used). In addition, it is possible to easily notify that the vehicle has entered the eco-driving mode, and the driver can easily feel the ambient effect. As a result, a great impact can be given to the driving driver. Note that instruments such as the combination meter 101 of the present embodiment that generate an ambient effect by light may be referred to as “ambient meters”.

  At this time, the LED 26 is preferably turned off. However, the LED 26 may be dimmed to compensate for the amount of light that the LED 27 irradiates the liquid crystal display unit 15, and the liquid crystal display unit 15 may be caused to emit and display with mixed color light of the LEDs 26 and 27.

  The size of the space portion Q (height H of the space portion Q) is based on the position of the LED 27 (how close to the partition portion 31), the light 27a emitted from the LED 27 corresponds to the liquid crystal display portion 15 and the eco indicator. 16, and the light 26 a emitted from the LED 26 causes the liquid crystal display unit 15 to emit and display but the eco-indicator 16 does not emit and display.

  As in the combination meter 102 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, the LED 27 may be disposed in the space Q formed below the partition portion 31. At this time, LED27 is arrange | positioned ranging over two lamp chambers P1 and P2. In this case, the light emitted from the LED 27 can surely reach the liquid crystal display unit 15, so that the liquid crystal display unit 15 can emit light without unevenness.

  Further, like the combination meter 103 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 4B, the lower end portion of the frame portion 29 of the case body 28 adjacent to the LED 27 is inclined, and the light irradiated from the LED 27 is reflected. A reflective portion 35 may be provided. Thereby, since the light 27a irradiated from LED27 is reflected by the reflection part 35, the liquid crystal display part 15 and the eco-indicator 16 can be light-emitted and displayed more brightly.

  When the eco indicator 16 is provided below the speed meter 1 as in the combination meter 104 of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a case body 36 that covers the speed meter 1 and the eco indicator 16 is provided, and the speed is A partition portion 37 may be formed at a boundary portion between the meter 1 and the eco indicator 16. Like the partition part 31 in the combination meter 101 of the first embodiment, this partition part 37 partially partitions the case body 36, and a space part Q is provided between the lower end part and the substrate 25. Yes.

  The speedometer 1 is displayed in white with a vehicle lamp switch (not shown) turned off. When the driver turns on the lamp switch, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), an LED (corresponding to the LED 26 in FIG. 2) arranged immediately below the speed meter 1 is turned on, and the speed meter The portion 1 is displayed in orange. At this time, the eco indicator 16 is not lit. When the vehicle enters the eco driving mode in this state, as shown in FIG. 6B, the LED 27 arranged in the space Q of the partition portion 37 is lit, and the eco indicator 16 is lit in green. The At the same time, the LED 26 is turned off. Thereby, the speedometer 1 is lit and displayed in green by the green light emitted from the LED 27. The driver can easily see that the vehicle has entered the eco-driving mode, and an ambient effect is produced.

  A gradation bar indicator 38 may be provided together with the eco indicator 16 as in the combination meter 105 of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. In this case, the partition portion 41 of the case body 39 is provided so as to surround the eco indicator 16 and the gradation bar indicator 38.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the eco-indicator 16 is turned on in the case of the combination meters 101 to 105 provided on the front panel of the vehicle. However, it may be another vehicle instrument (for example, an air conditioner adjustment switch panel provided in the rear seat).

  Moreover, although the light source of each above-mentioned Example is LED26,27, other light emission displays (for example, light bulbs) may be sufficient.

  The present invention can be used for instruments (meters, indicators, etc.) mounted on vehicles (for example, automobiles).

1 Speed meter (second display)
15 Liquid crystal display (second display)
16 Eco indicator (1st display part)
23 Panel (panel board)
25 Substrate (bottom of case body)
26 LED (second light source)
27 LED (first light source)
28, 36, 39 Case bodies 31, 37, 41 Partition part 35 Reflecting part 38 Gradation indicator (first display part)
101-105 combination meter (vehicle instrument)

Claims (4)

A vehicle instrument mounted on a vehicle and visually recognized by a passenger of the vehicle,
A panel board provided with a plurality of display units that receive light to emit light;
In order to irradiate light to the plurality of display units of the panel plate, a plurality of light sources arranged corresponding to each display unit,
A case body that supports the panel plate and the plurality of light sources;
The display unit of the panel board is configured by a first display unit that emits and displays the color of the light by the light emitted from the first light source among the plurality of light sources, and the light emitted from the first light source. A second display that emits and displays light in a color of light and emits and displays light in a color different from the color of light emitted from the first light source by light emitted from a second light source of the plurality of light sources. A partition part that partitions the case body so that the first display part does not emit and display light by the light from the second light source;
With
The partition portion is provided by hanging from the back surface portion of the panel plate, and a space portion is formed between a position directly below the lower end portion and the bottom surface portion of the case body,
The first light source, a vehicle meter, characterized in that disposed in the space portion so as to evenly light emitting display both the second display unit and the first display unit.   The partition portion is arranged close to the first light source and away from the second light source so that light emitted from the first light source reaches the second display portion, and The vehicle instrument according to claim 1, wherein the light emitted from the second light source is prevented from reaching the first display unit.   The said case body is provided with the reflection part for increasing the light quantity which reflects the light which these several light sources irradiated, and irradiates the display part corresponding to them. The vehicle instrument described in 1.   4. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is an indicator or a liquid crystal display unit formed by combining at least one of letters, numbers, scales, symbols, marks, and other patterns, or a combination thereof. The vehicle instrument described in the paragraph.

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