JP5660380B2 - Display device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device mounted on an automobile or the like that guides light from a light source by a light guide to illuminate a display plate or the like.

  As this type of technology, the applicant of the present application guides light incident from the end of the light guide member, and provides a light diffusing part in accordance with the design display part, so that light is emitted from an extra part in the light guide part. A display device that prevents or reduces emission and efficiently illuminates the indicator portion displayed by the design display portion has been proposed (Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-110608).

  Conventionally, a vehicular instrument having an odometer and a trip meter has a trip shaft projecting forward of a transparent front panel, and when this trip shaft is pushed down, the trip shaft structure part on the back side of the dial plate is used. Thus, the nulling mechanism of the meter main body is activated so that the trip meter display returns to zero. However, since the trip shaft is not illuminated like the display unit, there is a problem that the operability is lowered when the surroundings are dark such as at night.

In contrast, the applicant of the present application
A switch having a movable part;
A translucent front plate disposed on the front side of the switch and having a through hole;
An operating member for operating the movable part, and a light source,
The operation member is inserted into the through hole and extends to the front side of the front plate; a light receiving unit that receives light from the light source;
A light guide unit that guides light incident from the light receiving unit to the operation unit side;
An instrument device having a light emitting portion for emitting light guided in the light guide portion from the rear surface side of the front plate to the periphery of the through hole, that is, by providing the light receiving portion and the light guide portion on the operation member, We have proposed an instrument device that can be operated well even when the surroundings are dark, such as at night. (Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-79971 A

  However, the instrument device as shown in Patent Document 1 needs to be provided with a light receiving unit that takes light from a light source into an operation member, and a light guide unit that guides light incident from the light receiving unit to the operation unit side. There is a problem that the number of parts such as the light guide unit and the light receiving unit increases, and the number of assembly steps such as fitting the light receiving unit and the light guiding unit to the operation unit increases. In addition, it is necessary to provide a lighting hole in the case for guiding the light from the light source to the light receiving unit in order to shine the operation unit.

  Therefore, in view of the above-described problems, the present invention uses a light guide unit that illuminates the design display unit, and adds a new part by providing a light emitting unit that emits light at the periphery of the operation unit. It is another object of the present invention to provide a display device that can satisfactorily operate the operation unit even when the surroundings are dark such as at night.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a switch, a light guide unit that is disposed on the front side of the switch, has a through hole, receives light from the light source, and guides the light. wherein disposed on at least one surface or the back surface of the light guide portion, and a diffusing portion that diffuses the light traveling through the light guide portion is disposed on at least one surface or the back surface of the light guide portion, the guide A low refractive index portion having a refractive index lower than that of the light portion, and a light emitting portion that is disposed on at least one of the front surface and the back surface of the light guide portion and transmits and emits the light diffused from the diffusion portion. In a display device comprising: a display panel comprising a design display unit; and an operation unit that is inserted through the through hole and extends to the front side of the light guide unit.
The light emitting part is provided at least on the periphery of the through hole, and the diffusion part is provided at a position corresponding to at least the light emitting part.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the diffusion part is larger than the light emitting part.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the low refractive index portion is not disposed in a region overlapping the light emitting portion.

  In the present invention, by using a light guide unit that illuminates the design display unit and providing a light emitting unit that emits light at the periphery of the operation unit, even when the surroundings are dark, such as at night, without adding new parts Provided is a display device capable of favorably operating an operation unit.

The perspective view of the components structure of embodiment of this invention Front view of the display device of the embodiment AA sectional view of FIG. B part enlarged view of FIG. The principal part enlarged view of AA sectional drawing of embodiment of this invention. Second embodiment AA sectional view of the present invention Third embodiment AA sectional view of the present invention Fourth embodiment AA sectional view of the present invention 5th Embodiment AA sectional drawing of this invention Sixth embodiment AA sectional view of the present invention Seventh embodiment AA sectional view of the present invention 8th Embodiment AA sectional drawing of this invention The B section enlarged view of FIG. 2 of 1st Embodiment of this invention DD sectional drawing of FIG. 13 of 9th Embodiment of this invention. The B section enlarged view of FIG. 2 of 9th Embodiment of this invention The front view of the display apparatus of 10th Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an in-vehicle display device will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the display device 1 includes a display member 10 that displays a predetermined design, a light source 20 that emits light, an operation unit 30 that protrudes from the surface of the display member 10, and the display device 1. And a circuit board 40 that performs electrical control.
The display device 1 receives light emitted from the light source 20 at the end of the display member 10 and emits the light from a predetermined region of the display member 10. Specifically, the display device 1 is used for, for example, a vehicle instrument, a mobile phone, a display display, and the like. In the present embodiment, the display device 1 is a vehicle instrument.

  The light source 20 is made of a light emitting member that emits light, and is composed of, for example, a light emitting element such as a cold dark cathode tube, a light emitting diode, or an organic EL element. The light source 20 is provided at a position where the emitted light enters the inside of the light guide unit 11 described later, and the light emitted from the light source 20 enters the light guide unit 11 from the side surface of the light guide unit 11.

  The display member 10 includes a light guide part 11, a design display part 12, a light diffusion part 13, and a low refractive index part 14. Further, the display member 10 is formed with a through hole 101 through which an operation unit 30 described later is inserted.

  The light guide unit 11 guides the light emitted from the light source 20. Here, the light guide unit 11 is a plate-shaped synthetic resin member (for example, a polycarbonate plate or the like) having a transparent or translucent translucency (including translucent property), and an end surface of the light guide unit 11. Is not a mirror surface but a rough surface or a surface provided with a groove. Thereby, since the light emitted from the light source 20 is reduced in reflection at the end face of the light guide unit 11, the light is efficiently taken into the light guide unit 11. The light guide unit 11 receives light emitted from the light source 20 at the end face, and guides the received light.

The design display unit 12 transmits a light emitted from the light guide unit 11 and displays (transmits) a design (an index, an operation unit illumination or the like), and a non-translucent ( Auxiliary display in which a non-transmission portion 122 that does not transmit light in a portion where the light transmission portion 121 is cut out and a display element such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display: liquid crystal display) are provided using a member having light shielding properties Unit 123.
The light transmission part 121 is provided at the periphery of the through-hole 101 through which the operation unit 30 is inserted, and a peripheral transmission part 121a that shines (operation unit illumination) the periphery of the operation unit 30 and an index (character, picture, figure, symbol, etc.) ) Is displayed (transmitted).
Here, although the light transmission part 121 is formed in the design display part 12 by a through-hole (it can change into a notch suitably), you may form in the design display part 12 by drawing printing etc. FIG. Moreover, since light should just be permeate | transmitted, you may form by white printing etc. which have translucency, for example.

  Thus, according to the design of the design display unit 12, the light transmission part 121 through which light is transmitted is provided, and the other part is the non-transmission part 122 through which light is not transmitted. It is possible to prevent or reduce the emission of light and efficiently illuminate the design displayed by the design display unit 12.

The light diffusing unit 13 includes a surface diffusing unit 13 a disposed on the front side of the light guide unit 11 and a back surface diffusing unit 13 b disposed on the back side of the light guiding unit 11, and has a light diffusing property. Is provided on the surface of the light guide unit 11 by printing, painting, or the like.
The surface light diffusing unit 13a is a transmissive light diffusing unit disposed on the surface side of the light guide unit 11, and mainly scatters light incident from the surface side of the light guide unit 11 to the light transmitting unit 121 side. Light is diffused by refraction or the like. Thereby, when the light is emitted from the light transmission part 121, the peripheral part (periphery transmission part 121a) of the operation unit 30 and the indicator part 121b can be visually recognized.
The back light diffusing unit 13b is an impermeable light diffusing unit disposed on the back surface of the light guide unit 11, and reflects light incident from the back surface of the light guide unit 11 to the light guide unit 11 side. Diffuses light by diffuse reflection, scattering, etc. The light diffused in the light guide part travels in the normal direction of the display surface in the light guide part, and the light is emitted from the light transmission part 121, so that the peripheral part (periphery transmission part 121a) of the operation part 30 and the index The part 121b is brilliant and visible.
Further, the light diffusing unit 13 may have a wider shape than the light transmitting unit 121.
Further, the light diffusing unit 13 may have a similar shape larger than that of the light transmitting unit 121. Thereby, even if the light diffusing unit 13 is provided at a position shifted from the light transmitting unit 121 (that is, a position outside the region corresponding to the light transmitting unit 121), the light is diffused toward the light transmitting unit 121. The light transmission unit 121 can efficiently emit the light diffused by the light diffusion unit 13. In addition, the viewing angle of the light transmission part 121 (lighted part) is widened.

  The low refractive index portion 14 includes a front surface low refractive index portion 14a disposed on the front surface side of the light guide portion 11 and a back surface low refractive index portion 14b disposed on the back surface side of the light guide portion 11. The light guide 11 is formed so as to cover the entire light guide 11 by printing, painting or the like using a synthetic resin having a lower refractive index of light than the light guide 11. The light traveling in the light guide unit 11 is totally reflected at the interface between the front surface low refractive index portion 14a and the light guide unit 11 or the interface between the back surface low refractive index unit 14b and the light guide unit 11, and the light guide unit. Proceed further through 11.

  The operation unit 30 is made of a rigid member and protrudes to the surface side of the display device 1 through the through hole 101 of the display member 10. The other end of the operation unit 30 protruding from the surface faces a switch 41 which will be described later, and transmits to the switch 41 a pressing operation and a rotation operation that acted on the operation unit 30.

  The circuit board 40 is disposed on the back side of the display member 10, and is mounted with a drive main body (not shown) that drives a pointer indicating the speed of the display device 1, a switch 41, and the like. Control is performed.

  In the display device 1 configured as described above, the light emitted from the light source 20 enters the side surface of the light guide unit 11. The light incident on the light guide unit 11 repeats total reflection at the interface between the light guide unit 11 and the low refractive index unit 14 or the light guide unit 11 and the air unit, and travels through the light guide unit 11. As a result, the light guide unit 11 guides the light emitted from the light source 20. A part of the light traveling inside the light guide unit 11 reaches the light diffusion unit 13. The light that reaches the light diffusing unit 13 is diffused by the light diffusing unit 13. Of the light diffused by the light diffusing unit 13, the light whose incident angle to the surface of the light guide unit 11 is smaller than the critical angle is not totally reflected, and the light transmitting unit 121 (here, penetrating) of the design display unit 12. Through the hole).

As described above, the display device 1 according to the above-described embodiment makes it easy to visually recognize the operation unit 30 even when the surroundings are dark, such as at night, by shining the periphery of the operation unit 30 without adding new parts.
A modification of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the first embodiment, the low refractive index portion 14 is not disposed in the region overlapping the peripheral transmissive portion 121a of the design display portion 12, but as shown in FIG. A refractive index portion 14a may be provided. (Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, after the diffusion portion 13 is formed by printing or the like, the low refractive index portion 14 is printed and formed. In the printing formation of the low refractive index portion 14, misalignment or blurring occurs, and the low refractive index portion When 14 protrudes from the peripheral transmission part 121a, the appearance of the peripheral transmission part 121a differs between the area where the low refractive index part 14 protrudes and the area where it does not protrude. However, in the second embodiment, since the low refractive index portion 14 is printed without a boundary between the non-transmissive portion 122 and the peripheral transmissive portion 121a, the low refractive index portion 14 has a low refractive index due to printing misalignment and blurring as in the first embodiment. The rate portion 14 does not protrude from the peripheral transmission portion 121a, and the appearance of the peripheral transmission portion 121a can be made uniform.
Further, by disposing the surface low refractive index portion 14a in the region overlapping the peripheral transmission portion 121a, the light diffused by the diffusion portion 13 is emitted from the peripheral transmission portion 121a through the low refractive index portion 14a. The light having a different color tone (brightness, saturation) can be emitted from the first embodiment.

Moreover, in the said 1st Embodiment, although the impermeable part 122 formed in the design display part 12 was a member which has non-light-transmitting property (light-shielding property), it is the semi-transmissive part 122a which has semi-light-transmitting property. There may be. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the semi-transmissive part 122a having semi-translucency may be provided so as to cover the peripheral transmissive part 121a. (Third embodiment)
In such a case, in the design display unit 12, a region where the light diffused by the light diffusion unit 13 is transmitted through the semi-transmission unit 122a becomes the peripheral transmission unit 121a. That is, the peripheral transmissive part 121a is defined by the shape of the light diffusing part 13 and the like. In this case, since the range of the peripheral transmissive part 121a is a range in which the light diffused by the light diffusing part 13 reaches and transmits, the non-transmissive part 122 having the light shielding property shown in the first embodiment is provided. Compared to the case (see FIG. 5).

Further, in the first to third embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the front surface diffusion portion 13a and the back surface diffusion portion 13b are provided on the front surface and the back surface of the light guide unit 11, respectively. As shown in FIGS. Either the front surface diffusion portion 13a or the back surface diffusion portion 13b may be provided. (FIG. 8; 4th Embodiment, FIG. 9; 5th Embodiment, FIG. 10; 6th Embodiment)
With such a configuration, the printing process of the diffusing unit 13 can be integrated into one process of either the front surface or the back surface. Further, the light diffused by the front surface diffusion portion 13a is directly emitted from the peripheral transmission portion 121a, but the light diffused by the back surface diffusion portion 13b is emitted from the peripheral transmission portion 121a through at least the light guide portion 11, The color of the light diffused by the front surface diffusion portion 13a is different from that of the light diffused by the back surface diffusion portion 13b. Different impressions can be given to the viewer of the display device 1 due to the difference in color tone.

In the first embodiment, the diffusing unit 13 is formed substantially uniformly on the surface of the light guide unit 11 by printing or the like. However, as illustrated in FIG. Good. (Seventh embodiment)
With such a configuration, the light emitted from the peripheral transmission part 121a can be easily adjusted by changing the density of the halftone dots.

Further, in the first embodiment, the light is diffused by the diffusion unit 13 using a material having a higher refractive index than that of the light guide unit 11 in order to diffuse the light. However, as shown in FIG. Light may be diffused by making the interface between the portion 14 and the light guide portion 11 uneven. (Eighth embodiment)
With such a configuration, the diffusion unit 13 is not necessary, and thus material costs can be reduced.

In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the region tends to be dark in the through hole dark region 121 c behind the through hole 101 when viewed from the light source 20. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the density of the diffusion portion 13 is changed between a through-hole dark region 121 c that is a shaded region of the through-hole and a through-holed region 121 d that is a shaded region. (Ninth embodiment)
Thus, the through hole dark region 121c increases the emission of light, and the through hole region 121d is adjusted so that the emission of light is reduced, so that the luminance of the light emitted from the peripheral transmission part 121a is substantially uniform. can do.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16, a reflecting surface 102 a that reflects light from the light source 20 may be provided in the pointer through hole 102 through which the pointer of the display device 1 passes. (10th Embodiment)
With such a configuration, the light reflected by the reflecting surface 102a is guided to the through-hole dark region 121c that is behind the through-hole 101, so that the luminance of the light emitted from the peripheral transmission part 121a can be made substantially uniform.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display apparatus 10 Display member 11 Light guide part 12 Design display part 13 Light diffusion part 13a Surface light diffusion part 13b Back surface light diffusion part 14 Low refractive index part 14a Surface low refractive index part 14b Back surface low refractive index part 20 Light source 30 Operation part 40 Circuit board 41 Switch 101 Through hole 102 Pointer through hole 102a Reflecting surface 121 Transmitting part (light emitting part)
121a Perimeter transmission part 121b Index transmission part 121c Through hole dark area 121d Through hole area 122 Non-transmission part 122a Semi-transmission part

Claims (3)

A switch, disposed on the front side of the switch, having a through hole, receiving a light from a light source and guiding the light, and disposed on at least one of a front surface or a back surface of the light guide, a diffusion unit for diffusing the light traveling through the light guide portion is disposed on at least one surface or the back surface of the light guide portion, and the lower low refractive index portion having a refractive index than the light guiding portion, the light guide A display panel having a light emitting portion disposed on at least one of the front surface or the back surface of the portion and having a light emitting portion that transmits and emits the light diffused from the diffusing portion, and is inserted into the through hole. In a display device comprising an operation unit extending to the front side of the light guide unit,
The display device, wherein the light emitting portion is provided at least at a peripheral edge of the through hole, and the diffusing portion is provided at a position corresponding to at least the light emitting portion.
  The display device according to claim 1, wherein the diffusing unit is larger than the light emitting unit.   The display device according to claim 1, wherein the low refractive index portion is not disposed in a region overlapping the light emitting portion.

Images