JP5975696B2 - Illumination structure of meter device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a meter device mounted on a vehicle, an aircraft, a ship, or the like.

  As a conventional illuminating device, for example, a device having a configuration that illuminates numbers, scales, design portions, and the like using light from a light source of an LED has been developed. As this type of lighting device, those described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are known.

  In Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 11, the ring member 110 is provided in a ring shape surrounding the outer periphery of the dial 120, the illumination lamp 150 is disposed on the back surface 111 side of the ring member 110, and Illumination device 100 is described in which orange layer 140 introduces light from illumination lamp 150 and emits orange light to ring member 110. Then, orange light is emitted from the surface 113 of the light guide member 112 of the ring member 110, and when the illumination lamp 150 is extinguished, the silver paint layer passes through the surface 113 of the light guide member 112 of the ring member 110 and the inner side surface 114. 115 is visually recognized. Thereby, the ring member 110 can provide a novel appearance.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 12, Patent Literature 2 describes an illumination device 200 that includes a pointer 210 and a display plate 220 having an indicator portion 221 that is an instruction target of the pointer 210. An opening corresponding to the scale portion 230 is formed in the display board 220, and a display member 240 is disposed behind the display board 220, and the scale member 230 projects from the opening onto the display board 220. A raised portion 231 forming a part of is formed. Thereby, the raised portion 231 made of a three-dimensional structure protruding on the display plate 220 is visually recognized as a protruding scale corresponding to the scale portion 230 of the display plate 220.

  Thus, in the above-mentioned meter apparatus, the light guide structure is used for the dial 120 provided with the scale in the one of Patent Document 1, and the outer peripheral portion of the display member 240 of the meter is disclosed in Patent Document 2. The lighting production is given.

  However, in the illumination structure of the meter device having such a configuration, since the light from each of the plurality of light sources usually illuminates a portion corresponding to each light source, the illumination efficiency is poor. In addition, the assembling work is troublesome, and the cost is increased.

  Further, for example, an illumination structure of the meter device 300 described in Patent Document 3 is also known. In the illumination structure of the meter device 300, as shown in FIG. 13, a ring-shaped ring member 320 that circulates a disk-shaped or semi-disk-shaped dial 310 is gradually lowered toward the outside. It has the inclined surface 321 inclined so that it may go. Further, the meter device 300 is provided with a light source 330 that emits light toward the ring member 320 and a light guide member 340.

  Light from the light source 330 is emitted from the outside toward the inclined surface 321 through a light guide member 340 having a ring shape that circulates around the ring member 320. For this reason, when the inclined surface 321 inclined so as to gradually descend toward the outside is illuminated, gradation occurs due to the difference in distance between the light source 330 and each part of the inclined surface 321. Thereby, a deep three-dimensional effect can be expressed and an instrument with a high degree of freedom of expression can be provided.

JP 2005-77185 A JP 2010-48743 A JP 2007-85984 A

  However, in the illumination structure of the meter device 300 described in Patent Literature 3, the substantially disc-shaped dial plate 310 on the center side on which numbers and the like are described, and the ring member 320 on the outer peripheral side, respectively, It was necessary for the light from different separate light sources 350, 360 to be illuminated. As described above, the meter device 300 requires three types of light sources arranged in each case and has poor illumination efficiency. Therefore, there is a demand for development of an effective illumination structure with no luminance unevenness.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to simultaneously illuminate light from the same light source on both the central portion and the portion surrounding the central portion. It is another object of the present invention to provide an illumination structure for a meter device that can suppress the occurrence of uneven brightness.

In order to achieve the above-described object, an illumination structure of a meter device according to the present invention is characterized by the following (1) to (4).
(1) a disk-shaped central disk member;
A ring-shaped annular member surrounded by a part or the entire circumference of the outer periphery of the central disk member;
With
A meter device in which a scale or a character written on the central disk member or the annular member is indicated by a pointer,
A light guide member that has a substantially C-shape or ring shape as a whole and is installed on the back side of the central disk member and the annular member, the intermediate portion extending in the circumferential direction and the radial direction, and the intermediate portion A light guide member having a base portion extending from the entire circumferential direction of the radially inner end portion to the back side, and a light output portion extending from the entire circumferential direction of the radially outer end portion of the intermediate portion to the front side. ,
On the front surface of the intermediate portion, a plurality of intermediate light leakage portions projecting to the front side are provided radially at equal intervals in the circumferential direction,
In the central disk member, a plurality of pores are radially formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction at positions corresponding to the scales indicated by the pointer,
Each of the intermediate light leakage portions protrudes from the front surface of the central disk member to the front side through the corresponding pore.
The end surface on the front side of the light emitting part is disposed opposite to the surface on the back side of the annular member,
Illumination light emitted from a light source disposed opposite to the light receiving portion of the base is incident on the light receiving portion of the light guide member and guided into the light guide member, at least a part of which is the intermediate light leakage The light is emitted from the portion toward the central disk member, and the remaining part is guided through the inside of the light guide member and emitted from the front end surface of the light emitting portion toward the back surface of the annular member. An illumination structure of a meter device characterized by the above.
(2) The illumination structure of the meter device according to (1), wherein an end face on the front side of the light emitting part is located on the front side with respect to front end parts of the plurality of intermediate light leakage parts .
(3) A reflecting member provided on a side opposite to the side facing the central disk member and the annular member of the light guide member and having a surface facing the base, the ring-shaped light emitting part, and the intermediate light leakage part. In addition,
The illumination structure for a meter device according to the above (1) or (2), wherein
(4) The illumination structure for a meter device according to (3), wherein the reflecting member is provided with a rib that rises from the surface of the reflecting member toward the light guide member.

According to the illumination structure of the meter device described in the above (1), between the central disk member and the annular member, there is a light guide property, and the intermediate light leakage portions are equally spaced in the intermediate portion on the surface side. The light guide member which has radially is provided. As a result, the illumination light emitted from the light source disposed opposite to the end face of the light receiving portion at the base of the light guide member enters the light guide member from the light receiving portion and is guided inside, but at least part of the light is guided. It is possible to emit light from the intermediate light leakage part in the middle of the light toward the central disk member. Further, the remaining illumination light is incident on the rear surface side of the circular member after emitted from the output light portion provided to be guided inside along the front end surface of the surface side of the light guide member, the inner annular member It is possible to penetrate. Therefore, since both the central disk member on the central portion side and the annular member surrounding the central disk member can be illuminated simultaneously with the light from the same light source, the illumination efficiency can be improved. In addition, since the intermediate light leakage portions are arranged radially at equal intervals, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of uneven brightness.
In addition, the intermediate light leakage part of the light guide member has a narrow shape and constitutes a radial light output part protruding from the surface, and the central disk member has a pore corresponding to the radial light output part, and Since the radial light emitting part is inserted into the pore, the radial light emitting part itself constitutes a three-dimensional scale. Thereby, the illumination structure of the high quality meter apparatus which has a high-intensity scale can be provided.

According to the illumination structure of the meter device described in (2) above, the front-side end surface of the light output part is located on the front side with respect to the front-side end parts of the plurality of intermediate light leakage parts. Therefore, it is possible to provide an even higher quality illumination structure for the meter device.

  According to the illumination structure of the meter device described in (3) above, the reflection member has a means for increasing the reflectance on the surface facing the outer peripheral surface on the base side of the light guide member. Therefore, it is possible to make the light incident on the light guide member by reflecting the illumination light that travels on the outer peripheral surface on the base side with the light receiving portion of the light guide member reflected by the surface of the reflection member. As a result, since such illumination light can also be used for illumination of the meter device, the illumination efficiency is increased accordingly.

  According to the illumination structure of the meter device described in (4) above, the reflecting member provided in a state facing the outer peripheral surface on the base side of the light guide member includes the rib. Therefore, the illumination light from the light source that has not entered the light receiving portion of the light guide member is reflected by this rib, so that it can be incident on the light guide member and used for illumination. As a result, the illumination efficiency can be improved.

According to the illumination structure of the meter device of the present invention, a light guide is provided between the central disk member and the annular member, and intermediate light leakage portions are radially arranged in the intermediate portion on the surface side at equal intervals. An optical member is provided. As a result, the illumination light emitted from the light source disposed opposite to the end face of the light receiving portion at the base of the light guide member enters the light guide member and is guided inside, and at least a part of the light is intermediate light leakage during the light guide. It can radiate | emit toward a center disk member from a part. The remaining of the illumination light can be emitted from the output light portion is guided inside provided on the end face along the outer peripheral surface of the distal end side of the light guide member. Then, it transmits the internal annular member is incident on the rear surface side of the circular member after emitted from the output optical part of this. Accordingly, since both the central disk member on the center side and the annular member surrounding the central disk member can be illuminated simultaneously with light from the same light source, the illumination efficiency can be increased. In addition, since the intermediate light leakage portions are arranged radially at equal intervals, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of uneven brightness.

  The present invention has been briefly described above. Further, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading through a mode for carrying out the invention described below (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) with reference to the accompanying drawings. .

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a speedometer device to which an illumination structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state when the light guide member and the central disk member are removed in the speedometer device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cutaway perspective view showing the light guide member of the speedometer device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is an optical path diagram showing an enlarged traveling optical path of main illumination light and the like in the speedometer device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state when the light guide member and the central disk member are removed in the speedometer device to which the illumination structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an illumination structure including a typical optical path in which auxiliary illumination light travels in the speedometer device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an optical path diagram showing a typical traveling light path of auxiliary illumination light in an enlarged manner in the speedometer device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a traveling light path in the vicinity of auxiliary illumination light in the speedometer device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10: is an optical path figure which expands and shows the advancing optical path of the auxiliary system of the auxiliary illumination light in the speedometer apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing an illumination structure of a conventional meter device. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing an illumination structure of another conventional meter device. FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing an illumination structure of still another conventional meter device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First embodiment)
1 and 2 show a meter device 1A according to a first embodiment to which the illumination structure of the present invention is applied.
This meter device 1A is applied to a speedometer for automobiles. As shown in FIG. 2, the light source 3 mounted on the substrate 2, the movement 4 attached to the substrate 2, and the light source 3 directly above. (The left side in FIG. 2) and at the upper part of the movement 4 (the left side in FIG. 2), and at least a part of the case 5 with the reflecting member 10 attached, and to cover the case 5 A light guide member 6 installed on the top, a central disk member 7 constituting a dial, an annular member 8 surrounded by a part (or the entire circumference) of the outer periphery of the central disk member 7, and a pointer 9 And a reflection member 10.
In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a facing plate, 12 denotes a cover glass, and 13 denotes a warning light.

  As the light source 3, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) that emits visible light having a predetermined wavelength (λ) corresponding to predetermined illumination light (referred to as “illumination light”) is used. As shown in FIG. 3, the light sources 3 of the present embodiment are arranged radially at equal intervals in a state where a plurality of light sources 3 are held at a constant interval. As a result, the light emission illumination as uniform as possible can be performed on the central disk member 7 and the annular member 8. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the light guide member 6 and the central disk member 7 are removed for easy understanding of the internal structure.

  The illumination light from the light source 3 has a distribution state in which the central portion serving as the optical axis along the Z-axis direction has a maximum light amount, but the light amount distribution in the XY plane direction is direction-dependent. No, uniform emission characteristics are used. That is, the light source 3 of the present embodiment has a light quantity distribution characteristic that emits a substantially uniform quantity of light over the entire circumference in the direction of the XY plane. The light source 3 of the present embodiment is not particularly limited to this LED, but this LED is preferable in that it is a small point light source with low power consumption.

  The movement 4 rotates the pointer 9 by an appropriate angle according to a signal from a speed detector (not shown) in order to display a speed corresponding to the traveling speed of the automobile on which the meter device 1A is mounted. The movement 4 incorporates an appropriate motor (not shown), such as a stepper motor, and a necessary reduction mechanism (not shown), and is connected integrally with the pointer 9 via a pointer shaft 41 (see FIG. 2). Yes.

  The case 5 is installed on the upper surface (left side in FIG. 2) of the substrate 2 so as to surround the pointer shaft 41 from the outside, and the back portion on the back side is closed by the back cover 15A. The substrate 2 is accommodated inside.

  Moreover, the reflecting member 10 is provided in a part of the case 5 so as to face an outer peripheral surface of the light guide member 6 on the base 61 side described later.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the reflecting member 10 reflects again the illumination light incident on the light receiving portion 61A of the light guide member 6 from the outer peripheral surface of the light guide member 6 by reflecting the illumination light. The illumination light propagating outside the light guide member 6 without being incident on the light receiving portion 61 </ b> A of the light guide member 6 is reflected and incident on the light guide member 6. For this reason, at least the surface 10 </ b> A facing the light guide member 6 is provided with appropriate means for increasing the reflectance, such as mirror finishing. In addition, between this reflective member 10 and the light guide member 6, in order not to become an obstacle that the illumination light travels, a space portion S in which nothing is installed is configured.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the light guide member 6 is formed in a substantially C shape (or may be a ring shape) with an appropriate material having a light guide property, and between the reflective member 10 and the annular member 8. And it is arrange | positioned with respect to the center disk member 7 and the annular member 8 in those back surface sides. In other words, it is disposed closer to the light source 3 than the central disk member 7 and the annular member 8. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the light guide member 6 includes a base 61 located on the back surface side (right side in FIG. 2), a light receiving portion 61A that is a base end surface of the base 61, and the light receiving portion 61A. The outer shape of the intermediate portion 66 that constitutes the light guide portion that guides the illumination light from the light source 3 that is opposed to the light source and the outer peripheral surface on the front end side, that is, the front surface side, is substantially C-shaped as a whole. And a light emitting part 62 (hereinafter referred to as a C-shaped light emitting part).

  In the light guide member 6 having such a configuration, part of the illumination light from the light source 3 (which may be referred to as main illumination light) incident from the light receiving unit 61A is part of the C-shaped light emitting unit 62 on the surface side. The inside of the light guide member 6 is guided toward. And it is comprised so that the illumination light radiate | emitted from the C-shaped light output part 62 may inject and permeate | transmit the back surface side of the annular member 8 which faces the C-shaped light output part 62. FIG. In addition, as this light emission part, the light emission part (ring-shaped light emission part) which has a ring shape instead of a substantially C shape may be sufficient.

  Furthermore, in the light guide member 6 of the present embodiment, a plurality of intermediate light leakage portions 63 for three-dimensionally emitting the scales are formed in the intermediate portion on the front surface side, specifically, on a part of the surface (left surface in FIG. 2). Has been. As shown in FIG. 4, the intermediate light leaking portions 63 are radially projected at equal intervals. Hereinafter, the intermediate light leakage part 63 may be referred to as a scale part.

  The scale portion 63 emits illumination light from the scale portion 63 toward the central disk member 7 as well as the C-shaped light exit portion 62 from which illumination light is efficiently emitted toward the annular member 8. It is supposed to be. In addition, the scale part 63 of this embodiment protrudes in the insertion state in the pore 71 drilled in the site | part corresponding to the center disk member 7. FIG. The scale I itself is constituted by the scale 63 and the pores 71.

  When the scale part 63 exposed from the central disk member 7 emits light by the scale I from which the scale part 63 protrudes from the pore 71, the scale I is visually recognized in three dimensions. For this reason, upgrading of the meter device 1A is attempted. Further, the shape of the intermediate light leakage part 63 is arbitrary as long as it can emit light efficiently.

  Further, the light guide member 6 is formed with serrations formed of a large number of fine grooves along the circumferential direction on the back surface which is the back surface side. Thereby, the illumination light from each light source 3 arranged facing the back surface of the light guide member 6 is distributed and guided as evenly as possible. Further, the light guide member 6 is subjected to a textured process (or textured process) made of fine irregularities on the surface side, and illumination light is emitted from the surface side in a state of being dispersed as evenly as possible.

  Further, the light guide member 6 has a reflective surface R as shown in FIG. 5 in order to improve the light guide property by preventing the illumination light traveling inside the light guide member 6 from leaking out as much as possible. Are provided at multiple locations. That is, the reflecting surface R is composed of the first reflecting surface R1 to the third reflecting surface R3, and appropriate reflecting means can be applied. For example, as an example, mirror processing that improves the smoothness of these reflecting surfaces may be performed. Further, an appropriate reflective film may be formed in order to take positive reflection measures.

  The central disk member 7 displays necessary information regarding the design D, for example, numbers F, letters, symbols, etc., such as the vehicle itself or the environment around the vehicle, and turns on a warning lamp 13 when necessary. The central disk member 7 is formed in a disk shape or a semi-disk shape, for example. The central disk member 7 is provided with a scale I for speed display and the like near the outer edge of the outer surface.

  In the case of this embodiment, the scale part 63 of the light guide member 6 inserted into the drilled pore 71 constitutes the scale I itself. The central disk member 7 is configured such that the graduation I is illuminated by illumination light emitted from the light source 3 and incident after being guided through the light guide member 6.

  The annular member 8 is a ring-shaped member surrounded by a part (or the entire periphery) of the outer periphery of the central disk member 7, and a pointer is provided on a portion facing the C-shaped light emitting portion 62 of the light guide member 6. A number F indicated by 9 is described as a part of the design. The pointer 9 is rotatably installed so as to protrude outward from the center of the central disk member 7, and protrudes from the central disk member 7 in addition to the numeral F of the ring member 8 described above. The scale I of the light guide member 6 is indicated.

  The meter device 1A according to the present embodiment constitutes a part of a combination meter, and the annular member 8 on which the surface-side speed display number F is written is covered with a facing plate 11. In addition, various types of display windows for installing various instruments (not shown) including the meter device 1 </ b> A are opened in the facing plate 11. Further, the facing plate 11 has an opening covered with a translucent cover glass 12 such as a transparent or black type.

  Note that the meter device 1A of the present embodiment constitutes a speedometer as described above. In this speedometer, the stepper motor in the movement 4 rotates the pointer shaft 41 of the pointer 9 by a predetermined angle based on a sensor signal corresponding to the speed detected by a sensor (not shown), and the number F of the annular member 8 or The scale I of the center disk member 7 is indicated.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. In addition, although description of the meter apparatus 1A here demonstrates the effect | action taking a speedometer as an example among each measuring instrument, it is not specifically limited to this. This operation is the same in the case of other analog type meter devices.

  A motor provided in the movement 4 of the meter device 1A is rotationally driven based on a sensor signal corresponding to a current speed detected by a speed sensor (not shown). The pointer 9 integrally connected thereto is rotated by a predetermined angle, and is projected in a state of being inserted into a specific numeral F or the central disk member 7 which is a design D formed on the annular member 8. The scale I of the light guide member 6 is indicated.

  That is, the output shaft on the motor side and the pointer shaft 41 integral therewith start to rotate at a predetermined angular velocity, the pointer 9 attached with the pointer shaft 41 is rotated by a predetermined angle, and on the annular member 8 at the tip of the pointer 9 The specific number F or the scale I on the central disk member 7 is indicated. As a result, the current speed can be notified to the driver by analog display.

  In the meter device 1A that performs such speed display, illumination light is emitted from the light source 3 shown in the drawing toward the light receiving portion 61A of the light guide member 6 at the same time. In this case, the illumination light emitted from the light source 3 has a light quantity distribution with the optical axis as the maximum light quantity. Therefore, most of the illumination light incident on the light receiving portion 61A in a parallel state along the optical axis (Z), that is, the main illumination light α, as shown in FIG. After passing through the light guide member 6 having a letter shape to the surface, the light is emitted from the surface. The main illumination light at the time of emission generally has a uniform emission characteristic due to serrations and embossing formed on the light guide member 6.

Next, the illumination light of this embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to the optical path diagram shown in FIG.
Of the main illumination light emitted from the light source 3 and incident on the light receiving unit 61A, the illumination light α along the main optical path parallel to the Z-axis direction, in which the optical axis is set to follow the front direction of the viewer in particular, is guided. The light enters the light receiving portion 61A of the optical member 6 perpendicularly. As a result, Fresnel reflection at the interface with the outside world is effectively suppressed in the light receiving portion 61A, most of the light travels through the inside as it is, and most of the illumination light α is reflected by the reflecting surfaces R1 and R2. The C-shaped light emitting part 62 can be reached.

  When the illumination light α reaching the C-shaped light output portion 62 is emitted from the C-shaped light output portion 62 to the outside as in the later-described illumination light β, most of the C-shaped light output portion 62 of the annular member 8 is emitted. After being incident on the inside of the annular member 8 from the back side facing the surface, the light is emitted outward from the surface. Thereby, the number F for speed display which is a part of the design D formed on the annular member 8 can be illuminated.

  On the other hand, the illumination light β that travels outside the main optical path out of the main light path out of the illumination light emitted from the light source 3 and is obliquely incident on the light receiving portion 61A of the light guide member 6 is partially interfaced with the outside in the light receiving portion 61A. Most of the light travels inside the light receiving portion 61 </ b> A of the light guide member 6 while causing Fresnel reflection. The illumination light β can also reach the C-shaped light output part 62 while being reflected by the reflection surfaces R1, R2, and R3.

  In addition, a part of these illumination lights α and β proceeds to the scale part 63 formed on the surface side of the intermediate part 66 of the light guide member 6 and is emitted from the scale part 63 to the outside as it is. The illumination of the scale I is also effectively performed. In particular, for the illumination of the scale I in this case, a three-dimensional visual effect is obtained. For the illumination of the pointer 9, a dedicated light source may be provided separately. However, according to the illumination structure of this embodiment, part of the illumination light α and β from the light source 3 can be incident on the pointer 9. it can.

  Furthermore, part of the illumination light β incident on the light receiving portion 61A of the light guide member 6 out of the main optical path out of the illumination light emitted from the light source 3 is a space portion S outside the reflective surface R2 of the light guide member 6. May be emitted to Therefore, in the present embodiment, means for increasing the reflectance is formed on the surface 10A of the reflecting member 10, and the illumination light β emitted from the reflecting surface R2 to the outside is reflected by the surface 10A and again to the light guide member 6. It can be made incident. Such re-incidence to the light guide member 6 due to reflection on the surface 10A of the reflecting member 10 is the same for the main illumination light α.

Therefore, according to the meter device 1A having the illumination structure of the present embodiment, the light guide member 6 is provided to illuminate the scale I and the speed display number F separately by installing a dedicated light source. This is no longer necessary, and the cost can be reduced while improving the assemblability.
Moreover, according to the meter device 1A having the illumination structure of the present embodiment, the illumination light from the light source 3 is transmitted to the light guide member 6 by installing the reflection member 10 having the surface 10A provided with means for increasing the reflectance. Even if it leaks from the reflecting surface R2, it can be reincident, and the use efficiency of the illumination light can be increased accordingly.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a meter device 1B according to a second embodiment to which the illumination structure according to the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
6 and 7 show a meter device 1B according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The meter device 1B is different from the meter device 1A of the first embodiment in that the reflecting member 20 is raised. That is, the rib 21 is attached.

  The reflecting member 20 has an outer peripheral surface 61C (see FIG. 8) opposite to the inner outer peripheral surface 61B (see FIG. 8) facing the central portion of the central disk member 7 among the outer peripheral surfaces of the base 61 of the light guide member 6. And a plurality of the above-described standing ribs 21 (see FIG. 6). By this rib 21, apart from the main illumination light that has entered the light receiving portion 61A of the light guide member 6 from the light source 3, it does not enter the light receiving portion 61A, but deviates to the outside and passes through the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface 61C of the base 61. Illuminating light γ1 and γ2 (which may be referred to as auxiliary illumination light) are reflected by the rib 21. Thus, the auxiliary illumination lights γ1 and γ2 reflected by the ribs 21 are efficiently incident on the light guide member 6 so that as much illumination light as possible can be effectively used.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the ribs 21 are arranged in a radial pattern in a state where they are scattered at equal intervals. This arrangement corresponds to the protruding scale parts 63 constituting the scale I. You may arrange in a position. With such an arrangement, it is possible to effectively collect the illumination light on the scale portion 63, and the scale I can be illuminated and illuminated in a higher-brightness manner, and at the same time, the occurrence of uneven brightness on the scale I can be suppressed. You can also

  Further, in the case where the speed display number F that is a part of the design D formed on the annular member 8 is illuminated with high brightness, the rib 21 may be provided at a position corresponding to the number F.

  Note that the shape of the rib 21 is not particularly limited to that of the present embodiment. For example, the illumination light is converged in the central direction by curving in a concave shape toward the central direction of the central disk member 7, or conversely formed in a convex shape toward the central direction, so that the illumination light is uniformly removed. You may make it diverge towards.

  The ribs 21 of the present embodiment are thin and have a substantially rectangular shape on the surface facing the pointer 9 and are formed at equal intervals. In the present invention, it is also possible to adjust the illumination brightness by changing the width W (see FIG. 6) of the rib 21 and adjusting the distance L between the adjacent ribs 21.

Next, the illumination light of this embodiment will be described with reference to the optical path diagrams shown in FIGS.
In this embodiment as well, the illumination light passing through the main optical path travels in the same direction as the main illumination light α described in the first embodiment and produces the same action. However, here, for the convenience of describing only the function of the rib 21 of the present embodiment, the auxiliary illumination lights γ1, γ2, δ1, and δ2 that travel on the outer optical path that is not incident on the light receiving portion 61A and deviate from the main optical path. Only will be described.

  Therefore, here, regarding the path of the outer optical path followed by the auxiliary illumination light deviated from the main optical path, (i) when the illumination light (quasi-illumination light) γ1 and γ2 is guided as it is by entering the light guide member 6 ( 7 and 8), and (ii) Illumination light (side illumination light) δ1 and δ2 is not guided by the light guide member 6 even when incident on the light guide member 6, and goes straight through and traverses as it is. The case (FIGS. 9 and 10) will be described separately.

  Of course, the auxiliary illumination light traveling in these optical paths is not so single. That is, in practice, it may interfere with the main illumination light that has traveled along other optical paths (for example, the main optical path), and in this case, the combined light quantity is guided inside the light guide member 6. It is.

For (i):
As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, for example, quasi-illumination light γ1 and γ2 among auxiliary illumination light traveling in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface 61C of the base 61 among the illumination light traveling off the main optical path and traveling on the outer optical path, Many of them can be efficiently incident on the light guide member 6 after being reflected by the ribs 21. In addition, a large amount of light incident on the light guide member 6 is emitted from the C-shaped light emitting portion 62 or its vicinity while being reflected inside the light guide member 6.

  Of the quasi-illumination light emitted from the C-shaped light exit portion 62, for example, illumination light γ2 is incident on the annular member 8 from the back surface and then exits from the front surface to the outside. Thereby, the number F for speed display which is a part of the design D formed on the annular member 8 can be illuminated.

  In addition, a part of these illumination lights γ1 and γ2 travels to the scale portion 63 formed on the surface side of the intermediate portion 66 of the light guide member 6, and is emitted from the scale portion 63 to the outside as it is. The illumination of the scale I is also effectively performed. In particular, for the illumination of the scale I in this case, a three-dimensional visual effect is obtained.

For (ii):
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the auxiliary illumination light traveling outside the main optical path out of the auxiliary illumination light traveling in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface 61C of the base 61, for example, the side illumination light δ1, δ2 is incident on the light guide member 6 after being reflected by the ribs 21, and then traverses and exits to the outside. Thereby, although the central disk member 7 can be illuminated from the back side, a part of the side illumination light that has passed through the central disk member 7 can also enter the pointer 9.

  Accordingly, in the meter device 1B having the illumination structure of the present embodiment, a dedicated light source is separately provided for the scale I and the speed display number F by providing the light guide member 6 as in the first embodiment. Thus, it is not necessary to illuminate, and the assemblability can be improved and the cost can be reduced.

  In addition, according to the meter device 1B having the illumination structure of the present embodiment, by installing the reflecting member 20, even if the illumination light from the light source 3 leaks from the reflecting surface R2 of the light guide member 6, it is made incident again. Therefore, the use efficiency of illumination light can be increased accordingly.

  Furthermore, according to the meter device 1B having the illumination structure of the present embodiment, the rib 21 attached to the reflecting member 20 leaks out of the outer peripheral surface 61C of the base 61 in the illumination light that travels outside the main optical path. The illumination light can also be effectively used for the central disk member 7 and the annular member 8, and the illumination efficiency is further increased.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  Further, as a meter device to which the illumination structure of the present invention is applied, for example, in addition to the speedometer unit of the present embodiment, it can be applied to various instruments such as a tachometer unit, a fuel meter unit, and a water temperature meter. In particular, even a large-sized meter, that is, a type in which the pointer rotates over a large angle range can suppress the occurrence of uneven brightness by providing effective illumination, which is convenient. .

1A, 1B Meter device 2 Substrate 21 Rib 3 Light source 4 Movement 41 Pointer shaft 5 Case 6 Light guide member 61 Base 61A Light receiving portion 61B Inner outer peripheral surface 61C Outer outer peripheral surface 62 Light emitting portion (C-shaped light emitting portion; ring-shaped light emitting portion)
63 Scale (intermediate light leakage part)
7 Central disk member 71 Pore 8 Ring member 9 Pointer 10, 20 Reflective member 10A Surface 11 Turn plate 12 Cover glass 13 Warning indicator 15A Back cover 21 Rib D Design F Number I Scale R Reflective surface R1-R3 First reflection Surface to third reflecting surface S Space portion α Main illumination light along main optical path β Illumination light obliquely incident on light receiving portion γ1, γ2 Auxiliary illumination light δ1, δ2 Auxiliary illumination light (side illumination light)

Claims (4)

A disk-shaped central disk member;
A ring-shaped annular member surrounded by a part or the entire circumference of the outer periphery of the central disk member;
With
A meter device in which a scale or a character written on the central disk member or the annular member is indicated by a pointer,
A light guide member that has a substantially C-shape or ring shape as a whole and is installed on the back side of the central disk member and the annular member, the intermediate portion extending in the circumferential direction and the radial direction, and the intermediate portion A light guide member having a base portion extending from the entire circumferential direction of the radially inner end portion to the back side, and a light output portion extending from the entire circumferential direction of the radially outer end portion of the intermediate portion to the front side. ,
On the front surface of the intermediate portion, a plurality of intermediate light leakage portions projecting to the front side are provided radially at equal intervals in the circumferential direction,
In the central disk member, a plurality of pores are radially formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction at positions corresponding to the scales indicated by the pointer,
Each of the intermediate light leakage portions protrudes from the front surface of the central disk member to the front side through the corresponding pore.
The end surface on the front side of the light emitting part is disposed opposite to the surface on the back side of the annular member,
Illumination light emitted from a light source disposed opposite to the light receiving portion of the base is incident on the light receiving portion of the light guide member and guided into the light guide member, at least a part of which is the intermediate light leakage The light is emitted from the portion toward the central disk member, and the remaining part is guided through the inside of the light guide member and emitted from the front end surface of the light emitting portion toward the back surface of the annular member. An illumination structure of a meter device characterized by the above. 2. The illumination structure of the meter device according to claim 1, wherein an end face on the front side of the light emitting part is located on the front side with respect to front end parts of the plurality of intermediate light leakage parts . Further comprising from said central disk member and the side facing the annular member of the light guide member provided on the opposite side, surface the base, the reflecting member facing the front Kide light portion and the intermediate portion,
The illumination structure for a meter device according to claim 1 or 2, The illumination structure for a meter device according to claim 3, wherein the reflecting member is provided with a rib that rises from the surface of the reflecting member toward the front light guide member.

Images