JP7114257B2 - Display and recording device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a display device and a recording device that are used in electronic equipment and display operating states with light.

2. Description of the Related Art Electronic devices are provided with various display devices to display the operating states of the electronic devices. 2. Description of the Related Art Known as one of display devices is a device in which a display corresponding to a light source is formed on an exterior panel, and an operating state is indicated by blinking light in the display. Such a display device may display a plurality of operating states by providing a plurality of pairs of light sources and display units.

When a plurality of display units are provided close to each other, a configuration may be adopted in which the display units are connected and integrated by a connecting portion. If this configuration is adopted, the light from the light source may leak to other display portions through the connection portion than the corresponding display portion. On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, by providing two light shielding ribs, leakage of light from the light source from non-corresponding display portions is suppressed.

JP 2009-170717 A

However, in the device described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to separate the two display sections by a predetermined distance or more in order to provide the two light shielding ribs between the two display sections. This may increase the size of the display device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device that can suppress light leakage and can be miniaturized.

In order to solve the above problems, a display device according to the present invention includes a cover member having a first display window and a second display window, a first display portion visible from the first display window, and the second display window. a display member integrally formed of a light-transmitting material and having a second display portion visible from the display; a light shielding rib provided between the first display portion and the second display portion; a light source corresponding to a first display section, wherein the first display section includes an incident section on which light from the light source is incident; and light that is visible through the first display window and travels in a first direction from the incident section. and the second display unit has a first surface visible from the second display window and a second surface that is the rear surface of the first surface in the first direction. and the display member includes: a first arm extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction from between the entrance portion and the exit portion of the first display; and a second arm extending in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction from between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the first arm extending in the second direction A portion on the second direction side that is different from the end portion is connected to the second arm portion extending in the third direction .

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the display apparatus which can suppress light leakage and can be reduced in size can be provided.

1A is a top view of a display device according to a first embodiment, FIG. 1B is a sectional view of the display device, and FIG. 1C is an exploded perspective view of the display device; FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to a first embodiment; FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating how light travels in the light guide portion of the display device according to the first embodiment; FIG. (a) is a top view of a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment, and (b) is an enlarged top view showing an LCD. (a) is a cross-sectional view of a display operation unit according to a second embodiment, and (b) is an exploded perspective view of the display operation unit. (a) is a top view showing a display operation unit of a second embodiment, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD of (a). FIG. 11 is a top view showing a display operation section of a modified example of the second embodiment;

An embodiment of a display device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the dimensions, shapes, relative positions, etc. of components described in the following embodiments should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied and various conditions. They are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to only those unless specifically stated.

[First embodiment]
A configuration of a display device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. FIG. 1(a) shows a top view of the display device 1, FIG. 1(b) shows a sectional view along line AA in FIG. 1(a), and FIG. 1(c) shows the display device shown in FIG. 1(a). 1 shows an exploded perspective view of FIG. The display device 1 mainly includes a bottom frame 10 , a display cover (cover member) 20 , a light guide 30 and a circuit board 70 . The bottom frame 10 and the display cover 20 are made of opaque resin (light shielding material) that blocks light. In addition, the bottom frame 10 and the display cover 20 are combined to form a box shape, and are configured to block light from entering the inside of the box shape from the outside. A light guide 30 is arranged inside the box shape formed by the bottom frame 10 and the display cover 20 , and a circuit board 70 is arranged between the light guide 30 and the bottom frame 10 . The light guide 30 is molded from a light transmissive resin (light transmissive material).

As shown in FIG. 1(c), a first display window 21 and a second display window 22 are provided on the upper surface of the display cover 20. As shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 1(b), a light shielding rib 23 projecting toward the circuit board 70 is formed inside the display cover 20. As shown in FIG.

The light guide 30 mainly includes a first light guide portion 40 as a first display portion, a second light guide portion 50 as a second display portion, and a connection between the first light guide portion 40 and the second light guide portion 50. and a connecting portion 60 for connecting, which are integrally formed. The first light guide section 40 has a first incidence section 41 and a first emission section 42 . The second light guide part 50 has a second incidence part 53 and a second emission part 54 . The first injection part 42 is insertable into the first display window 21 and the second injection part 54 is insertable into the second display window 22 . The light shielding rib 23 of the display cover 20 is arranged at a position where it can be inserted between the first light guide portion 40 and the second light guide portion 50 . The first light guide portion 40 and the second light guide portion 50 are shielded from each other by the light shielding ribs 23 .

A first LED chip (light source) 71 is arranged on the circuit board 70 at a position facing the first incident portion 41 , and a second LED chip 72 is arranged at a position facing the second incident portion 53 . The first LED chip 71 and the second LED chip 72 are independently turned on and off by an LED lighting control circuit (not shown) provided on the circuit board 70, thereby enabling an electronic device including the display device 1 (for example, recording device).

FIG. 2 shows the display device 1 viewed from the BB cross-sectional direction in FIG. 1(b). The first light guide portion 40 further has a horizontally extending first arm portion 45 . The first arm portion 45 is connected to a portion of the first light guide portion 40 other than the first incidence portion 41 and the first emission portion 42, has a first end portion 46 at one end, and has a first engaging portion at the other end. It has a joint 49 . Similarly, the second light guide portion 50 has a horizontally extending second arm portion 55 . The second arm portion 55 is connected to a portion of the second light guide portion 50 other than the second incidence portion 53 and the second emission portion 54, has a second end portion 56 at one end, and has a second engaging portion at the other end. It has a joint 59 . The first arm portion 45 and the second arm portion 55 are connected by a connecting portion 61 . That is, the connecting portion 60 is configured by the first arm portion 45 , the second arm portion 55 and the connecting portion 61 .

The first engaging portion 49 and the second engaging portion 59 can be engaged with the first engaging claw 24a and the second engaging claw 24b provided on the display cover 20, respectively. The light guide 30 is positioned with respect to the display cover 20 by the engagement between the first engaging portion 49 and the first engaging claw 24a and the engagement between the second engaging portion 59 and the second engaging claw 24b. .

The display cover 20 is further provided with a claw-shaped first holding portion 25 a and a second holding portion 25 b for holding and positioning the light guide 30 . The first holding portion 25a engages and holds the first arm portion 45 in the middle, and the second holding portion 25b engages and holds the second arm portion 55 in the middle. That is, the light guide 30 is positioned with respect to the display cover 20 by the first engaging claw 24a, the second engaging claw 24b, the first holding portion 25a, and the second holding portion 25b provided on the display cover 20. .

The connecting portion 61 connects the first light guide portion 40 and the second light guide portion 50 in order to integrally mold the light guide 30 . However, since the first light guide portion 40 and the second light guide portion 50 are connected by the connection portion 61 , light may not be blocked from each other, and light may leak (transmit) through the connection portion 61 . For example, when displaying the operating state by turning on the first LED chip 71 and turning off the second LED chip 72 , light leaks into the second light guide portion 50 via the connecting portion 61 and the second LED chip 72 may appear to be lit. As a result, the user may not be able to correctly recognize the operating state.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the first end portion 46 and the second end portion 56 are not connected by the connection portion 61, but the portion other than the end portion of the first arm portion 45 and the end of the second arm portion 55 are connected. A configuration is adopted in which the connecting portion 61 is connected to a place other than the portion. Details are provided below.

The first end 46 has a first reflective surface 47 and a first light output surface 48 . The first reflecting surface 47 is a surface oblique to the direction in which the first arm portion 45 extends. The first light exit surface 48 is a part of the first arm portion 45 and is provided on the side surface facing the side surface connected to the connection portion 61 . The second end 56 similarly has a second reflective surface 57 and a second light output surface 58 . The second reflecting surface 57 is a surface oblique to the direction in which the second arm portion 55 extends. The second light output surface 58 is a part of the second arm portion 55 and is provided on the side surface opposite to the side surface to which the connection portion 61 is connected.

The role of each reflecting surface and light emitting surface will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view in the vertical direction for explaining how light travels in the first light guide section 40. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the first light guide portion 40 will be described as an example, but the light travels in the same way in the second light guide portion 50 as well. In FIG. 3, dotted arrows indicate how light travels, and the Z direction indicates the vertical direction.

Light emitted from the first LED chip 71 enters the first light guide section 40 through the first incidence section 41 . Since the light emitted from the first LED chip 71 is diffused light, the light is emitted in various directions. L1 is light that is incident from the first incident portion 41 and is emitted from the first emitting portion 42 without being reflected. L2 is light that is incident from the first incident portion 41 , reflected inside the first light guide portion 40 , and emitted from the first emitting portion 42 . L3 is light that enters from the first incident portion 41 but leaks out of the first light guide portion 40 without being totally reflected inside the first light guide portion 40 . L4 is light that does not enter from the first incident portion 41 . The light L<b>1 and the light L<b>2 that have reached the first emission part 42 are emitted from the first display window 21 of the display cover 20 . On the other hand, L2a, which is part of the light L2 reflected inside the first light guide portion 40, enters the first arm portion 45 by reflection.

In FIG. 2, the dotted arrows indicate how the light incident on the first arm portion 45 travels, like the light L2a in FIG. In FIG. 2, the light incident on the second arm portion 55 is denoted by L2c. The light L2a incident on the first arm portion 45 changes its direction due to reflection upon reaching the first reflecting surface 47 and exits the light guide 30 from the first light emitting surface 48 . Also in the second light guide portion 50 , the light L<b>2 c that has entered the second arm portion 55 is reflected to change direction upon reaching the second reflecting surface 57 and exit the light guide 30 through the second light emitting surface 58 .

By providing the first reflecting surface 47 and the second reflecting surface 57 in this way, the light incident on the first arm portion 45 and the second arm portion 55 is guided in a direction different from that of the connection portion 61 . As a result, the light from the first LED chip 71 can be prevented from being guided to the second light guide portion 50 via the connecting portion 61 , and the light can be prevented from leaking to the second display window 22 . Similarly, it is possible to suppress the light from the second LED chip 72 from being guided to the first light guide portion 40 via the connecting portion 61 and prevent the light from leaking to the first display window 21 .

If the connecting portion 61 were provided at the ends of the first arm portion 45 and the second arm portion 55, the first reflecting surface 47 and the second reflecting surface 57 could not be provided, so the reflection of light inside could not be controlled. Can not do it. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, the first reflecting surface 47 and the second reflecting surface 57 are provided by connecting the ends of the first arm portion 45 and the second arm portion 55 other than the ends with the connecting portion 61. It is possible to control the reflection of light by each reflecting surface and guide the light to the outside.

Of the lights shown in FIG. 3, L3 and L4 do not enter the first light guide portion 40 and therefore do not reach the first reflecting surface 47. Suppressed. Therefore, the light from the first LED chip 71 is suppressed from entering the second light guide portion 50 by the first reflecting surface 47 and the light shielding ribs 23 . Similarly, the light from the second LED chip 72 is suppressed from entering the first light guide portion 40 by the second reflecting surface 57 and the light shielding ribs 23 . Thus, in the configuration in which two light sources are provided and the light guides for guiding the light of each light source are closely formed and integrally formed, the connecting portion 60 is provided with a reflective surface, and one light guide portion is provided between the two light guide portions. By providing the light shielding rib 23, leakage of light can be suppressed. As a result, the number of light shielding ribs 23 required can be reduced compared to the conventional one, and the size of the entire display device 1 can be reduced.

The number of LED chips and display windows is not limited to two, and may be three or more. Even when three or more light guide portions are provided, light leakage can be suppressed by providing a light shielding rib between two adjacent light guide portions and providing a reflective surface at the connecting portion in the same configuration as in the present embodiment. can be done.

Since the light guide 30 is made of a light-transmitting resin, it is necessary to design the first reflecting surface 47 and the second reflecting surface 57 at a predetermined angle in order to totally reflect the light. However, by printing specular ink, attaching a metal film, metal vapor deposition, or the like to the first reflecting surface 47 and the second reflecting surface 57, the light can be totally reflected regardless of the angle. Thereby, the degree of freedom in design can also be improved.

[Second embodiment]
Next, a display device according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. FIG. A display device in the second embodiment corresponds to the display operation unit 210 of the inkjet recording device (hereinafter referred to as recording device) 200 . The recording apparatus 200 includes a recording head (not shown) as recording means, and the recording head discharges ink from ejection openings to record an image on a recording medium.

FIG. 4A shows a top view of the recording apparatus 200. FIG. A display operation unit 210 having a display cover 220 is provided on the upper surface of the recording device 200 . The display operation section 210 mainly includes a display cover 220, an alarm light guide 260 as a first display section, an LCD display section 270 as a second display section, a power key 223 and a stop key 224 as switch members. The alarm light guide 260 and the LCD display section 270 are made of light transmissive resin. The LCD 290 is arranged inside the LCD display section 270 , and the user can visually recognize the display contents of the LCD 290 through the LCD display section 270 .

FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of the LCD 290. FIG. The LCD 290 has a wireless connection device status display section 291 , a remaining ink warning display section 292 , a maintenance guidance display section 293 , and the like, and displays the operation status of the recording apparatus 200 .

FIG. 5(a) shows the display/operation unit 210 viewed from the CC cross-sectional direction shown in FIG. 4(a), and FIG. 5(b) is an exploded perspective view of the display/operation unit 210. FIG. A display member 250 in which an alarm light guide 260 and an LCD display section 270 are integrally formed by a connecting section 280 is housed inside the display operation section 210 . That is, the entire display member 250 is made of a light-transmissive resin, and the alarm light guide 260 and the LCD display section 270, which are part of the display member 250, are exposed from the display cover 220 and are visible to the user. ing.

The lower surface of the display member 250 is supported by an opaque resin molded member M that does not transmit light.
The power key 223 and the stop key 224 are integrally formed as a part of the resin molded member M. As shown in FIG. The light shielding rib 241 shown in FIG. 5B is also integrally molded as a part of the resin molded member M. Details of the light shielding rib 241 will be described later.

A circuit board 230 is arranged below the resin molded member M. As shown in FIG. The circuit board 230 has an alarm display LED chip 231 at a position corresponding to the alarm light guide 260 . The circuit board 230 also has a power switch 233 corresponding to the power key 223 and a stop switch 234 corresponding to the stop key 224 . The circuit board 230 has an LED lighting control circuit (not shown) and controls lighting/lighting out of the alarm display LED chip 231 . The circuit board 230 has an LCD lighting control circuit (not shown) and controls display/non-display of the LCD 290 . The display operation unit 210 indicates the detailed operating state of the recording apparatus 200 by turning on/off the alarm display LED chip 231 and switching between display and non-display of the LCD 290 .

A bottom frame 225 is arranged under the circuit board 230 . The display cover 220 and the bottom frame 225 are molded from an opaque resin that does not transmit light, and when they are engaged with each other, they form a box shape and block light from the outside.

The display cover 220 is provided with a first display window 221 for exposing the alarm light guide 260 and a second display window 222 for exposing the LCD display section 270 . The display cover 220 also has an opening 226 for exposing the power key 223 and an opening 227 for exposing the stop key 224 .

The alarm light guide 260 has an incident portion 261 that receives light emitted from the alarm display LED chip 231 and an alarm display window 262 that is exposed from the display cover 220 and serves as an exit portion for emitting light. The LCD display section 270 is composed of an outer surface 274 exposed from the display cover 220 and an inner surface 273 that faces the LCD 290 and corresponds to the back surface of the outer surface 274 (see FIG. 5A).

6(a) is a top view showing the positional relationship between the display member 250 and the light shielding ribs 241, and FIG. 6(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 6(a). The alarm light guide 260 is arranged on the upper left of the LCD display section 270 in FIG. The connecting portion 280 connects the alarm light guide 260 and the LCD display portion 270 while being arranged outside the resin molded member M so as to wrap around the light shielding rib 241 .

The connecting portion 280 is composed of a first arm portion 263 extending from the alarm light guide 260 and a second arm portion 271 extending from the LCD display portion 270 . A first light emitting surface 265 and a first reflecting surface 266 are provided at an end portion 264 of the first arm portion 263 near the LCD display portion 270 . The first light exit surface 265 is a part of the first arm portion 263 and is provided on the side surface facing the side surface connected to the second arm portion 271 . The first reflecting surface 266 is a surface provided obliquely with respect to the direction in which the first arm portion 263 extends, and has a reflecting shape for guiding the light from the alarm light guide 260 to the first light emitting surface 265. ing. Note that the first light exit surface 265 may be part of another side surface other than the surface connected to the second arm portion 271 . As in the first embodiment, the connecting portion 280 is configured to connect a portion of the first arm portion 263 other than the end portion 264 to the second arm portion 271 .

When the alarm display LED chip 231 lights up, part of the light enters the alarm light guide 260 . Light L3a incident on alarm light guide 260 is guided along first arm 263 to first reflecting surface 266 . The light L3a reaching the first reflecting surface 266 is reflected to become light L3b in the direction opposite to the direction toward the LCD display section 270, and exits the connecting section 280 from the first light emitting surface 265. FIG.

In this way, by connecting the second arm portion 271 to a location other than the end portion 264 of the first arm portion 263 where the first reflecting surface 266 is provided, the light incident on the first arm portion 263 is It is possible to prevent L3a from being guided to the second arm portion 271 . That is, leakage of light from the alarm display LED chip 231 to the LCD display section 270 is suppressed. Note that the direction of the light L3b reflected by the first reflecting surface 266 is not limited to this, as long as it does not face the LCD display section 270 .

As described above, the LCD 290 displays various states of the recording apparatus 200. In particular, when displaying the remaining ink level warning display section 292, an alarm display LED is displayed so that the user can be notified even when the LCD 290 is not visible to the user. Chip 231 is also lit. That is, when it is determined that the amount of ink contained in the recording device 200 has fallen below a predetermined value, the alarm display window 262 of the alarm light guide 260 is lit by lighting the alarm display LED chip 231 . In this embodiment, the alarm display window 262 and the LCD display section 270 are arranged close to each other, so that the user who notices the lighting of the alarm display window 262 can easily check the display on the LCD 290 . Also, since the alarm light guide 260 and the LCD display section 270 are integrally formed, assembly and manufacturing are facilitated.

FIG. 7 shows, as a modification of the second embodiment, the configuration of the connecting portion when the LCD 290 is an LCD with a backlight. In FIG. 7, the display member 300 has an alarm light guide 360 and an LCD display section 370 . The alarm light guide 360 has a first arm 361 , and a first end 362 of the first arm 361 is provided with a first light emitting surface 363 and a first reflecting surface 364 . The LCD display unit 370 has a second arm 371 , and a second end 372 of the second arm 371 is provided with a second light emitting surface 373 and a second reflecting surface 374 . The first arm 361 is connected to a location other than the second end 372 of the second arm 371 , and the second arm 371 is connected to a location other than the first end 362 of the first arm 361 . That is, the first arm portion 361 and the second arm portion 371 intersect.

The first light exit surface 363 is a part of the first arm portion 361 and is provided on the side surface facing the side surface connected to the second arm portion 371 . The first reflecting surface 364 is a surface provided obliquely with respect to the direction in which the first arm portion 361 extends, and has a reflecting shape for guiding the light from the alarm light guide 360 to the first light emitting surface 363. ing. The configuration of the alarm light guide 360 for guiding light to the outside is the same as in the second embodiment.

The second light emitting surface 373 is a part of the second arm portion 371 and is provided on the side surface facing the side surface connected to the first arm portion 361 . The second reflecting surface 374 is a surface provided obliquely with respect to the direction in which the second arm portion 371 extends, and has a reflecting shape for guiding the light from the alarm light guide 360 to the second light emitting surface 373. ing.

When an LCD with a backlight is provided below the LCD display section 370, part of the light L4a enters the second arm section 371 as the backlight emits light. After that, the light L4a reaching the second reflecting surface 374 is reflected to become light L4b in a direction not directed toward the alarm light guide 360, and exits the second arm portion 371 through the second light emitting surface 373. In this modification, the direction of the light L4b is changed by the second reflecting surface 374 so that the direction toward the alarm light guide 360 is opposite.

In this way, the incident light from the LCD with backlight is reflected by the second reflecting surface 374, so that the leakage of light to the alarm light guide 360 is suppressed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the light emitted from the LCD from leaking out when the alarm display LED chip is not lit, thereby preventing the user from erroneously recognizing that the alarm display is lit. It should be noted that, as in the second embodiment, only one light blocking rib (not shown in FIG. 7) is provided between the alarm light guide 360 and the LCD display section 370 to prevent mutual light leakage.

In addition, as a device used for the second display section in this modified example, in addition to the LCD, a light reflection type display device such as a paper display can also be adopted as a light reflection type display device. A configuration similar to that of the display member 250 shown in the second embodiment may be adopted for the light reflection type display device. In addition, in the case of using a self-luminous display device such as an organic EL display or an LED array, or a self-luminous display device having a light source instead of the LCD with backlight, the same configuration as the display member 300 shown in the modified example should be adopted. Just do it.

Reference Signs List 1 display device 20 display cover 21 first display window 22 second display window 23 light shielding rib 30 light guide 40 first light guide section (first display section)
41 first incidence part 42 first emission part 45 first arm part 46 first end part 50 second light guide part (second display part)
53 second incident part (second surface)
54 second injection part (first surface)
55 second arm 71 first LED chip (light source)

Claims (14)

a cover member having a first display window and a second display window;
a display member integrally formed of a light transmissive material and having a first display portion visible through the first display window and a second display portion visible through the second display window;
a light shielding rib provided between the first display portion and the second display portion;
and a light source corresponding to the first display unit,
The first display section has an entrance section into which the light from the light source is incident, and an exit section through which light that is visible through the first display window and travels in a first direction from the entrance section is emitted,
The second display section has a first surface visible from the second display window and a second surface that is the rear surface of the first surface in the first direction,
The display member includes: a first arm portion extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction from between the entrance portion and the exit portion of the first display portion; and the first surface of the second display portion. and a second arm extending in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction from between the second surface,
A display device, wherein a portion of the first arm extending in the second direction, which is different from an end on the second direction side, is connected to the second arm extending in the third direction . The end portion of the first arm portion on the second direction side includes a first light emitting surface through which light from the light source exits from the first arm portion, and the light source toward the first light emitting surface. and a first reflecting surface that reflects the light of
2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first light exit surface is provided on a surface that is not connected to the second arm. 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the second arm crosses the first arm. 4. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the light source is an LED. 3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the first reflecting surface has a metal film. 6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a surface formed by said first arm and said second arm intersects said light shielding rib. 7. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a light reflective display device at a position facing the second surface of the second display section. a second light source corresponding to the second display unit, light from the second light source being incident from the second surface and emitted from the first surface;
At the end of the second arm on the third direction side, there are provided a second light emitting surface through which light from the second light source exits from the second arm, and a light emitting surface directed toward the second light emitting surface. a second reflecting surface that reflects the light of the second light source,
7. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the second light exit surface is provided on a surface that is not connected to the first arm. 9. The display device of claim 8 , wherein the second light source is an LED. 9. The display device according to claim 8 , wherein the second light source is a display device provided with a light source or a self-luminous display device. 11. The display device according to any one of claims 8 to 10 , wherein the second reflecting surface has a metal film. A recording device comprising recording means for recording on a recording medium, and the display device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 . 13. A recording apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said recording means is a recording head for recording an image by ejecting ink. 13. A recording apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said first display section displays information regarding ink amount, and said second display section displays information regarding operation status of the recording apparatus.

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