JPH02298818A - Instrument with light-emitting pointer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable instantaneous recognition of indication of a pointer with an attention drawn thereto and thereby to improve the visibility of the pointer by a method wherein a plurality of light-emitting elements provided on the surface of the pointer are made to emit a light with the visible state changed. CONSTITUTION:A number of light-emitting diodes 4 are provided on the surface of a pointer 1. They are so disposed as to be arranged densely on the fore end side and are fixed to a holder 8, sealed hermetically with resin 6 for protection, and driven by a rotating shaft 10. A battery 32 is connected between an anode terminal 26 of the light-emitting diodes 4 and a cathode terminal 28 thereof and an excess current is checked by a resistor 30. When the pointer 1 rotates with the rotation of the rotating shaft 12 through the intermediary of hair springs 22 and 24 and the light-emitting diodes 4 emit a light in this constitution, the luminance on the fore end side of the pointer is higher and the diodes 4 on the side are lighted stronger, since the diodes are disposed densely in the fore end of the pointer 1. Therefore the attention of a driver is drawn thereto and the state of indication can be recognized instantaneously and easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an instrument with a luminous pointer used for speed display, rotation speed display, fuel amount display, etc. of automobiles.

[Prior Art] Traditionally, instruments with luminous indicators have been used in automobiles to enable the position of the instrument needle to be confirmed when driving at night, etc. .Example] As shown in Figure 36 1:.

By fixing an electroluminescent device 52 (hereinafter referred to as EL52) to the surface side of the pointer 50, and applying an AC voltage boosted to 100 volts or more by a drive circuit 60 from a battery 58 to the EL52 via input terminals 54 and 56. , EL52 was emitting light. Also, Utsukai Showa 54-
As stated in Publication No. 29056, 1: Establish transparent guidelines,
It has also been proposed that the pointer is illuminated by a light emitting body from the mounting boss portion of the pointer, so that the entire pointer appears to emit light. Furthermore, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 54-179773, a device in which a light emitting element is attached to the tip of the pointer has also been proposed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, although these conventional pointers can confirm the position of the pointer when driving at night, etc., they only emit light with uniform brightness. Even if a user sees a pointer emitting light with an average brightness, his or her attention is not particularly drawn to the state in which the pointer is displayed. Also, when driving at night, etc., when looking at a panel with many instruments, etc., the driver obtains information, looks at the pointer, and instantly recognizes the state that the pointer is displaying. Therefore, the present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problem, and provides an instrument with a luminous pointer that attracts attention and improves visibility so that it can be instantly recognized. There is a particular thing.

[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following configuration as a means for solving the problem. This is a configuration of a meter with a light-emitting pointer, characterized in that elements are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the pointer, and the one or more light-emitting elements emit light according to the information or by changing the visibility state. .

[Function] In the instrument with a light-emitting pointer having the above configuration, one or more light-emitting elements provided in the pointer that moves according to the amount of information emit light according to the information or by changing the visibility state, so that the pointer cannot be visually recognized. can improve sexual performance.

[Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a meter with a light-emitting pointer, which is an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a pointer, which includes a pointer substrate 2, and a number of light emitting diodes 4 as light emitting elements on the surface of the pointer substrate 2 (along its longitudinal direction).
are arranged in one row.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
. . , the light emitting diodes 4 on the tip side are arranged closely. The light emitting diodes 4 . . . together with the pointer substrate 2 are protected and sealed with a resin 6 having a well-known light diffusion effect.

This pointer 1 is fixed to a retainer 8 by heat caulking or the like, and a fitting hole 8a of the retainer 8 rotates around a rotary shaft 10 according to well-known input information. ]0 and is fixed. A retaining plate 14 made of an insulator is fixed to the base 2a by screws 16, and this retaining plate 1
4, a power supply side anode terminal 18 and a power supply side cathode terminal 2o are erected by caulking or the like while being electrically insulated.

Then, one end of a hair spring 22 made of electrically conductive phosphor bronze or beryllium copper, which is wound in a spiral shape, is fixed to the tip of the power supply side anode terminal] 8 with electrical continuity, such as by soldering. The other end of the hair spring 22 is fixed to the anode terminal 26 with electrical continuity, and the anode terminal 26 is fitted and fixed to the retainer 8. The end of the anode terminal 26 is electrically connected to the anode side of the light emitting diode 4 by a printed wiring bonding wire or the like on the substrate 2.

Further, one end of a conductive hair spring 24 (similarly wound in a spring shape) is fixed to the tip of the power source side cathode terminal 20 to provide electrical continuity. It is fixed to the cathode terminal 28 with electrical continuity, and the cathode terminal 281 is fitted and fixed to the holder 8.
Reference numeral 8 is electrically connected to the cathode sides of the light emitting diodes 4 by printed wiring, bonding wires, etc. on the substrate 2.

Further 1: The power source side anode terminal 18 is connected to the anode side of the battery 32 via the upper resistor 30, and the power source side cathode terminal 20 is connected to the cathode side of the battery 32.

FIG. 4 shows an electric circuit constituted by the light emitting diode 4 described above, the anode terminal 26, the cathode terminal 28, the battery 32, etc. Like this 1: multiple light emitting diodes 4
...In this embodiment, four light emitting diodes 1 and 1 are connected in series, and the light emitting diodes 4 connected in series...
・are connected in parallel. And resistance 3
0 prevents the light emitting diodes 4 from being destroyed due to excessive current flowing through them.

Next, the operation of the instrument with a luminous pointer according to the second embodiment will be explained.

First, when a signal corresponding to information is input to the movement 12, the rotating shaft 12 rotates in the winding direction against the urging force of both hair springs 22, 24 according to the information. By this rotational movement of the rotating shaft 12, the cage 8
The pointer 1 rotates through the . Then, when the rotational force of the movement 12 and the biasing force of the hair springs 22 and 24 are balanced, the rotation is stopped and information corresponding to the input signal is instructed.

Also, voltage is applied by the battery 32, and the resistor 30
, the power supply side anode terminal 18, the hair spring 22, the anode terminal 26, the light emitting diode 4..., the cathode terminal 28, the hairspring 24, and the power supply side cathode terminal 20 in order. As a result, the light emitting diodes 4 . . . emit light even when the pointer 1 is stopped or rotating.

Thereby, the pointer 1 can be easily recognized even when driving at night. In addition, in this embodiment, since the light emitting diodes 4, etc. are closely arranged on the tip side of the pointer 1, the brightness at the tip side of the pointer 1 is high and strong, so the driver cannot see the pointer. ] Attention is drawn to the tip.

Therefore, even if you momentarily look at pointer 1 while driving a vehicle, your attention will be directed to the tip of pointer 1, and you will be able to instantly and easily check the information indicated by the pointer, and you will be able to see the original information of the instrument. The purpose of conveying information can be instantaneously and easily.

Incidentally, as instruments using the above-mentioned pointer 1, speedometers, tachometers, fuel gauges, oil pressure gauges, voltage and body temperature gauges, etc. can be applied. Alternatively, the sides and bottom of the pointer may be coated with a light-opaque coating so that only the top surface shines.

Next 1: In the above-mentioned embodiment, the light emitting diodes 4... were arranged densely toward the tip of the pointer 1, but the arrangement of the light emitting diodes 4... is not limited to this case. As in the second embodiment shown in the figure, light emitting diodes 4 may be arranged on the pointer substrate 2 at equal intervals.

In this case, as shown in Figure 6, a resistor 3 is connected in series to each light emitting diode 4 arranged in series.
4 to 36 are connected, and the resistance values of these resistors 34 to 36 are made smaller as they go to the light emitting diode 4 arranged on the tip side of the pointer 1. It may be configured such that the brightness of 4... increases.

As a result, as in the case described above, 1: When driving at night, etc., the tip side of the pointer 1 shines strongly, so the pointer 1 can be easily seen, and even if you look at the pointer 1 momentarily, you can definitely confirm the indicated value. can.

Next, a third embodiment of the arrangement of the light emitting diodes 4 will be explained with reference to FIG.
Upper 1: This is a case where light emitting diodes 4a, 4b, and 4C of different colors are arranged. For example, a plurality of red light emitting diodes 4a may be disposed on the tip side of the play pointer 1, a green light emitting diode 4b may be disposed in the middle, and a yellow light emitting diode 4C may be disposed at the base (, , and in this case (
As shown in Figure 8, 1: Resistors 38 and 39 whose resistance values are changed according to each color, taking into consideration the brightness balance.
゜40 are connected in series.

As a result, similar to the case described above, 1st driving at night etc.
Here, the pointer 1 can be easily recognized visually, and since the pointer 1 emits light in different colors depending on its location, even if the pointer 1 is looked at momentarily, the indicated value can be reliably confirmed.

In addition, as in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.
Light emitting diodes 4d and 4e of different colors may be arranged alternately on the top. Then, as shown in Fig. 10, the light-emitting diodes 4d and 4e of different colors are connected in parallel with the polarities reversed. 43,44
may be connected. A changeover switch 45 for changing the polarity connected to the battery 32 is provided to switch the light emitting diodes 4d and 4e to one of the colors.

This allows the driver to select the emitted color according to his/her preference, or change the emitted light color according to the input information by switching the selector switch 45 according to the input information, thereby linking the emitted light with a warning display, etc. It can also be used as an auxiliary warning indicator. Therefore, two pieces of information are simultaneously transmitted to the driver based on the information input to the movement 12 by the pointer 1 and the color of light emitted from either of the light emitting diodes 4d and 4e. The driver can instantly obtain two pieces of information just by looking at one pointer 1.

Alternatively, as in the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 11, a reflector plate 46 may be provided upright on the pointer board 2, and light emitting diodes 4f and 4g may be arranged in two rows on both sides thereof. And the twelfth
1: Each two rows of light emitting diodes 4 as shown in the figure
The polarities of f and 4g are reversed and connected in parallel, and one light emitting diode 4 is connected by the control circuit 47 according to an external input signal.
Only f and 4g are emitted. Then, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the control circuit 47 controls the light emitting diodes 4f and 4g on the opposite side to the rotational movement direction of the pointer 1 according to the information to emit light.

For example (when the f-pointer 1 rotates clockwise,
One light emitting diode 4g emits light, and when rotating counterclockwise, the other light emitting diode 4f emits light.This movement of pointer 1 represents an image of a meteor, and the driver who sees this It is possible to instantly recognize that the object has moved.

In addition, as in the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 13, a plurality of light emitting diodes 4 are arranged at approximately regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the pointer 1, and as shown in FIG. Diodes 4... are connected in series to form a plurality of sets. Then, in response to a signal input from the outside via the connection terminal 49, the control circuit 48 displays a sequence so that each of the plurality of groups sequentially emit light, and the light is emitted from the tip of the pointer 1 toward the base. The light is emitted sequentially so that the light emitting point moves on the pointer. Or (on the contrary, guideline 1)
The light emitting point may move from the base to the tip. It should be noted that the control circuit 48 can be easily arranged on the pointer board 2 by incorporating it into an IC.

As a result, the light emitting point moves on the pointer 1, so the driver is reminded to be careful and can instantly check the driver (the pointer), and the pointer 1 is displayed just by looking at the vehicle panel momentarily. The visibility of the pointer 1 is improved.

17-28 show a seventh embodiment.

The seventh embodiment relates to a pointer display device for indicating instruments, including a speedometer, a tachometer, a fuel gauge, and a temperature gauge.

-It is used for indicating instruments such as pressure gauges and clocks.

Additionally, functions such as color changes are added to the information on each meter.

As a conventional technique of the seventh embodiment, a conductive layer is provided on a well-known pointer member made of a flexible conductive metal material through an insulating film, and this conductive layer and the conductivity of the pointer member itself are combined. A proposal has been made to create a conductive circuit to a light-emitting element attached to the pointer (Utility Model Application No. 54-179773), but since only one light-emitting element is set at the tip, the tip simply emits light. Therefore, it is not possible to make the entire pointer emit light. Furthermore, since it is monochromatic and has only one element, there are problems such as the inability to change the color.

Seventh embodiment (for example, yellow and red light emitting diodes with the forward directions of the light emitting diode chips 4, 4' opposite to each other (two directions) are arranged on the pointer substrate 2 provided in the longitudinal direction of the front pointer 1, This light emitting diode is assembled into a resin 6 having a light emitting window frame, two electrical connection terminals 18.20 are provided, electrical wiring is made to the pointer board 2, and a hairspring 22.2 is installed.
It is electrically connected to an external light emission control device 29 via 4. In addition, the external light emission control device 29 (friend) receives an external signal and sends a display signal to the pointer 1.
Since this is the same as in the first embodiment, the same components as in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and their explanations will be omitted. In addition, the 18th
Although the light emitting diodes 4.4' are shown arranged in two rows in the figure, they do not necessarily need to be arranged in two rows.

By adopting this configuration, for example, in a speedometer,
When the speed exceeds a certain level, the color of the light emitted changes from the normal color (yellow) to
In order to flow a current in the opposite direction and switch the pointer light emission color to red light emission, or to alternately light up the yellow and red light emitting diode chips, the current direction is changed in a pulse manner using the external light emission control device 29. By doing so, creating a mixed color of yellow and red (amber), and changing the transmission pattern of the external light emission control device 29, it is possible to change the three colors of yellow, amber, and red.Also, as shown in FIG. In the color mixing, the external light emission control device 29
By providing the function of changing the pulse duty ratio of the color using the variable resistor 17, the user can also set the color as desired. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 24, as the speedometer moves, the color of the light emitting diode 4.4° can gradually change from yellow to red as the vehicle speed increases from Ok m/hr to high speed. become.

Incidentally, as long as the lighting of the light emitting diodes 4 and 4' can be switched (the signal from the L external light emission control device 29 may be other than the + and - input signals shown in FIG. 17).

As explained above, according to the seventh embodiment, it is possible to change the multicolor angle by two or more colors, and the pointer 1 emits light over the entire length or locally like a warning, allowing the user to use the pointer 1 to display various types of light. The effect of providing information can be obtained.

29 to 35 show the eighth embodiment. The eighth embodiment is used for warning scales for water temperature gauges, remaining amount warning displays for fuel gauges, multiple switching of meter lighting, etc. of automobiles.

As the prior art of the eighth embodiment, a monochromatic self-luminous pointer such as a cold cathode tube is employed in the pointer instrument.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, a pointer structure with a built-in light emitting element as in Utility Model Application No. 54-179773 has been proposed; Therefore, it is not possible to add a warning function such as changing the color of the pointer light emitting part from amber to red, for example.

Temporary IQ: Even if it were possible to use multiple terminals and add a warning function, the electrical wiring for the guide would be extremely complicated, and many problems would remain in terms of production, quality, and cost, making mass production extremely difficult. Have difficulty.

The eighth embodiment eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks, and in order to stably mass-produce it, the electric receiving terminal for pointer light emission is made into two terminals as in the prior art, and the pointer structure (as shown in FIG. The indicator of the eighth embodiment is a water thermometer, which has a plurality of light emitting diodes of two different colors and an external control circuit that controls the light emitting state of each light emitting diode. This is a device that changes the color of the light emitting pointer, and the pointer color changes to three colors: amber in the cool zone, green in the normal temperature zone, and red when the overheat warning is displayed. In order to
The terminal 81 in the figure is at 10 potential, and the other terminal 82 is at m-(3
7. Next, as shown in Fig. 33, the signal transmitted to each terminal is controlled by an AC waveform so that the terminal 81 has a knee potential and the other terminal 82 has a potential of 10. 2 (as shown in Figure 31), two colors of amber and red with different polarities are incorporated into the copper foil 83 74 84. 85 shows the bonding wire. The wiring diagram of the light emitting diode is shown in Fig. 33.The relationship between the pointer light emission state and the drive signal in each display is as shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 33.
Since this is the same as in the first embodiment, the same components as in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and their explanations will be omitted.

In the eighth embodiment, the number of colors is limited to three, but by changing the pulse period of the drive signal, it is possible to set various intermediate colors of the two color light emitting diodes arranged. It can also be used as a variable pointer color function that allows the user to set the color as desired.

FIG. 34 shows an example of a warning function product.

Although various embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, the instrument with a light-emitting pointer of the present invention (a plurality of light-emitting elements are provided on the surface of the pointer, and the display is displayed according to information or by changing the visibility state, attracting attention). This has the effect that the display state of the pointer can be recognized instantaneously, and the visibility of the pointer is improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a meter with a luminous pointer according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a top view of the pointer of this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a meter with a luminous pointer of this embodiment. , FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram of this embodiment, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a meter with a luminous pointer as a second embodiment, FIG. 6 is an electric circuit diagram of the second embodiment, and FIG. An explanatory diagram of a meter with a luminous pointer as an example, FIG. 8 shows an electric circuit of the third embodiment, FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a meter with a luminous pointer as a fourth embodiment, and FIG.
Electrical circuit diagram of the embodiment, Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a meter with a luminous pointer as the fifth embodiment, Fig. 12 is an electrical circuit diagram of the fifth embodiment, and Fig. 13 is a luminous indicator as the sixth embodiment. Fig. 14 is an electric circuit diagram of the sixth embodiment;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the pointer of the fifth embodiment, and FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the pointer of the fifth embodiment. Fig. 17 is a partially cutaway front view of the seventh embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 18 is a plan view of a pointer equipped with light emitting diodes, and Fig. 19 is a schematic perspective view of the seventh embodiment. Figure, 20th
The figure is a circuit diagram of the seventh embodiment, and FIG. 21 is a circuit diagram in which a variable resistor is provided in addition to the external light emission control device in the seventh embodiment.
Figure 22 shows an example in which many light emitting diodes are arranged at the tip of the pointer to generate local light emission, and (a) is a plan view, (b)
is a front view, FIG. 23 is a circuit diagram including the two types of light emitting diodes 4 and 4 degrees for the pointer shown in FIG. 22, FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of an example of light emission switching, and FIGS. 25 and 26 are both shown in FIG. 22. FIG. 27.28 is an example diagram of a control signal corresponding to the light emission example of FIG. 25.26, respectively. Fig. 29 is a partially cutaway front view of the eighth embodiment, Fig. 30 is a plan view showing the relative position of the pointer and the scale plate having the color change zone, and Fig. 31 is the entire color change ( (A) is a front view of the pointer, (B) is a plan view showing the wiring of the light emitting diode, (C) is (B)
32 is a wiring diagram of the light emitting diode shown in Fig. 31, Fig. 33 is an example of the drive signal, Fig. 34 is a plan view of a pointer with a warning function, and Fig. 35 is a wiring diagram of the light emitting diode shown in Fig. 34. FIG. 3 is an example diagram of wiring of light emitting diodes in the pointer. FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram of a conventional meter with a luminous pointer. 1... Pointer 2... Pointer board 4.4a,
4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f,
4g...light emitting diode

Claims (1)

[Claims] One or more light emitting elements are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the pointer on a pointer that moves according to information, and the one or more light emitting elements are made to emit light according to the information or while changing the visibility state. An instrument with a luminous pointer.