JPH04273018A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To luminously display an index part point indicated by a display equipment in an analog display device. CONSTITUTION:A first linearly polarizing plate 6 is provided in the rear of a pointer 4 with an index window part 4a having light diffusivity, a colored index part 7 with translucentivity is provided on the back surface of this linearly polarizing plate 6 and a second linearly polarizing plate 13 with a polarizing axis orthogonal with a polarizing axis of the linearly polarizing plate 6 is provided in front of the pointer 4. Light from a light source 10 is polarized in one direction by the first linearly polarizing plate 6, most of it is cut by the second linearly polarizing plate 13 and made into the ground color near to black, only the index window part 4 A point is luminant on the overall black ground color part and the index part 7 on this index window part 4a point is visually observed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an analog display device, and more particularly to an analog display device in which an indicator portion indicated by a display device emits light.

0002

[Prior Art] A conventional device of this type has a speedometer or other display device inside the case, and a transparent synthetic resin plate with a light-shielding background color and a light-transmitting indicator on the front opening side of the case. A dial plate formed by multi-color screen printing is provided,
A rotary plate is fixed to the pointer shaft of the indicator located behind the dial, and a through hole is formed in the rotary plate at a part of the circumference corresponding to the indicator of the dial. A light source is disposed behind the rotary plate, and the light from the light source is transmitted through a hole in the rotary plate to an indicator portion of the dial corresponding to the hole, causing the indicator portion to emit light. The composition was made in 1973.
This is proposed in Publication No.-41947.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above-mentioned prior art, a rotary plate approximately the same size as the dial is fixed to the pointer shaft of the display, and the rotary plate, which is larger and heavier than the general pointer, is rotated. Because of the driving configuration, the load placed on the display increases, and a display with large rotational driving force must be used, resulting in a large display device. In addition, the indicator indicated by the display is illuminated by the light from the light source through the transparent hole, and the other indicators are shielded from light by a rotary plate, and this comparison state allows the indicator indicated by the display to be illuminated. Although it is configured to be visible, the indicator on the front of the dial is always visible, and a portion of the light that enters the indicator on the front side through the transparent hole is guided inside the dial. Therefore, the indicator portions other than the through-hole portion also emit dimly bright light and are visible, making it difficult to clearly display only the indicator portion indicated by the display device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a display device which is miniaturized and allows the indicator portion shown by the display device to be clearly viewed.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention includes a meter body fixed in a case, a pointer provided in the meter body and having an indicator window made of a light-diffusing or optically active material, and the indicator window. and a second linear polarizing plate provided in front of the indicator window and having a polarization axis orthogonal to the polarization axis of the first linear polarization plate, An indicator portion corresponding to the indicator window portion is provided on at least one of the rear surface of the second linearly polarizing plate and the front and rear surfaces of the first linearly polarizing plate, and a light source is provided at the rear of the first linearly polarizing plate. , The indicator window portion is displayed by emitting light using this light source.

[0006] The present invention also provides a meter body fixed in a case, a pointer provided on the meter body and having an indicator window made of a 1/2 wavelength plate, and a pointer provided at the rear of the indicator window. a first circularly polarizing plate; and a second circularly polarizing plate provided in front of the indicator window and having circularly polarizing properties in a direction opposite to that of the first circularly polarizing plate, the second circularly polarizing plate An indicator portion corresponding to the pointer window is provided on at least one of the rear surface and the front and rear surfaces of the first circularly polarizing plate, and a light source is provided behind the first circularly polarizing plate, and the light source illuminates the indicator. This is a light-emitting display of the window area.

[0007]

[Operation] With the above configuration, the illumination light from the light source is
The polarized light beam is polarized in one direction by the linear polarizing plate, and this polarized light beam is cut by the second linear polarizing plate and is visually recognized as a planar ground color portion with a color close to black. on the other hand,
The light beam that is polarized after passing through the first linear polarizing plate corresponding to the index window is diffused or optically rotated at the index window, and a portion of this light passes through the second linear polarizer and emits light. The index portion is visible within the index window portion.

Furthermore, with the above configuration, the illumination light beam from the light source is circularly polarized in one direction by the first circularly polarizing plate, and this circularly polarized light beam is cut by the second circularly polarizing plate and becomes black. It is visually recognized as a nearly flat ground color area. On the other hand, the light beam that is polarized after passing through the first circularly polarizing plate corresponding to the index window becomes circularly polarized in the opposite direction at the index window, and a portion of this light beam passes through the second circularly polarizing plate. As a result, the index portion is visually recognized within the location of the index window portion where the light is emitted.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in the figures, an instrument body 2 serving as an indicator such as a speedometer and an engine tachometer is mounted on a circuit board 3 at the bottom of a case 1. The pointer 4 is fixed in the mounted state and is located on the front side of the case 1 and has a transparent indicator window 4A made of a material having light diffusivity or optical rotation. A first linear polarizing plate 6 having a polarization axis in the direction of arrow A in FIG. A dial plate 8 is comprised of a translucent index part 7 such as a scale 7A and numerals 7B, and a rear surface of the dial plate 8 is reinforced with a diffuser plate 9 having a light-diffusing property. At the same time, a surface-emitting type light source 10 for performing transmitted illumination is provided in an overlapping manner, and a facing plate 12 is installed in the front opening of the case 1 so that the opening 11 is located in front of the pointer 4.
A second linear polarizing plate 13 having a polarization axis in the direction of arrow B orthogonal to the direction of arrow A is attached to the rear side of the facing plate 12 so as to cover the opening 11 of the facing plate 12. A see-through cover 14 is provided in front of the linearly polarizing plate 13. The indicator portion 7 may be formed by printing or coating a translucent ink, pasting a member having similar characteristics, or by printing or coating a translucent ink on a transparent film (not shown) or the like, and aligning it with the first straight line. It is configured by being laminated on the lower surface of the polarizing plate 6. Furthermore, by providing the index section 7 on the front or rear surface of the diffuser plate 9, the diffuser plate 9 serving as a holder and the index section 7 can form a dial plate. In addition to providing an indicator portion 7 consisting of 7A, a diffuser plate 9 is also provided.
An indicator portion 7 consisting of the number 7B may be provided on the front or rear surface. The indicator window 4A of the pointer 4 has a substantially fan-shaped plane whose plane expands from the center of the dial 8 toward the outer periphery, and in this example, the tip of the indicator window 4A has a width approximately three times the width of the numeral 7A. have. The diffusion plate 9 is made of synthetic resin or the like, and if the first linear polarizing plate 6 and the light source 10 are easily deformable members, a material having enough rigidity to hold them is used, and the light source 10 is If the illumination intensity is non-uniform, a light-diffusing light may be used or may be omitted. Further, the second linear polarizing plate 13 can also be attached to the rear surface of the cover 14. Further, as a light source, an EL panel, a fluorescent display tube, a cold cathode discharge tube, or the like is used.

Next, the operation of the above structure will be explained.

When the light source 10 is turned on, the illumination light beam shown by arrow C in FIG. The light enters the polarizing plate 6. The light beam incident on the linear polarizing plate 6 is polarized in the direction of the arrow E based on the polarization axis shown by the arrow A, and is transmitted. Among the transmitted light beams, the light beam directly incident on the second linear polarizing plate 13 is polarized in the direction of the arrow B. Since most of the light is cut off based on the polarization axis shown in , it is visually recognized as a planar ground color portion with a color close to black. On the other hand, the light beam that has been polarized after passing through the six first linear polarizing plates corresponding to the index window section 4A enters the index window section 4A and is diffused in the direction of the arrow G, or is optically rotated and polarized into the second linear polarizing plate. Linear polarizing plate 1
3 and is transmitted as a light beam polarized in the direction of arrow H based on the polarization axis shown by arrow B, and the indicator window 4A emits light, and the indicator 7 of this indicator window 4A emits light in that hue. visible. In this way, the indicator window 4
Only the indicator part 7 at point A is visible within the light-emitting indicator window part 4A, and is indicated by the instrument body 2 in a contrasting state between this indicator window part 4A and other ground color parts of a color close to black. Index contents can be read clearly.

In the above embodiment, the entire surface is covered by the first and second linear polarizing plates 6, 13 having polarization axes perpendicular to each other, and the pointer 4 having the indicator window 4A made of a light-diffusing or optically active material. Since the indicator part 7 is configured so that the indicator part 7 is visible only in the indicator window part 4A where the light is emitted by the ground color part having a color close to black, the pointer is smaller and lighter than the one using a conventional rotating plate. A small instrument body with low torque can also be used, making it possible to downsize the device. In addition, since unnecessary light is cut by the first and second linear polarizing plates 6 and 13, light leakage and uneven illumination brightness can be prevented.
Only the index window portion 4A emits light in the ground color portion of a color close to black, and the index portion 7 within the index window portion 4A is clearly visible.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the same parts as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted and will be described in detail.

In this example, a dial plate 8 is constructed by providing a non-transparent index portion 7C on the front surface of the first linear polarizing plate 6.
The index portion 7C is formed by printing or applying ink having light-shielding properties. Further, the index portion 7C is a second linear polarizing plate 13.
By providing the second linear polarizing plate 13 and the index portion 7C on the rear surface, a dial plate can be formed by the second linear polarizing plate 13 and the index portion 7C. An indicator portion 7C consisting of the number 7B may be provided on the rear surface of the second linear polarizing plate 13.

When the light source 10 is turned on, the indicator window 4A emits light and is visible, and the part that is blocked by the non-transparent indicator 7C is the scale 7A, number 7.
It has the shape B and is clearly visible only within the light-emitting indicator window 4A.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the same parts as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted and will be described in detail.

In this example, a translucent index portion 7 with a number 7B is provided on the outer peripheral side of the rear surface of the first linear polarizing plate 6, and
A translucent index portion 7 with a scale 7A is provided inside thereof, and a transparent member 15 having light diffusing or optically rotating properties is provided on the front surface of the first linear polarizing plate 6. The indicator window 4B of the pointer 4 is formed such that its tip is positioned above the scale 7A. The transparent member 15 is constructed by using an acrylic plate or the like, or by printing or applying transparent ink having light diffusivity or optical rotation. If the transparent member 15 is not provided, a colored, translucent index portion 7 with the number 7B is provided on the front surface of the first linear polarizing plate 6 by pasting a film having light diffusivity or optical rotation, or by printing ink. The dial plate 8 can also be configured by

Among the light beams emitted from the light source 10, which are polarized in the direction of arrow E by the linear polarizing plate 6 and transmitted, the light beams incident on the transparent member 15 are diffused or optically rotated, and then become a second linearly polarized light beam. The light enters the plate 13 and is transmitted as a polarized light beam in the direction of the arrow H, and 15 parts of the transparent member emit light, and the entire indicator portion 7 with the numeral 7B emits light in that hue and is visually recognized. Further, only the scale 7A at the index window portion 4B is visible within the index window portion 4B. As a result, scale 7
Of A, only the index portion 7 of the scale 7A indicated by the meter body 2 is clearly visible within the light-emitting index window portion 4B.

FIGS. 8 to 10 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which the same parts as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted and will be described in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, in place of the first and second linear polarizing plates 6 and 13 shown in the first embodiment, a first polarizing plate having a circularly polarizing property in the counterclockwise direction as shown by the arrow I is used. A circularly polarizing plate 16 and a second circularly polarizing plate 17 having a circularly polarizing property in the opposite direction to the arrow I, that is, in the clockwise direction shown by the arrow J, are disposed, and the pointer 18 having the indicator window 18A is 2
It is formed from a wave plate. The first circularly polarizing plate 16 has a crystal light beam in the direction of the arrow L, which forms an angle of 45° with respect to the direction of the arrow K, on the front surface of a first linear polarizing plate 19 having a unidirectional polarization axis shown by the arrow K. The second circularly polarizing plate 17 has a crystal axis direction parallel to the first quarter wave plate 20 as shown by arrow M. On the front surface of the second 1/4 wavelength plate 21 having
As shown by arrow N, it is constructed by bonding a first linearly polarizing plate 19 and a second linearly polarizing plate 22 having a parallel polarization axis. The indicator window 18A of the pointer 18 has a substantially fan-shaped plane whose plane expands from the center of the dial 8 toward the outer periphery, and a display pointer 23 is provided in front of the indicator window 18A. 23 is constructed by printing or coating ink with non-transparent properties, or by pasting a member having similar characteristics.

Next, the operation of the above structure will be explained. When the light source 10 is turned on, the illumination light beam shown by the arrow O in FIG. 4. The light is circularly polarized by the wave plate 20 in the counterclockwise direction shown by the arrow Q. Of this circularly polarized light source, the light that directly enters the second circularly polarizing plate 21 is polarized by the second 1/4 wavelength plate 21 in the direction shown by the arrow R, and is polarized by the second linearly polarizing plate 22. Since most of it is cut, it is visually recognized as a planar ground color part with a color close to black. On the other hand, the light beam transmitted through the 16 first circularly polarizing plates corresponding to the index window 18A and polarized enters the index window 18A in a clockwise direction opposite to the arrow Q as shown by arrow S. The light beam polarized in the direction of the arrow S enters the second circularly polarizing plate 17, and the light beam polarized in the direction of the arrow S passes through the second circularly polarizing plate 17 having circular polarization in the same direction as that of the second circularly polarizing plate 17. It is transmitted as a polarized light beam, and the indicator window 18A emits light, and the indicator 7 in the indicator window 18A emits light in that hue, and the display pointer 23 points out the emitted indicator 7 for visual recognition. be done. In this way, only the indicator portion 7 and the display pointer portion 23 corresponding to the indicator window portion 18A are visible within the indicator window portion 18A, and this indicator window portion 18
The content of the index indicated by the meter body 2 can be clearly read in the contrast between the A point and other ground color portions of a color close to black.

In the above embodiment, first and second circularly polarizing plates 16 and 17 having circularly polarizing properties in opposite directions, and 1
/2 Pointer 18 having an index window 18A made of a wave plate
As a result, the indicator portion 7 is visible only within the indicator window portion 18A where light is emitted on the ground color portion, which is almost black on the entire surface, and the same effect as in the first embodiment is achieved.

FIGS. 11 to 13 show a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which the same parts as in the previous embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted and will be described in detail.

In this example, the second circularly polarizing plate 17 includes a second linearly polarizing plate 22 having a polarization axis in the direction of arrow N' orthogonal to the first linearly polarizing plate 19, as shown in FIG. 1
It is composed of a 1/4 wavelength plate 20 and a second 1/4 wavelength plate 21 having an optical axis direction shown by an arrow M' perpendicular to the 1/4 wavelength plate 20. A dial plate 8 is constructed by providing a non-transparent index portion 7C consisting of a numeral 7B on the front surface of the first circularly polarizing plate 16. Further, the tip of the indicator window 18B of the pointer 18 made of a 1/2 wavelength plate has a rectangular planar shape, and a non-transparent portion 24 is provided on the entire front surface of the pointer 18 except for this tip. 24 is constructed by printing or applying ink having non-transparent properties, or by pasting a member having similar characteristics.

Then, when the light source is turned on, the indicator window 18B
The part emits light and is visible, and the part that is shielded from light by the non-transparent indicator part 7C has the shape of the number 7B and is visible only within the part of the indicator window part 18B that emits light, and the pointer 18 is not visible. The transparent part 24 is hidden in the ground color part, and the indicator window part 18B moves the peripheral part of the dial 8 into the ground color part of a color close to black.
Only the location emits light, and the index portion 7C located at the index window portion 18B is clearly visible.

Note that the indicator window portion 18B is not limited to a 1/2 wavelength plate as long as it has light scattering and light dispersion properties. In addition to circularly polarizing properties, the circularly polarizing plates 16 and 17 also have
The present invention is applicable even when the light has elliptically polarized light.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, the assembly structure of each component may be selected as appropriate. Further, in each of the above embodiments, the meter body is of a type in which the pointer rotates, but it can also be applied to a type in which the pointer moves linearly. Further, the index portions 7, 7C may be provided in front of the surface light source. Furthermore, in the embodiment, if a non-transparent indicator part 7C is provided in place of the translucent indicator part 7, the indicator part 7C can be visually recognized as a non-light-emitting part within the light-emitting indicator window part. . Furthermore, the pointer shapes of each of the embodiments described above can be used interchangeably between the embodiments.

[0029]

Effects of the Invention The present invention comprises a meter body fixed in a case, a pointer provided on the meter body and having an indicator window made of a light-diffusing or optically active material, and a pointer provided at the rear of the indicator window. and a second linear polarizing plate provided in front of the index window and having a polarization axis orthogonal to the polarization axis of the first linear polarization plate, An indicator portion corresponding to the indicator window is provided on at least one of the rear surface of the linearly polarizing plate and the front and rear surfaces of the first linearly polarizing plate, and a light source is provided behind the first linearly polarizing plate, and the light source The indicator window portion is displayed by emitting light, and it is possible to provide a display device that can reduce the size of the device and also allows the indicator portion shown by the display device to be clearly viewed.

The present invention also provides a meter body fixed in a case, a pointer provided on the meter body and having an indicator window made of a 1/2 wavelength plate, and a pointer provided at the rear of the indicator window. a second circularly polarizing plate having a circularly polarizing property in a direction opposite to that of the first circularly polarizing plate, the second circularly polarizing plate being provided in front of the index window; An indicator portion corresponding to the pointer window is provided on at least one of the rear surface and the front and rear surfaces of the first circularly polarizing plate, and a light source is provided behind the first circularly polarizing plate, and the light source illuminates the indicator. The window portion is displayed with light emitting light, and it is possible to provide a display device that can reduce the size of the device and also allow the indicator portion shown by the display device to be clearly viewed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a display state showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a display state showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a display state showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a display state showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a display state showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Case 2 Instrument body (display) 4, 18 Pointers 4A, 4B, 18A, 18C Indicator window 6 1st
linearly polarizing plates 7, 7C index section 10 light source 16 first circularly polarizing plate 17 second circularly polarizing plate

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: A meter body fixed in a case, a pointer provided on the meter body and having an indicator window made of a light-diffusing or optically active material, and a pointer provided at the rear of the indicator window. a second linear polarizing plate, the second linear polarizing plate being provided in front of the indicator window and having a polarization axis orthogonal to the polarization axis of the first linear polarizing plate; An indicator portion corresponding to the indicator window portion is provided on at least one of the rear surface and the front and rear surfaces of the first linear polarizing plate, and
A display device characterized in that a light source is provided behind the first linearly polarizing plate, and the light source displays light at the index window portion. 2. A meter body fixed in a case, a pointer provided on the meter body and having an indicator window made of a 1/2 wavelength plate, and a first pointer provided at the rear of the indicator window. a circularly polarizing plate; a second circularly polarizing plate provided in front of the indicator window and having circularly polarizing properties in a direction opposite to that of the first circularly polarizing plate; An indicator portion corresponding to the pointer window is provided on at least one of the front and rear surfaces of the first circularly polarizing plate, and a light source is provided behind the first circularly polarizing plate, and the light source illuminates the point of the indicator window. A display device characterized by displaying a light-emitting display.