JPH0447858Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a lighting device for a switch, for example, a switch used in a constant speed running system of a vehicle.

[Background Art and Issues to be Solved] A speed control switch that operates a constant speed running device used in a vehicle, particularly an automobile, has a function to raise or lower an indicator to a desired running speed before operating it with a set switch. A restart switch and a coast switch are provided respectively.

The functions of these set switches, resume switches, and coast switches must be clearly displayed at night by illumination of a display board provided on the device lever. Further, a push button is provided for activating the control circuit for the speed control, and it is preferable that this push button is also provided with an illuminated display portion for clearly indicating its position at night. In this way, the speed control switch requires multiple lighting parts, and if multiple light sources are provided on the lever where multiple switches are assembled, the arrangement of these light sources and the wiring to these light sources become complicated. Become.

The present invention takes the above facts into consideration, and uses a single light source to control the second switch control button and at least the first switch control button.
An object of the present invention is to obtain a lighting device for a switch that can illuminate both the function display board of the switch.

[Summary and operation of the invention] The invention includes a rotatable lever for controlling a first switch, a button for controlling a second switch that has a display section and is provided on the rotation axis of the lever, A lighting device that is applied to a switch equipped with a switch and illuminates a function display board of a first switch provided on the lever and the display section,
a light source section provided at a predetermined distance from the lever on its rotational axis; a first light transmitting light guide, in which a button for controlling the second switch is disposed, and the light source section is disposed at the other end in the axial direction, and guides illumination light from the light source section in the axial direction; A part having a surface inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the axis of rotation is inserted near one end in the axial direction of the cavity of the first light transmitting light guide, and approximately half of the light from the light source is directed to the inclined surface. a second surface for transmitting the light from the light source section and guiding it to the display section, and reflecting approximately half of the remaining light from the light source section at the inclined surface and guiding it to the function display board;
It is characterized by having a light-transmitting light guide.

According to the above configuration, the illumination light from the light source section is guided in the axial direction within the cavity of the first light-transmitting light guide, which is arranged on the rotation axis of the lever and has a substantially cylindrical shape. Approximately half of the guided illumination light is transmitted through a surface inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the axis of rotation of the lever. The transmitted illumination light is guided to the display section of the button for controlling the second switch. This results in
The display of the button for controlling the second switch is illuminated.

Further, the remaining approximately half of the guided illumination light is reflected by the inclined surface. The reflected illumination light is
You will be guided to the function display board of the first switch. This illuminates the function display board of the first switch. The function display board of this first switch is
It is provided on a rotatable lever for controlling the first switch, and indicates what function the first switch is in by rotating the lever.

In this way, the illumination light from the light source section is split into transmitted light and reflected light by the inclined surface of the second light transmitting light guide, so that the display section of the button for controlling the second switch and the first Both function display boards of the switch can be illuminated.

Further, the light source section is provided at a position spaced apart from the lever by a predetermined distance on its rotation axis, and the illumination light from the position spaced apart from the lever by a first light transmission light guide is guided to the vicinity of the lever. The illuminated light is separated into spectra by the inclined surface of the second light transmitting light guide. In other words, since the light is separated from the light source, the amount of space sacrificed near the light source can be minimized. Therefore, for example, when the switch lighting device according to the present invention is applied to a vehicle, the interior space of the vehicle can be sacrificed to a lesser extent.

Furthermore, since the light source section is disposed at the other end in the axial direction of the first light-transmitting light guide, almost all of the illumination light from the light source section is guided only in the axial direction by the first light-transmitting light guide. be done. Therefore, there is no loss of illumination light. Since this lossless illumination light is separated by an inclined plane so that the amount of transmitted light and reflected light are approximately half each, all of the illumination light from the light source can be efficiently utilized.

Moreover, even if some assembly error occurs in each part during the manufacturing of the lighting device of the switch or due to use after manufacturing, the illumination light guided by the first light-transmitting light guide will always pass through the inclined surface. From this point of view, the illumination light from the light source section can be effectively used even without mirror finishing or the like.

[Embodiment of the invention] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a switch body 10 is formed of synthetic resin into a box shape and is adapted to be attached to a vehicle body 11. A metal sleeve 12 is pivotally supported by the switch body 10 and has a portion protruding from the metal sleeve 12. A rotary shaft portion 14 is fixed to the protruding tip portion of the metal sleeve 12 with a screw 16 so as to rotate together with the sleeve 12. An operating lever 15 integrally projects from the rotating shaft portion 14 in the radial direction.

A first light guide 18 is inserted into the sleeve 12 to transmit light. That is, the first light guide 18 is made of transparent synthetic resin and has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is disposed at the center of the rotation axis of the rotation shaft portion 14 and has a protrusion 2 protruding from a part of the outer periphery.
0 engages with the sleeve 12 and rotates together with the sleeve 12.

In this first light guide 18, a compression coil spring 26 is interposed between a small diameter shaft portion 22 protruding from one axial end shown in FIG. 3 and a cover plate 24 attached to the switch body 10, and a rotation shaft portion This compression coil spring 26 is biased in 14 directions.
It is possible to move in the axial direction against the urging force of.

A cavity 28 is formed over a predetermined length in the axially intermediate portion of the first light guide 18, and has a substantially C-shaped cross section perpendicular to the axis. A light source 30 attached to the switch body 10 is housed at one end of the cavity 28. Further, the vicinity of the other end of the hollow portion 28 is formed into an inclined surface 32, and the first light guide 1
The light from the light source 30 is transmitted to the other small diameter shaft portion 34 of the light source 30 .

This small diameter shaft portion 34 has a main switch push button 36.
is attached so that light is transmitted through a transparent portion 37 formed at the axial center. Further, this push button 36 protrudes from the surface of the rotating shaft portion 14 and is used for operation by the driver. That is, when the driver applies a pressing force, this push button 36 moves on the axis of the rotating shaft portion 14 and moves the first light guide 18 in the downward direction in FIG. 1 against the biasing force of the compression coil spring 26. It seems to be pushed down.

As shown in FIG. 3, a movable contact 40 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the movable block 38, which moves with the depression of the push button 36 that is engaged with the lower end of the first light guide 18. As shown in FIG. The movable contact 40 is adapted to come into contact with and separate from the fixed contact 42 formed on the inner circumferential surface of the switch body 10, so that the pushing operation of the push button 36 can be detected.

Also, as shown in FIG.
A heart cam 44 is formed to protrude into the groove 43 in a part of the switch body 43, and corresponds to a bent tip 47 of a torsion coil spring 46 that is pivotally supported on the switch body 10. The tip end 47 of this torsion coil spring 46 is biased toward the left in FIG. 4 so as to rotate the outer periphery of the heart cam 44 counterclockwise in FIG.
3, that is, toward the back of the paper in FIG. Correspondingly, the circumference of the heart cam 44 is an inclined surface 43A in which the depth of the groove 43 gradually becomes shallower from the left side of the heart cam 44 toward the bottom.
It continues to the groove 43 via the stepped portion 43B. Further, a guide protrusion 45 protrudes within the groove 43 and enters into the recess 44A of the heart cam 44.

Therefore, the tip end 47 of the torsion coil spring 46 detours from the lower side of the heart cam 44 to the right side at the lowered position of the moving block 38 when the push button 36 is pushed into the rotating shaft 14, comes into contact with the guide protrusion 45, and presses the torsion coil spring 46. When the pressing operation of the button 36 is released, the heart cam 44 is engaged with the recess 44A of the heart cam 44 which rises together with the moving block 38, thereby restricting the movement of the moving block 38 from rising. When the push button 36 is pushed in again, it slips out of the recess 44A, slides on the slope 43A that rises when the push button 36 is released, and slides onto the step 43.
It is configured to return to the inside of the groove 43 via B. The amount by which the moving block 38 rises is limited by the projection 20 on the outer periphery of the first light guide 18 coming into contact with the sleeve 12. The combined structure of the heart cam 44 and the torsion coil spring 46 is similar to the structure of a commonly used switch for locking in the pressed state.

A contact holder 48 made of synthetic resin is fixed to the outer periphery of the sleeve 12 and is positioned inside the switch body 10. This contact holder 48 has a movable contact 50 on the end face on the moving block 38 side.
Fixed contact 52 attached to the switch body 10
A resume and coast switching contact is formed between the two.

Also, this contact holder 48 has this contact holder 4
Compression coil spring 5 axially oriented in the radial direction of 8
4, a ball 56 is disposed so as to be biased in the radial direction, and this ball 56 corresponds to a cam recess 58 formed on the inner circumferential surface of the switch body 10.

The ball 56 and the recess 58 maintain the rotating shaft portion 14 at the neutral position (N position) shown in FIG. 2, and the coast position (C
position) and the resume position (R position), which is rotated counterclockwise, it has the role of returning the rotating shaft portion 14 to the neutral state.

The rotating shaft portion 1 is protruded in the radial direction of the rotating shaft portion 14.
The operation lever 15 that rotates together with 4 has a push button 3.
A display board 60 is attached adjacent to 6.
A second light guide 62 is provided on the back side of this display board 60.
is fixed. The second light guide 62 is configured to rotate together with the operating lever 15 by the occupant's resume and coast operations.

The protrusion 62A of the second light guide 62 is inserted into the cavity 28 of the first light guide 18. The surface of this protrusion 62A facing the light source 30 is arranged in the direction of light propagation, that is, the first light guide 18
The plane is perpendicular to the axial direction of the light source 30, so that most of the light from the light source 30 is transmitted therethrough. However, the surface of this protrusion 62A on the push button 36 side is
The slope 64 is inclined at approximately 45 degrees with respect to the axial direction of the light guide 18, and serves as a half mirror that reflects approximately one-half of the light from the light source 30 toward the display panel 60. .

A part of the light reflected by the slope 64 is directly irradiated onto the back surface of the display board 60, and the other part is notched in the surface of the second light guide 62 opposite to the display board 60, and the other part is directed to the tip of the operating lever 15. Since the second light guide 62 has an inclined surface 66 that gradually becomes thinner toward the end, the light is reflected by the inclined surface 66 and guided to the display panel 60 .

As shown in FIG. 2, this display board 60 indicates that the push button 36 is the main switch of the speed control switch by the words "MAIN".
"COAST" indicates that coasting operation will be performed when the operating lever 15 is rotated clockwise in Fig. 2.
The text "RESUME" indicates that a resume operation will be performed when the lever is rotated counterclockwise, and that the push button 68 provided at the tip of the operating lever 15 is for setting the speed control. Each can be displayed by the character "SET".

A switch base 70 is fixed near the tip of the operating lever 15, which is a notch in the second light guide 62, and serves as a sliding guide for the set push button 68. As shown in detail in FIG. 5, the push button 68 is pressed against the operating lever 1 by the biasing force of a compression coil spring 72 interposed between the push button 68 and the switch base 70.
A biasing force is applied in a direction protruding from 5.

Further, this push button 68 has a contact holder 74 fixed to the inside of the operating lever 15, so that it can be moved together with the push button 68. This contact holder 74 forms a cylindrical hole whose axis is perpendicular to the moving direction of the push button 68, and a compression coil spring 76 is housed inside. One end of the compression coil spring 76 presses a movable contact 78 that moves together with the contact holder 74 against a fixed contact 80 that is fixed to the switch base 70. Therefore, by pressing the push button 68, the movable contact 78 comes into contact with and separates from the fixed contact 80, and the speed control is set and unset. The intermediate portion of the wiring 81 to the contacts 78 and 80 passes through the inside of the sleeve 12.

On the other hand, the compression coil spring 76 biases the ball 82 on the opposite side of the moving contact 78;
2 corresponds to the guide surface 84 formed on the inner wall surface of the switch base 70. This guide surface 84 is continuous to a guide surface 88 via an inclined surface 86, and when the ball 82 moves onto this guide surface 88, the ball 82 must move in the direction of compression of the compression coil spring 76. Compression coil spring 7
6, it has become subject to resistance.

The ball 82 is in contact with the inclined surface 86 when the push button 68 is in the protruding state, and when the driver pushes the push button 68 into the operating lever 15, the ball 82 resists the biasing force of the compression coil spring 76. After moving, it is guided by the guide surface 88 and moves.

Therefore, the pushing operation force of the push button 68 has a relatively large resistance force when pushing down, forming a moderating mechanism, and when the ball 82 moves onto the guide surface 88, it can be pushed in with a light pushing force. . This allows the driver to clearly press the button 68.
You can be conscious of the pushing action, and after pushing in, you can maintain the pushed state with a light operating force.

Note that the switch body 10 has a first light guide 1.
A box-shaped protrusion 90 is formed corresponding to the axially intermediate portion of 8, and a display plate 92 is formed on a part of this protrusion 90.
is fixed thereto and has a display section in the same direction as the display board 60. This display section is provided with a light source 30A so as to be turned on when the main switch of the speed control is activated by the push button 36, and to illuminate the words "CRUISE MAIN."

Note that wiring (not shown) from the movable contact 50, the fixed contact 52, the movable contact 78, and the fixed contact 80 is connected to a control circuit of the speed control switch.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

When the driver operates the speed control switch to drive at a constant speed, the driver presses the push button 36 to bring the movable contact 40 and the fixed contact 42 into contact. As a result, the light source 30A is turned on, the display board 92 is illuminated, and the main circuit of the speed control switch is activated.

Furthermore, at the same time as the vehicle width lights (clearance lamps) are turned on at night, the light source 30 is also turned on, and the display board 6 is turned on.
0 is illuminated.

In this way, since the push button 36 is pressed at the center of the rotation axis of the operating lever 15,
The driver can easily press the push button 36 with his or her thumb while holding the operating lever 15.

The driver can check the functions of the switch and the operation of the main circuit at night by the displays on the display boards 60 and 92, and can match the speed display of an indicator (not shown) to the desired speed. If the displayed speed is lower than the desired vehicle speed, the operating lever 15
Rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 2, or clockwise in the opposite case, to match the display to the desired speed. This rotational operation of the operating lever 15 is performed by switching between a movable contact 50 and a fixed contact 52.

When the occupant stops rotating the operating lever 15 when the indicator display reaches the desired speed, the operating lever 15 returns the ball 56 to the neutral position of the cam recess 58 due to the biasing force of the compression coil spring 54. The state shown in FIG. 2 is reached.

Here, the driver presses the push button 68 on the operating lever 15.
When pressed inward toward the axis of the rotating shaft portion 14, the movable contact 78 and the fixed contact 80 come into contact, the displayed vehicle speed is set, and constant speed driving is started.

In this case, since the ball 82 has moderation in the pushing operation of the push button 68, it is relatively heavy at the initial stage of pushing and becomes light after pushing, so that a clear feeling of moderation can be obtained.

To release the speed control main switch, the occupant presses the push button 36 again to release the torsion coil spring 46 from the heart cam 44, and the push button 36 releases the compression coil spring 2.
The light source 3 protrudes from the operating lever 15 with the biasing force of 6.
When 0A goes out, the main circuit turns off.

Next, FIG. 6 shows a speed control switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment differs from the previous embodiment in that the second light guide 62 is cut at cutting surfaces 94 and 96 near the tip of the operating lever 15, and is divided into two parts.

Furthermore, the third light guide 98, which is the cut end, is movable in the radial direction of the operating lever 15 together with the push button 68. For this purpose, a display plate 100 for displaying the setting of the speed control switch is fixed to the surface of the third light guide 98.

As a result, in this embodiment, the set display also moves together with the push button 68, making it easier to recognize the set operation.

Note that in this embodiment as well, the display boards 60, 100
The light guides 62 and 98 are notched on the reflective side of the
It is thin and forms a space for accommodating a push button 68 for setting. Further, as in the previous embodiment, the ball 82 is brought into contact with the inclined surface 86 by the compression coil spring 76, forming a moderation structure, and
The opposite surface of the compression coil spring 76 is configured to press the movable contact 78 against the fixed contact 80.

[Effect of the invention] As explained above, in the switch lighting device according to the invention, the illumination light from the light source section is guided in the axial direction by the first light transmission light guide, and the guided illumination light is guided to the first light transmission light guide. The slanted surface of the two-light transmitting light guide separates the light into transmitted light and reflected light, so the transmitted light goes to the button display for controlling the second switch, and the reflected light goes to the function of the first switch. It has the excellent effect of being able to be guided to the display boards and illuminate them.

In addition, since the illumination light is separated from the light source, the amount of space sacrificed near the light source can be minimized.For example, the switch lighting system according to the present invention can be applied to vehicles. This has the excellent effect of reducing the amount of space sacrificed in the vehicle interior.

Furthermore, the light source section is disposed at the other axial end of the first light-transmitting light guide, and almost all of the illumination light from the light source section is guided only in the axial direction by the first light-transmitting light guide. , there is no loss of illumination light. Since this loss-free illumination light is separated by an inclined plane so that the amount of transmitted light and reflected light is approximately half each, all of the illumination light from the light source can be efficiently utilized.

Moreover, even if some assembly error occurs in each part during the manufacturing of the lighting device of the switch or during use after manufacturing, the illumination light guided by the first light-transmitting light guide will always be directed to the inclined surface. Therefore, from this point of view as well, there is an excellent effect that the illumination light from the light source section can be effectively used without applying a mirror finish or the like.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of a lighting device for a switch according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the main parts of FIG.
4A and 4B are front and perspective views showing the moving block, FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing the push button portion of FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing the second embodiment of the present invention. be. 10... Switch body, 14... Rotating shaft part, 1
5... Operation lever, 18... First light guide (first light transmission light guide), 30... Light source, 36
...Push button (second switch control button),
37...Through hole (display part), 60,100...Display board (first switch function display board), 62...Second light guide (second light transmitting light guide), 9
8...Third light guide (second light transmitting light guide).

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A rotatable lever for controlling a first switch; and a button for controlling a second switch, which has a display and is provided on the axis of rotation of the lever. A lighting device that is applied to a switch and illuminates a function display board of a first switch provided on the lever and the display section, the lighting device being located a predetermined distance away from the lever on its rotation axis. a light source section provided in the lever; a light source section having a substantially cylindrical shape and arranged on the axis of rotation of the lever, and a button for controlling the second switch arranged at one end in the axial direction; The light source section is disposed at the other end in the axial direction, and a first light transmitting light guide guides the illumination light from the light source section in the axial direction; a portion is inserted near one end in the axial direction of the cavity portion of the first light-transmitting light guide, and transmits approximately half of the light from the light source portion through the inclined surface and guides it to the display portion. A lighting device for a switch, comprising: a second light transmitting light guide for reflecting approximately half of the remaining light from the light source section on the inclined surface and guiding it to the function display board.