JPH07213471A - Housing structure for led - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the light of LEDs from being leaked to other display sections, surely set the display sections to be primarily turned off in the off-state and prevent an operation mistake of an apparatus. CONSTITUTION:LEDs 41 are arranged on an LED layout board 40, and an LED cover 50 is fitted to the LED layout board 40. Partition walls 51 surrounding the LEDs 41 and radiating the light of the LEDs 41 to display sections 31 of a display board 30 are formed on the LED cover 50. The partition walls 51 are formed in a double structure having an air layer EI so that the light of the LEDs 41 is effectively prevented from transmitting the partition walls 51.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an LED housing structure, and more particularly, to prevent the light of the LED for lighting the display portion of the display plate from leaking to other display portions of the display plate. Is related to the structure of.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various home appliances and the like have been provided with various display portions, and a user can easily confirm the operating state of the equipment by checking whether these display portions are turned on or off. I was able to grasp it, and it became very easy to handle. As a light source for turning on these display parts, LE
D is widely used, and generally one LED is used for one display section.

Further, when a plurality of the above-mentioned display units are provided, there is a demand that the display unit to be turned on should be surely turned on and the other display units should be turned off surely. However, since the LED emits light in a wide angle, it is necessary to take measures to prevent the light from leaking to other display parts while concentrating the light of the LED on the display part according to the above request. . Therefore, conventionally, a shielding member is provided around the LED, and the shielding member causes the light of the LED to illuminate the display unit.
It blocks the light of the LED from leaking to other parts. As the shielding member, a molded product made of resin is generally used in terms of cost and the like.

[0004]

By the way, recently, L
Since the performance of the ED is improved and the amount of light generated by the ED is increased, the display section comes to be illuminated very brightly.
Therefore, when the display units are arranged close to each other, when one LED is turned on, the light is transmitted through the guide member and leaks to the adjacent display unit, which is originally off. The inconvenience that the display part, which should have been turned on, seems to be lit now occurs.

In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to increase the thickness of the guide member so that the light of the LED cannot be transmitted. However, since the guide member is made of resin, if the light passing therethrough is attenuated to prevent the above-mentioned transmission due to its wall thickness, the wall thickness becomes considerably large. Therefore, the formability of the guide member is deteriorated,
That is, there is a problem that a so-called sink mark occurs during molding, which makes it practically unusable as a guide member.

Although it is conceivable that the guide member is made of a metal that does not transmit light, it is difficult to realize it in terms of manufacturing cost, component cost and weight. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an LED housing structure capable of preventing the light from leaking to the outside when the LED is turned on.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an LED housing structure for housing an LED for illuminating a display portion of a display plate arranged in front by illuminating the display portion with light. And a plurality of LEDs are arranged on the LED arrangement plate, and the LED arrangement plate is attached to the LED arrangement plate. And an LED cover having a partition wall formed therein for partitioning and housing therein, wherein the partition wall has a double structure having an inner wall and an outer wall facing the inner wall with an air layer in between. To do.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an LED housing structure according to the first embodiment, wherein the L
A fitting portion is formed between the LED arranging positions of the LEDs that are close to each other, and a fitted portion that is fitted to the fitting portion at the time of mounting is formed on the LED cover. It is characterized by.

[0009]

According to the LED housing structure of the first aspect, the individual LEDs are mounted on the LED arrangement plate,
An LED cover is attached to the arrangement plate. Further, by attaching this LED cover, the LED arrangement plate, the LED display plate arranged in front of the LED, and the L
Each of the LEs described above cooperates with a partition wall formed on the ED cover.
D is individually compartmentalized inside. When this LED emits light, the partition wall has a double structure,
The light of the LED is effectively suppressed from passing through the partition wall.

That is, the light of the LED that is about to pass through the partition wall is first reflected by the inner wall. And
The light that has not been reflected and has passed through the inner wall once enters the air layer and is then reflected again by the outer wall. It should be noted that when the light enters the air layer from the inner wall, it is reflected, though slightly. Also, the light is attenuated when passing through the inner wall, the air layer and the outer wall. In this way, the light of the LED is reflected in two steps by the inner wall and the outer wall, and is effectively suppressed from passing through the partition wall and leaking.

Further, according to the LED housing structure of the second aspect, the fitting portion formed on the LED arrangement plate and the fitted portion formed on the LED cover are fitted with each other. As a result, the minute gap formed between the two forms a so-called labyrinth, so the LED cover and the LED
It is possible to prevent light from leaking from between the arrangement plate. Moreover, since the fitting portion is formed between the arrangement positions of the LEDs that are close to each other, the fitting portion and the LED cover
It is possible to effectively prevent the leakage of light from the space between the ED arrangement plate.

[0012]

Embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing embodiments. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dishwasher / dryer A in which an LED housing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is adopted. Referring to FIG. 1, the dishwasher / dryer A includes a main body 1
0 and the operating unit 20 are provided so that the used tableware can be housed in the main body 10 and washed and dried.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the operation section 20. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation unit 20 is for adjusting the operating state of the dishwasher / dryer A according to the type and number of tableware, and the power switch SW1, operation switch SW2, operating state selection. The switch SW3, the plurality of display units 31 and the like are provided on the display plate 30. LEDs for irradiating the display section 31 with light are respectively arranged inside the respective display sections 31, and the display section 31 is turned on by the irradiation of the light. The operating state of the dishwasher A can be easily grasped by turning on or off the display unit 31.

FIG. 3 shows the operation unit 2 including the display unit 31.
It is an expanded sectional view of 0. Referring to FIG. 3, this operation unit 2
0 is an inner frame 11 attached to the body 10 side
And a plurality of LEs attached to the inner frame 11
The LED arrangement plate 40 on which the D41 is arranged, the LED cover 50 attached to the LED arrangement plate 40, and the LE described above.
The display plate 30 is disposed in front of D41 and has the display portion 31 formed thereon. The switches SW1, SW2 and SW3 are also attached to the display plate 30.

A feature of the present embodiment is the structure for accommodating the LEDs of the operation section 20, wherein each LED 41 has the LED cover 50 and the LED.
The partition wall 51 having a double structure formed on the LED cover 50, the display plate 30, and L
Points that are partitioned and housed in the space formed by the ED placement plate 40, and the LEDs 4 on the LED placement plate 40 that are close to each other.
A fitting concave portion 42 as a fitting portion is formed between the arrangement positions of 1 and the LED cover 50 has the fitting concave portion 42.
Is a point where a fitting convex portion 52 as a fitted portion is formed.

FIG. 4 shows the LED cover 50 and LE.
It is a partial cross-section expansion exploded view of the D arrangement plate 40. Also, FIG.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a main part of the LED arrangement plate 40. With reference to these drawings, the LED arrangement plate 40 is integrally formed of resin and has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. A plurality of annular seat portions 43 are formed on the LED arrangement plate 40, and the LEDs 41 are fitted and arranged in the seat portions 43. Also, the seat portions 43 that are close to each other
A rectangular groove is formed between the grooves, and this groove constitutes the fitting recess 42.

A locking portion 44 having a rectangular hole 44a is formed at a predetermined position on the peripheral portion of the LED arrangement plate 40. The LED cover 5 is attached to the locking portion 44.
A locking piece 54, which will be described later, formed in 0 is locked,
Thereby, the LED cover 50 is attached to the LED arrangement plate 40. Further, a locking piece 45 is formed at a predetermined position on the periphery of the LED arrangement plate 40, and the locking piece 45 is locked to the inner frame 11, whereby the LED arrangement plate 40 is It is attached to the inner frame 11.

The LED cover 50 is the LED arrangement plate 4 described above.
Like 0, it has a substantially rectangular shape and is integrally formed of resin. The LED arrangement plate 4 of the LED cover 50
The fitting convex portion 52 is provided on the side facing 0. The fitting convex portion 52 is fitted in the fitting concave portion 42, whereby the LED cover 50 is mounted on the LED arrangement plate 40.
It is attached in a state that it is fitted tightly to. In addition, the LED cover 50 is L
The partition wall 51 is formed so as to surround each LED 41 in a state of being attached to the ED arrangement plate 40.

The partition wall 51 has a double structure having an inner wall 51a close to the LED 41 and an outer wall 51b located outside the inner wall 51a with the air layer EI in between. The outer wall 51b is formed thin. The inner wall 51a is inclined with respect to the outer wall 51b by a predetermined angle. That is, the light of the LED 41 is inclined so as to spread forward, and the light satisfactorily illuminates the display unit 31. The partition wall 51 formed between the adjacent LEDs 41 shares the inner wall 51a and the outer wall 51b with each other. That is, referring to FIG. 4, the upper LED in the figure
The inner wall 51 a of the LED 41 is the outer wall 51 of the LED 41 on the lower side in the figure.
It is a common member with b.

The locking piece 54 is formed on the LED cover 50. At the tip of the locking piece 54, a claw portion 54a having a tapered guide surface T is formed. Thus, when the LED cover 50 is attached to the LED arrangement plate 40, the LED cover 50 is simply pressed against the LED arrangement plate 40, and the guide surface T of the claw portion 54a is simply pressed.
The engaging piece 54 engages with the engaging portion 44 in the state of being guided to. Further, when the LED cover 50 is removed from the LED arrangement plate 40, the claw portion 54a can be easily pulled out from the locking portion 44 by elastically deforming the locking piece 54 so as to narrow it. ing.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the display plate 30 is covered with the inner frame 11, and the dish washer / dryer A is attached.
It is attached to the main body 10 of the. And the display board 30
When the display plate 30 is attached to the main body portion 10, the display plate 30 comes into close contact with the LED cover 50. In this state, the position of the display portion 31 and the L
The position of the opening 51c (see FIG. 4) formed by the inner wall 51a and the outer wall 51b of the ED cover 50 is matched.

According to this embodiment having the above-mentioned structure, the individual LEDs 41 are housed in the space formed by the LED arrangement plate 40, the display plate 30, and the partition wall 51 formed on the LED cover 50 in cooperation with each other. When the LED 41 emits light, the light illuminates the display section 31 of the display plate 30 to light up the display section 31. Moreover, since the partition wall 51 has a double structure, the light of the LED is effectively suppressed from passing through the partition wall 51. That is, the LE that is about to pass through the partition wall 51.
The light of D41 is first reflected by the inner wall 51a. Then, the light that has not been reflected and has passed through the inner wall 51a is
After once entering the air layer EI, it is reflected again by the outer wall 51b. In addition, the light transmitted through the inner wall 51a is also reflected when entering the air layer EI, and the inner wall 51a,
Light is attenuated as it passes through the air layer EI and the outer wall 51b. In this way, the light from the LED 41 is transmitted to the inner wall 51.
Since it is reflected in two steps by a and the outer wall 51b,
By mainly reflecting these lights, it is possible to effectively prevent the light from passing through the partition wall 51 and leaking. Therefore, one LED
It is possible to avoid the inconvenience that the light of 41 leaks to other portions and the display unit 31 that should have been turned off seems to be turned on.

Further, by making the partition wall 51 have a double structure as described above, it is possible to sufficiently prevent light leakage even if the inner wall 51a and the outer wall 51b are formed thin. Moreover, by thinning the inner wall 51a and the outer wall 51b, when the LED cover 50 is integrally molded, it is possible to prevent so-called sink marks from occurring and improve the moldability, thereby improving the product quality and reliability. Can be improved.

Further, the fitting concave portion 42 formed on the LED arrangement plate 40 and the fitting convex portion 52 formed on the LED cover 50 are fitted to each other to form a minute gap therebetween. Form a so-called labyrinth. Thereby, it is possible to effectively prevent light from leaking from between the LED cover 50 and the LED arrangement plate 40. Moreover, since the fitting concave portion 42 and the fitting convex portion 52 are formed between the arrangement positions of the LEDs 41 which are close to each other,
The above effect is more remarkable.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but a fitting convex portion is formed on the LED arrangement plate 40 side and a fitting convex portion is fitted on the LED cover 50 side. It is also possible to form a mating recess. Further, L according to the present invention
The housing structure of the ED can be applied to a microwave oven, an operation unit of a washing machine, and the like.

[0026]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the light emitted from the LED cannot be effectively transmitted through the partition wall having the double structure, and the light is exclusively applied to the display plate to turn on the display section. ,
It is possible to prevent the light of the LED from leaking to the display unit that is originally turned off and the same state as when the display unit is turned on. Therefore, by carrying out the present invention on various home appliances such as a dishwasher, a microwave oven, and a washing machine, it is possible to surely operate the appliances and prevent operation mistakes.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the fitting portion formed on the LED arrangement plate and the fitted portion formed on the LED cover attached to the LED arrangement plate are fitted to each other, A so-called labyrinth is formed between the two,
It is possible to prevent light from leaking between the LED cover and the LED arrangement plate. Moreover, since the fitting portion is formed between the arrangement positions of the adjacent LEDs, the LE
It is possible to effectively prevent light from leaking from between the D cover and the LED arrangement plate, and it is possible to more effectively prevent the display unit that is originally turned off from being in the same state as when the display unit is turned on. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a dishwasher / dryer using an LED housing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of an essential part showing an operation part.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an operation unit.

FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view showing an LED cover and an LED arrangement plate.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of an essential part of the LED arrangement plate.

[Explanation of symbols]

 30 display plate 31 display part 40 LED arrangement plate 41 LED 42 fitting recess (fitted part) 50 LED cover 51 partition wall 51a inner wall 51b outer wall 52 fitting projection (fitting part) EI air layer

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A structure for accommodating an LED for illuminating a display unit of a display plate arranged in front by illuminating the display unit, the LED arrangement plate having a plurality of LEDs arranged thereon, An LED cover attached to the LED arrangement plate, and in the state of being attached to the LED arrangement plate, a partition wall is formed which cooperates with the display plate and the LED arrangement plate to individually compartmentally house the LEDs. The housing structure for an LED, wherein the partition wall has a double structure having an inner wall and an outer wall facing the inner wall with an air layer in between. 2. The LED accommodating structure according to claim 1, wherein a fitting portion is formed between the LED arrangement plates on which the LEDs are arranged close to each other, and the LED cover is mounted on the LED cover at the time of mounting. A housing structure for an LED, characterized in that a fitted portion that fits with the fitting portion is formed.