JPH0996551A - Light emitting needle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light emitting needle for nearly uniformly emitting light from the tip to the rear end of an indication part even if the supply of illumination light is regulated by a light-shielding member. SOLUTION: The light emitting needle is constituted of a needle body 3 with light-condensing parts 10 and 11 at the tip and the rear end of an indication part 4, respectively, and with a plurality of reflection parts for glittering continuously from the tip to the rear end of the indication part 4 by receiving illumination light from an external light source 7 from the rear side and a light-shielding member 16 which is arranged while covering the rear portion of a center side region 6 of the indication part including reflection parts 8 and 9 of the needle body 3 and where a first light-transmissible part is formed at positions corresponding to reflection parts 8 and 9. A diffusion reflection part 14 for diffusing and supplying illumination light to the front side is formed behind the center side region 6 of the indication part 4 and a second light transmissive part 20 is provided at the position of the light-shielding member 16 corresponding to the diffusion reflection part 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light emitting pointer applied to an instrument of a vehicle such as an automobile or a motorcycle, and more particularly to a light emitting pointer that emits light from a front end to a rear end of a pointing portion without being divided by a light shielding cap. Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technique of this kind of light emitting pointer, for example, the one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-124596 and shown in FIG. 5 is known. That is, this luminous pointer is
It is made of a transparent resin material such as acrylic or polycarbonate that receives illumination light from an external light source (not shown) and emits light from the back side, and extends on both sides of the central region of the linearly extending indicator 1 and on the tip side of the indicator 1. A first reflecting portion 2a having a curved surface having a condensing point P1 and a second reflecting portion 2b having a curved surface having a condensing point P2 are provided on the rear end side of the indicator 1, and these reflecting portions 2a and 2b are provided. By this, the illumination light is reflected and supplied to the front end side and the rear end side of the indicator 1, and the indicator 1 is caused to emit light linearly. In this case, the central region of the indicator 1 having the reflection portions 2a and 2b is covered with a light-shielding cap (not shown). In this case, the light-shielding cap is formed so as not to shield the indicator 1. The indicator 1 can continuously emit light from its front end to its rear end without being divided by the light-shielding cap.

By the way, in such a light emitting pointer, a light shielding member is provided behind the central region of the indicating portion 1 including the reflecting portions 2a and 2b to cover the reflecting portion 2a and 2b. There may be adopted a structure in which a light transmitting portion formed of a through hole is formed at a position corresponding to 2b, and the indicator 1 is caused to emit light only by the illumination light supplied through the light transmitting portion. According to such a structure, there is an advantage that it is possible to suppress the supply of the illumination light from other than the light-transmitting portion (reflecting portions 2a and 2b), that is, the unnecessary introduction of the illumination light to the light emitting pointer by the light shielding portion.

[0004]

However, when such a light shielding member is applied to the above-mentioned light emitting pointer, each reflecting portion 2 is provided.
When the indicator 1 is illuminated only with the illumination light supplied to a and 2b, the regions R1 and R2 on the front end side and the rear end side of the vicinity of the condensing points P1 and P2 are the optical paths of the reflection units 2a and 2b. Light is emitted brightly because there is a light emitting surface in the analysis, but the light emitting surface in the center side region R3 from the vicinity of the condensing points P1 and P2 does not exist in the light path analysis, and the light is emitted through the reflecting portions 2a and 2b into the light emitting pointer. Since it is made brighter by the illumination light that is supplied and spills around the central region R3, it becomes darker than the regions R1 and R2, and there is a problem that uniform light emission cannot be obtained.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of this point,
The main purpose of the invention is to provide a light emitting pointer that can emit light substantially uniformly from the front end side to the rear end side of the indicating portion even when the illumination light supply is restricted by the light shielding member.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention has condensing portions on the front end side and the rear end side of the indicator portion on both sides of the central region of the linearly extending indicator portion. A pointer main body made of a translucent material provided with a plurality of reflecting portions for receiving illumination light from a light source from the rear side and continuously shining from the front end side to the rear end side of the indicating portion, and the pointer main body A light-shielding member, which is arranged so as to cover the back of the central region of the indicating portion including the reflecting portion and in which a first light-transmitting portion corresponding to the reflecting portion is formed, and the reflecting portion of the pointer main body is provided. A diffuse reflection part for diffusing illumination light to the front side is formed behind the central region of the excluding indication part, and a second light transmitting part is provided at a position corresponding to the diffuse reflection part of the light shielding member. is there.

According to the present invention, in the above structure, a hollow portion opening to the side of the second light transmitting portion is formed behind the central region of the indicating portion excluding the reflecting portion of the pointer main body. The diffuse reflection portion is provided at a position corresponding to the second light transmitting portion.

Further, in the present invention, in the above structure, minute irregularities are formed on a peripheral wall portion of the hollow portion surrounding the diffuse reflection portion.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION At both ends of the central region of the indicator, there are condensing parts at the front end and the rear end of the indicator, respectively, and the front end of the indicator is supplied with illumination light from a light source from the rear side. A pointer body made of a translucent material having a plurality of reflecting portions that continuously shine from the side to the rear end side, and is arranged so as to cover the center side region behind the indicating portion including the reflecting portion of the pointer body, A light-emitting pointer is composed of a light-shielding member having a first light-transmitting portion formed at a position corresponding to the reflecting portion, and the illumination light is diffused and supplied to the front side behind the central region of the indicating portion excluding the reflecting portion of the pointer main body. In addition to forming the diffuse reflection part, the second light transmitting part is provided at a position corresponding to the diffuse reflection part of the light shielding member. Therefore, the illumination introduced behind the central region of the indicating part through the second light transmitting part. Since the light is diffusely supplied to the front side through the diffuse reflection part, Emission luminance lack of central side near the region is compensated, emitting brightness of the whole instruction portion is made uniform.

Further, a hollow portion opening to the second light transmitting portion side is formed behind the central region of the indicating portion excluding the reflecting portion of the pointer main body, and the hollow portion is formed at a position corresponding to the second light transmitting portion. By providing the diffuse reflection part, the illumination light supplied to the diffuse reflection part through the second light transmitting part is attenuated due to the presence of the cavity,
Excessive light emission in the vicinity of the central region of the indicating portion sandwiched between the light collecting portions and spot-like light emission in this portion are suppressed.

Further, if minute irregularities are formed on the peripheral wall of the cavity surrounding the diffuse reflector, the illumination light supplied to the diffuse reflector through the second light transmitting portion is minutely formed on the peripheral wall of the cavity. Since the light is attenuated by such unevenness, excessive light emission near the central region of the indicating portion sandwiched between the light collecting portions and spot-like light emission in this portion are further suppressed.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 (a) to 1 (c) are a top view, a side view and a rear view showing an embodiment of a pointer body applied to a light emitting pointer according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). ) Is
3A and 3B are a side view and a rear view, respectively, showing an embodiment of a light shielding member applied to a light emitting pointer according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing an assembled state of the light emitting pointer according to the present invention.

1A and 1B, the pointer body 3 is made of a translucent resin material such as acrylic or polycarbonate,
A colored reflecting portion 5 made of a hot stamp layer is formed on the back surface of the linearly extending indicator portion 4, and both sides of the central region 6 thereof are supplied with illumination light from an external light source 7 from the back side. A plurality of reflecting portions 8 and 9 that continuously emit light from the front end side to the rear end side of the indicating portion 4 are formed.

Each of the reflecting portions 8 and 9 has a condensing portion 10 on the tip side of the pointing portion 4 for collecting the illumination light reflected from each other, and also supplies a reflected light to the tip side of the pointing portion 4 to emit light. The reflectors 8a and 8b and the condensing part 11 on the rear end side of the indicator 4 for collecting the illumination light reflected from each other are provided, and the pair of reflectors that supply the reflected light to the rear end of the indicator 4 to emit light. 9a, 9b, and both sides of the indicating portion 4 including the reflecting portions 8 and 9 are covered with, for example, a black light-shielding cap 12 that does not cover the front surface of the indicating portion 4 and emits light. The linear illumination design of the portion 4 is not divided.

A hollow portion 13 and a diffuse reflection portion 14, which will also be described in detail later, are formed on the back surface of the central region 6 of the indicating portion 4 excluding the reflecting portions 8 and 9 of the instrument main body 3, which also serves as a space portion for preventing sink marks. Has been done. In the figure, reference numeral 15 is a light-shielding cap 12
This is a mounting flange portion, and the mounting portion (not shown) of the light-shielding cap 12 is fixed to this flange portion 15 by means such as welding, and in the pointer body 3 having such a structure, the central region 6 rear surface will be described later. It is mounted on the light shielding member 16 and connected to a pointer shaft (not shown).

2A and 2B, the light shielding member 16
On the disc which covers the back of the central region 6 of the indicating portion 4 including the reflecting portions 8 and 9 of the pointer main body 3 and places the pointer main body 3, and which fixes the pointer main body 3 by welding fixing means not shown. The pedestal portion 17 and a cylindrical mounting portion 18 for press-fitting a pointer shaft (not shown) to connect with the pointer body 1.

The pedestal portion 17 of the light-shielding member 16 has a first light-transmitting portion formed of a through hole at a position corresponding to the reflecting portions 8 (8a, 8b) and 9 (9a, 9b) of the pointer main body 3, respectively. A second light transmitting portion 20 also formed of a through hole is formed at the position of the pedestal portion 17 corresponding to the diffuse reflection portion 14 of the pointer main body 3.

In FIG. 3, the hollow portion 13 is the second light transmitting portion 20.
The second opening is provided at a position facing the second light transmitting portion 20.
A spherical diffuse reflection portion 14 is formed which receives the illumination light introduced from the transparent portion 20 and supplies it to the front surface side of the central region 6 of the indicating portion 4 in a diffused state. The shape of the diffuse reflection portion 14 is not limited to the spherical shape, and may be any shape as long as it can diffuse and supply the supplied illumination light, and may be set to, for example, a concave shape. Further, a plurality of minute irregularities 22 are formed in a wrinkle shape on the peripheral wall portion 21 of the cavity portion 13 in which the diffuse reflection portion 14 is not formed.
The illumination light supplied to the front through the cavity 13 or the illumination light introduced into the diffuse reflection portion 14 is attenuated by 22.

When the light source 7 is turned on, its illumination light is introduced into the pointer main body 3 through the first light transmitting portion 19 of the light shielding member 16, and the illumination light introduced into the pointer main body 3 is as described above. As described above, each condensing unit 1 of the indicating unit 4 is formed by each reflecting unit 8 and 9.
The light is reflected to the 0, 11 side, and is mainly reflected and supplied to the front end side and the rear end side of each of the light condensing units 10 and 11 to cause these parts to emit light,
Further, the illumination light introduced into the pointer main body 3 through the respective reflecting portions 8 and 9 partially enters the central region 6 of the indicator portion 4 sandwiched by the light converging portions 10 and 11, The central region 6 is also supplied to this part to emit light, and thus the front end side to the rear end side of the indicator 4 continuously emits light.
At this time, as compared with the front end side and the rear end side of the light condensing units 10 and 11 of the indicator 4 having the light emitting faces on the optical path analysis by the reflecting units 8 and 9, the light emitting faces on the optical path analysis are In the vicinity of the central region 6 of the not-indicated instruction unit 4, the emission brightness tends to be low. On the other hand, a part of the illumination light generated by turning on the light source 7
The illumination light introduced into the cavity portion 13 through the second light transmitting portion 20 of the light shielding member 16 and diffused and supplied to the front of the indicator portion 4 through the diffuse reflection portion 14 are mainly collected. Part 1
The vicinity of the central region 6 of the indicator 4 sandwiched between 0 and 11 is caused to emit light. Therefore, the lack of the emission brightness near the central region 6 of the indicating portion 4 as described above is compensated for by the illumination light supply configuration by the diffuse reflection portion 14.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the instruction unit 4
On both sides of the central side region 6 of the indicator section 4, there are condensing sections 10 and 11 on the tip side and the rear end side of the indicator section 4, respectively, and the tip of the indicator section 4 is supplied with illumination light from an external light source 7 from the back side. The main body 3 including a plurality of reflecting portions 8 and 9 for continuously shining from the side to the rear end side, and the center side region 6 behind the indicating portion 4 including the reflecting portions 8 and 9 of the pointer main body 3 Are arranged as shown in FIG.
A light shielding member having a first light transmitting portion 19 formed at a position corresponding to
16 and 16 form a light emitting pointer, and a diffuse reflection portion 14 for supplying illumination light to the front side is formed behind the central region 6 of the indicator portion 4 excluding the reflection portions 8 and 9 of the pointer main body 3 and the diffusion. Since the second light transmitting portion 20 is provided in the portion of the light shielding member 16 corresponding to the reflecting portion 14, the illumination light introduced to the rear of the central side region 6 of the indicating portion 4 through the second light transmitting portion 20 diffuses and reflects. Since it is diffused and supplied to the front side through 14, it is possible to compensate for the lack of light emission in the vicinity of the central side region 6 of the indicator portion 4 sandwiched between the light condensing portions 10 and 11, so that the entire indicator portion 4 is made substantially uniform. Can be brightened.

Further, as in the present embodiment, a cavity portion 13 opening to the second light transmitting portion 20 side is formed behind the central region 6 of the indicating portion 4 excluding the reflecting portions 8 and 9 of the pointer main body 3, If the diffuse reflection portion 14 is provided at a position of the cavity portion 13 facing the second light transmission portion 20, the illumination light supplied to the diffusion reflection portion 14 through the second light transmission portion 20 exists in the cavity portion 13. Since the light is attenuated by, the excessive light emission in the vicinity of the central region 6 of the indicator portion 4 sandwiched between the light condensing portions 10 and 11 and the spot-like light emission in this portion can be suppressed. The whole can be made to shine almost uniformly.

Further, as in this embodiment, if minute irregularities 22 are formed on the peripheral wall portion 21 of the cavity portion 13 surrounding the diffuse reflection portion 14, they are introduced into the cavity portion 13 through the second light transmitting portion 20, Since the illumination light supplied to the front and the illumination light introduced into the diffuse reflection portion 14 are attenuated by the minute irregularities 22 formed on the peripheral wall portion 21 of the cavity portion 13, they are sandwiched between the light collecting portions 10 and 11. It is also possible to further suppress the excessive light emission of the indicator 4 located near the central region 6 of the indicator 4 and the spot-like light emission in this portion, whereby the entire indicator 4 can be made to illuminate substantially uniformly. it can. In this embodiment, the unevenness 22 is formed on the entire peripheral wall portion 21 of the cavity portion 13. However, the unevenness 22 does not necessarily have to be formed on the entire peripheral wall portion 21. The unevenness 22 may be formed depending on the light emitting state of the indicator 4 located near the central region 6. It can also be formed in a part of the cavity 13.

Further, in the case where the light emission luminance of the central region 6 portion of the pointing portion 4 located right above in FIG. 3 of the diffuse reflection portion 14 is high,
The shape of the diffuse reflection portion 14 may be changed, and as another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, a notch 23 is formed in the central portion of the diffuse reflection portion 14, and is particularly located on the diffusion reflection portion 14. The indicator 4 may be provided so that the illumination light does not concentrate.

[0025]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
From the tip end side of the indicator portion, which has a light condensing portion on each of the front end side and the rear end side of the indicator portion on both sides of the central region of the linearly extending indication portion, receives illumination light from a light source from the rear side. A pointer main body made of a translucent material provided with a plurality of reflecting portions that continuously shine up to the rear end side, and is arranged so as to cover the center side region behind the indicating portion including the reflecting portion of the pointer main body. A light-shielding member formed with a first light-transmitting portion corresponding to the reflecting portion, and illuminating light is diffused and supplied to the front side behind the central region of the indicating portion excluding the reflecting portion of the pointer main body. By forming the diffuse reflection portion and providing the second light transmitting portion at a position corresponding to the diffusion reflection portion of the light shielding member, the shortage of light emission in the vicinity of the central region of the indication portion is compensated for and the tip side of the indication portion is compensated. It is possible to provide a light emitting pointer that can emit light substantially uniformly from the rear side to the rear end side.

Further, according to the present invention, a hollow portion opening to the second light transmitting portion side is formed behind a central region of the indicating portion excluding the reflecting portion of the pointer main body, and the hollow portion is formed. By providing the diffuse reflection portion at the position corresponding to the second light transmitting portion, excessive light emission near the central region of the indicator and spot-like light emission in this portion are suppressed, and the light emission of the entire indicator is substantially reduced. Can be uniform.

Further, according to the present invention, since minute irregularities are formed on the peripheral wall portion of the hollow portion surrounding the diffuse reflection portion, excessive light emission near the central region of the indicator portion or spot-like in this portion. It is possible to further suppress the light emission and make the light emission of the entire indicator substantially uniform.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a pointer main body applied to a light emitting pointer according to the present invention, (a) is a top view of the pointer main body,
(B) is a side view of the pointer main body, and (c) is a rear view of the pointer main body.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a light shielding member applied to a light emitting pointer according to the present invention, (a) is a side view of the light shielding member,
(B) is a rear view of the light shielding member.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an essential part showing the assembled state of a light emitting pointer according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an essential part showing another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a top view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Pointer main body 4 Pointing section 6 Center side area 7 Light source 8 (8a, 8b), 9 (9a, 9b) Reflecting section 10, 11 Condensing section 13 Cavity section 14 Diffuse reflecting section 16 Light blocking member 19 First light transmitting section 20 Second translucent part 21 Circumferential wall part 22 Unevenness

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. The linearly extending indicator has condensing portions on both sides of the central region of the indicator, respectively, on the front end side and the rear end side of the indicator, and receives the illumination light from a light source from the rear side to perform the indication. A pointer main body made of a translucent material provided with a plurality of reflecting portions for continuously shining from the front end side to the rear end side of the portion, and the center side region behind the indicating portion including the reflecting portion of the pointer main body. A light-shielding member which is arranged so as to cover and in which a first light-transmitting portion corresponding to the reflecting portion is formed, and the illumination light is provided in front of the central region of the indicating portion excluding the reflecting portion of the pointer main body. A light emitting pointer, characterized in that a diffusive reflecting part for diffusing and supplying to a side is formed, and a second light transmitting part is provided at a position corresponding to the diffusive reflecting part of the light shielding member. 2. A hollow portion opening to the second light transmitting portion side is formed behind a central region of the indicating portion excluding the reflecting portion of the pointer main body, and the second light transmitting portion of the hollow portion is formed. 2. The diffuse reflection part is provided at a position corresponding to a part.
Luminescent pointer described. 3. The luminous pointer according to claim 2, wherein minute irregularities are formed on a peripheral wall portion of the hollow portion surrounding the diffuse reflection portion.