JPH10132618A - Pointer illuminating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the uneven light emission of a pointer illuminating device at a low cost. SOLUTION: Light emitting elements 7 (7a-7f) are arranged along an arranging locus R at nearly regular intervals and a pointer 5 is provided with an indicating section 52 and a reflecting section 56 composed of a first reflecting surface 53 having its central part C at the position corresponding to the longitudinal axial line L of the indicating section 52 and second and third reflecting surfaces 54 and 55 formed on both sides of the surface 53 at regular intervals. The width size W of the reflecting section 56 is set so that, when the center of the central light emitting element 7b of arbitrarily selected three light emitting elements 7a-7c which are adjacently arranged at nearly regular intervals is faced to the central part C of the first reflecting section 53, the other two light emitting elements 7a and 7c on both sides of the element 7b cannot be faced to the second and third reflecting sections 54 and 55 and, when the element 7b is not faced to the reflecting section 53, the element 7b and either one of the other two elements 7a and 7c can face the second and third reflecting sections 54 and 55, respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pointer illuminating device applied to, for example, an instrument, and more particularly to a pointer illuminating device for high-brightness illumination for allowing a user to visually recognize a lighting design of a pointer through a dark smoke panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a pointer illuminating device of this kind for high-intensity illumination, a small luminous element composed of a light-emitting diode chip is mounted on the pointer itself as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-298818. Was known,
In the case where the light emitting element is mounted on the pointer serving as the rotating member, it is difficult to energize the light emitting element, and the structure becomes complicated. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-221879, a transparent member is used. A circuit board through which the drive shaft of the instrument body penetrates behind the light guide is provided, and a plurality of light-emitting elements (light-emitting diodes) are arranged on the circuit board in a concentric manner centered on the axis of the drive shaft. A device that shines a pointer with illumination light of a light emitting element has been proposed.

In the pointer lighting device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-221879, illumination light of a light emitting element is received and reflected by a reflecting surface formed on the pointer, and a pointer of the pointer is illuminated. At this time, the reflecting surface of the pointer is devised so as to always receive the light of two or more of the plurality of light emitting elements among the plurality of light emitting elements, thereby increasing the brightness of the pointer illumination.

[0004]

However, according to such a pointer illuminating device, it is certainly possible to easily energize the light emitting element and to increase the brightness of the illumination, but it is necessary to provide two or more reflecting surfaces. For convenience of arranging the light-emitting elements so as to always receive the light of the light-emitting elements, many light-emitting elements must be densely arranged, which increases the number of light-emitting elements and increases the cost. Also, no matter how many light emitting elements are arranged without gaps, there is a problem that light emission unevenness occurs according to the turning position of the pointer as long as it is a point light source.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of this point,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pointer illuminating device capable of illuminating a pointer brightly and evenly with a minimum necessary light emitting element, and capable of suppressing light emission unevenness at low cost.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a pointer illuminating apparatus for illuminating a translucent pointer driven around an axis by a drive shaft of an instrument main body with illumination light of a plurality of light emitting elements. The light emitting elements are arranged behind the hands so that the light emitting elements adjacent to each other are arranged at substantially equal intervals along a substantially concentric arc-shaped array locus about the axis of the drive shaft, and the hands are driven by the drive. An indicator extending longitudinally in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis direction of the shaft, and a first reflecting surface formed on the rear end side of the indicator with a position corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the indicator as a center. It is composed of a second reflecting surface and a third reflecting surface formed on both sides of the first reflecting surface and at the same distance from each other and formed on the rear end side of the pointing portion. The illumination light of the light emitting element is directed to the indicator according to the arrangement locus of the light emitting element. A reflecting portion arranged so as to reflect light, wherein the width dimension of the reflecting portion corresponding to the arrangement trajectory of the light emitting element is located at the center of any three of the light emitting elements adjacent to each other at substantially equal intervals. When the center of one light-emitting element faces the center of the first reflector, the other two light-emitting elements located on both sides do not face the second and third reflectors, and the arbitrary three light-emitting elements do not face the second and third reflectors. When the light emitting element located at the center of the two light emitting elements does not face the first reflecting portion, the light emitting element located at the center and one of the light emitting elements adjacent to the light emitting element are the second and third light emitting elements. Are set so as to be opposed to both of the reflecting portions.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the light-emitting elements are arranged such that adjacent light-emitting elements are arranged at substantially equal intervals behind a pointer along a substantially concentric arc-shaped array locus centered on the axis of a drive shaft. The pointer is formed on the rear end side of the indicating portion with a pointing portion extending longitudinally in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis direction of the drive shaft and a position corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the pointing portion as a center portion. A first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface and a third reflecting surface formed on both sides of the first reflecting surface and at the rear end side of the indicating portion at equal intervals from each other; And a reflector arranged to reflect the illumination light of the light emitting element toward the indicator according to the arrangement locus of the light emitting element, and the width of the reflector corresponding to the arrangement locus of the light emitting element The dimensions are located at the center of any three light emitting elements adjacent to each other at substantially equal intervals Any 3 with the center of the One of the light emitting element other two light-emitting elements located on both sides when facing the middle of the first reflecting part is not opposed to the second, third reflecting portion
When the light emitting element located at the center of the two light emitting elements does not face the first reflecting portion, the light emitting element located at the center and one of the light emitting elements adjacent to the light emitting element are both the second and third reflecting portions. The hands are illuminated brightly and almost uniformly without increasing the number of light emitting elements at any rotational position by being set to face each other. can get.

[0008]

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

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a pointer illuminating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an assembled state, FIG. 3 is a front view showing a relationship between the pointer and a light emitting element, and FIG. ,
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the reflecting portion and the light emitting element according to the rotation of the pointer.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pointer lighting device according to the present embodiment is provided in front of an instrument main body 2 composed of a cross-coil instrument for rotating a drive shaft 1 in accordance with both measurements such as a vehicle speed. A circuit board 3 disposed with the drive shaft 1 penetrating therethrough, a pedestal-shaped connecting member 4 fixed to the tip of the drive shaft 1 of the instrument body 2 penetrating from the circuit board 3, and driving through the connecting member 4 A pointer 5 that is connected and fixed to the shaft 1 and rotates around the axis in accordance with the rotation of the drive shaft 1, and a cup-shaped and light-shielding pointer cap 6 that covers the front of and around the rotation center base of the pointer 5, which will be described later. Prepare.

The circuit board 3 is, as shown in FIGS.
A plurality of (six) light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) are provided around a through hole 31 through which the drive shaft 1 penetrates, and are fixed in front of the instrument main body 2.

Each of the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) provided on the circuit board 3 is, for example, formed of a light emitting diode chip, and is provided around the through hole 31 of the circuit board 3 as shown in FIG. The light emitting elements 7 adjacent to each other along a substantially concentric arc-shaped array locus R centered on the axis P of the drive shaft 1.
All of a to 7f are arranged at substantially equal intervals (60-degree intervals).

The connecting member 4 is made of a light-shielding material, and has a boss 41 press-fitted and fixed to the tip of the drive shaft 1 and a pointer 5 extending in the horizontal direction in FIGS. And the arrangement locus R of the light emitting elements 7a to 7f (see FIG. 3).
And a disk-shaped mounting portion 42 which is slightly larger in diameter than the light-emitting elements 7a to 7f and covers the front of each of the light emitting elements 7a to 7f, and an opening 43 corresponding to a reflecting portion of the pointer 5 described later is provided behind the mounting portion 42. Is formed.

The pointer 5 is made of a translucent resin material such as acrylic or polycarbonate.
The rotation center base 51 fixed to the
1 and a predetermined index (not shown) of the instrument dial 8 which extends in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the drive shaft 1 and is disposed behind the pointer 5 in FIGS. An instruction unit 52 for designating a part, and an instruction unit 52 (rotation center base 51) divided into three portions, each of which is formed behind the instruction unit 52.
And a reflecting portion 56 including three substantially conical reflecting surfaces 53 to 55 having a common light condensing point at a predetermined portion of the pointing portion 52. In this case, a light-reflective coating Is given.

The first reflecting surface 53 of the reflecting portion 56
As shown in FIG. 3, a position corresponding to the longitudinal axis L of the pointing portion 52 is formed as a center portion C on the rear end side of the pointing portion 52 (the rotation center base 51), and the second reflecting surface 54 and the second The third reflecting surface 55 is located on both sides of the first reflecting surface 53 with the central portion C of the first reflecting surface 53 as a reference (center),
Are formed at the rear end side of the pointing portion 52 (rotation center base 51) at equal intervals to the reflection surface 53 of the light-emitting element, and the first to third reflection surfaces 53 to 55 are each formed of a light emitting element. 7 (7
a to 7f) according to the arrangement locus R of the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f).
The illumination light of f) is disposed so as to be reflected toward the instruction unit 52.

In the pointer illuminating device thus configured, the connecting member 4, the pointer 5, and the pointer cap 6 are combined in advance before the instrument main body 2 is fixed to the drive shaft 1, to form a pointer assembly. The light emitting element 7 is mounted on the drive shaft 1 of the instrument main body 2 to which the circuit board 3 and the instrument dial 8 are fixed, and is driven to rotate, and through the opening 43 of the connecting member 4.
The illumination light of (7a to 7f) is introduced into the reflecting portion 56 of the pointer 5, and the illumination light is reflected toward the indicating portion 52 at this portion to shine the indicating portion 52.

Here, the reflecting portion 5 of the pointer 5 will be described with reference to FIG.
The relationship between the light emitting element 7 (7a to 7f) and the light emitting element 7 (7a to 7f) will be described in detail.
Are arranged along the arrangement locus R. At this time, the reflecting portions 56 corresponding to the arrangement locus R of the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f)
Of the three light emitting elements 7a, 7b, 7c adjacent to each other at substantially equal intervals, the center X of the light emitting element 7b located at the center faces the central part C of the first reflection surface 53. (See FIGS. 4 (a) and 5 (a), which will be described later), the other two light emitting elements 7a and 7c located on both sides are the second and third light emitting elements.
When the light-emitting element 7b located at the center does not face the first reflecting portion 53 (see (f) and (g) in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5), A total of two of the light emitting element 7b and one of the light emitting elements 7a and 7c adjacent to the light emitting element 7b are set to face both the second and third reflecting portions 54 and 55, respectively.

FIGS. 4A to 4G show the positional relationship between the reflector 56 and the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) shown in FIG.
5A shows a case where the pointer 5 rotates clockwise by 5 degrees on the basis of (a)). FIGS. 5A to 5G show the reflecting portion 56 and the light emitting element 7 (7a to 7A) shown in FIG. 7f) shows a case where the pointer 5 rotates by 5 degrees in a counterclockwise direction with reference to the positional relationship (FIG. 4 (a)).
(G), the positional relationship between the reflector 56 and the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) according to the rotation of the pointer 5 will be described based on FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (g).

First, FIG. 4 will be described. In FIG. 4 (a), the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) facing the reflecting portion 56 are shown.
Is only the light emitting element 7b. In this case, as described with reference to FIG. 3, the center X of the light emitting element 7b and the first reflection surface 53
And the central part C of the two.

In FIG. 2B, the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) facing the reflecting portion 56 are two light emitting elements 7b and 7c. In this case, the light emitting element 7b is the first reflecting surface 53. The light-emitting element 7c partially faces the rotation-direction leading end of the third reflection surface 55 in the rotation direction.

In FIG. 3C, the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) facing the reflecting portion 56 are two light emitting elements 7b and 7c. In this case, the light emitting element 7b is the first reflecting surface 53. The light emitting element 7c has a region slightly larger than half of the light emitting element 7c facing the rotationally leading end of the third reflection surface 55.

In FIG. 2D, the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) facing the reflecting portion 56 are two light emitting elements 7b and 7c. In this case, the number of the light emitting elements 7b is slightly more than half. The region faces the rear end of the first reflection surface 53 in the rotation direction, and the light emitting element 7c faces a position shifted from the center of the third reflection surface 55 to the top in the rotation direction.

In FIG. 3E, the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) facing the reflecting portion 56 are two of the light emitting elements 7b and 7c. The second reflecting surface 54 faces the leading end in the rotating direction and a small part thereof faces the rotating rear end of the first reflecting surface 53, and the light emitting element 7c is connected to the third reflecting surface. 55
And a position slightly deviated from the center.

In FIG. 3F, the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) facing the reflecting portion 56 are two light emitting elements 7b and 7c. In this case, the light emitting element 7b is connected to the second reflecting surface 54. And the light emitting element 7c is the third end in the rotation direction.
Of the first reflecting surface 5
No light emitting element 7 (7 a to 7 f) faces 3.

In FIG. 5G, the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) facing the reflecting portion 56 are two of the light emitting elements 7b and 7c. In this case, the light emitting element 7b is located at the second position from the center thereof.
The light-emitting element 7c faces the rotation-direction rear side of the center of the third reflection surface 55, while the light-emitting element 7c faces the first reflection surface 53. 7
(7a to 7f) also do not face each other, and the central portion C is the light emitting element 7
It is located approximately in the middle between b and the light emitting element 7c.

Next, referring to FIG. 5, in FIG.
FIG. 4A is the same as FIG. 4B, and FIG. 4B to FIG. 4F are the reverse of FIG. 4B to FIG. 4F, in which the reflecting portion 56 and the light emitting element 7 (7a to 7f) Is substantially the same as that shown in FIGS. 4 (c) to (f),
Detailed description is omitted.

As described above, the number of the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) facing the reflecting portion 56 varies depending on the turning position of the pointer 5, but according to an experiment by the inventor of the present invention, the number of the light emitting element 7 located at the center is changed. The case where the indicator 52 is illuminated by the illumination light of the light emitting element 7 (7a to 7f) reflected through the first reflecting surface 53, and the second and third reflecting surfaces 54 and 55 located on both sides.
In the case where the indicator 52 is illuminated by the illumination light of the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) reflected through the light source, there is a difference in illumination efficiency with respect to the indicator 52 even if the amount of reflected illumination light is the same. In the first reflection surface 53, the most efficient and bright illumination is possible when the indicator 52 is illuminated by the illumination light reflected at the central portion C.
Of the second and third reflecting surfaces 54 and 55, the illumination efficiency increases as the distance from the first reflecting surface 53 increases, and the illuminating light increases as the distance from the both ends increases. You can see that the rate drops little by little,
Generally, the first reflecting surface 53 is the second and third reflecting surfaces 5.
The lighting efficiency is higher than that of the reflective surfaces 53 to 5.
5, it was found that the closer to the longitudinal axis of the indicator 52, the higher the illumination efficiency. This is because there is a difference in an optical path reflected from the first to third reflecting surfaces 53 to 55 toward the front end of the pointing unit 52, and the first reflecting surface 5
The illumination light reflected from the light source 3 is substantially linear or the indicator 5
Instructing section 52 in an optical path with a small number of reflections through two side surfaces
The loss of illumination light is small because it goes to the tip side of
The illumination light reflected from the third reflecting surfaces 54 and 55
Of the indicator 5 compared to the illumination light reflected from the reflection surface 53
It is considered that the loss of the illumination light increases because the light travels toward the distal end side of the pointing unit 52 in the optical path having a large number of reflections through the two side surfaces.

4 (a) to 4 (g) will be described based on this point. In FIG. 4 (a), the light emitting element 7 (7a to 7f) facing the reflecting portion 56 is only the light emitting element 7b. But,
Since the center X of the light emitting element 7b coincides with the central portion C of the first reflecting surface 53, the illumination efficiency is high and one light emitting element 7b
Even with (7a to 7f), the illumination of the instruction unit 52 can be substantially satisfied.

In FIG. 4B, the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) facing the reflecting portion 56 are two light emitting elements 7b and 7c, but the light emitting element 7b is located at the center of the first reflecting surface 53. Part C
The light emitting element 7c is opposed to a part slightly shifted rearward in the rotation direction, and a part of the light emitting element 7c is opposed to the end of the third reflection surface 55 in the rotation direction. The lowering of the illumination efficiency due to the shift in the rotation direction rearward from the central portion C of 53 is compensated for by the illumination light of the light emitting element 7c partly opposed to the rotation direction leading end of the third reflection surface 55. In other words, the indicator 52 is illuminated by combining the illumination light of the light-emitting element 7c guided by the third reflection surface 55 and the illumination light of the light-emitting element 7b guided by the first reflection surface 53, and thereby, as shown in FIG. Illumination of the indicator 52 having substantially the same brightness as that of FIG.

In FIG. 4C, the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) facing the reflecting portion 56 are two light emitting elements 7b and 7c, but the light emitting element 7b rotates the first reflecting surface 53. In the light emitting element 7c, since a region slightly larger than half of the light emitting element 7c faces the rotation direction leading end of the third reflecting surface 55, the light emitting element 7b is connected to the first reflecting surface 53. The lowering of the illumination efficiency due to the opposition to the rear end in the rotation direction is caused by the illumination light of the light emitting element 7c in which the rotation direction front end of the third reflection surface 55 and a region slightly larger than half thereof are opposed. By supplementing, in other words, by illuminating the indicator 52 by combining the illumination light of the light emitting element 7c guided by the third reflecting surface 55 and the illumination light of the light emitting element 7b guided through the first reflecting surface 53 , FIG. 4 (a),
Illumination of the instruction unit 52 having substantially the same brightness as that of FIG.

In FIG. 4D, the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) facing the reflecting portion 56 are two of the light emitting elements 7b and 7c, but the light emitting element 7b has an area slightly larger than half of the light emitting elements 7b and 7c. Since the light-emitting element 7c is opposed to the rear end of the first reflection surface 53 in the rotation direction, and the light-emitting element 7c is opposed to a position shifted from the center of the third reflection surface 55 to the head in the rotation direction, the light-emitting element 7c is more than half the light-emitting element 7b. The lowering of the illumination efficiency due to the slightly larger area facing the rear end of the first reflection surface 53 in the rotation direction is opposed to the position shifted to the rotation direction top side from the center of the third reflection surface 55. In other words, the illumination light of the light emitting element 7c guided by the third reflecting surface 55 and the illumination light of the light emitting element 7b guided through the first reflecting surface 53 are combined by supplementing with the illumination light of the light emitting element 7c. By illuminating the indicator 52, (A), it is possible to lighting (b), an instruction unit 52 of substantially uniform brightness and (c).

In FIG. 4E, the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) facing the reflecting portion 56 are two of the light emitting elements 7b and 7c. The light-emitting element 7c is opposed to the rotation-direction rear end of the first reflection surface 53, and the light-emitting element 7c is opposed to the rotation-direction rear end of the first reflection surface 53. The light emitting element 7b is opposed to a position slightly shifted from the center.
Of the second reflecting surface 54 is opposed to the end of the second reflecting surface 54 in the rotational direction, and a small part thereof is the first reflecting surface 5.
3 is compensated for by the illumination light of the light emitting element 7c opposed to a position slightly shifted from the center of the third reflection surface 55, by compensating for the decrease in illumination efficiency caused by opposing the rear end of the third reflection direction. Then, the illumination light of the light emitting element 7c guided by the third reflecting surface 55 and the first and second reflecting surfaces 53,
By illuminating the indicator 52 with the illumination light of the light emitting element 7b guided through 54, FIG.
(B), (c), (d), an indicator 52 having substantially the same brightness
Lighting becomes possible.

In FIG. 4F, the light-emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) facing the reflecting portion 56 are two light-emitting elements 7b and 7c, but the light-emitting element 7b rotates the second reflection surface 54. The light-emitting element 7c faces the third end of the third reflection surface 55.
, And none of the light emitting elements 7 (7 a to 7 f) face the first reflecting surface 53, so that the first reflecting surface 5
3 is not opposed to any of the light-emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f), and the light-emitting element 7c is opposed to substantially the center of the third reflection surface 55. In other words, the illumination light of the light emitting element 7c guided by the third reflecting surface 55 and the second reflecting surface 54
4 (a), 4 (b), and 4 (b) by illuminating the indicator 52 with the illumination light of the light emitting element 7b guided through
(C), (d), and (e), an indicator 52 having substantially the same brightness.
Lighting becomes possible.

In FIG. 4 (f), the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) facing the reflecting portion 56 are two light emitting elements 7b and 7c. The light emitting element 7c is opposed to the front side in the rotation direction of the surface 54, and the light emitting element 7c is opposed to the rear side in the rotation direction from the center of the third reflection surface 55. On the other hand, any of the light emitting elements 7 (7a ~ 7
f) does not face, the first reflection surface 53 does not face any of the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f), and the light emitting element 7b
Decrease in the lighting efficiency due to the fact that it faces the rotation direction leading side of the center of the second reflecting surface 54, the third reflecting surface 5
Light-emitting element 7c facing the rear side in the rotation direction from the center of 5
In other words, the indicator 52 is combined with the illumination light of the light-emitting element 7c guided by the third reflection surface 55 and the illumination light of the light-emitting element 7b guided by the second reflection surface 54. By illuminating, FIG.
(A), (b), (c), (d), and (e) can be illuminated by the indicator 52 with substantially the same brightness.

5A to 5F, the operation described above is substantially the same as that of FIGS. 4A to 4F, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
The light-emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f) are substantially equal to each other behind the hands 5 along the substantially concentric arc-shaped trajectory R centered on the axis P of the drive shaft 1. The pointers 5 are arranged so as to be spaced from each other, and the pointer 5 has a pointing portion 52 extending longitudinally in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the drive shaft 1 and a position corresponding to the longitudinal axis L of the pointing portion 52 as a center portion C. The first reflecting surface 53 formed on the rear end side of the pointing portion 52 (the rotation center base portion 51) and the both sides of the first reflecting surface 53, and the pointing portions 52 are equally spaced from each other. (Rotation center base 51) Second reflection surface 5 formed on the rear end side
4 and a third reflecting surface 55, each of which is a light emitting element 7
The light emitting element 7 (7a) according to the array locus R of (7a to 7f)
And a reflecting portion 56 arranged to reflect the illumination light of the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7f).
f) The width dimension W of the reflecting portion 56 corresponding to the array locus R is set to any three adjacent light emitting elements 7 (7a) at substantially equal intervals.
7c), when the center of one light emitting element 7b located at the center faces the center part C of the first reflecting portion 53, the other two light emitting elements 7a and 7c located on both sides are the second and the second light emitting elements 7a and 7c. Third
When the light emitting element 7b located at the center of the three light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7c) does not face the first reflecting section 53, the light emitting element 7b located at the center and Is set so that one of the light emitting elements 7a and 7c adjacent to each other is opposed to both the second and third reflecting portions 54 and 55, so that the pointer 5 is at any rotational position. Also, the light emitting element 7 (7a-
By increasing the array density of 7f), the light emitting elements 7 (7a to 7
It is possible to illuminate the pointer brightly and substantially without unevenness without increasing the number of steps f), and it is possible to obtain a pointer illuminating device that is low in cost and has little emission unevenness.

In this embodiment, each light emitting element 7 (7a to 7a)
Although the case where 7f) is arranged at substantially equal intervals over 360 degrees has been shown, it is not always necessary to arrange them over 360 degrees, and they may be arranged over, for example, 270 degrees according to the rotation range of the hands 5.

[0038]

As described above in detail, the present invention relates to a pointer illuminating device for illuminating a translucent pointer which is driven around an axis by a driving shaft of an instrument main body with illumination light of a plurality of light emitting elements. The light-emitting elements are arranged behind the hands so that the light-emitting elements adjacent to each other are arranged at substantially equal intervals along a substantially concentric arc-shaped array locus about the axis of the drive shaft.
The pointer is an indicator that extends longitudinally in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis direction of the drive shaft, and a second portion that is formed at a rear end side of the indicator with a position corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the indicator as a center. A first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface and a third reflecting surface formed on both sides of the first reflecting surface and formed on the rear end side of the pointing portion at equal intervals from each other; Each comprising a reflecting portion arranged so as to reflect the illumination light of the light emitting element toward the indicator in accordance with the arrangement locus of the light emitting element, and corresponding to the arrangement locus of the light emitting element. The width of the reflecting portion is any three adjacent to each other at substantially equal intervals.
When the center of one light-emitting element located at the center of the two light-emitting elements faces the center of the first reflecting portion, the other two light-emitting elements located on both sides are the second and third light-emitting elements. The light emitting element which is not opposed to the reflecting part and which is located at the center of the arbitrary three light emitting elements when it is not opposed to the first reflecting part, and the light emitting element which is located at the center and any one adjacent to the light emitting element The light emitting element is the second light emitting element.
A pointer illuminating device capable of illuminating a pointer brightly and uniformly with a minimum necessary light-emitting element by being set so as to be opposed to both of the third reflection portions, and capable of suppressing light-emitting unevenness at low cost. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a pointer lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a positional relationship between a pointer and a light emitting element.

FIGS. 4A to 4G are explanatory diagrams illustrating a positional relationship between a reflecting portion of a pointer and a light emitting element.

FIGS. 5A to 5G are explanatory diagrams illustrating a positional relationship between a reflecting portion of a pointer and a light emitting element.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 drive shaft 2 instrument main body 3 circuit board 31 through hole 4 connecting member 41 boss part 42 mounting part 43 opening part 5 pointer 51 rotation center base 52 indicating part 53 first reflecting surface 54 second reflecting surface 55 third Reflecting surface 56 Reflecting part 6 Pointer cap 7 (7a to 7f) Light emitting element 8 Instrument dial C Central part L Longitudinal axis P Axis W Width X Center

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pointer illuminating device for illuminating a translucent pointer driven around an axis by a driving shaft of an instrument body with illumination light of a plurality of light emitting elements, wherein the light emitting element is provided behind the pointer. The light-emitting elements adjacent to each other are arranged at substantially equal intervals along a substantially concentric arc-shaped array locus about the axis of the drive shaft, and the hands are substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the drive shaft. And a first reflecting surface formed on a rear end side of the indicating portion with a position corresponding to a longitudinal axis of the indicating portion as a center portion, and both sides of the first reflecting surface. And a second reflecting surface and a third reflecting surface formed on the rear end side of the indicating portion at equal intervals from each other, each of which corresponds to the arrangement trajectory of the light emitting element. Arranged so as to reflect the illumination light of the light emitting element toward the indicator. A reflecting portion, and a width dimension of the reflecting portion corresponding to the arrangement trajectory of the light emitting element is such that the center of one light emitting element located at the center of any three light emitting elements adjacent to each other at substantially equal intervals is When facing the center of the first reflector, the other two light-emitting elements located on both sides do not face the second and third reflectors, and are located at the center of the arbitrary three light-emitting elements. When the light emitting element located is not opposed to the first reflecting section, the light emitting element located at the center and any one of the light emitting elements adjacent to the light emitting element are provided on both the second and third reflecting sections, respectively. An indicator lighting device characterized by being set to face each other.