JPH10166903A - Display unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display unit that is able to use a yet smaller damping display panel. SOLUTION: An attenuation filter panel 10 is interposed between an illuminant 2 and a display panel 50. Eight waveguide members 31 to 38 are installed in each space of respective light attenuation areas 21 to 28 of this filter panel 10 and respective display areas 61 to 68 of the display panel 50, conducting the light transmitted through these light attenuation areas 21 to 28 as expanding it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device for displaying an instrument, a warning, a facility, and the like used in an automobile, an aircraft, a ship, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of display device, for example, there is one as shown in FIG.

[0003] This display device is used as an instrument panel of an automobile. A liquid crystal panel having the same size as the display panel 104 is provided on the back side of a display panel 104 having a plurality of display areas 102. Are arranged in close contact with each other, and each light attenuation area 106 corresponding to each of the display areas 102 provided on the attenuation filter panel 108 is set in a light transmitting state or a non-illustrated filter drive control unit. By controlling the driving in the light-shielded state, the light from the light source 100 is transmitted or shielded, and each display area 102 is turned on or off.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional display device, the attenuation filter panel 108 is disposed in close contact with the rear side of the display panel 104, and each display area 102 is turned on or off. In terms of configuration, each light attenuating region 10 that transmits or blocks light to each display region 102
6 must have the same size and shape as the corresponding display area 102, and the attenuation filter panel 108
Also, the size and shape of the display panel 104 need to be substantially the same as those of the display panel 104.

[0005] Therefore, if the display panel 104 is to be made large in order to realize a large display, it is necessary to increase the size of the attenuation filter panel 108 accordingly. Since it becomes more expensive, there is a problem that the cost of the display device is increased.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and provides a display device that can use a smaller attenuation filter panel than a display panel and can achieve low cost. The purpose is to do.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a display device according to the present invention includes a light source, a display panel having a plurality of display areas, and a display device interposed between the light source and the display panel. An attenuating filter panel having a plurality of light attenuating regions corresponding to the respective display regions, and a filter drive control unit for driving and controlling each of the light attenuating regions to a light transmitting state or a light blocking state. Each of the display regions is formed smaller than the corresponding display region, and a waveguide member is provided between each of the display region and the light attenuation region to guide light to the corresponding display region while spreading light transmitted through the light attenuation region. It is characterized by having.

A liquid crystal panel may be used as the attenuating filter panel, or a liquid crystal panel disposed in a cylindrical shape so as to surround the light source from the periphery.

In addition, each waveguide member has one end face opposed to each light attenuation area and a shape corresponding to the light attenuation area, and the other end face opposed to each display area has the other end face. It may be formed of a transparent material having a shape corresponding to the display area and having a cross-sectional shape gradually expanding from one end to the other end.

[0010] Further, a reflection layer may be provided on the side surface of the waveguide member.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a case where a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is used for an instrument panel of an automobile will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this display device enables light emitted from a light source 2 to be selectively transmitted or blocked by an attenuating filter panel 10, and transmits the transmitted light by light guide members 31 to 38. The display is guided to a display filter 50, and the display filter 50 is configured to display predetermined information on the state of each part of the vehicle.

A color filter made of colored transparent synthetic resin or the like is attached to each of the square holes arranged in a matrix of 2 rows × 4 columns on a rectangular resin plate 52 on the display filter 50. Rectangular display areas 61 to 68 are formed.

Here, a display area 61 indicates that the parking brake is activated or the brake system is abnormal, a display area 62 indicates that the upper beam is turned on, a display area 63 indicates that the seat belt is not worn, and a display area 64 is displayed. The state of the engine oil is displayed, the display area 65 displays the state of the battery circuit, the display area 66 shows the state of the exhaust gas temperature,
The display area 67 displays the control state of the engine, and the display area 68 displays the state of the antilock brake system (ABS).

The attenuating filter panel 10 is constituted by a so-called monochrome type liquid crystal display panel, and is smaller than the display panel 50.
The light attenuating regions 21 to 28 respectively corresponding to the display regions 61 to 68 are arranged in a matrix of 2 rows × 4 columns in the long plate-shaped panel body 12.
The display areas 61 to 68 correspond to the display areas 61 to 68, respectively.
It is formed smaller than. Each of the light attenuation regions 21 to 28 is individually controlled to a light transmitting state or a light shielding state by a filter drive control unit 80 described later.

A light source 2 is provided on the back side of the attenuation filter panel 10, and a reflection plate 4 is provided so as to cover the light source 2 from the back side, whereby the light emitted from the light source 2 is attenuated by the attenuation filter. The light is efficiently incident on the panel 10 side.

The display areas 61 to 6 of the display panel 50 are provided.
8, and each of the light attenuation regions 21 to 28 of the attenuation filter panel 10 corresponding to the respective display regions 61 to 68,
Light guide members 31 to 38 are provided, respectively. Each of the light guide members 31 to 38 is formed of a transparent material such as an acrylic resin, and one end surface thereof has a corresponding light attenuation region 21.
28, the other end face is finished in the same shape as the corresponding display area, and the cross-sectional shape is formed to gradually expand from one end side to the other end side. Then, the light attenuation regions 21 to 28
Are transmitted to the display areas 61 to 68 corresponding to the respective light attenuation areas while being spread by the light guide members 31 to 38, and the respective display areas 61 to 68 are turned on.

The attenuation filter panel 10
As shown in FIG. 2, is electrically connected to a filter drive control unit 80. The filter drive control unit 80 has a switch 81 for detecting the lighting of the upper beam and an operating state of the parking brake. Switch 82,
A switch 83 for detecting that the seat belt is not worn, a switch 84 for detecting the state of the engine oil, an L terminal of an alternator (AC generator) 85, and an exhaust temperature sensor 8
6, the engine ECU 87 and the ABS ECU 88 are electrically connected to each other. The filter drive control unit 80
The state of each part is determined based on signals input from the switches and sensors 81 to 88, and the respective light attenuation regions 21 to 28 of the attenuation filter panel 10 are determined according to the determination result.
Are individually controlled to a light transmitting state or a light shielding state.

For example, when an abnormality occurs in the pressure of the engine oil, the filter drive control unit 8
0 is input to the filter drive control unit 80.
Controls the drive so that the light attenuation region 24 changes from the light-shielded state to the light-transmitted state. As a result, light emitted from the light source 2 passes through the light attenuation region 24 and is guided to the display region 64 while being spread by the waveguide member 34, thereby lighting the display region 64.
Warning of engine oil abnormality.

According to the display device configured as described above, light transmitted through the light attenuation regions 21 to 28 having an area smaller than the display area of the display regions 61 to 68 is transmitted to the waveguide members 31 to 28.
Since the light is guided to the display areas 61 to 68 while being expanded by the space 38, the attenuation filter panel 10 can be made smaller than the display panel 50.

As a result of the downsizing of the attenuation filter panel 10 as described above, the cost is reduced. This is particularly effective when a liquid crystal display panel is used as the attenuation filter panel 10 as in the present embodiment.

The attenuation filter panels 10 and 10a may be a monochrome liquid crystal panel, a color liquid crystal panel, a shutter, or the like.

Next, a display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the display device, the same components as those of the display device of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In this display device, as shown in FIG. 3, a tubular attenuation filter panel 10a is provided so as to surround a tubular or spherical light source 2a (2b). As the attenuating filter panel 10a, a flexible liquid crystal display panel such as a polymer dispersed liquid crystal display panel (PDLCD) using a light scattering effect is formed in a cylindrical shape and used.
When the attenuation filter panel 10a is developed in a planar state, the attenuation filter panel 10a of the first embodiment described above.
In other words, the light attenuation regions 21a to 28a corresponding to the display regions 61 to 68 are provided.

Each of the waveguide members 31a to 38a has one end bent so that one end face thereof is opposed to the corresponding light attenuation region 21a to 28a.

In this display device, the light attenuation regions 21a to 21a
8a are partially bent waveguide members 31a to 31a.
The light propagates through the display area 8a and is guided to the display areas 61 to 68, and the display areas 61 to 68 are turned on.

According to the display device of the second embodiment configured as described above, in addition to the same effects as those of the above-described first embodiment, the attenuation filter panel 10a is provided so as to surround the light source 2a. Therefore, the light emitted from the light source 2a can be efficiently guided to the display areas 61 to 68.

In the first and second embodiments, a light reflecting layer may be provided on the side surfaces of the waveguide members 31 to 38 and 31a to 38a.
The light transmitted through 28, 21a to 28a is guided by waveguide members 31 to 3.
8, 31a to 38a can be effectively guided to the display areas 61 to 68 without leakage.

[0029]

As described above, according to the display device of the present invention, each light attenuating region is formed smaller than each corresponding display region, and between each light attenuating region and each display region. Since each of the waveguide members is provided to guide light to the corresponding display area while spreading the light transmitted through each light attenuation area, the attenuation filter panel can be made smaller than the display panel, thereby reducing the cost of the display device itself. The effect is great.

Further, when a cylindrical liquid crystal panel arranged so as to surround the light source from the periphery is used as the attenuation filter panel, light emitted around the light source can be efficiently guided to the display area.

Further, each of the waveguide members has one end face facing the light attenuating region and a shape corresponding to the light attenuating region, and the other end face facing the display region has the other end face. Finished in a shape corresponding to the area, formed from a transparent material whose cross-sectional shape gradually expands from one end side to the other end side, if a light reflecting layer is provided on the side surface, light leaks from the waveguide member Thus, the light transmitted through the light attenuation region can be efficiently guided to the display region.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a display device of the above.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a display device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 2 light source 20 attenuation filter panel 21-28 light attenuation area 31-38 waveguide member 50 display panel 51-58 display area

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yozo Nishiura 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Harness Research Institute, Inc.

Claims (5)

[Claims] A light source, a display panel having a plurality of display areas, and a light source interposed between the light source and the display panel;
An attenuating filter panel having a plurality of light attenuating regions corresponding to the respective display regions, and a filter drive control unit for driving and controlling each of the light attenuating regions to a light transmitting state or a light blocking state. A waveguide member is formed to be smaller than each of the display regions, and a waveguide member is provided between each of the display regions and the light attenuation region to guide light to the corresponding display region while spreading light transmitted through each light attenuation region. A display device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the attenuation filter panel is a liquid crystal panel. 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the attenuation filter panel is a liquid crystal panel arranged in a cylindrical shape so as to surround the light source from the periphery thereof. 4. An end face of each of the waveguide members, which is disposed opposite to the light attenuating region, is finished in a shape corresponding to the light attenuating region, and the other end disposed opposite to the display region. The side end surface is finished in a shape corresponding to the display area, and is formed of a transparent material having a cross-sectional shape that sequentially increases from the one end side to the other end side. Display device. 5. The display device according to claim 4, wherein a light reflection layer is provided on a side surface of the waveguide member.