EP2318805A1

EP2318805A1 - Electric device with illuminated display

Info

Publication number: EP2318805A1
Application number: EP09780068A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wolfgang Adamczak; Alfred Frech
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2008-08-27
Filing date: 2009-07-01
Publication date: 2011-05-11
Also published as: CN102132127A; DE102008041597A1; WO2010023000A1

Abstract

Electric device with a housing and at least one illuminated display disposed at the housing for displaying at least one predetermined operational state of the electric device, wherein the illuminated display comprises at least one light source and one light-permeable display field, wherein between the light source and the display field at least one light channel that is closed on the side is arranged, the light emitted from the light source reaching the display field through said light channel.

Description

Electric appliance with light indicator

The present invention relates to an electric appliance, in particular a hand-held electric appliance, having a housing and at least one light display arranged on the housing, which serves for displaying a predetermined operating state of the electrical appliance.

Illuminated displays of the aforementioned type comprise a light source. In this regard, the use of light-emitting diodes has prevailed in recent years. Often, several lamps are used in combination, for example, a green and a red LED, as can indicate more clearly states of operation of the electrical appliance in this way. The lighting means may be embedded in the housing of the electrical appliance in such a way that they terminate approximately flush with the outside of the housing. A disadvantage of illuminated displays with such a structure, however, is that they are often made much too small. Their information signal is therefore often not clearly visible. Therefore, especially in bright daylight or when viewing the electrical appliance from a distance, the operating information displayed by means of the light display can not be clearly recognized by a user. Furthermore, often only simple and above all little information about the operating state of the electrical appliance can be displayed with the help of such trained light displays, which usually do not go beyond the presentation of on / off information.

In another type, the bulbs are inserted somewhat deeper into the housing of the power tool and covered to protect against external influences with a translucent display panel, such as with a formed of a transparent plastic window that terminates approximately flush with the outside of the housing of the power tool , In order to achieve a homogeneous illumination of the display panel, the bulbs must have a special angle of radiation, which is the dimensions of the display panel, taking into account the selected between the bulbs and the display panel distance. When using light-emitting diodes, however, such a radiation characteristic can usually only be achieved if expensive light-emitting diodes with a special optical system are used. Furthermore, even simple and, above all, only a small amount of information about the operating state of the electrical appliance, such as on / off information, can often be displayed with these light displays. Based on this prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical appliance with a well-readable light indicator for indicating a predetermined operating state of the electrical appliance. The good readability is to be realized with simple constructive and inexpensive means. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical appliance with a light display, by means of which a large amount of information can be transmitted to the user.

This object is achieved according to the present invention by an electrical appliance according to claim 1. The dependent claims relate to individual embodiments of the present invention.

The electrical appliance according to the present invention comprises a housing and at least one light display arranged on the housing, which serves to indicate a predetermined operating state of the electrical appliance. The light display has at least one light source, such as an LED or the like, and a translucent display panel, which can be provided for example in the form of a transparent window, according to the invention is arranged between the light and the display at least one laterally closed light channel formed by the the light emitted by the light source reaches the display panel. By providing such a light channel, the light emitted by the light source is directed onto the display panel, resulting in a better illumination of the display panel. Accordingly, can be dispensed with the use of bulbs with expensive appearance. Wherein the displayed with the help of the light indicator operating state of the electrical appliance by a user is still well visible even in bright ambient light and from a distance.

The light channel is preferably formed in a cone or truncated pyramid and widens in the direction of the display panel. By means of this funnel-like design, even display fields can be uniformly illuminated whose area is many times greater than the area of the illuminant in plan view.

A further improvement of the illumination of the display panel can be achieved by at least one inner wall of the light channel is formed at least partially light-reflecting. Accordingly, absorption of light within the light channel is reduced.

A particularly good illumination of the display panel is obtained if the distance between the at least one light-emitting means and the display panel is at least twice the maximum. corresponds to the maximum length dimension of the display field. So should the distance between the bulb and the display panel in a rectangular display panel with a length of 2 cm and a width of 1 cm at least 4 cm. In the case of a round display panel with a diameter of 1 cm, the distance should accordingly be at least 2 cm. In this way, optimal illumination results can be achieved.

As the light source LEDs are advantageously used. Light-emitting diodes are particularly advantageous because of their low temperature development, their low energy consumption, their large light scattering, their small size, their long life, their high efficiency and their insensitivity to vibration. It should be clear that differently colored LEDs or bulbs can be used, for example, a green and a red LED to indicate to the user as clear information about the operating state of the electrical appliance on the display panel.

The display panel is preferably made of a transparent plastic, in particular of polyacrylic or polycarbonate, wherein polycarbonate is characterized in particular by a high strength and is correspondingly resistant to external influences.

If information is to be displayed on the display panel of the illuminated display that goes beyond a mere input / output information, the illuminated display advantageously has a plurality of light channels, to each of which at least one lighting means is assigned. The individual light channels are preferably designed and arranged such that the associated light sources illuminate only a portion of the display panel. The subregions preferably form a geometric shape, in particular a star or cross shape. Even if a plurality of light channels are provided, the distance between a light source and the subarea of the display area to be illuminated corresponds advantageously to at least twice the maximum length dimension of the subarea in order to ensure optimum illumination of the subarea. The light channels are preferably formed in one piece to minimize the number of components and thus the time and cost of the assembly of the electrical appliance.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electrical appliance comprises a laser beam emitting device for emitting mutually perpendicularly arranged laser beams and a self-leveling device, which can automatically level the electrical device within a predetermined self-leveling range. The light indicator is advantageously designed such that it indicates at least the self-leveling of the self-leveling device.

The light channels of the illuminated display preferably define cross-like arranged subregions of the display panel.

At least two of these partial areas preferably show the vertical self-leveling area and at least two partial areas preferably indicate the horizontal self-leveling area of the self-leveling device.

Alternatively, at least two portions indicate whether the first laser beam is emitted, and at least two portions indicate whether the second laser beam is emitted, and the self-leveling portion of the self-leveling means is displayed by means of another portion

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail by way of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. This is / are

Figure 1 is a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an electrical device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged and partially sectioned perspective view of a first variant of a light display of the electrical device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, partially sectioned perspective view of a second variant of a light display of the electrical device shown in Figure 1, which can be used in place of the light indicator shown in Figure 2;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are plan views of a display panel of the illuminated display shown in FIG. 3, wherein the display panel shown in the two figures indicates different operating conditions; characters

4A to 4D are plan views of a display panel of the illuminated display shown in FIG. 3, wherein the illuminated display shows different operating states in the individual figures.

Like reference numerals refer to the same or similar components below.

Figure 1 shows an electrical appliance 10 which serves to emit a horizontal and a vertical laser line at the exact 90 ° angle, by means of which objects can be aligned, such as aligning tiles when laying them, aligning images when hanging on a wall, etc. The basic structure of such an electrical appliance 10, which is often referred to as electronic spirit level, is basically known, which is why will not be discussed in more detail below.

The electrical appliance 10 comprises a housing 12 in which u.a. a self-leveling device 14 is arranged. The self-leveling device 14 can automatically align the electrical appliance 10 within a predefined self-leveling range such that the horizontally emitted laser line corresponds to the horizontal and the vertical transmitted laser line corresponds to the vertical.

In order to indicate to a user of the electrical appliance 10 whether or not the electrical appliance 10 is located within the self-leveling area, a light indicator 16, which is operatively connected to the self-leveling device 14, is also disposed in the housing 12.

According to the variant illustrated in FIG. 2, the illuminated display 16 comprises a green LED 18 for indicating the active self-leveling area and a red LED 20 which symbolizes the inactive self-leveling area, the LEDs 18 and 20 being held on a base plate 22 of the illuminated display 16. Furthermore, the illuminated display 16 comprises a rectangular display panel 24, which is made of a transparent plastic, such as polyacrylic or polycarbonate. The display panel has a length L and a width B, where L> B. Between the base plate 22 and the display panel 24 extends a light channel 26 which widens in the direction of the display panel 24 in a truncated pyramid. The dimensions of the light channel 26 are chosen such that the distance H between the LEDs 18, 20 and the display panel 24 is greater than twice the length L of the display panel 24, ie H> 2 x L. The side walls 28 of the light channel 26 are off made of an opaque material, wherein the inner walls 30 of the side walls 28th coated with a light-reflecting material. Due to the funnel-like design of the light channel 26, due to the fact that the distance H is greater than twice the length L of the display panel 24, and due to the coating of the inner walls 30 of the side walls 28 of the light channel 26 with a light-reflecting material, a very homogeneous illumination of the Display panel 24 can be ensured, so that can be dispensed with the use of expensive light emitting diodes with a special optics in contrast to the prior art.

A further variant of a light display 40, which can be installed in the electrical appliance 10 instead of the light display 16 shown in FIG. 2, is shown in FIG. The illuminated display 40 comprises a cross-shaped base plate 42, on which a plurality of green LEDs 18 and red LEDs 20 is arranged. Furthermore, the illuminated display 40 comprises a display panel 24 made of a translucent plastic, such as polyacrylic or polycarbonate. Between the base plate 42 and the display panel 24, a light channel unit 44 is arranged with a substantially cross-shaped cross section, which widens, starting from the base plate 42 in the direction of the display panel 24. Within the light channel unit 44 four separate light channels 46, 48, 50 and 52 are defined, each having a rectangular cross-section and together form a kind of cross shape. Each of these light channels 46, 48, 50, 52 are each associated with a green LED 18 and a red LED 20 around subareas 54, 56, 58 and 60 of the display panel 24 passing through the respective light channels 46, 48, 50, 52 of the light channel unit 44 are defined, optionally green or red to illuminate. Similar to the illuminated display 16, the side walls 28 of the individual light channels 46, 48, 50, 52, 62 made of opaque material. Furthermore, the inner walls 30 of each light channel 46, 48, 50, 52, 62 are at least partially coated with a light-reflecting material. In addition, the distance H between the LEDs 18, 20 and the display panel 24 of the illuminated display 40 is greater than twice the maximum length dimension Li, L _{2 of} the subregions 54, 56, 58, 60th

The portions 54 and 58 of the display panel 24 defined by the light channels 46 and 50 indicate whether the electrical appliance 10 is within the self-leveling range of the self-leveling device 14 with respect to a pivotal axis X. If this is the case, then the partial areas 54 and 58 are illuminated with the aid of the corresponding green LEDs 18. On the other hand, if the electrical appliance is located outside the self-leveling area, this is indicated to the user by illuminating the partial areas 54 and 58 with the aid of the associated red LEDs 20, as indicated by the hatching in FIG. 3A, in order to inform the user that the electrical appliance 10 around the Pivot axis X must be rotated in order to get into the self-leveling of the self-leveling device 14. The partial areas 56 and 60 of the display panel 24, which are defined by the light channels 48 and 52, however, indicate whether the electrical appliance 10 with respect to a pivot axis Y within the Selbstnivellierungsbereiches the self-leveling device 14 is located. If this is the case, the subregions 56 and 60 are illuminated with the aid of the corresponding green LEDs 18. On the other hand, if the electrical appliance 10 is located outside the self-leveling area, this is indicated to the user by illuminating the partial areas 56 and 60 with the aid of the associated red LEDs 20, as indicated by the hatching in FIG. 3B, in order to point out to the latter that the electrical appliance 10 must be rotated about the pivot axis Y in order to get into the self-leveling of the self-leveling device 14.

Yet another variant of a light display 70, which can be installed in the electrical appliance 10 instead of the light display 16 shown in FIG. 2, is shown in FIG. The illuminated display 70 comprises a cross-shaped base plate 72, on which a plurality of blue LEDs 73 is arranged. Furthermore, the illuminated display 70 comprises a display panel 24 made of a translucent plastic, such as polyacrylic or polycarbonate. Between the base plate 72 and the display panel 24, a light channel unit 74 is arranged with a substantially cross-shaped cross section, which widens starting from the base plate 72 in the direction of the display panel 24 and is made of opaque material. Within the light channel unit 74 four separate light channels 76, 78, 80 and 82 are defined, each having a rectangular cross section and together form a kind of cross shape. Each of these light channels 76, 78, 80, 82 is respectively associated with a blue LED 73 to selectively provide portions 84, 86, 88 and 90 of the display panel 24 defined by the respective light channels 76, 78, 80, 82 of the light channel unit 74 to illuminate green or red. Furthermore, the light channel unit 74 comprises a centrally arranged light channel 92 with a round cross section, to which a green LED 18 and a red LED 20 are assigned. The light channel 92 defines another circular portion 94 of the display panel 24. Further, the inner walls of each light channel 76, 78, 80, 82, 92 are at least partially coated with a light-reflecting material. In addition, the distance H between the LEDs 18, 20, 73 and the display panel 24 of the illuminated display 70 is greater than twice the maximum length dimension Li, L _{2 of} the partial areas 84, 86, 88, 90 and the diameter d of the partial area 92nd

The subregions 84 and 88 of the display panel 24, which are defined by the light channels 76 and 80, indicate whether the laser emitting the vertical laser line is active or inactive. is active. In the active state, the partial areas 84 and 88 of the display panel 24 are illuminated blue with the aid of the associated blue LEDs 73, whereas in the inactive state of the laser, an illumination of the partial areas 84 and 88 is omitted.

On the other hand, the portions 86 and 90 of the display panel 24 defined by the light channels 78 and 82 of the light channel unit 74 indicate the active or inactive state of the laser emitting the horizontal laser line.

The centrally located portion 94 of the display panel 24, which is defined by the light channel 92 of the light channel unit 74, however, indicates whether the electrical appliance 10 is disposed within the self-leveling region of the self-leveling device 14. If the electrical appliance 10 is within the self-leveling area, the partial area 94 is illuminated green by means of the associated green LED 18, whereas it is illuminated by means of the associated red LED 20 when the electrical appliance 10 is outside the self-leveling area of the self-leveling device 14.

FIGS. 4A to 4D show various operating states of the electrical appliance 10, wherein blue-illuminated partial areas 84, 86, 88, 90 of the display panel 24 are dotted with a simple hatching, a green-illuminated partial area 94 and a red-illuminated partial area 94 is shown with cross-hatching ,

Thus, FIG. 4A shows that operating state of the electrical appliance 10 in which the laser emitting the horizontal laser line is active, while the laser emitting the vertical laser line is inactive and the electrical appliance 10 is outside the self-leveling area of the self-leveling device 14.

FIG. 4B shows the operating state of the electrical appliance 10 in which the laser emitting the vertical laser line is active and the electrical appliance 10 is within the self-leveling area. By contrast, the laser emitting the horizontal laser line is inactive.

FIG. 4C shows an operating state of the electrical appliance 10 in which both lasers are active, whereas the electrical appliance 10 is not located within the self-leveling area of the self-leveling device 14. Finally, FIG. 4D shows an operating state of the electrical appliance 10 in which both lasers are active. Further, the electrical device 10 is within the self-leveling range of the self-leveling device 14.

It should be clear that instead of separately provided green LEDs 18 and red LEDs 20, for example, so-called dual LEDs can also be used, in which two differently colored LEDs are accommodated in a common housing. Furthermore, the use of different colored LEDs is not mandatory. In addition, it should be clear that the light channels 46, 48, 50, 52 and 76, 78, 80, 82, 92 of the one-piece light channel unit 44 or 74 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 can also have other shapes, such that the subregions 54, 56, 58, 60 and 84, 86, 88, 90 of the display panel 24 have a shape deviating from a cross shape. In addition, of course, the number of light channels 46, 48, 50, 52 and 76, 78, 80, 82 vary. It should also be noted that the display panel 24 may have a shape deviating from a rectangular shape. So this may also be square, circular or elliptical.

Claims

claims

An electrical appliance (10) comprising a housing (12) and at least one illuminated display (16; 40; 70) disposed on the housing (12) for indicating at least one predetermined operating condition of the electrical appliance (10), the illuminated display (16 At least one illuminant (18, 20, 73) and a translucent display panel (24), characterized in that between the illuminant (18, 20, 73) and the display panel (24) at least one light channel formed laterally closed (26; 46, 48, 50, 52; 76, 78, 80, 82, 92) through which the light emitted by the light source (18, 20, 73) passes to the display panel (24).

2. Electrical device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the light channel (26; 46, 48, 50, 52; 76, 78, 80, 82, 92) is designed to be conical or pyramid-like and extends in the direction of the display panel (10). 24) expands.

3. Electrical device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an inner wall (30) of the light channel (26; 46, 48, 50, 52; 76, 78, 80, 82, 92) is formed at least partially light-reflecting.

4. Electrical device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance (H) between the at least one lighting means (18, 20) and the display panel (24) at least twice the maximum length dimension (L) of the display panel (24 ) corresponds.

5. Electrical appliance (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one light-emitting means (18, 20, 73) is an LED.

6. Electrical device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display panel (24) is made of a transparent plastic, in particular of polyacrylic or polycarbonate.

7. Electrical device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light indicator (40; 70) a plurality of light channels (46, 48, 50, 52; 76, 78, 80, 82, 92), which each have at least one Illuminant (18, 20, 73) is assigned.

8. Electrical device (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the individual light channels (46, 48, 50, 52, 76, 78, 80, 82, 94) are formed such that the associated lighting means (18, 20, 73 ) each illuminate a portion (54, 56, 58, 60, 84, 86, 88, 90, 94) of the display panel (24).

9. Electrical device (10) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the subregions (54, 56, 58, 60; 84, 86, 88, 90, 94) are arranged in the form of a geometric figure, in particular in a cross or star shape.

10. Electrical device (10) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the distance (H) between a lighting means (18, 20) and to be illuminated with this portion (54, 56, 58, 60, 62) of the display panel (24 ) corresponds to at least twice the maximum length dimension (L ₁ , L ₂ , d) of the portion (54, 56, 58, 60; 84, 86, 88, 90, 94).

11. Electrical device (10) according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the light channels (46, 48, 50, 52; 76, 78, 80, 82, 92) are integrally formed.

12. Electrical device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a Laserstrahlaussendeeinrichtung for emitting mutually perpendicular laser beams and a self-leveling device (14).

13. Electrical device (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that the light indicator (16, 40, 70) is designed such that it displays at least the self-leveling region of the self-leveling device (14).

14. Electrical device (10) according to claim 13, characterized in that the light channels (46, 48, 50, 52, 76, 78, 80, 82) of the illuminated display (40, 70) arranged in a cross-like subregions (54, 56, 58, 60, 84, 86, 88, 90) of the display panel (26).

15. Electrical appliance (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that at least two partial areas (54, 58) indicate the vertical self-leveling area and at least two partial areas (56, 60) the horizontal self-leveling area of the self-leveling device.

16. Electrical device (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that at least two partial areas (84, 88) indicate whether the first laser beam is emitted, and at least two Subareas (86, 90) indicate whether the second laser beam is emitted, wherein the self-leveling area of the self-leveling device (14) is displayed with the aid of a further subarea (94).