JP2003288032A - Electric display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric display device which is provided with an indication body capable of luminously displaying indication matter such as character, pattern by emphasizing it from the background. <P>SOLUTION: An electric display device is provided with an LED (light emitting diode) 24 for backlight, a light transmission plate 23 for guiding the light emitted from the LED 24 and an indicating body 22 which has a light diffusing function and which is provided at the surface side of the light transmission plate 23 and the electric display device is made to luminously display an indication pattern part 28 while emphasizing the indication part 28 in a dimly luminous indication body 22 by forming the perforated indication part 28 in the indicating body 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electro-optical display device for emitting and displaying a display pattern on which various display objects such as characters and patterns are provided.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, at night or in a dark place, the position of a switch for an electric light or an electric device is known to be "ON".
There is a switch that causes "OFF" to be displayed. In such a switch, as shown in FIG. 6, an electronic display device 1 is provided on a switch mechanism 2 (details of which are omitted). The electronic display device 1 has various displays (for example, "O
N) is formed, a light guide plate 4 having substantially the same size as the display body 3, a backlight light source (LED 5) for causing light to enter the light guide plate 4, and the light guide plate 4 The light reflection sheet 6 that efficiently irradiates the light incident on the inside of the display body 3 is provided.

A transparent sheet member or a light diffusing sheet member having a light diffusing function is used as the display body 3, and characters or patterns (for example, a character 8 such as "ON") are printed on these sheet members 7 in each color ink. Is formed by printing. The light guide plate 4 is formed of, for example, a transparent resin plate material such as acrylic resin, receives light from the LEDs 5 arranged on the side surface thereof, emits light, and illuminates the display body 3 from below. The light reflection sheet 6 reflects upwardly the light emitted downward from the light emitted from the LED 5 to illuminate the light guide plate 4 uniformly and brightly. In the electro-optical display device 1 having such a configuration, since the display body 3 has a light-transmitting property and a light-diffusing property, the light from the LED 5 and the light guide plate 4 is transmitted, while the character 8 is the conductive light. The color of light emitted through the light plate 4 and the color of the ink itself are mixed and displayed.

Further, the electronic display device 11 shown in FIG.
The display body 13 is formed of a thick acrylic or other resin plate. The display body 13 may be either a transparent resin material or a colored resin material. Character 1 "ON" on the surface of the display 13
After forming 8 by engraving, ink of each color is printed including the engraved bottom surface and, if necessary, the engraved portion inner wall side surface. As the color tone of the ink, a color tone that is suitable for the purpose of emphasizing the discrimination between the "ON" display portion and the other portions is selected. A light guide plate 14 is disposed below the display body 13,
Further, an LED 5 is arranged below it. In the electronic display device 11 having such a structure, the LED 5 and the light guide plate 14 are
The display body 13 is illuminated according to the emission color and the emission brightness via the, and the character 18 engraved in the display body 13 and colored with the ink of each color is displayed as a shadow.

[0005]

However, in the electronic display device 1 shown in FIG. 6, the characters 8 applied to the display body 3 are fixed by the color of the ink at the time of printing. There is a problem that it is not possible to obtain a sufficiently emphasized visual effect such as pulling. Further, even if the characters 8 are formed by printing with ink of a desired color, they are mixed with the light emission color through the light guide plate 4 and have different light emission colors. In particular, when the printed ink has a light color, there is a problem that the character 8 is not clearly displayed because it melts into the luminescent color around the character 8.

On the other hand, in the electronic display device 11 as shown in FIG. 7, the character 1 engraved on the surface of the display body 13 is used.
Although a difference in brightness appears in 8 and a stereoscopic effect can be obtained, there is a problem that the outline portion of the character 18 is blurred and the emphasized display effect cannot be obtained.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic display device provided with a display body capable of illuminating and displaying a display object such as a character or a pattern from the background.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electronic display device according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a backlight light source, a light guide plate for guiding the light emitted from the backlight light source, and a light diffusion device. A display body having a function and disposed on the front surface side of the light guide plate, and a display pattern portion punched out is formed in the display body.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light emitting display device comprising a backlight light source, a light guide plate for guiding light emitted from the backlight light source, and a light diffusing function. A display body to be disposed, and a transparent display pattern portion is formed on the display body.

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the display body is formed of a material having a light diffusion function, and the display pattern portion such as characters and designs is punched or formed transparent. Therefore, the backlight light source (LE
The display pattern portion can be emphasized and displayed by direct light emission from D) and the light guide plate.

Further, by reducing the outer peripheral portion of the display body so as to be exposed from the light guide plate surface, or by providing a transparent frame portion having a constant width on the outer peripheral portion of the display body, the same brightness as the display pattern portion can be obtained. Also, the outline of the entire display body can be emphasized and displayed by the emission color. Therefore, the visibility when viewed from a distance can be further improved.

Further, when a decorative light emitting portion such as a dot is provided around the display pattern portion of the display body, the display pattern portion can be marked or modified, so that the display pattern portion is further emphasized. It is possible to obtain the displayed effect. The decorative light emitting portion is a translucent window formed in the display body,
It can be realized by a combination with a decorative light source arranged on the light guide plate below the transparent window. Therefore, it is easy to form, and by appropriately selecting the type of the decorative light source, it is possible to obtain a light emitting effect different from that of the display pattern portion on which characters, patterns, etc. are drawn, and to further improve the display pattern portion. It can be emphasized.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The electronic display device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a display unit incorporating the electroluminescent display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electroluminescent display device.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first aspect of the present invention is as follows.
The electronic display device 21 according to the embodiment is incorporated in the display unit 20 of various switches, and includes a display body 22 on which characters and patterns are formed, and a light guide plate 23 having substantially the same size as the display body 22. A backlight light source (LED 24) for illuminating the light guide plate 23 from the side surface and a light reflection sheet 25 arranged on the back surface of the light guide plate 23 are provided. A switch mechanism 26 (details of which are omitted) is provided below the electronic display device 21, and a transparent cover body 27 is mounted on the display body 22.

The display body 22 is composed of a plate-like member or a sheet-like member having a light diffusing function, on the surface of which convex and concave portions of various sizes are formed, and various characters and patterns are formed on the entire display body 22. Display pattern part 2 in which etc. are drawn
8 is formed. As shown in the drawing, the display pattern portion 28 is a light-transmitting window in which a portion forming the character "ON" is punched out, and the light from the light guide plate 23 described later is directly transmitted upward. can do. Since the portion other than the display pattern portion 28 has a light diffusing function, the light from the light guide plate 23 is evenly diffused and the entire light is emitted uniformly. Since the light is uniformly dispersed in this way, the light emission is soft with the brightness of the original light guide plate 23 slightly suppressed. The translucent window forming the display pattern portion 28 may be formed of a transparent body instead of punching. In the case of forming as such a transparent body, a method is used in which a portion where the display pattern portion 28 is formed is masked in advance, and an uneven portion for light diffusion is formed except the masked portion.

The light guide plate 2 arranged below the display 22.
Reference numeral 3 denotes a light receiving portion 29 which is formed of a transparent acrylic or other resin plate and has one side surface recessed. The backlight light source (LED 24) is mounted on a circuit board (not shown), and the light emitting surface thereof is arranged toward the light receiving section 29.
In addition, a light reflection plate 25 formed by vapor-depositing silver, aluminum, or the like is provided on the back surface side of the light guide plate 23, and the light entering the light guide plate 23 is efficiently reflected toward the display body 22.

In the electro-optical display device 21 having such a structure, the light emitted from the LED 24 is incident from the light receiving portion 29 of the light guide plate 23, reflected in the light guide plate 23, and reflected by the light reflection plate 25. The entire light guide plate 23 is made to emit light uniformly by the reflecting action. The light emitted from the light guide plate 23 also brightly illuminates the display body 22 arranged thereon. As described above, since the display pattern portion 28 of the display body 22 is punched or has a transparent window formed of a transparent body, the light emitted from the light guide plate 23 disposed therebelow is directly emitted to the outside. Is emitted. On the other hand, the portion excluding the display pattern portion 28 is formed of a diffusing surface that evenly diffuses the light, so that the light emitted from the light guide plate 23 is slightly weakened, resulting in a thin and bright soft light emission. Therefore, FIG.
As shown in A, only the character portion of “ON” formed in the display pattern portion 28 in the display body 22 illuminated by the dim light is emphasized by the light directly radiated from the light guide plate 23, and a dark place or It is possible to identify clearly from a distance.

FIG. 3 shows an electronic display device 3 according to the second embodiment.
1 shows the configuration of No. 1. This electronic display device 31
In the above, the display body 32 is formed to be smaller than the light guide plate 23 by one or two turns, and the display body 32 is disposed substantially at the center of the light guide plate 23. As a result, as shown by B in the figure, the light emitting surface of the light guide plate 23 exposed at the outer peripheral portion of the display body 32 appears, and the same light emitting phenomenon as that of the display pattern portion 28 occurs at the frame portion 40 on the outer periphery of the display body 32. Will also be formed. Therefore, together with the display pattern portion 28, the contour of the display 32 can be emphasized for light emission display. In order to perform the light emission display of the frame portion 40 of the display body 32, as described above, in addition to reducing the size of the display body 32, the outer peripheral portion of the display body 32 may be formed as a transparent body having a constant width. It is possible. As for the formation of the transparent body, as shown in the electroluminescent display device 21 of the first embodiment, the transparent resin or glass as the material of the display body 32 is masked in advance and then the light diffusion function is performed. Can be easily formed. As for the display pattern portion 28, the first pattern
Like the electroluminescent display device 21 of the embodiment, it may be formed by punching or a transparent body.

FIG. 4 shows an electronic display device 4 according to the third embodiment.
1 shows the configuration of No. 1. This electronic display device 41
The display body 42 is provided with a display pattern portion 28 in which characters and patterns are drawn, and a decorative light emitting portion 44 for marking the display pattern portion 28. The decorative light emitting portion 44 includes a transparent window 45 provided in the display body 42, and the transparent window 4
5 and a decorative light source (decorative LED 46) arranged on the back surface of the light guide plate 43. The transparent window 45
Is a through-hole or a transparent body having a size substantially the same as the light emitting surface of the decorative LED 46. The decorative LED 46 is embedded and fixed from the back surface of the light guide plate 43 with the light emitting surface facing upward. Although the emission color of the decorative LED 46 can be set arbitrarily, the LE provided on the side surface of the light guide plate 43
If a light emission color different from that of D24 is used, it is easy to distinguish it from the display pattern portion 28. In the example shown in C in the figure,
The decorative light emitting portion 44 is provided at the head of the display pattern portion 28 composed of the characters "ON" to emphasize the characters "ON". When the decorative light emitting unit 44 is provided, the display pattern unit 2 is not limited to the above position.
8 may be provided anywhere on the display body 42 as long as it is emphasized, and a plurality of display bodies may be provided. For example, in the example shown in the figure, if it is provided right above "O" and "N" and each character is emphasized, it is easier to call attention of a person.

FIG. 5 shows an electronic display device 5 according to the fourth embodiment.
1 shows the configuration of No. 1. This electronic display device 51
Displays the display body 52 on the diffusion sheet 52b and the display sheet 52a.
It is composed of and. The diffusing sheet 52b is formed of a sheet member having a light diffusing function, and the surface thereof has the same decorative light emitting unit 4 as the electronic display device 41 of the third embodiment.
4 is provided. The display sheet 52a is made of a thin and transparent resin body, and a display pattern portion 58 such as characters and designs is formed on the surface of the display sheet 52a by ink of each color. Then, the diffusion sheet 52b and the display sheet 52a are laminated on the light guide plate 53 in this order. By adopting such a configuration, the third
It is possible to obtain substantially the same light emitting effect as that of the electro-optical display device 41 of the embodiment, but the characteristic feature of the present embodiment is that the ink in which the character “ON” is used in the display body 52 that emits light lightly is used. It is displayed in a color, and a mark that emits a different color is attached to the periphery of the color by the decorative light emitting unit. In addition, regarding the type and arrangement method of the decorative LED 46,
Since it is the same as the case of the electroluminescent display device 41 of the third embodiment, details thereof will be omitted.

[0021]

As described above, according to the electroluminescent display device of the present invention, the display body is formed of a material having a light diffusion function, and the display pattern portion such as characters and patterns is punched or made transparent. Therefore, the display pattern portion can be brightly emphasized and displayed by direct light emission from the backlight light source (LED) and the light guide plate.

Further, when the display body is formed in a reduced size and the light guide plate surface is exposed from the outer peripheral portion, or when a transparent frame portion is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the display body, the outline of the entire display body is provided. The portion can also be displayed by emphasizing the same brightness and luminescent color as the display pattern portion, and the visibility when viewed from a distance can be further improved.

Further, the display pattern portion and the frame portion formed on the display body can be manufactured easily and inexpensively by punching or masking.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a switch that incorporates an electronic display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a first embodiment of the electronic display device according to the present invention.

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

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a third embodiment of the electronic display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the electronic display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration example of a conventional electronic display device.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing another example of the configuration of the conventional electronic display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

21, 31, 41, 51 Electronic display device 22, 32, 42, 52 Display 23,43,53 Light guide plate 24 LED (backlight light source) 28,58 Display pattern section 40 Frame 44 Decorative light emitting part 45 translucent window 46 LED for decoration (decorative light source)

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A backlight light source, a light guide plate for guiding light emitted from the backlight light source, and a light diffusing function,
An electro-luminescent display device, comprising: a display body disposed on a front surface side of the light guide plate; and a display pattern portion punched out from the display body. 2. A backlight light source, a light guide plate for guiding light emitted from the backlight light source, and a light diffusing function,
An electro-optical display device, comprising: a display body disposed on a front surface side of the light guide plate, wherein a transparent display pattern portion is formed on the display body. 3. The electronic display device according to claim 1, wherein the display body is formed so as to be reduced so that the outer peripheral portion thereof exposes the light guide plate. 4. The electronic display device according to claim 1, wherein the display body has a transparent frame portion formed on an outer peripheral portion thereof. 5. The electronic display device according to claim 1, wherein the display body is provided with a decorative light emitting portion around the display pattern portion. 6. The decorative light emitting section includes a translucent window formed in the display body, and a decorative light source arranged in the light guide plate corresponding to the translucent window. Electronic display device. 7. The electronic display device according to claim 5, wherein the display body is composed of a diffusion sheet member having a translucent window formed therein and a transparent display sheet member having a display pattern formed therein.