JP2991328B2 - Instrument pointer lighting device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an instrument for illuminating an instrument pointer, and more particularly to a vehicle speed, an engine speed, and the like as in a vehicle instrument.
The present invention relates to a lighting device of an instrument pointer attached to an upper end of a rotation shaft of a movement that operates according to a measured amount such as a remaining fuel amount.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 shows the shape of a pointer of a commonly used analog instrument. The pointer 1 is displayed by emitting light from an unillustrated illumination light source provided in the instrument. . The pointer main body 11 of the pointer 1 is formed of a transparent or translucent material capable of conducting light, and as shown in FIG.
And a pointer 11b extending in the T-shaped direction from the upper end of the base 11a.
In the vicinity of the connecting portion between the pointer 11b and the base 11a,
A substantially inverted triangular hollow reflector 11c is formed from the side. The pointer 11b has an indicator 11b _{1 at the} front of the base 11a and a balance 11b _{2 at the} rear.
It has been.

For illumination of the pointer main body 11, a light guide (not shown) and an illumination light source (not shown) are disposed on the back side of the dial for displaying the measured amount together with the pointer 1, and light from the illumination light source is transmitted through the light guide. This is performed by guiding the light to enter the pointer main body 11. Light entering the pointer body is performed at the base 11a,
A part of the light incident on the base 11a is
Front reflection surface and rear reflection surface 11c formed by 1c
₁ , 11c _{2 and the} rear reflecting surface 11c
A part of the light reflected by ₂ is the base 11a and the balance 11
b is diffusely reflected by the rear diffuse reflection surface 11b ₃ formed on _two connecting portions, the surface of the pointer body 11 is a light emitting display. Incidentally, 11c ₃ is a transmitting surface hollow reflector portion 11c is formed.

[0004] Reference numeral 12 denotes a light-transmitting colored layer provided on the surface of the pointer main body 11, and reference numeral 13 denotes a non-light-transmitting cover that covers the hollow reflecting portion 11c formed from the side and its surroundings 11d so as to be invisible. It is a sex guide cap.

By the way, a front reflection surface and a rear reflection surface 11c formed by a hollow reflection part 11c having a substantially inverted triangular shape.
_When the surface of the pointer main body 11 is illuminated and displayed by the reflected light in the direction of the pointer axis reflected by ₁ and 11c ₂ , the pointer is more moved than the indicator 11b ₁ bordered by the hollow reflector 11c (base 11a). short length of the balance unit 11b _2, only light reflected by the rear reflection surface 11c ₂ is difficult to sufficiently light emitting display surface of the balance unit 11b _2. Therefore, as shown in the partially enlarged view of FIG.
back reflection surface 1 that reflects part A of the light incident on a
The reflected light B ₁ by 1c _2, are sea urchin is re-reflected towards the surface of the balance unit 11b ₂ as diffused light B ₂ by diffused reflection by the rear diffuse surface 11b _3.

[0006] The base 11a and the rear diffuse surface 11b ₃ provided on the connection portion of the balance unit 11b _2, this can not be made uniform luminous display brightness of the surface of the balance unit 11b ₂ when it is merely a rear reflecting surface it is intended to eliminate, by the light surface of the rear irregular reflection surface 11 is incident here have been roughened to diffuse is irregularly reflected, the uniformity of light emission display luminance of the balance unit 11b ₂ I try to plan.

[0007]

[SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION] However, in order to light-emitting display surface of the balance unit 11b ₂ as described above with uniform brightness, when using backward diffuse reflection surface 11b ₁ which roughened surface, the reflecting surface compared to what is made of smooth surface, leak outside exits the rear diffuse surface 11b ₁ light C (FIG. 3)
Light quantity becomes many, even if uniform light-emitting display luminance obtained for balance unit 11b _2, the luminance is disadvantageously becomes dark decreases.

In view of the above-described problems, the present invention provides a lighting device for an instrument pointer, which is capable of achieving a uniform light emission luminance over the entire surface of the pointer without reducing the luminance of the balance portion at the rear end. It is intended to provide.

[0009]

To achieve the above object, an illuminating device for an instrument pointer according to the present invention is mounted on the upper end of a rotation shaft of a movement that rotates according to a measured amount and emits light from an illumination light source. It has a pointer main body consisting of a light receiving base and a pointer extending in the T-shaped direction from the upper end of the base, and an indicator pointing forward from the base of the pointer,
A rear portion is formed as a balance portion, and a substantially inverted triangular hollow reflection portion having a front reflection surface and a rear reflection surface is formed near a connection portion between the base portion and the pointer portion, and a connection between the base portion and the balance portion is provided. A part of the light incident on the base is reflected by the front reflection surface and the rear reflection surface, and a part of the light reflected by the rear reflection surface is irregularly reflected by the rear irregular reflection surface. Then, in a lighting device of an instrument pointer for irradiating a light-transmitting colored layer provided on the surface of the pointer main body with these and illuminating and displaying the entire pointer main body, a non-translucent, for example, white Is provided.

[0010]

In the above construction, when light from the illumination light source is incident on the base, the light is reflected in the direction of the pointer axis by both the front reflection surface and the rear reflection surface of the hollow reflection portion. However, a part of the reflected light from the rear reflection surface is further diffusely reflected by the rear diffuse reflection surface and diffused toward the surface of the balance portion as diffuse reflection light, so that the surface of the balance portion emits light with uniform brightness. Is displayed. In addition, a part of the light reflected by the rear reflection surface and incident on the irregular reflection surface is transmitted without being irregularly reflected by the irregular reflection surface, but the transmitted light is a non-translucent white light provided on the surface of the rear irregular reflection surface. The light is diffusely reflected by the layer and re-enters the pointer body, and the re-incident light is diffused toward the surface of the pointing portion and the balance portion of the pointer body.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an instrument pointer lighting device according to the present invention, in which the same reference numerals as those described above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 are used.

In FIG. 1, a pointer main body 11 of a pointer 1 made of a transparent or translucent material capable of conducting light is used to rotate a movement which rotates in accordance with a measured amount, similarly to the conventional example shown in FIGS. A base 11a attached to the upper end of a shaft (not shown) and a pointer 11b extending in the T-shaped direction from the upper end of the base 11a. The reflection part 11c is formed, and the front reflection surface and the rear reflection surface 1 are formed by the hollow half part 11c.
1c ₁ and 11c ₂ and a transmission surface 11c ₃ are formed.
The pointer body 11 forward the base 11a as a boundary to the instruction unit 11b _1, also its rear there is a balance portion 11b _2.

The pointer body 1 for illuminating the pointer body
Light is incident on the base 11a.
Part of the light incident on 1a is reflected by the front reflection surface and the rear reflection surfaces 11c ₁ and 11c ₂ of the hollow reflection part 11c, and part of the light reflected by the rear reflection surface 11c ₂ is the rear irregular reflection surface 11b _3. Irradiates the light-transmissive colored layer 12 provided on the surface of the pointer main body 11 to perform light emission display of the entire pointer main body.

The back irregularly reflecting surface 11b ₃ is provided with a base 11a.
And the root portion of the balance portion 11b _2, are provided so as to be substantially parallel to the irregular reflection surface is facing the reflecting surface of the inclined reflecting surface 11c _1. The rear diffuse reflection surface 11b ₃
If a molding die whose surface corresponding to the irregular reflection surface is roughened by, for example, embossing or the like is used, it can be formed simultaneously with the molding of the pointer main body 11. Of course, the irregular reflection surface may be formed by performing a roughening process after the formation of the pointer main body 11.
The surface of the rear irregular reflection surface 11b _3, for example, by multiple applications or white hot stamping of white paint, non-transparent white layer 11e is provided.

In the above configuration, FIG.
As shown, light A from an illumination light source (not shown)
1a, the front reflecting surface of the hollow reflecting portion 11c
And the rear reflection surface 11c₁, 11c_TwoPointer axis by both
Direction, and the reflected light
The surface is illuminated, but the rear reflection surface 11c_TwoOf the reflected light
Part B₁Is the rear diffused reflection surface 11b_ThreeDiffusely reflected by
Balance part 11b _TwoDiffused light B toward the surface of_TwoWhen
Is spread out, the balance portion 11b_TwoThe surface of
Light emission is displayed with uniform brightness.

Further, a part B ₁ of the incident light to be reflected by the rear reflection surface 11c ₂ diffuse surface 11b ₃ is transmitted without being irregularly reflected by the irregular reflection surface 11b _3, the transmitted light rearward diffused reflection surface is incident on the pointer body 11 again is irregularly reflected by the non-transparent, white layer 11e provided on the surface of 11b _3. The re-entered light is indicated by the indicator 11b of the pointer main body 11.
₁ and so as to diffuse toward the surface of the balance unit 11b _2, rear diffuse surface 11b ₃ no white layer 11e
Since only light which has leaked to the outside goes through the irregular reflection surface 11b ₃ is to contribute to the light-emitting display of the surface of the pointer body in the case of light emitting display of uniform brightness without darkening decreases brightness Is obtained.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the light is diffusely reflected by the rear diffuse reflection surface and diffused as diffusely reflected light toward the surface of the balance portion, the surface of the balance portion emits light with uniform luminance. Further, the light transmitted through the rear reflecting surface is irregularly reflected by the non-light-transmitting white layer provided on the surface of the rear irregular reflecting surface, and is incident again on the pointer main body. It becomes diffused toward the surface of the balance part.

Accordingly, in the case of only the rear diffuse reflection surface without the white layer, the light leaking to the outside through the diffuse reflection surface contributes to the light emission display on the surface of the pointer main body. A light-emitting display with uniform brightness can be obtained over the entire surface of the pointer without lowering and darkening.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a lighting device for an instrument pointer according to the present invention, in which (a) is a cross-sectional view of a main body of the pointer, and (b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part in (a).

2A and 2B show examples of a conventional instrument pointer, wherein FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the entire pointer, FIG. 2B is a top view of the entire pointer, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing about XX in a middle.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a part in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 pointer 11 pointer main body 11a base 11b pointer 11b ₁ indicating part 11b ₂ balance part 11b ₃ rear irregular reflection surface 11c hollow reflection part 11c ₁ front reflection surface 11c ₂ rear reflection surface 11e reflection layer 12 translucent coloring layer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G01D 11/28 G01D 13/28 G12B 11/04

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pointer body comprising a base attached to the upper end of a rotation shaft of a movement that rotates according to a measured amount and receiving light from an illumination light source, and a pointer extending from the upper end of the base in a T-shaped direction. Having a pointing portion in front of the base portion of the pointer portion, and a rear portion thereof as a balance portion,
A substantially inverted triangular hollow reflecting portion having a front reflecting surface and a rear reflecting surface is formed near a connecting portion between the base portion and the pointer portion, and a rear diffused reflecting surface is formed at a connecting portion between the base portion and the balance portion. A part of the light incident on the base is reflected by the front reflection surface and the rear reflection surface, and a part of the light reflected by the rear reflection surface is irregularly reflected by the rear irregular reflection surface. The illumination device of the instrument pointer for irradiating the light-transmitting colored layer provided on the display device to emit light to display the entire pointer main body, characterized in that a non-light-transmitting reflective layer is provided on the surface of the rear diffusely reflecting surface. Instrument pointer lighting device. 2. The illumination device for an instrument pointer according to claim 1, wherein the reflection layer is formed of a white layer.