JP3693175B2 - Pointer-type instrument - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pointer-type instrument that is mounted on, for example, an automobile, a motorcycle, an agricultural machine, a construction machine, a ship, and displays an analog display of a measurement value display unit formed on the display board with a pointer, and in particular, the display board has a red zone display, for example The present invention relates to a pointer-type instrument having a zone display section such as a section.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a conventional pointer-type meter, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 below is known. In the pointer-type instrument described in the document, a reflector is disposed behind the display board, and a partition that forms an illumination chamber for the pointer and an illumination chamber for the display board is formed on the reflector. A light source is housed in an illumination room, and light from the light source is reflected by a partition wall to efficiently illuminate the pointer and the display board. In this case, among the partition walls constituting the illumination chamber of the display panel, the partition wall close to the pointer illumination chamber is bent outward so that the light from the light source can be efficiently reflected by the outer partition wall. The light from the light source does not reach the corresponding area on the display board, and it becomes a lighting dead area, but in the case of a normal pointer-type instrument, the measurement value display section is not arranged in this dead area, so this is a particular problem. Don't be.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-195858
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, for example, when the display panel has a zone display section such as a red zone display section like a tachometer display panel, and the zone display section has a shape extending radially from the center of rotation of the pointer, the bent partition wall is separated from the light source. In some cases, the entire zone display section cannot be transmitted and illuminated. In this case, in the daytime when the display board is visually recognized by surface reflection such as external light, the entire zone display part is visually recognized. As a result, there are an area that is transmitted and illuminated by the light of the light source and visible, and an area that is blocked by the partition wall and cannot be viewed. As a result, the area (viewing area) of the zone display unit is day and night. It will change. Such an area change is unlikely to occur unless there is a problem such as inconsistency in the shape of the zone display part, but a sudden brightness change at the boundary part caused by the presence (shadow) of the light-shielding element reduces the illumination quality. And there is a problem of giving the user a sense of incongruity.
[0005]
In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a pointer-type meter that can suppress a deterioration in illumination quality and a sense of discomfort given to a user.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a pointer that swings according to a measurement amount, a measurement value display unit that is an instruction target of the pointer, and a zone display unit that indicates a range corresponding to a predetermined deflection angle of the pointer. A display panel formed, and at least a light source that transmits and illuminates the display panel from behind. The zone display unit is configured to be visible in the entire area by surface reflection of light incident from the front of the display board. A first area through which light from the light source is transmitted and a second area in which light from the light source is blocked through a predetermined light-shielding element, and at least the first area and the second area A transmitted light adjusting unit that changes the amount of transmitted light according to a planar direction is provided in a region including the boundary portion.
[0007]
In the invention, it is preferable that the transmitted light adjusting unit is formed of a halftone print layer.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 to 3, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a pointer-type instrument for a vehicle will be described. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the pointer-type instrument, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the intensity of transmitted light on the line L connecting the points P1 and P2 in FIG.
[0009]
1 and 2, the pointer-type indicating instrument is fixed to the distal end side of the rotating shaft 2 of the driving device 1 and moves in a swing angle around the rotating shaft 2 according to the measurement amount, and the back surface of the pointer 3 A display board 6 provided with a measurement value display section 4 and a zone display section 5, a hard circuit board 7 made of glass epoxy resin located on the back side of the display board 6, and the circuit board And a light source 8 that illuminates the pointer 3 and the display board 6, and a synthetic resin frame 9 that divides the illumination room that illuminates the pointer 3 and the illumination room that illuminates the display board 6, respectively. Has been.
[0010]
For example, a light emitting diode that emits red light is used as the light source 8 that illuminates the pointer 3, and is in a cylindrical partition wall 91 provided in the frame body 9, with the rotation axis 2 being the center in the vicinity of the rotation axis 2. A plurality of circular shapes are provided. The light from the light source 8 travels through the partition wall 91 to the center of rotation of the pointer 3, and in this case, the pointer 3 made of a translucent material is caused to emit light.
[0011]
As the light source 8 that illuminates the display panel 6, for example, a light emitting diode that emits white light is used, and a plurality of light emitting diodes are provided around the outside of the partition wall 91 in a circular shape.
[0012]
Between the light source 8 and the display panel 6, a conical first reflecting portion (light shielding element) 92 that is bent (inclined) outward from the middle of the partition wall 91 so as to cover the front of the light source 8 is formed. On the outside of the reflection portion 92, a second reflection portion 93 of a parabona antenna shape that reflects light from the light source 8 toward the display board 6 is formed. The light from the light source 8 travels to the display board 6 side through the first and second reflection parts, and transmits and illuminates both the measurement value display part 4 and the zone display part 5 of the display board 6. The display plate 6 other than the measurement value display unit 4 and the zone display unit 5 is formed with a light shielding property.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 1, the measurement value display unit 4 is composed of numerals and scales arranged in an arc shape around the rotation center of the pointer 3, and the zone display unit 5 corresponds to a predetermined deflection angle of the pointer 3. It consists of a so-called red zone indicating a range (in this case, a warning deflection angle range). In this embodiment, the measured value is displayed from the outer periphery of the center of rotation of the pointer 3 with a width corresponding to a predetermined deflection angle of the pointer 3. It extends in a radial direction with reference to the rotation axis 1 so as to reach a region including a part (numerical part) of the part 4, and the overall shape thereof is substantially a sector shape.
[0014]
Next, the detailed structure of the display board 5 is demonstrated based on FIG.
The display board 6 includes a flat substrate 61 made of a synthetic resin that is substantially colorless and translucent, such as polycarbonate or acrylic, and a first coloring printed on the substrate 61 by means such as screen printing. A layer 62, a second colored layer 63, and a ground color layer 64;
[0015]
Among these, the 1st colored layer 62 is provided corresponding to the measured value display part 4, for example using white translucent ink.
[0016]
The second colored layer 63 is provided corresponding to the zone display unit 5 using, for example, red translucent ink.
[0017]
The ground color layer 64 is made of, for example, silver-colored light-shielding ink on the colored layers 62 and 63 and on substantially the entire surface of the substrate 61 excluding the areas to be the measurement value display unit 4 and the zone display unit 5. The measurement value display unit 4 and the zone display unit 5 are formed by exposing the first and second coloring portions 62 and 63 formed from the extracted portion excluding the ground color layer 64, that is, the extracted portion. .
[0018]
A part of the ground color layer 64 forms a halftone dot-shaped transmitted light adjusting portion (halftone print layer) 64a on the zone display portion 5, and the density (individual size) of each dot forming the halftone dot pattern is formed. In this embodiment, the sheath density is gradually thinned away from the center of rotation of the pointer 3.
[0019]
As a result, the overall color tone of the zone display unit 5 is lighter in red on the point Pa side according to a line L connecting the points P1 and P2 and extending in the radial direction with respect to the rotation center of the pointer 3 in FIG. The red color on the point Pb side is set to be dark. This is because the exposure degree of the second colored layer gradually changes by changing the density of the dots. At the same time, the transmitted light adjusting unit 64a also has a function of gradually changing the amount of transmitted light transmitted through the zone display unit 5 in the plane direction. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. The amount of transmitted light gradually increases from the point Pa to the point Pa. When the light source 8 is turned on, the illumination color tone of the zone display unit 5 is directed from the point Pa to the point Pa. It is set so that the red color gradually becomes darker. Note that the range from the point Pa to the point Pc is opaque and does not emit light, but this point will be described below.
[0020]
Next, paying attention to the relationship between the zone display unit 5, the reflection unit 92 of the frame 9, and the light source 8, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the reflection unit 92 is located directly below the zone display unit 5. At this time, the reflection portion 92 covers substantially half the area of the zone display portion 5, and the light emitted from the light source 8 is blocked by the reflection portion 92, so that the entire zone display portion 5 can be transmitted and illuminated. As a result, when the light source 8 is turned on, as shown in FIG. 1, the end of the reflection portion 92 is used as the boundary portion Bd (boundary point Pc), and the light is transmitted and illuminated by the light from the light source 8 and becomes visible. There are one area A1 and a second area A2 in which the light from the light source 8 is blocked by the reflector 92 and cannot be viewed. In addition, when the zone display part 5 visually recognizes the display board 5 by the surface reflection of the light which injects from the front, such as the daytime when the circumference | surroundings are bright, both the 1st, 2nd area is visually recognized.
[0021]
Here, paying attention to the boundary portion Bd, the transmitted light adjustment portion 64a is formed at the five zone display portions located on the boundary portion Bd, and the amount of transmitted light gradually changes according to the planar direction. A sudden change in luminance on the boundary Bd is suppressed.
[0022]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the pointer 3 that swings according to the measurement amount, the measurement value display unit 4 that is an instruction target of the pointer 3, and the zone display unit that indicates a range corresponding to the predetermined deflection angle of the pointer 3 5 and a light source 8 that transmits and illuminates at least the display plate 6 from behind. The zone display unit 5 is entirely reflected by surface reflection of light incident from the front of the display plate 6. The first area A1 is configured such that the area can be visually recognized, and the light of the light source 8 is transmitted when the light source 8 is turned on, and the second area A2 where the light of the light source 8 is blocked through the reflecting portion (predetermined light shielding element) 92. And having a transmitted light adjusting unit 64a for changing the amount of transmitted light in the plane direction in a region including the boundary Bd between the first area A1 and the second area A2, the area display unit 5 A1 and area A2 exist Even in a case that, it is possible to suppress the uncomfortable feeling to decline and users of lighting quality.
[0023]
In the present embodiment, the transmitted light adjustment unit 64a is provided on substantially the entire zone display unit 5. However, the transmitted light adjustment unit 64a may be provided at least in a region including the boundary part Bd, and on the boundary part Bd. As long as the rapid change in luminance can be suppressed, the direction of change of transmitted light is also arbitrary.
[0024]
Further, in this embodiment, since the transmitted light adjusting unit 64a is formed by a part of the ground color layer 64, it is not necessary to provide the transmitted light adjusting unit exclusively, so it is possible to reduce the cost and the number of printing steps.
[0025]
In the present embodiment, the transmitted light adjustment unit 64a is made of a printing layer, so that the production is easy. In particular, the transmission light adjustment unit 64a can be provided by using an existing halftone dot printing technique, so the production is easy. It is.
[0026]
In the present embodiment, the transmitted light adjustment unit 64a is provided by the printing layer. However, if a sudden change in luminance on the boundary Bd can be suppressed, the formation means and position thereof are arbitrary. A film may be provided on the back surface of the display board 6.
[0027]
In the present embodiment, the reflection portion 92 is a light shielding element. However, the light shielding element is optional as long as the light reaching the zone display portion 5 is blocked, and an indicator formed separately from the illumination chamber of the display panel 6. Examples include a housing, an electric / electronic component disposed on the circuit board 7, a driving device for the pointer 3, and the like.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pointer-type instrument that can achieve the initial purpose and can suppress the deterioration of the illumination quality.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pointer-type meter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG.
4 is an explanatory diagram showing the intensity of transmitted light on a line connecting points P1 and P2 in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Drive device 2 Rotating shaft 3 Pointer 4 Measurement value display part 5 Zone display part 6 Display board 7 Circuit board 8 Light source 9 Frame body 91 Bulkhead 92 1st reflection part (light shielding element)
93 Second reflective portion 61 Substrate 62 First colored layer 63 Second colored layer 64 Ground color layer 64a Transmitted light adjusting portion (halftone dot printing layer)
L line P1, P2, Pa, Pb point Pc point (boundary point)
Bd boundary A1 first area A2 second area

Claims (2)

A guide that swings according to the measurement amount
A display board on which a measurement value display unit to be indicated by the pointer and a zone display unit indicating a range corresponding to a predetermined deflection angle of the pointer;
And at least a light source that transmits and illuminates the display panel from behind,
The zone display unit is configured so that the entire area can be viewed by surface reflection of light incident from the front of the display plate. When the light source is turned on, a first area through which light from the light source passes and light from the light source is predetermined. A second area blocked through the light blocking element,
A pointer-type meter characterized in that a transmitted light adjusting unit that changes the amount of transmitted light according to a planar direction is provided in a region including at least a boundary between the first area and the second area. The pointer-type meter according to claim 1, wherein the transmitted light adjusting unit is formed of a halftone dot printing layer.

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