JP3459028B2 - Indicating instrument - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an indicating instrument, and more particularly to an indicating instrument having a gradation with high visibility.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An instrument mounted on the front panel of a driver's seat of a passenger car or the like, which displays measured values such as traveling speed and engine speed, is of course capable of accurately displaying information essential to vehicle driving to the driver. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the visibility so that the driver can easily and instantly and accurately distinguish the information content displayed by the instrument.

Particularly, in the case of a dial, it is possible to realize the ease of viewing and the degree of fatigue given to the driver by combining the visual comfort expressed by the shape and design of the dial with the visibility. Therefore, various improvements and improvements of such characteristics have been proposed.

Among them, an indicator meter, a so-called analog type meter, has a human sense when it is used as a meter for indicating an engine speed or the like in which the movement of a pointer indicating an index such as a rotation speed scale is relatively intense. Because of its characteristic of being able to display numerical values corresponding to nature, it has been widely installed as an indicating instrument suitable for instruments around the driver's seat of a car.

The characteristics such as the above-described comfortableness, visibility, eye-friendly and less tiredness of the indicating instrument mounted on such an automobile are mainly influenced by the structure of the dial. Many. Therefore, various improvements have been attempted with attention paid to such a point.

[0006] As one of them, in order to further improve the ease of visibility realized by the combination of the above-described appearance comfort and visibility in the indicating instrument and the reduction of the degree of fatigue given to the driver, A technique has been devised in which, instead of a single tone, a gradation of colors and shades is arranged on the background color (background) of the dial on which the indexes of the dial are arranged.

[0007]

However, when such a gradation is arranged by a printing method as an aggregate of dark dots on the ground color of the dial of an in-vehicle instrument such as a speedometer of a passenger car, , When using indirect lighting that supplies light from around the dial at night, sufficient light is supplied to the dial and the surrounding area where numbers are formed, so the gradation dots in that area are easy to see, but Since the light of indirect illumination does not reach the center of the plate, the dots are hardly visible as gradation,
In practice, there was the problem that very few visual effects were obtained.

On the other hand, when the illumination is arranged on the back side of the dial and the index portions such as scales and numbers of the dial are formed to be light-transmissive, the amount of light on the entire surface is reduced and the entire dial is covered. In addition to the fact that it looks dark and the indicator part is bright and conspicuous, the darkness of the entire face of the dial is rather emphasized, making the gradation on the dial less noticeable. There was a problem.

On the other hand, in the case of a little cloudy day even in the daytime, the gradation becomes almost inconspicuous due to insufficient external light. In this way, the lighting may be turned on when it is dark even in the daytime. However, even in that case, the above-mentioned problems related to the lighting occur, and therefore the gradation is hardly noticeable.

As described above, in the conventional gradation,
There has been a problem that it is often difficult to clearly recognize a gradation. This has been a particularly noticeable problem when visually observing using illumination. The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and is clearly recognized as a change in color or shading on a dial, especially at night or when lighting is used due to little external light. The challenge is to realize an indicator instrument that has gradation and is improved in terms of visual comfort and visibility.

[0011]

The indicating instrument of the present invention comprises, firstly, a pointer and a dial plate on which at least one of a scale, a number and a character is arranged as an index corresponding to the instruction of the pointer. , An indicator instrument having a backside illumination disposed on the back side of the dial , reflecting the emitted light to the display surface side opposite to the back side and reflecting the reflected light.
Is provided with a background color layer visually recognized as the background color of the dial, and a gradation in which dots are distributed that transmit the light supplied from the back lighting with a higher transmittance than the background color portion. The back lighting includes a dial and
It is a back light that can be switched off and turned on.
Is formed by opening a window in the ground color layer of the dial.
The light supplied from the backlight is transmitted through the window.
On the other hand, on the display surface side, the reflected light is colored to form the background color portion.
Dot with a reflected light colored layer that is visible darker than
Is a gradation in which the
Light supplied from the backlight when the light is on
The gradation is lighter than that of the ground color
If the back lighting is turned off
The light emitted on the display surface of the dial is set to the ground color
The reflected light colored layer of the dot is in front while the layer is reflective.
A color that reflects the emitted light and is darker than the background color
With a gradation that is visually recognized as a gradation
It is characterized in that.

As described above, by forming the dots forming the gradation as the dots that transmit the light supplied from the back lighting, it is possible to realize a gradation display that can be clearly recognized even when the outside is dark such as at night. it can. Moreover, since the dots according to the present invention display (represent or form) a gradation, the outline of each dot can be visually suitably blurred and visually recognized by adopting a light transmission method for the dots. Therefore, when these dots are observed as an aggregate, it is possible to obtain a preferable effect of being visually recognized as a smooth gradation. The present invention is also different from the conventional technique in which the scales and numbers are made into the light transmission system also in terms of such actions and effects.

That is, in the case of the conventional technique of making the scales and numbers into the light transmission system, the effect that the contour is optically blurred deteriorates the good visibility of the scales and numbers. It was rather inconvenient. However, in the present invention, the preferable effects can be obtained as described above.

[0014]

Usually, outside light is relatively bright during the daytime, and the back lighting of the instruments is turned off. Therefore, in such a situation as represented by the daytime, both the ground color and the gradation of the dial are reflected by the incident relatively bright outside light, and are visually recognized by the reflected light. On the other hand, in the past, gradation was hardly noticeable at night,
According to the present invention, the transmitted light of the dots allows the gradation to be visually recognized in a bright color tone, so that the gradation becomes clearly visible.

Further, the back lighting is turned on / of at day and night.
By switching F, it is possible to make the combination of the background color and the lightness and darkness of the gradation different on the dial, and at this time, the reflected light and the transmitted light of the dots can be controlled appropriately to determine which one of them is used in each situation. Even in the case, it is possible to realize a clearly visible gradation.

[0017]

Further, a dot of color tone when viewed by transmitted light (color and brightness), be made different from the dot color tone when viewed by reflected light reflected by the reflective light colored layer It is possible to make the appearance atmosphere different between day and night as described above, such as the color tone or tone of the gradation visually recognized as such a set of dots.

The indicating instrument of the present invention, the second, first the
The indicating instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a transmitted light coloring layer for coloring the transmitted light of the dot on the back side of the dot. That is,
The dot is colored not only in the case of the reflected light as described in the above-mentioned first , but also in the case of the transmitted light, by using the transmitted light coloring layer on the back side of the dot to color the transmitted light of the dot into an arbitrary color tone. can do. As a result, a wider variety of gradation color tones can be realized. Further, by coloring the transmitted light of the dots in a more noticeable color tone, the gradation can be made more noticeable.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of an indicating instrument according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing the dial part of the indicating instrument according to the present invention, and FIG.
Is a cross-sectional view showing the main configuration centering on the dial, FIG.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the dial in which dots forming gradation are arranged in a particularly enlarged manner. (Note that
In FIG. 1, the dots forming the gradation are illustrated schematically by showing only a part in the left lateral direction and omitting the other parts, but actually the dots are arranged in all directions on the dial and the gradation is Needless to say, is formed. 1) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the indicator instrument according to the present invention is provided with a pointer 1, and a scale 3, a numeral 4, a character 5, etc. as an index corresponding to the instruction of the tip 2 of the pointer 1. A back lighting 8 for supplying illumination light is arranged on the back side of the dial 6.

The dial plate 6 has a ground color layer 9 formed on the display surface side opposite to the back surface side, and the illumination light 7 supplied from the back lighting 8 to the ground color layer 9 described above. And a gradation 11 in which dots 10 that are transmitted with a higher transmittance than that of the portion are distributed.

The ground color layer 9 reflects the external light 30 applied to the display surface side of the dial 6, and the reflected light 31 is visually recognized as the ground color of the dial 6. Further, the back illumination 8 can be turned on and off, and the gradation 11 allows the illumination light 7 supplied from the back illumination 8 to pass through when the back illumination 8 is on. The gradation 11 is formed by distributing the dots 10 that are visually recognized by the light 12 and that are visually recognized by the reflected light 14 of the external light 13 that is emitted onto the display surface of the dial 6 when the back lighting 8 is off.

As shown in FIG. 3, the dot 10 is formed by opening the window portion 15 in the ground color layer 9 of the dial plate 6,
While the illumination light 7 supplied from the back lighting 8 is transmitted, a reflection light coloring layer 16 for coloring the reflection light 14 is formed on the display surface side, and the reflection light coloring layer 16 is colored in a darker color tone than the ground color layer 9. It On the other hand, a transmitted light coloring layer 17 is formed on the back side, and when the illumination light 7 is transmitted from the back side to the display surface side and becomes the transmitted light 12, the transmitted light 12 is colored. The gradations 11 are formed by distributing the dots 10 on the dial plate 6 while changing the density.

Since the gradation 11 is formed by the set of the dots 10 as described above, the gradation 11 is visually recognized as a dark gradation in the daytime and is formed by the ground color layer 9 (that is, the ground color layer 9). The ground color) is visually recognized as a gradation of light tones. At this time, both are visually recognized by the reflected lights 14 and 31. On the other hand, at night, the gradation 11 is visually recognized as a bright color gradation by the transmitted light 12, and in contrast, the ground color portion is visually recognized by the reflected light 31 as a dark color ground color (almost like a silhouette). It

The background color layer 9 and the reflected light coloring layer 16 are arranged on the display surface side of a transparent substrate (or transparent cloth) 18 such as a transparent acrylic plate or a transparent film. The transmitted light coloring layer 17 is arranged on the back side of the transparent substrate 18. When the background color layer 9 is formed of a paint (or printing ink) such as white or yellow which has a relatively weak covering property, the background color layer 9 is used as the illumination light 7 from the back lighting 8. A black layer 19 as shown in FIG. 3 is provided below the ground color layer 9 as a covering reinforcing layer in order to prevent the light from penetrating. The black layer 19 can be used not only as a covering reinforcing layer but also as a black edging for edging the peripheral portion such as the scale 3 and the numeral 4.

The index portion will also be described here. As shown in FIG. 4, the portion on which the scales 3 and the numbers 4 are formed has the scales 3 and the numbers 4 formed in white on the display surface side of the transparent substrate 18, for example. White layer 20 (display or expression)
Is formed, and the black layer 19 is formed on the upper layer. However, a window portion 21 having the shape of the scale 3 or the numeral 4 is opened in the black layer 19 corresponding to the scale 3 or the numeral 4, and the white layer 20 is exposed from the window portion 21. A scale 3 and a number 4 are formed.

Further, a ground color layer 9 is formed on the black layer 19 with the scale 3 and the peripheral portion of the numeral 4 left. The white layer 20 transmits the illumination light 7 supplied from the back illumination 8 with an appropriate transmittance and is visually recognized as a bright portion. That is, the scale 3 and the numeral 4 are represented by the exposed white layer 20, but the exposed white layer 20 is the illumination light 7
Is transmitted appropriately, the transmitted light 41 allows the scale 3 and the number 4 to be visually recognized as a well-recognized bright display.

Since the dots 10 transmit the illumination light 7 supplied from the back illumination 8 when the back illumination 8 is turned on, the dots 10 are clearly visible as a gradation 11 having a bright color tone by the transmitted light. Further, when the back lighting 8 is off, the bright ground color layer 9 reflects the external light 30 irradiated on the display surface of the dial 6, while the reflected light colored layer 16 of the dot 10 reflects the external light. Since 13 is colored in a dark color such as smoke and reflected as reflected light 14, it is visually recognized as a gradation 11 having a dark color tone, in contrast to the background color portion by the background color layer 9.

According to the present invention, by constructing the main part as described above, it is possible to realize the gradation 11 which is clearly visible not only during the daytime but also during the nighttime when the outside is dark. Moreover, the ground on the dial plate 6 is dealt with in response to fluctuations in brightness and darkness on the display surface side of the dial plate 6 due to external light (incident light from the outside) 13 and 30 at daytime and nighttime, ON / OFF of the back lighting, and the like. It is possible to make the combination of color and gradation 11 different from each other, and it is possible to realize the gradation 11 which can be clearly recognized in both day and night situations.

Further, the brightness and color of the dot 10 by the transmitted light 12 when observed by the transmitted light 12 and the brightness and color of the dot 10 by the reflected light 14 reflected by the reflected light coloring layer 16 are observed. Can be made different, and as a result, the color tone or tone of the gradation 11 can be changed corresponding to ON / OFF of the back lighting so that it can be visually recognized as different between day and night.

In the present embodiment, an example is described in which the ground color layer 9 has a light-colored tint such as a white background and the reflected light colored layer 16 has a dark-colored tint such as smoke. However, it goes without saying that the tint of the ground color layer 9 and the reflected light coloring layer 16 is not limited to such an arrangement. In addition to this, when the back illumination 8 is turned on, the dots 10 are visually recognized as a bright color tone by the transmitted light 12, and when the back illumination 8 is turned off, the light 13 emitted on the display surface of the dial 6 is changed. If the background color is visually recognized by the reflection of the background color layer 9, and the dots 10 are visually recognized as a dark color tone in contrast with the background color layer 9 by the reflected light coloring layer 16, the combination of tints is as follows: It can be suitably used in addition to the combination of colors as in the above embodiment.

Further, in the present embodiment, the black layer 19 is formed over the entire lower layer of the ground color layer 9 and is used as a covering reinforcing layer. However, the covering property of the ground color layer 9 with respect to the illumination light 7 is improved. If sufficient, the black layer 19 as the covering reinforcing layer
Can be omitted. However, when the black layer 19 is used as a black edging that surrounds the peripheral portion such as the scale 3 or the numeral 4, it is necessary to form the black layer 19 in the portion where the scale 3 or the numeral 4 is arranged. Needless to say.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the illumination light 7 is not transmitted at all in the ground color layer 9 portion, that is, the ground color portion of the dial plate 6 has been described, but the ground color of the dial plate 6 according to the present invention is described. Is not limited to such a completely opaque case. In addition to this, the ground color of the dial 6 can be made light transmissive as long as the gradation 11 is clearly visible when the back lighting 8 is on. In other words, in other words, the light transmittance of the portion of the dot 10 can be made significantly higher than the light transmittance of the portion of the background color, and the transmission within the range where the dot 10 can be made to stand out in contrast to the background color. It is also possible to make the ground color portion of the dial 6 light transmissive as long as it is a ratio. In that case, the light transmittance of the ground color portion of the dial 6 can be adjusted by adjusting the light transmittance of the ground color layer 9.

[0034]

As is clear from the above detailed description, according to the present invention, first, the dots 10 forming the gradation 11 are the dots 10 transmitting the light 7 supplied from the back lighting 8. Thus, it is possible to realize the display of the gradation 11 that can be clearly recognized even when the outside becomes dark such as at night.

Further , the dial plate 6 is changed by the change of the brightness of the display surface side of the dial plate 6 due to the external light (incident light from the outside) 13 and 30 at day and night, and the ON / OFF of the back lighting 8.
It is possible to realize the gradation 11 in which the background color and the contrast of the gradation 11 are different from each other, and which is clearly visible in both cases of day and night.

Further, the brightness of the dot 10 when the the brightness and color of the dots 10 by transmitted light 12 is observed in reflected light 31 that is reflected by the reflective light colored layer 16 when viewed in transmitted light 12 Ya The colors can be made different, and as a result, the visible color tone or tone of the gradation 11 can be made different between day and night.

Secondly , by using the transmitted light coloring layer 17, the transmitted light 12 of the dots 10 is also given an arbitrary color tone (color and brightness).
Since it can be colored, gradation 1
A wide variety of brightness and color tone of 1 can be realized. Alternatively, the transmitted light 12 of the dot 10
It is possible to make the gradation 11 more prominent by, for example, coloring the subtle color.

As described above, according to the present invention, the characters are displayed as a change in color and shading, especially at night or when lighting is used due to little external light, or even when viewed with external light (natural light). By providing the gradation 11 that is clearly recognized on the plate 6, it is possible to realize an indicating instrument with improved visual comfort and visibility.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a dial plate portion of an indicating instrument according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a main configuration of a portion centering around a dial of an indicating instrument according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing, in a particularly enlarged manner, a portion where dots forming gradations of a dial of an indicating instrument according to the present invention are arranged.

FIG. 4 is a scale 3 of the dial of the indicating instrument according to the present invention.
It is sectional drawing which shows the main structures of the part in which the or numeral 4 was formed.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Pointer, 2 ... Tip, 3 ... Scale, 4 ... Number, 5 ... Character, 6 ... Dial, 7 ... Illumination light, 8 ... Backlight, 9 ... Ground color layer, 10 ... Dot, 11 ... Gradation, 15 ... Window portion, 16 ... Reflected light colored layer, 17 ... Transmitted light colored layer, 18 ...
Transparent substrate, 19 ... Black layer, 20 ... White layer, 21 ... Window

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pointer, a dial on which at least one of a scale, a number, and a character is provided as an index corresponding to the indication of the pointer, and a back lighting provided on the back side of the dial. In the indicating instrument having , the irradiation light is reflected on the display surface side opposite to the back side.
Gradation consisting of a ground color layer in which the reflected light is visually recognized as the ground color of the dial, and dots which transmit the light supplied from the back lighting with a higher transmittance than the ground color portion. And a dial provided with, and the back lighting is a back which can be turned on and off.
Surface illumination, and the gradation has a window portion in the ground color layer of the dial.
Is formed by opening and is supplied from the back lighting at the window
While transmitting light, the display surface side is colored with reflected light.
The reflected light colored layer that is visually recognized darker than the background color is formed.
It is a gradation in which the dots that are formed are distributed.
If the back lighting is on,
Brighter than the background color through the light supplied from
It is visually recognized as a gradation of color, and the back lighting is
When it is off, it is illuminated on the display surface of the dial.
Light that is reflected by the ground color layer while
The emissive colored layer reflects the irradiated light to reflect the ground color portion.
Gradation that is visually perceived as a darker gradation than
An indicating instrument characterized by being a retardation . 2. The indicating instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the light transmitted through the dot is colored on the back side of the dot.
An indicator instrument , further comprising a transmitted light coloring layer .