JP5397635B2 - Vehicle instrument - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular instrument, and more particularly to a vehicular instrument having a design display unit such as characters and indicators that transmit light from a light emitter.

  As this type of vehicle instrument, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, a dial plate and a liquid crystal display panel are fixed to a front case together with a circuit board via a liquid crystal support member in a state of being covered with a facing plate. Are known. In the vehicle meter described in Patent Document 1, design display portions such as characters and indicators associated with the operating state of the vehicle system are formed on the dial plate, and the light emitted from the light emitter mounted on the circuit board. Is transmitted through the design display section, so that the driver can visually recognize the operating state of the vehicle system.

JP 2009-216700 A

  In a conventional vehicle instrument represented by the vehicle instrument described in Patent Document 1, a dial plate which is a printed part provided with a design display portion, or an incident light from outside that covers the dial plate so as to surround it. Generally, it is divided into different parts depending on the application, such as a dial plate that diffusely reflects on the inner surface, a case that holds a dial plate, a circuit board, etc., or a light guide that guides light from a light emitter to the dial plate. It is. For this reason, in the vehicle instrument, the number of parts is increased, and the number of assembling steps is increased accordingly, which makes it difficult to reduce the cost. In addition, when different materials are used for each part, there is a problem that it takes time to recycle.

  The present invention has been made in order to cope with the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the number of parts, reduce the number of assembling steps, and reduce the cost, and is also suitable for environmental aspects such as recycling. It is to provide an instrument.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a light guide unit that guides light of a light emitter mounted on a circuit board to a design display unit such as characters and indicators associated with an operating state of a vehicle system , covering a vehicle meter which visually recognized by the driver of the operating state of the vehicle both systems by the design display section, and the dial portion for first design display portion made of graduations and numerals are formed, the outer periphery of the character plate a dial plate which is made form such that is configured as an integrated dial member integrally molded by injection molding of resin, the inside of the dial plate portion of the dial portion, the first design display unit A second design display portion made of an indicator is formed between the first design display portion and the facing plate portion of the dial portion, and the facing plate portion has a wall shape on the outer periphery of the dial portion. The height of the tip is a guideline, no. Design display unit, and than the second design display unit is characterized that you have been set dimensionally high.

According to the vehicle instrument of the present invention, and a a look-back plate portion nameplate portion configured as an integrated dial member integrally molded by injection molding of resin. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the number of parts, reduce the number of assembly steps, reduce costs, and realize the manufacture of vehicle meters that are environmentally friendly, such as recycling. It is.

  In this case, the integrated dial member is formed of a resin that transmits light, a light-impermeable layer is provided on the surface of the resin, and the dial portion has a portion corresponding to the design display portion. It is preferable that the transmissive layer be formed by a removal treatment. Here, the resin that transmits light, that is, the resin that transmits light, includes colorless, transparent, colored, and transparent resins.

  By forming a light-impermeable layer on the surface of the integrated dial member (for example, painting treatment, vapor deposition treatment, etc.), it is possible to prevent light from the light emitter from leaking to unnecessary portions. A part of the non-transparent layer corresponding to the design display part is removed (for example, laser trimming or the like) to form a light transmission layer, so that only a necessary part is a design display part as a light transmission part. be able to.

  The integrated dial member is formed in a three-dimensional shape having a plurality of plane portions that are orthogonal to the direction from the dial portion toward the circuit board and are not located on the same plane. can do.

  In conventional vehicular instruments, the dial needs to have a planar shape in order to perform the printing process, and in the case of a three-dimensional shape, it is necessary to add a bending process such as hot drawing or pressure forming as a subsequent process. It was. In this case, since the sheet material constituting the dial plate is bent, it is difficult to obtain an edge feeling of the bent portion, and a clear contour as a three-dimensional shape cannot be obtained. On the other hand, by integrally molding the integrated dial member by resin injection molding, it becomes easy to give an edge feeling of the bent portion, and a clear contour as a three-dimensional shape can be obtained. For this reason, it becomes possible to make the dial plate look good or to have a novel design.

  In addition, the integrated dial member integrally includes a dial plate portion and a light guide portion, and the light guide portion is a surface on the light emitter side corresponding to a specific design display portion of the design display portions in the dial plate portion. In addition, a configuration in which a lens unit that diffuses light of the light emitter and guides the light to the design display unit side is provided.

  In a conventional vehicle instrument, brightness unevenness is prevented by printing a dial. In this case, since it is necessary to provide a certain distance (about 15 mm or more) between the dial and the circuit board, it is difficult to reduce the thickness (space saving). On the other hand, by forming a lens portion (for example, an optical shape such as a Fresnel lens) on the surface of the light guide portion on the light emitter side, the light from the light emitter is diffused to the design display portion side of the dial plate portion. To be able to guide. For this reason, luminance unevenness can be satisfactorily prevented, and the dial portion and the circuit board can be brought closer to each other than before, so that the thickness (space saving) can be reduced.

  In addition, the integrated dial member is formed of a colored resin and integrally includes a dial plate portion and a light guide portion, and the light guide portion is set to a different plate thickness depending on the type of the design display portion. It can also be set as the structure currently made.

  In a conventional vehicle instrument, brightness control is performed by printing a dial. On the other hand, if a colored resin having light transmittance is used as the resin constituting the integrated dial member and the thickness (plate thickness) of the light guide portion is changed, the amount of light transmitted through the light emitter can be reduced. The brightness can be easily controlled. For this reason, printing processing for brightness control which has been conventionally performed becomes unnecessary.

  The integrated dial member may be formed of a colored resin having the same or similar color tone as that of the impermeable layer.

  This makes it difficult to see the design display portion when the light emitter is turned off, and makes it easier to see the design display portion when the light emitter is turned on. That is, since the difference in contrast becomes large, the dead front feeling can be improved satisfactorily. In addition, since light is more easily attenuated than when a colored resin having a color tone different from that of the opaque layer is used, light leakage can be improved.

The disassembled perspective view of the meter for vehicles which concerns on this invention. The principal part expanded sectional view of the integrated dial plate member shown in FIG. (A) is AA sectional drawing of FIG. (B) is sectional drawing which shows the modification of (a). (C) is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the board thickness of a light guide part, and a brightness | luminance. (A) is an enlarged view of the lens part shown in FIG. (B)-(f) is an enlarged view which shows the modification of (a).

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a vehicle instrument 1 according to the present invention. The vehicle meter 1 operates the vehicle speed, engine speed, fuel remaining amount, radiator water temperature, travel distance (for example, trip meter display integrated every 0.1 km, odometer display integrated every 1 km), etc. And includes an integrated dial member 10, a glass front 21, a lower case 22, and a circuit board 23. On the circuit board 23, a pointer driving motor 32 (for example, a stepping motor, see FIG. 2), a liquid crystal display panel 25, and LEDs 26 to 29 of various emission colors are mounted.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the integrated dial member 10 has conventionally existed as independent components such as a dial plate, a light guide, a turn plate (wind plate), and a front case. These are integrated as a dial 11, a light guide 12, a facing plate 13 and a case 14 that perform each function.

  Specifically, the integrated dial member 10 is formed from the dial plate portion 13 to the dial plate portion 11 by injection molding of a light-transmissive resin such as a colorless transparent, translucent or colored transparent polycarbonate resin, acrylic resin, or the like. The light guide 12 and the case 14 are integrally molded so as to extend three-dimensionally toward the circuit board 23.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A, the dial plate portion 11 is a plurality of planes that are orthogonal to the direction toward the circuit board 23 (depth direction) and are not located on the same plane. It is formed in a surface shape having portions 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d. That is, the flat surface portion 11a and the flat surface portion 11b are connected to each other with the step portion 11e causing a difference in height in the direction toward the circuit board 23, and the flat surface portion 11b and the flat surface portion 11d are directed to the circuit board 23. Are connected with a step portion 11f that causes a difference in height.

  A transparent layer P1 (for example, white, red) is formed on the surface of the resin constituting the integrated dial plate member 10 including the flat portions 11a to 11d by, for example, a printing process of a light-transmitting paint. An opaque layer P2 (for example, black) is formed on the surface by a printing process of a coating material that does not transmit light.

  The flat portion 11a is formed in a substantially circular shape, and a resin-made pointer 31 having light transmittance is disposed above the flat portion 11a. The pointer 31 is connected to the rotating shaft 32a of the pointer drive motor 32 that passes through the shaft hole portion 12a formed in the dial plate portion 11 and the light guide portion 12 at the boss portion 31a. The surface of the flat portion 11a is an impermeable layer P2, and no light leaks from the flat portion 11a when the LED 29 emits light, and only the pointer 31 emits light.

  The flat surface portion 11b is formed in a substantially annular shape, and on the surface thereof, a design display portion that displays the vehicle speed numerically corresponding to the tip portion of the pointer 31, that is, the numerical light emitting portion 11b1 and the diameter of the flat surface portion 11b. A prismatic scale light-emitting part 11b2 having light transmission and arranged corresponding to each numerical light-emitting part 11b1 is formed at the position on the outer side in the direction.

  In the numerical light emitting part 11b1, the non-transmissive layer P2 is removed while leaving the transmissive layer P1 (for example, white) by, for example, trimming processing using a laser, and the numerical light emitting part 11b1 emits white light by, for example, light emission of the LED 26. It has become. On the other hand, in the scale light emitting part 11b2, the non-transparent layer P2 is removed while leaving the transmissive layer P1 (for example, red), and the scale light emitting part 11b2 emits light in, for example, red by the light emission of the LED 26.

  The flat surface portion 11c is formed in a substantially ring shape surrounding a speed display light emitting portion composed of a numerical light emitting portion 11b1 and a scale light emitting portion 11b2, and a design display portion that defines a ring-shaped outline on its surface, that is, a ring A light emitting portion 11c1 is formed. Also in the ring light emitting unit 11c1, the non-transparent layer P2 is removed while leaving the transmissive layer P1 (for example, red) by, for example, trimming processing using a laser, as in the scale light emitting unit 11b2. 11c1 emits light in red, for example.

  The flat surface portion 11d is formed in a substantially annular shape, and a design display portion for displaying the operation state of the vehicle system in various indicator modes, that is, an indicator light emitting portion 11d1 is formed on the surface thereof. In the indicator light emitting unit 11d1, unlike the other light emitting units 11b1, 11b2, and 11c1, not only the non-transmissive layer P2 but also the transmissive layer P1 is removed by trimming using a laser, for example, by the light emission of the LEDs 27 and 28, The indicator light emitting unit 11d1 emits light in yellow, for example.

  The transmissive layer printing process is not limited to the above case. For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, for example, a white transmissive layer P1 is formed on the surface of the resin constituting the integrated dial member 10. For example, a red transmissive layer P3 is formed on the surface of the transmissive layer P1, and a black non-transmissive layer P2 is formed on the surface of the transmissive layer P3. In the numerical light emitting unit 11b1, the non-transmissive layer P2 and the transmissive layer are formed. P3 is removed, and the scale light emitting part 11b2 and the ring light emitting part 11c1 remove only the opaque layer P2, and the indicator light emitting part 11d1 removes all the opaque layer P2, the transmissive layer P3, and the transmissive layer P1. For example, a plurality of transmissive layers P1, P3, etc. are formed according to the luminescent color of the light emitting part to be obtained, and the transmissive layers P1, P3, etc. are removed together with the non-transmissive layer P2, if necessary. Good.

  Returning to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3A, the light guide portion 12 is configured as a plate thickness portion of resin in the direction (depth direction) from the dial portion 11 toward the circuit board 23. An opaque layer P2 (for example, black) is formed on the back surface of the light guide portion 12 by, for example, a printing process of a paint that does not transmit light, and the plane of the dial portion 11 is trimmed by, for example, laser trimming. A region extending from the portion 11b to the flat portion 11c, the indicator light emitting portion 11d1 of the flat portion 11d, and the inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole portion 12a corresponding to the lower side of the boss portion 31a of the pointer 31 and the non-corresponding region. The transmissive layer P2 is removed. In addition, the zigzag line in FIG. 2 has shown the site | part in which the said trimming process was performed.

  Further, the plate thickness corresponding to the numeric light emitting portion 11b1 of the light guide portion 12 is set to D3 having a predetermined size, the plate thickness corresponding to the scale light emitting portion 11b2 is set to D2 (> D3) having a predetermined size, and the ring The plate thickness corresponding to the light emitting portion 11c1 is set to D1 (> D2) having a predetermined dimension.

  As a result, when a translucent or colored transparent colored resin is used as the resin constituting the integrated dial member 10, for example, as shown in FIG. Since the rate changes and the luminance changes accordingly, the luminance in each of the light emitting portions 11b1, 11b2, 11c1, and 11d1 of the dial plate portion 11 can be easily controlled. In the example of FIG. 3A, the brightness is obtained such that the ring light emitting unit 11c1 is relatively dark, the scale light emitting unit 11b2 is slightly brighter, and the numeric light emitting unit 11b1 is brightest. In the case where a colorless transparent material is used as the resin constituting the integrated dial member 10, the brightness does not change greatly according to the change in the plate thickness. It may be good.

  For example, a lens portion 12b as shown in FIG. 4A is formed in a portion corresponding to the indicator light emitting portion 11d1 on the back surface of the light guide portion 12. The lens portion 12b is formed by forming a convex or concave prism having a sawtooth cross section on the plate thickness main body of the light guide portion 12 (for example, Fresnel lens shape), and the light from the LEDs 27 and 28 is supplied to each plane portion 11d. It has a function of uniformly diffusing toward the indicator light emitting part 11d1.

  Thus, by forming the lens part 12b on the back surface of the light guide part 12, it is possible to satisfactorily prevent uneven brightness in the indicator light emitting part 11d1. The lens portion 12b is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 4A, and various lens shapes shown in, for example, FIGS. 4B to 4F (texture processing) can be adopted as appropriate. . Further, the lens portion 12b is not limited to the portion corresponding to the indicator light emitting portion 11d1 on the back surface of the light guide portion 12, but is formed on a part or all of the portion to be trimmed indicated by the zigzag line in FIG. You can also

  1 and 2, the facing plate portion 13 is formed in an annular shape that covers the periphery of the dial portion 11 and is integrated with the periphery of the flat portion 11 d. An opaque layer P2 (for example, black) is formed on the outer side surface and the inner side surface of the facing plate portion 13 by a printing process of a coating material that does not have optical transparency. Accordingly, the facing plate portion 13 has a function of improving the antiglare property by irregularly reflecting the incident light from the glass front 21 in combination with the texture processing applied to the inner surface.

  The case portion 14 is formed in a container shape that opens rearward on the back side (rear side) of the facing plate portion 13, and is integrated with the periphery of the facing plate portion 13 and the light guide 12. The case portion 14 accommodates the circuit board 23 in a predetermined position in cooperation with a separate lower case 22. Further, similarly to the facing plate portion 13, an impermeable layer P <b> 2 (for example, black) is formed on the inner side surface of the case portion 14 by a printing process of a paint that does not have optical transparency.

  Further, the dial portion 11 and the light guide portion 12 are formed with an opening 12c so that the driver can visually recognize the liquid crystal display panel 25 through the opening 12c. The dial portion 11 and the light guide portion 12 are formed with a knob hole 12d that is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 25 in response to a pressing operation of the knob 33 inserted into the knob hole 12d. The odometer display and trip meter display can be switched, or the trip meter display can be reset to zero.

  As apparent from the above description, in the first embodiment, the dial plate portion 11, the light guide portion 12, the facing plate portion 13 and the case portion 14 are integrally molded by resin injection molding. 10. As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of parts in the production of the vehicular instrument 1, to reduce the assembly man-hours, to reduce costs and to consider environmental aspects such as recycling. .

  Moreover, in the said Example 1, the integrated dial member 10 is formed with resin which permeate | transmits light, the light impervious layer P2 is provided in the surface of resin, and the dial part 11 emits a number light emission. The portion 11b1, the scale light emitting portion 11b2, the ring light emitting portion 11c1, and the non-transparent layer P2 corresponding to the indicator light emitting portion 11d1 are removed and formed. Thereby, the light leakage of light of LED26-29 to locations other than each light emission part 11b1-11d1 can be prevented favorably.

  In the first embodiment, the integrated dial member 10 is perpendicular to the direction from the dial portion 11 toward the circuit board 23 and is not located on the same plane. It is formed in a three-dimensional shape having 11d. Since the integrated dial member 10 is formed by integral molding, the stepped portions 11e and 11f connecting the flat portions 11a to 11d can easily have an edge feeling, and a clear contour as a three-dimensional shape can be obtained. . Thereby, the dial plate part 11 can be made beautiful and it can be set as a novel design.

  Moreover, in the said Example 1, the integrated dial member 10 is integrally provided with the dial part 11 and the light guide part 12, and LED27,28 is provided in the back surface corresponding to the indicator light emission part 11d1 of the light guide part 12. FIG. Is integrally formed with a lens part 12b that diffuses the light and guides it to the indicator light emitting part 11d1 side. As a result, luminance unevenness can be satisfactorily prevented, and the dial portion 11 and the circuit board 23 can be brought closer to each other than before, so that the integrated dial member 10 is formed thin. You can also.

  Moreover, in the said Example 1, when the integrated dial member 10 is formed with colored resin, the light guide part 12 is set to different board thickness according to the kind of each light emission part 11b1-11d1. It is configured. Thereby, the light transmission amount of the LEDs 26 to 29 in the light guide unit 12 can be changed, and the luminance control can be easily performed.

  In addition, when forming the integrated dial member 10 with colored resin, the color tone can be made the same as that of the impermeable layer P2, or approximate. For example, when the integrated dial member 10 is formed of a black smoke acrylic resin and the black opaque layer P2 is formed on the surface thereof, the light emitting portions 11b1 to 11d1 are turned off when the LEDs 26 to 29 are turned off. Although it is difficult to see, the light emitting portions 11b1 to 11d1 are easy to see when the LEDs 26 to 29 are lit. That is, since the difference in contrast becomes large, the dead front feeling can be improved satisfactorily.

  In the first embodiment, the integrated dial member 10 is configured to integrally include the dial plate portion 11, the light guide portion 12, the facing plate portion 13 and the case portion 14. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, the dial plate portion 11, and one or two of the light guide unit 12, the facing plate unit 13, and the case unit 14 may be integrally provided. Also by this, like the said Example 1, effects, such as reduction of a number of parts and reduction of an assembly man-hour, can be acquired.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle instrument 10 Integrated dial member 11 Dial part 11a-11d Plane part P1, P3 Transmission layer P2 Impermeable layer 11b1 Number light emission part (design display part)
11b2 Scale light emission part (design display part)
11c1 Ring light emitting part (design display part)
11d1 indicator light emitting part (design display part)
11e, 11f Step portion 12 Light guide portion 12b Lens portion 13 Look-back plate portion 14 Case portion 21 Glass front 22 Lower case 23 Circuit boards 26 to 29 LED (light emitting body)
31 Pointer 32 Pointer drive motor

Claims (6)

A light emitting element mounted on a circuit board, comprising a guide portion for guiding the design display unit such as the operating state and the associated letters and indicators of the vehicle system, before Symbol vehicle system by the design display section In a vehicle instrument that allows the driver to visually recognize the operating state,
Integral with the dial portion of the first design display portion made of graduations and numerals are formed, and a dial plate portion which is made form so as to cover the outer periphery of the front Symbol dial portion, which are integrally molded by injection molding of resin It is configured as a dial plate member ,
A pointer indicating the first design display portion is disposed inside the dial plate portion of the dial plate portion, and the indicator is provided between the first design display portion and the dial plate portion of the dial plate portion. Forming a second design display portion comprising:
The facing plate portion forms a wall shape on the outer periphery of the dial plate portion, and the height of the tip is set to be dimensionally higher than the pointer, the first design display portion, and the second design display portion. instrument for vehicle characterized by Tei Rukoto.   The integrated dial member is formed of a resin that transmits light, and a light-impermeable layer is provided on the surface of the resin, and the dial plate portion is a portion corresponding to the design display portion. The vehicle instrument according to claim 1, wherein the impermeable layer is formed by a removal treatment.   The integrated dial member is formed in a three-dimensional shape having a plurality of plane portions that are orthogonal to the direction from the dial portion toward the circuit board and are not located on the same plane. Item 3. The vehicle instrument according to Item 1 or 2.   The integrated dial member integrally includes the dial portion and the light guide portion, and the light guide portion emits light corresponding to a specific design display portion of the design display portions of the dial portion. The vehicular instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which integrally has a lens portion that diffuses light of the light emitter and guides the light to the design display portion side on a body-side surface.   The integrated dial plate member is formed of a colored resin, and integrally includes the dial plate portion and the light guide portion, and the light guide portion is a plate that differs depending on the type of the design display portion. The vehicular instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vehicular instrument is set to a thickness.   The vehicle meter according to claim 5, comprising the requirement according to claim 2, wherein the integrated dial member is formed of a colored resin having a color tone that is the same as or similar to that of the impermeable layer.

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