JP5505643B2 - Instrument device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an instrument device that displays a measurement value with a bar having a length corresponding to the measurement value.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vehicle meter that displays measurement values such as vehicle speed and engine speed with a bar having a length corresponding to the measurement values is known (see, for example, FIG. 10 of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). Here, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of this type of vehicle meter 100. Specifically, FIG. 6A shows a front view of the vehicle meter 100, and FIG. ) Shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. In FIG. 6A, the configuration of the back side of the dial 110 is also illustrated for convenience of explanation.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a dial 110 is provided on the surface side of the vehicle meter 100, and a plurality of rectangular windows 120 serving as scale indicators are formed in a row on the dial 110. . The windows 120 are formed so that light irradiated from the back side of the dial 110 can be transmitted. In addition, a plurality of numerical indicators 130 are formed on the dial plate 110 so as to be attached to the windows 120. In FIG. 6, these numerical indexes 130 are numerical indexes “0” to “8” (unit “× 1000 rpm”) of the engine speed. A circuit board 160 is provided on the back side of the dial 110, and the circuit board 160 is provided with a plurality of LEDs 140 that irradiate each window 120 with light. Specifically, the LEDs 140 corresponding to the number of windows 120 are provided, and each LED 140 is provided at a position where the corresponding window 120 can be irradiated with light, that is, immediately below each window 120.

  A case 150 is provided between the dial 110 and the circuit board 160 in order to prevent light from each LED 140 from leaking to the outside. The case 150 is formed of a light shielding plate having a light shielding property, and has a plurality of cylindrical cylindrical portions 151 formed for each set of the LEDs 140 and the windows 120 corresponding thereto. The case 150 is connected to the dial plate 110 and the circuit board 160 so that each LED 140 and the window 120 are included in the inner side (partition area) 152 of each cylindrical portion 151.

  When displaying the measured value of the engine speed, a control unit (not shown) provided on the circuit board 160 turns on the LEDs 140 of the window 120 up to the numerical index 130 corresponding to the measured value. For example, when the rotational speed is 3000 rpm, the LED 140 of the window 120 of the numerical index 130 from “0” to “3” is turned on. The light emitted from each LED 140 travels through the inside 152 of each cylindrical portion 151 and passes through each window 120. Therefore, when the vehicle meter 100 is viewed from the front side, the window 120 through which light is transmitted emits light. That is, a bar having a length corresponding to the measured value is displayed.

  In the vehicle meter 100, the circuit board 160 is provided with an LED 180 for causing the numerical index 130 to emit light at night or the like. Furthermore, in order to adjust the luminance balance of each numerical index 130, a light guide plate formed of a transparent resin material such as acrylic may be provided. In FIG. 6, the portion of the dial 110 where the numerical index 130 is formed is provided. A light guide plate 170 is provided on the back side. In FIG. 6, the LED 180 allows light to enter the light guide plate 170. When the numerical indicator 130 is caused to emit light, light is incident on the light guide plate 170 from the LED 180 to guide the light into the light guide plate 170. The light in the light guide plate 170 is transmitted through the portion of the numerical index 130 of the dial 110, so that the numerical index 130 is uniformly emitted.

JP 2005-147742 A JP 2005-265707 A

  However, a conventional instrument device such as a vehicle meter has a problem in that it complicates the structure and increases the cost associated with the installation of an LED for emitting a numerical index and a light guide plate for adjusting the luminance balance. For this reason, it is not possible to meet the recent demand for improving the product power while keeping the cost increase low. Moreover, in the conventional structure, a case for preventing light from the LED from leaking to the outside and a light guide plate for adjusting the luminance balance of the numerical indicators are installed on the back side of the dial. There is a problem that the distance G (see FIG. 6) between the window indicating the index and the numerical index is increased, and the design property is lowered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. In an instrument device that displays a measurement value by the length of a bar, the structure can be simplified and the design can be improved while the numerical index can be emitted. It is an object to provide an instrument device.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention comprises a dial in which a plurality of windows showing scale indicators are formed in series, and a plurality of numerical indicators are formed in a form incidental to the windows,
A plurality of light sources provided for each of the plurality of windows, and a plurality of light sources provided at positions where the corresponding windows can be irradiated with light from the back side of the dial,
The case is formed of a light shielding plate having a light shielding property, and has a plurality of partitioned regions surrounded by the light shielding plate, and each light source and each window corresponding thereto are included in each partitioned region. A provided case, and
In order to display a measured value, a lighting control means for lighting each light source corresponding to each window up to the window corresponding to the measured value, and a meter device comprising:
The portion of the dial where the numerical indicators are formed is designed to allow light to pass through,
The numerical index is formed between two adjacent windows at a position attached to the window,
The numerical index is included in one of the two adjacent partitioned areas to which the numerical index is attached, and the boundary between the two partitioned areas is a portion between the two adjacent windows in the boundary. As a reference, it is set so that the partition area including the numerical index is convex .

  According to this, since the numerical index formed on the dial can transmit light, and is included in the partition area including the light source and the window, the light from the light source is used as the numerical index. Can be transmitted from the part. Therefore, it is possible to emit a numerical index through which light is transmitted. Further, only the light source corresponding to the measured value is turned on by the lighting control means, so that only the one attached to the light emitting window among the plurality of numerical indexes can be emitted. Therefore, a lively display according to the measurement value can be performed. Further, since the numerical index is emitted by the light of the light source that emits light from the window, it is not necessary to separately provide a light source for the numerical index and a light guide plate for adjusting the luminance balance, and the structure can be simplified. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to provide the light guide plate, the window indicating the scale index and the numerical index can be formed close to each other. Therefore, the designability can be improved.

  Further, in the instrument device according to the present invention, the partition area is configured such that the light source side is narrower than the window and the numerical index side by making the light shielding plate oblique to the dial. Features.

  According to this, since the light source side is narrower than the window and the numerical index side in the partitioned area, the light from the light source can efficiently reach the window and the numerical index side. The numerical index can be emitted efficiently. Moreover, since the light source side is narrowed by making the light shielding plate oblique to the dial, when the light from the light source is incident on the light shielding plate, the light can be reflected to the window and the number indicator side. it can. Therefore, the window and the numerical index can be further efficiently emitted.

Further, in the instrument device of the present invention, each of the plurality of light sources is one in which the brightness of the light to be irradiated changes according to the energization amount,
The lighting control means turns on all of the plurality of light sources with an energization amount smaller than an energization amount of the light source when displaying the measurement value.

  According to this, since all of the plurality of light sources are turned on with an energization amount smaller than the energization amount of the light source when the measured value is displayed by the lighting control means, all the windows and all the numerical indexes attached to the windows are attached. Can emit light. Therefore, even when the surroundings are dark, such as at night, the visibility and design of windows and numerical indicators can be improved. Further, when displaying the measurement value, the light source is turned on with a larger energization amount, so that the window and the numerical index corresponding to the measurement value can be made to emit light brighter than others. Therefore, it can prevent that the display of a measured value is impaired.

It is a front view when the display surface 10a of the engine speedometer 1 is seen from the front. 1 is a view showing a structure of an engine speed meter 1. FIG. It is a front view of the display surface 10a of the engine speed meter 1 for each measurement value. It is a front view of the display surface 10a of the engine speed meter 1 for each measurement value according to Modification 1. It is the figure which showed 45 d of curved light-shielding plates as an example of the light-shielding plate which comprises the cylindrical part 41. FIG. It is the figure which showed the structure of the conventional vehicle meter.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the instrument device of the present invention is realized as an engine speed meter (so-called tachometer) for displaying the engine speed of a vehicle will be described. Here, FIG. 1 has shown the front view when the display surface 10a of the engine speedometer 1 of this embodiment is seen from the front. In order to allow the driver of the vehicle to easily check the display contents during driving, the engine speed meter 1 is arranged so that the display surface 10a faces the driver's seat, for example, under the windshield. Provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the engine speed meter 1 is a segment-type instrument device in which a segment (window) corresponding to the engine speed is emitted. On the display surface 10a, an index 20 indicating the engine speed is formed in a horizontal row. More specifically, the indicator 20 includes a plurality of windows 21 as scale indicators and a plurality of numbers 22 as numerical indicators, and the windows 21 and the numbers 22 are respectively formed in a horizontal row. In this embodiment, 16 windows 21a-21p are formed as the window 21, and each window 21a-21p is made into the mutually same rectangular shape.

  The number 22 is a number indicating the engine speed, and eight numbers 22 a to 22 i from “0” to “8” are formed as the number 22 attached to the window 21. Specifically, the numbers 22a to 22i are formed so that the numbers increase in order from the left to the right in the front view of FIG. The numbers 22a to 22i are formed immediately above the windows 21a to 21p. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the numbers 22 a to 22 i are formed every two windows 21 and are formed at positions between two adjacent windows 21. The number 22a indicating “0” is formed at the upper left of the left end window 21a, and the number 22i indicating “8” is formed at the upper right of the right end window 21p. The unit of the numeral 22 is “× 1000 rpm”.

  Thus, since the number 22 is formed every two windows 21, the window 21 corresponds to a scale in which a scale line is cut every 500 engine revolutions. The engine speed meter 1 emits the number of windows 21 corresponding to the measured value of the engine speed so that the measured value of the engine speed from 0 to 8000 rpm can be displayed at intervals of 500 revolutions. It has become. For example, when the engine speed is between 3500 and 4000, the windows 21a to 21p up to the numeral 22e indicating "4" are emitted.

  Here, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of the engine speed meter 1, and more specifically, FIG. 2 (a) shows the structure of the engine speed meter 1 when viewed from the front. It is a front view, The figure (b) is sectional drawing which showed the structure of the engine speedometer 1 when it cuts by the AA line of the figure (a). In FIG. 2A, the internal structures of the LED 30, the case 40, and the like are also shown for convenience of explanation. The AA line is a line in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the indicators 20 on the display surface 10a. In FIG. 2, the same parts as those in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the engine speed meter 1 is provided with a plate-like dial 10 on the viewer side (surface side). The dial 10 is made of, for example, a resin having optical transparency such as polycarbonate, and the window 21 and the numerals 22 are formed on the surface 10a. That is, the surface 10 a of the dial 10 is used as the display surface of the engine speed meter 1. The surface 10a of the dial 10 is printed with black ink, for example. On the other hand, the printing is not performed on the portion where the window 21 and the numeral 22 are formed. That is, the portions other than the window 21 and the number 22 are printed, so that the window 21 and the number 22 are formed. As described above, since the window 21 and the number 22 are not printed, when light is irradiated to the portion of the window 21 and the number 22 from the back side of the dial 10, the light can pass through the portion. It is like that. In addition, you may make it the window 21 and the number 22 part of the dial 10 transmit a part of incident light (semi-transmitted). In this case, the window 21 and the numeral 22 are printed with, for example, white semi-transparent ink. According to this, when the window 21 and the numeral 22 are irradiated with light, the light is semi-transmitted, so that they can be emitted with a soft feeling.

  A circuit board 50 is provided on the back side of the dial 10, and the circuit board 50 is provided with a plurality of LEDs 30 (light sources) for irradiating the windows 21 a to 21 p with light. As shown in FIG. 2A, the LEDs 30 are provided with LEDs 30a to 30p for the windows 21a to 21p. And each LED30a-30p is provided in the position which can irradiate light on the circuit board 50 in the position which opposes corresponding window 21a-21p, ie, the corresponding window 21a-21p of the back surface 10b of the dial 10. FIG.

  A case 40 is provided between the dial 10 and the circuit board 50. The case 40 is for the light emitted from the LEDs 30a to 30p to be efficiently emitted to the windows 21a to 21p without leaking to the outside. For example, the case 40 has a light shielding property such as polypropylene. The plate 45 is formed. More specifically, the case 40 is surrounded by a light-shielding plate 45, and a cylindrical cylindrical portion 41 having a hollow inside is formed by the number of windows 21 (the number of LEDs 30). The shape portions 41a to 41p are connected to each other so as to form a line. Two adjacent cylindrical portions 41 are connected to each other by a common light shielding plate 45. Moreover, both ends of each cylindrical part 41a-41p are opened, and as for case 40, one edge part of each cylindrical part 41a-41p is the circuit board 50, and the other edge part is the back surface of the dial 10. 10b is provided so as to be connected to 10b.

  More specifically, the respective LEDs 30a to 30p are provided inside the ends of the respective cylindrical portions 41a to 41p connected to the circuit board 50, and the respective cylindrical portions 41a to 41p connected to the back surface 10b of the dial plate 10. Each window 21a-21p is provided inside the edge part. That is, the case 40 is provided such that the windows 21a to 21p and the LEDs 30a to 30p are included in the regions 42a to 42p (partition regions) inside the cylindrical portions 41a to 41p. For example, the left end LED 30a and the window 21a are included in a region 42a inside the left end cylindrical portion 41a.

  Furthermore, each number 22 formed to be attached to each window 21 is also included in the inner regions 42a to 42p of the respective cylindrical portions 41a to 41p. That is, the opening on the dial 10 side of each of the tubular portions 41 a to 41 p is wide enough to include each number 22. However, since each number 22 is formed every two windows 21, inclusion of the number 22 by each cylindrical portion 41 is also made every two. Specifically, the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, eleventh, thirteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth cylindrical portions 41a, 41c, 41e, 41g, 41i, 41k, 41m, 41p, 41o, 41p from the left, Each number 22a-22i is included. On the other hand, the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth, twelfth and fourteenth cylindrical portions 41b, 41d, 41f, 41h, 41j, 41l, and 41n from the left include only the corresponding LED 30 and window 21, respectively. ing.

  In addition, since each numeral 22 is formed at a position between two adjacent windows 21, the light shielding plate 45b (see FIG. 2A) at the boundary between the two adjacent cylindrical portions 41 is uneven. The Therefore, each cylindrical portion 41 including the number 22 is convex toward the number 22 in the front view of FIG. 2A, while each cylindrical portion 41 not including the number 22 is convex. It is concave by the minute. Depending on the location of the boundary, there is a portion that is a flat light shielding plate 45a (see FIG. 2A), such as the boundary between the leftmost cylindrical portion 41a and the adjacent cylindrical portion 41b.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the region 42 inside each cylindrical portion 41 is narrower on the LED 30 side than on the indicators 21 and 22 side. More specifically, among the light shielding plates 45 constituting each cylindrical portion 41, the light shielding plate 45c connected to the upper side of the LED 30 and the upper side of the numerals in the cross-sectional view of FIG. As a result, the LED 30 side is narrowed. The reason for this is that the light from the LED 30 is reflected by the slanted shading plate 45c toward the numeral 22 side and is efficiently incident on the window 21 and the numeral 22. Therefore, the surface of the light shielding plate 45c is a surface that can efficiently reflect the light when the light is incident, for example, a surface on which a white material is applied. Further, the inclination of the light shielding plate 45c with respect to the dial 10 is adjusted so that the light incident from the LED 30 can be reflected toward the numeral 22 side.

  The light shielding plate 45c shown in FIG. 2 (b) has a flat plate shape in a portion inclined with respect to the dial 10, but is made curved like the light shielding plate 45d shown in FIG. It is good. FIG. 5 is the same as FIG. 2B except for the light shielding plate 45d. Even in the case of FIG. 5, since the light shielding plate 45d is inclined with respect to the dial 10, the LED 30 side can be narrowed and the light from the LED 30 can be reflected to the numeral 22 side. Therefore, the light from the LED 30 can be efficiently incident on the window 21 and the numeral 22.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, a control unit 60 that performs lighting control of each LED 30 is mounted on the circuit board 50. The control unit 60 includes a microcomputer composed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and a drive circuit that generates a drive signal for driving the LED 30. When the control unit 60 acquires measurement values from a rotation speed sensor (not shown) that measures the engine rotation speed, the control unit 60 emits the windows 21 up to the number 22 corresponding to the measurement values so that the windows 21 emit light. Each LED 30 corresponding to the window 21 is turned on. The control unit 60 corresponds to the “lighting control unit” of the present invention.

  Next, the operation of the engine speed meter 1 will be described. As described above, when acquiring a measurement value from a rotation speed sensor (not shown) that measures the engine rotation speed, the control unit 60 turns on the LED 30 corresponding to the measurement value. When the LED 30 is turned on, as shown in FIG. 2B, the light L1 is emitted toward the facing window 21. Since the window 21 portion of the dial 10 is designed to transmit light, the light L1 passes through the window 21. Therefore, when the window 21 is viewed from the viewer side, the window 21 can be viewed as if it is emitting light.

  On the other hand, when the LED 30 is turned on, the light L2 is also irradiated in directions other than the window 21, but each cylindrical portion 41 is narrowed on the LED 30 side, so that the light L2 is emitted from the surrounding light shielding plate 45. (In particular, the light is incident on the light-shielding plate 45c that is inclined) (see FIG. 2B). In the light shielding plate 45c, the light L2 is reflected as light L3 on the numeral 22 side. Since the number 22 portion of the dial 10 is configured to allow light to pass therethrough, the light L3 passes through the number 22. Therefore, in addition to the window 21, the numeral 22 attached to the window 21 also emits light.

  Here, FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplifying how the window 21 and the numeral 22 emit light according to the measured value of the engine speed, and the display surface of the engine speed meter 1 for each measured value. The front view of 10a is shown. In FIG. 3, the same parts as those in FIG. Fig.3 (a) has shown the figure in case a measured value is 0-500 rpm. In this case, only the leftmost LED 30a is lit. Then, the left end window 21a and the number 22a indicating “0” are emitted by the light from the LED 30a. Therefore, it is possible to make the user know that one window 21a is emitting light based on the numeral “0”, and as a result, it is possible to easily understand that the measured value is less than 0 to 500 rpm. .

  Moreover, FIG.3 (b) has shown the figure in case a measured value is less than 500-1000 rpm. In this case, only the leftmost LED 30a and the adjacent LED 30b are lit. The leftmost window 21a, the adjacent window 21b, and the numeral 22a indicating "0" are emitted by the light from the LEDs 30a and 30b. Therefore, the user can be made aware that the two windows 21a and 21b are emitting light with the number “0” as a reference, and as a result, can easily grasp that the measured value is less than 500 to 1000 rpm. Can do.

  Moreover, FIG.3 (c) has shown the figure in case a measured value is less than 1000-1500 rpm. In this case, the third LEDs 30a to 30c from the left are turned on. The lights from the LEDs 30a to 30c emit the third windows 21a to 21c from the left, and the number 22a indicating "0" and the number 22b indicating "1" are also emitted. Therefore, it is possible to make the user know that the light is emitted to the window 21c exceeding the number “1”, and as a result, it is possible to easily grasp that the measured value is less than 1000 to 1500 rpm. . Thus, in the engine speed meter 1, the number of windows 21 corresponding to the measured value of the engine speed is emitted, and the number 22 included in the range of the measured value is also emitted. In the case of other measurement values, similarly to the operation described in FIG. 3, the window 21 and the number 22 corresponding to the measurement values are emitted.

  As described above, the engine speed meter 1 of the present embodiment includes the numeral 22 in each cylindrical portion 41, so that the numeral 22 can also emit light by the LED 30 that causes the window 21 to emit light. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide an LED for causing the numeral 22 to emit light, and the structure can be simplified. Further, unlike the conventional structure of FIG. 6, it is not necessary to provide a light guide plate for adjusting the luminance balance of the numbers 22, so the distance G (see FIG. 2A) between the window 21 and the numbers 22 is reduced. be able to. Therefore, the designability can be improved.

(Modification 1)
Next, a modification of the engine speed meter 1 will be described. In the above embodiment, the window 21 and the number 22 corresponding to the measured value of the engine speed are emitted, and the other windows 21 and the number 22 are not emitted. Regardless of the measured value, all the windows 21 and the numbers 22 may be lightly emitted.

  Specifically, as each LED 30, an LED in which the brightness of the irradiated light changes according to the energization amount is adopted. Then, the control unit 60 lights all the LEDs 30 with an energization amount smaller than the energization amount when displaying the measurement value, for example, in conjunction with the lighting of the headlight. For example, the control unit 60 lights up all the LEDs 30 with an energization amount of 30% to 50% in conjunction with lighting of the headlight, while displaying the measured value, the maximum energization amount (the energization amount). 100%), the corresponding LED 30 is turned on. Here, FIG. 4 shows a front view of the display surface 10a of the engine speed meter 1 for each measurement value according to the first modification. 4A to 4C show examples in which the same measurement values as those shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C are displayed. As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, since all the LEDs 30 are turned on with an energization amount of 30% to 50%, all the windows 21 and the numerals 22 emit light thinly. In addition, since the LED 30 corresponding to the measurement value is turned on with a 100% energization amount, the window 21 and the number 22 corresponding to the measurement value emit light more brightly.

  As described above, according to the engine speed meter 1 of the first modification, all the windows 21 and the numbers 22 emit light, so that the visibility of the windows 21 and the numbers 22 is visible even when the surroundings are dark, such as at night. , Can improve the design. Moreover, since the window 21 and the numeral 22 that emit light according to the measurement value emit light brighter than others, the display of the measurement value can be prevented from being damaged.

  The instrument device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which windows and numbers as indices are arranged in a straight line has been described. However, for example, when indices are arranged in an arc, the indices are arranged in series. Any arrangement may be used. In the above embodiment, an example of an instrument device that displays the engine speed has been described. Needless to say, an instrument device that displays measurement values related to other vehicle states such as the vehicle speed, and further to an instrument device other than for a vehicle. Can also be applied. In the above embodiment, an example is described in which each number is formed every two windows, and further, formed at a position between two adjacent windows. Also good. Also, a number may be formed for each window.

1 Engine speed meter (instrument device)
10 Dial 20 Indicator 21 Window (Scale indicator)
22 Numbers (numeric indicators)
30 LED (light source)
40 Case 41 Tubular part 42 Area (partition area) inside tubular part 41
45 Light shielding plate 50 Circuit board 60 Control unit (lighting control means)

Claims (3)

A dial in which a plurality of windows showing scale indicators are formed in series, and a plurality of numerical indicators are formed in a form attached to the windows,
A plurality of light sources provided for each of the plurality of windows, and a plurality of light sources provided at positions where the corresponding windows can be irradiated with light from the back side of the dial,
The case is formed of a light shielding plate having a light shielding property, and has a plurality of partitioned regions surrounded by the light shielding plate, and each light source and each window corresponding thereto are included in each partitioned region. A provided case, and
In order to display a measured value, a lighting control means for lighting each light source corresponding to each window up to the window corresponding to the measured value, and a meter device comprising:
The portion of the dial where the numerical indicators are formed is designed to allow light to pass through,
The numerical index is formed between two adjacent windows at a position attached to the window,
The numerical index is included in one of the two adjacent partitioned areas to which the numerical index is attached, and the boundary between the two partitioned areas is a portion between the two adjacent windows in the boundary. An instrument device characterized in that, as a reference, a partition area including the numerical index is set to be convex .   2. The partition area according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding plate is made narrower on the light source side than on the window and the numeric indicator side by making the light shielding plate oblique to the dial. Instrument device. Each of the plurality of light sources changes the brightness of the light to be irradiated according to the energization amount,
The instrument device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting control unit turns on all of the plurality of light sources with an energization amount smaller than an energization amount of the light source when displaying a measurement value.