JP5941765B2 - Display device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device.

  As a conventional display device for a vehicle, there is known a display device that guides the user to the inside or outside of the vehicle when the door is opened and closed in order to smoothly get on and off the vehicle at night in and out of the vehicle interior.

For example, a display function and a lighting function are given to a kicking plate provided as a protective member on a side sill provided at an opening edge of a side door of a vehicle body, and the user is informed at night or in a dark place by notifying the user of the getting-on / off position Movement can be facilitated.
Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a plurality of LEDs are capable of independently changing light emission states having different emission colors based on a control program stored in advance by a control circuit electrically connected thereto. Has been.
Patent Document 2 suggests the direction of movement of the user who gets on and off due to changes in the display state, such as the luminance increase and decrease of the LED of the guidance display unit provided on the floor in the vehicle, and the change of the emission color. The structure which can be guided so that it can move to an entrance / exit is described.
Patent Document 3 describes a configuration in which the light source blinks or changes color for a certain time and then switches to a normal lighting state by interlocking the door opening / closing operation with the light source on / off and opening the door. Has been.

JP 2011-116315 A JP 2011-093469 A JP 2005-238859 A

  However, in the conventional configuration, it is necessary to arrange LEDs having different colors for multicolor expression. Furthermore, it is necessary to create a control program for controlling the emission color of each LED and secure a space for arranging the control circuit. In this case, since the emission color changes only in the pattern determined by the control program, the expression becomes a single one.

  In addition, since the colors that can be expressed depend on the light emission color of the light source, it is necessary to increase the number of light sources in order to express multiple colors, and an additional space for that is required. For this reason, when many such light sources and control circuits are incorporated in the kicking plate installed in the side step portion of the vehicle, the thickness may increase and the aesthetic appearance may be affected. In addition, there is a problem in that it is difficult to incorporate it into the kicking plate due to the problem of the arrangement space.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a display device capable of multicolor expression at low cost and in a space-saving manner.

  The display device of the present invention is fitted to the outer case so as to cover the heat source, a heat conductive member that transmits heat from the heat source, a temperature indicating member that changes color depending on the temperature transmitted from the heat conductive member, and the temperature indicating member. And a light-transmitting member that sandwiches the heat source, the heat conducting member, and the temperature indicating member by the outer case.

  According to the present invention, by using a temperature indicating member that changes color according to temperature, it is possible to easily realize multicolor and various displays. For this reason, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of LEDs having different emission colors for multicolor expression as in the prior art. In addition, since it is not necessary to control these in a complicated manner, it is possible to perform multi-color expression with a simpler configuration than before and to reduce costs.

Moreover, it is good also as a structure by which the mask member which has two or more area | regions from which the transmission characteristic of a color differs on the said temperature indication member is arrange | positioned.
According to the present invention, it is possible to visually recognize the change in the color of the temperature indicating member discolored due to the temperature through the mask member. Various expressions can be made by providing a plurality of regions having different color transmission characteristics on the mask member.

Moreover, it is good also as a structure by which the said heat source is opposingly arranged by the width direction both sides of the said heat conductive member.
According to the present invention, since heat is applied from both sides in the width direction of the heat conducting member, a larger amount of heat is supplied to the temperature indicating member through the heat conducting member than when a heat source is disposed only on one side. Thereby, since the temperature rise of a temperature indicating member is accelerated | stimulated, a responsive display can be performed.

The heat source may be a light source.
According to the present invention, a heat source can be configured using a conventional light source.

Further, the heat conducting member and the temperature indicating member may be integrated.
According to the present invention, by integrating the heat conducting member and the temperature indicating member, the adhesion between the members becomes sufficient, and the heat conduction efficiency to the temperature indicating member is improved.

Further, the temperature indicating member may have a plurality of regions having different temperature indicating temperatures.
According to the present invention, each region of the temperature indicating member can be discolored stepwise according to the temperature.
A plurality of regions having different temperature indications may be provided in parallel with the optical axis direction of the light source described later.

Moreover, it is good also as a structure by which the said heat conductive member which has a light transmittance is arrange | positioned on the said temperature indication member.
According to the present invention, the thickness of the display device can be reduced by disposing the heat-transmitting heat conductive member on the temperature indicating member.

Further, the mask member may have an opening that partially exposes the temperature indicating member.
According to the present invention, it is possible to perform various displays using the discolored temperature indicating member through the opening formed in the mask member.

Moreover, it is good also as a structure by which the said light source is opposingly arranged so that a mutual optical axis may become the same on the width direction both sides of the said heat conductive member.
According to the present invention, it is possible to supply more heat quantity to the temperature indicating member via the heat conducting member by arranging the light sources so as to face each other in the width direction on both sides of the heat conducting member. it can. Thereby, the display responsiveness is improved.

Moreover, it is good also as a structure used for the kicking plate installed in the side step part of a motor vehicle.
According to the present invention, since low cost and space saving can be realized, even when incorporated in a vehicle, multicolor and various displays can be performed without impairing the aesthetic appearance. Therefore, it is possible to provide a kicking plate with further improved merchantability.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a display device that enables multicolor expression at low cost and space-saving.

The schematic perspective view which shows the position of the kicking plate when the door of a vehicle is open. The top view which shows schematic structure of the display apparatus in 1st Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the display apparatus in 1st Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the display apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. The top view which shows each discoloration area | region of a temperature indication layer. Sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the display apparatus in 3rd Embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing used for the following description, the scale of each member is appropriately changed to make each member a recognizable size.

(First embodiment)
First, the configuration of the first embodiment of the display device according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the position of the kicking plate when the vehicle door is open.
As shown in FIG. 1, door openings 3 a serving as user entrances are provided on both side surfaces of the vehicle 2, and are opened and closed by the doors 3. Seats 6 are respectively arranged on the floor surface 7 in the vehicle interior corresponding to each door 3. An instrument panel 5 is disposed in front of the driver's seat 6. A brake pedal 8A and an accelerator pedal 8B are provided on the floor surface 7 in front of the driver's seat 6 and below the instrument panel 5.

  A side step portion 11 serving as a vehicle outer body panel extends along the front-rear direction of the vehicle 2 at the lower edge portion of the door opening 3a. A kicking plate 9 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction is fixed to the upper surface 11 a of the side step portion 11. An inner sill cover 4 arranged in parallel to the kicking plate 9 is fixed at a position immediately inside the vehicle interior of the kicking plate 9. The inner sill cover 4 is installed at a position higher than the kicking plate 9. A display device 10 having an illumination function is incorporated in the kicking plate 9 of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of the display device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the display device.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the display device 10 includes a pair of heat source parts (heat sources) 13 having a plurality of light sources 12, a heat conduction member 14 disposed in the vicinity of the heat source parts 13, and a heat conduction member. 14, the temperature indicating member 15 disposed adjacent to the temperature indicating member 14, the mask member 16 disposed on the temperature indicating member 15, the light transmitting member 17 provided so as to cover the mask member 16, and the light transmitting property. The unit structure includes an outer case 18 that fits with the member 17.

The pair of heat source portions 13 are arranged on both sides in the width direction (both sides in the short direction) so as to sandwich the heat conducting member 14, and the light source accommodating portions extending in the longitudinal direction of the outer case 18 together with the corresponding substrates 19. Each is arranged in 18A. In the present embodiment, a monochromatic LED is used as the light source 12 and is installed on the same substrate 19 in a state in which the directions are unified so that the respective light emission directions are the same. In the pair of opposed heat source sections 13, the optical axes of the light sources 12 facing each other via the heat conducting member 14 are arranged so as to coincide with each other in the longitudinal direction, thereby efficiently heating the heat conducting member 14. Is added. The amount of heat generated in the heat source unit 13 can be adjusted by the number of light sources 12, light emission specifications, and the like.
In addition, wiring or the like for supplying power to the light source 12 is routed around the substrate 19.

  The heat conducting member 14 transmits heat radiated from each light source 12 in the heat source unit 13 to the temperature indicating member 15 and is made of a material having a heat conducting element such as a metal such as copper or iron. In addition to metal, a carbon material such as ceramic or carbon may be used. Here, it is preferable that at least a part of the heat conducting member 14 is arranged so as to be in contact with the heat source unit 13. Thereby, the heat of the heat source part 13 is quickly transmitted from the contact part to the heat conducting member 14, and the heat generated by the light emission of each light source 12 can be more efficiently dissipated to the temperature indicating member 15.

  The temperature indicating member 15 is disposed on the surface of the heat conducting member 14 and changes its color depending on the temperature transmitted from the heat conducting member 14. Specifically, it consists of a temperature detection material whose color changes stepwise depending on the temperature characteristics, such as a temperature detection material that changes color when it reaches a predetermined temperature indication, and then changes to the original color when the temperature decreases. There is a reversible type that returns to, and an irreversible type that does not return to the original color. In this embodiment, a reversible material is used. The temperature display temperature to be discolored is determined in advance in consideration of the amount of heat generated in the heat source unit 13 and the like, and a temperature indicating material suitable for the temperature is selected.

Further, the temperature indicating member 15 is arranged so that there is no gap between the temperature indicating member 15 and the heat conducting member 14. High thermal conductivity is obtained by sufficiently bringing the temperature indicating member 15 into close contact with the heat conducting member 14.
The size of the temperature indicating member 15 is not limited to that shown in the figure, and may be formed in a size substantially the same as that of the heat conducting member 14.

  The mask member 16 has regions having different color transmission characteristics and is disposed on the surface of the temperature indicating member 15. Here, a plurality of openings 16A that partially expose the temperature indicating member 15 are provided, and arbitrary display contents can be expressed to the user by the shape of each opening 16A. The shape of the opening 16A can be applied to various shapes such as a character imitation or a pattern. The mask member 16 can be formed by printing, coating, painting, or the like using, for example, black ink.

  In the present embodiment, since the light source 12 is used as a heat source for the temperature indicating member 15, the light leaking from each light source 12 through the light transmissive member 17 can be formed by covering the heat source portion 13 with the mask member 16. Can be shielded from light. Here, it is not necessary to cover the light source body 12A, and it is sufficient that at least the light emitting part 12B is covered.

  Further, if the light source 12 is arranged at a position corresponding to the opening 16A of the mask member 16 in the longitudinal direction of the heat conducting member 14, the temperature indicating member 15 in the opening can be efficiently discolored, and the response is good. Become.

  The light transmissive member 17 is disposed above the mask member 16 and is fitted to the outer case 18. By fitting into the outer case 18, the heat source unit 13, the heat conducting member 14, the temperature indicating member 15, the mask member 16, and the like are sandwiched between the outer case 18 and held. Specifically, the light transmissive member 17 is attached in a state in which the fitting convex portion 117 provided on the peripheral edge portion is engaged with the fitting concave portion 118 on the outer case 18 side. For this reason, it is possible to replace the mask member 16 having a different shape of the opening 16A, and it is also possible to have specifications with different display contents. The light transmissive member 17 is made of an acrylic plate or a transparent ABS resin.

  The outer case 18 is formed of a copolymer synthetic resin such as ABS resin, a thermoplastic resin such as PP, or the like.

  In the display device 10 configured as described above, when a plurality of light sources 12 provided in each heat source unit 13 are turned on simultaneously, light emitted from both sides in the width direction of the heat conducting member 14, that is, light emission of each light source 12. The heat conduction member 14 is heated by the heat generated. After the heat of the heat source unit 13 is transmitted to the heat conducting member 14, the heat is transported through the heat conducting member 14 and transmitted to the temperature indicating member 15. The temperature indicating member 15 changes color according to the temperature transmitted from the heat conducting member 14. A predetermined character or pattern is displayed through the mask member 16 when the temperature indicating member 15 changes color.

  In the present embodiment, the color of the temperature indicating member 15 whose color changes with temperature is visually changed from the outside through the opening 16 </ b> A of the mask member 16 by changing the color of the temperature indicating member 15 using the heat released from the heat source unit 13. It has a configuration that can. By changing the color of the temperature indicating member 15 using the heat source unit 13, it becomes possible to easily express multiple colors with a simple configuration.

  By using the temperature indicating member 15 that changes color according to the temperature as in the present embodiment, the display color does not depend on the light emission color of the light source 12, and a plurality of LEDs having different light emission colors can be used to support multiple colors as in the past. No need to prepare. As a result, it is possible to express multiple colors with a single color LED without increasing the number of light sources 12, and the cost is also reduced. Further, a complicated control circuit for controlling the dimming, toning, change and the like of the LED is not necessary, and the circuit configuration is simplified. For this reason, it is possible to notify the predetermined information via the mask member 16 by the temperature indicating member 15 that has changed color based on the temperature only by controlling ON or OFF of the heat source unit 13 including the single color LED.

  In addition, the arrangement space of the substrate 19 and the light source 12 can be made smaller than before, the entire apparatus can be reduced in size and thickness, and can be easily attached even when incorporated in a vehicle body as a kicking plate. In addition, the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle is not impaired.

  Further, since heat is applied from each heat source part 13 to both sides of the heat conducting member 14 in the width direction, a larger amount of heat is indicated via the heat conducting member 14 than when the heat source part 13 is disposed only on one side. It is supplied to the member 15. Thereby, the temperature rise of the temperature indicating member 15 is promoted, and a display with good response can be performed.

  Further, considering the heat transfer range from each light source 12 to the temperature indicating member 15, the position of the light source 12 and the size and shape of the opening 16 </ b> A of the mask member 16 are taken into consideration, so that the color change in the temperature indicating member 15 is changed. A small area can be shielded by the mask member 16. Thereby, a clearer display becomes possible and it becomes easy for the user to visually recognize.

  The display content can be freely changed by simply changing the shape of the opening 16A of the mask member 16. Therefore, a variety of display expressions including complex patterns and fine patterns can be realized, and more needs can be met.

  Thus, the kicking plate 9 with further improved merchantability can be provided by the display device 10 that can realize low cost and space saving and can display various colors.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the configuration of the second embodiment will be described.
The basic configuration of the present embodiment is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment, but the temperature indicating member is integrated with the heat conducting member 14, the heat source unit 13 is configured by the heating coil 26, and the like. Is different. Therefore, common portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and differences will be described in detail.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the display device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing each discoloration region of the temperature indicating layer.
As shown in FIG. 4, the display device 20 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which a heat conducting member and a temperature indicating member are integrated. Specifically, the temperature indicating ink is applied to the heat conducting member 14, and the temperature indicating layer 25 is formed on the entire surface of the heat conducting member 14. The temperature indicating layer 25 is formed of a temperature indicating ink in which a temperature sensitive color changing material such as a temperature indicating material or a temperature indicating pigment is blended, and is printed on the surface of the heat conducting member 14 by gravure, screen, flexo, offset, or the like. Thereby, it is not necessary to worry about the bonding accuracy considering the adhesion between the members.

  In addition, the temperature indicating layer 25 in the present embodiment has a plurality of regions (color-changing regions 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d), and the color that changes for each predetermined region is different. A plurality of these color changing regions 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d are provided between the heating coils 26 arranged on both sides in the width direction. With such a configuration, the regions 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d can be color-changed stepwise in accordance with the temperature rise of the temperature indicating layer 25 (heat conducting member 14). This can be realized by applying temperature indicating materials having different temperature indicating values to the regions 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d.

  The characteristics of reversible temperature indicating inks in practical use include light-resistant metal complex salt inks, liquid crystal inks with good color change accuracy, dye-type inks with excellent vivid colors, number of colors, and color change temperature selectivity. The principle of discoloration is pyrolysis (eg, metal salt), crystal transition (eg, metal complex), change in molecular orientation (eg, crystal), electron transfer between different molecules (eg, lactone type, lactam type, etc.) Related to the electronic transfer between and phenol compounds. As the temperature indicating ink used in the present embodiment, it is necessary to use an ink that changes its color clearly and sensitively to a temperature change.

  In this embodiment, instead of the LED used in the previous embodiment, a heating coil 26 that increases the temperature when the electrical resistance increases is used as the heat source unit 13. In order to efficiently transmit the heat generated by each heating coil 26 to the heat conducting member 14, the heat source unit 13 is disposed in contact with the heat conducting member 14. The amount of heat generated by the heating coil 26 can be adjusted by the applied voltage, the number of turns of the coil, and the like. In this way, the amount of heat supplied to reach the temperature at which the temperature indicating layer 25 changes color (temperature indicating temperature) can be adjusted. Plan.

  By directly forming the temperature indicating layer 25 on the surface of the heat conducting member 14 as in the present embodiment, it becomes possible to prepare the heat conducting member 14 with the temperature indicating layer 25 in advance, thereby shortening the manufacturing process. Can be achieved. Moreover, since it becomes unnecessary to worry about the light leakage of LED by using the heating coil 26 for the heat source part 13, the shape of the mask member 16 can be made small.

  In the present embodiment, the heating coil 26 is used as the heat source unit 13, but other components can be applied as long as they generate heat.

In addition, the temperature indicating layer 25 of the present embodiment has a plurality of regions having different colors that change according to the temperature, that is, regions having different temperature indicating temperatures (color changing regions 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d). In the process of rising, the display color can be changed for each intended region, and a free and accidental color change can be easily created. As a result, a kicking plate with improved merchantability can be provided.
Further, regions having different temperature indication temperatures may be provided side by side in the optical axis direction of the light source 12. This makes it possible to represent a color change in each opening 16A.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an opening is provided for each of the color changing regions 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d. However, an opening having a size that covers a plurality of color changing regions 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d may be formed. As a result, it is possible to represent a state in which each region is discolored step by step as the temperature rises.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the display device according to the third embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 6, the display device 30 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which a heat conductive member 34 having optical transparency is disposed on the temperature indicating member 15. As a result, the temperature indicating member 15 can be disposed at a position adjacent to the light source accommodating portion 18 </ b> A of the outer case 18, so that the entire apparatus can be thinned. The discoloration state of the temperature indicating member 15 due to the temperature rise can be confirmed from each opening 16A of the mask member 16 disposed thereon through the heat conductive member 34 having light permeability.

  As described above, the preferred embodiments according to the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the examples. It is obvious for those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims. It is understood that it belongs to.

For example, in each of the previous embodiments, the configuration in which the LED is used as the light source 12 has been described.
Further, as the material of the light transmissive member 17, a mixed material in which materials having different light transmittances are mixed can be used. Further, depending on the situation, it is also possible to install with changing the light transmittance.
Moreover, while being able to select freely the LED of the same color different color as the light source 12 installed in each heat-source part 13, the number of the light sources 12 can also be selected freely. Further, although the light sources 12 arranged to face each other via the heat conducting member 14 are arranged in a state where their optical axes are matched, it is not always necessary to match the optical axes, and the opening of the mask member 16 is not necessarily required. The position may be shifted in the width direction of the heat conducting member 14 according to the position of 16A.

Further, the heat source portions 13 may be disposed opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction of the heat conducting member 14. Or it is good also as a structure which arrange | positions the heat-source part 13 to all four sides.
Further, the heat conducting member 14 is not limited to the one made of the above material, but may be a liquid or gel.

In each of the above embodiments, the example of the display device used for the kicking plate installed in the side step portion of the automobile has been described. However, the display device is not limited to this, and can be incorporated in other places. . For example, a glove box on the passenger side, foot lighting, an emblem in the center of the steering wheel, an emblem on the outside of the vehicle, a license plate, and the like can be given.
It can also be applied to other than automobiles.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 ... Kicking plate 10, 20, 30 ... Display apparatus, 11 ... Side step part, 12 ... Light source, 13 ... Heat source part (heat source), 14, 34 ... Heat conduction member, 15 ... Temperature display member, 16 ... Mask member, 16A ... Opening, 17 ... Light transmissive member, 18 ... Outer case, 25a ... Discoloration region (region)

Claims (9)

A heat source,
A heat conduction member for transferring heat from the heat source;
A temperature indicating member that changes color depending on the temperature transmitted from the heat conducting member;
A light-transmitting member that fits into the outer case so as to cover the temperature indicating member, and sandwiches the heat source, the heat conducting member, and the temperature indicating member with the outer case,
Equipped with a,
A display device used for a kicking plate installed in a side step portion of an automobile .   The display device according to claim 1, wherein a mask member having a plurality of regions having different color transmission characteristics is disposed on the temperature indicating member.   The display device according to claim 1, wherein the heat source is disposed opposite to both sides of the heat conducting member in the width direction.   The display device according to claim 1, wherein the heat source is a light source.   The display device according to claim 1, wherein the heat conducting member and the temperature indicating member are integrated.   The display device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature indicating member has a plurality of regions having different temperature indicating temperatures.   The display device according to claim 1, wherein the heat conducting member having light permeability is disposed on the temperature indicating member.   The display device according to claim 2, wherein the mask member has an opening that partially exposes the temperature indicating member.   5. The display device according to claim 4, wherein the light sources are arranged to face each other on both sides in the width direction of the heat conducting member so that the optical axes thereof are the same.

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