JP3457142B2 - Instrument lighting system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illuminating device for an instrument used in, for example, a car combiometer, and more particularly to an illuminating device for an instrument that emits a pointer with light emitted from a light source.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 5 to 6 show a conventional illuminating device for measuring instruments. A pointer 13 is provided at the tip of a pointer shaft 12 protruding from the front of a dial 11, and the pointer 13 is provided on the back of the dial 11. The pointer 13 is made to emit light by an inexpensive and simple mechanism for making the light emitted from the light source 14 incident.

FIGS. 7 to 8 show Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-200726, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-77918 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-122.
3 shows an instrument lighting device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 320, in which a tip of a rotary shaft 23 that projects a highly directional beam of light emitted from a light source 22 disposed on the back of the dial 21 to the front of the dial 21. The dial 24 is provided by the reflector 24 provided in
The pointer image 25 is projected on the front surface of the dial 21 by reflecting it toward the front surface of the dial 21.

[0004]

However, in the former case, since the pointer 13 has a length that overlaps the scale 15 of the dial 11, the numerical value 16 arranged inside the scale 15 is hidden by the pointer 13 and cannot be seen. I will end up.

In the latter case, although the optical system for projecting the pointer image 25 on the front surface of the dial 21 by the light beam emitted from the light source 22 is an expensive and complicated mechanism, the dial plate 2 is formed by the beam light.
Since only the pointer image 25 is projected onto the dial 1, the dial 21
The indicators such as the scale 26 and the numerical value 27 are lacking in visibility.

Therefore, the present invention has a low cost and a simple mechanism, but the visibility of the dial of the dial can be improved by performing the composite instruction by the light emitting pointer and the pointing image of the light which do not cover the dial of the dial. It is intended to provide a lighting device for a meter that is unique in design.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a pointer shaft projecting to the front of the dial is provided with a pointer for indicating the index of the dial, and the pointer is illuminated by a light source at the back of the dial. In the illuminating device of the instrument in which the pointer is made to emit light by allowing the incident light to be incident and reflecting the incident light toward the tip side by the reflecting surface of the pointer, the pointer does not overlap the index of the dial. On the other hand, while forming a reflective ring having a projection surface for projecting the pointing image visually from the front of the dial with the light output from the tip surface of the pointer, Between the reflection surface and the tip surface of
The side surface is formed as a light emitting surface, and the tip surface of the pointer is reflected by the reflection surface.
Formed as a convex lens that collects light toward the projection surface of the ring
It is characterized by that.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the pointer is formed to have a length that does not overlap the index of the dial, the pointer does not cover the index of the dial, and the pointer indicates. The index of the dial can be surely seen from the front of the dial.

When the light source is turned on, the light emitted from the light source is incident on the pointer, and the incident light is reflected toward the tip side by the reflecting surface of the pointer to emit the pointer, while the reflecting surface of the pointer is illuminated. Visibility of the indicator on the dial indicated by the pointer by outputting the reflected light reflected by the outside to the outside of the tip surface of the pointer and projecting the pointing image on the projection surface of the reflecting ring arranged outside the pointer. Can be improved.

Therefore, although the mechanism is inexpensive and simple,
It is possible to illuminate an instrument that is unique in design and has high visibility of the index of the dial by a composite instruction by the light emitting pointer that does not cover the index of the dial and the pointing image of light.

[0011]

[0012] Since it has formed an outer surface between the reflection surface and the front end surface of the pointer as a light emitting surface, the visibility of the indicator to diffuse emission light emitted from the light source in the light-emitting surface to the outside It can be further improved.

[0013]

Further, since the tip end surface of the pointer is formed as a convex lens, the convex lens condenses and shapes the light emitted from the light source toward the projection surface of the reflection ring, and is projected onto the reflection ring. The shape can be adjusted and the brightness can be increased to further improve the visibility.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the base portion corresponding to the tip end surface of the reflecting surface of the pointer according to the first aspect is formed as a concave mirror that focuses the light toward the tip end surface.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the base portion corresponding to the tip surface of the reflecting surface of the pointer is formed as a concave mirror for converging toward the tip surface, the concave mirror irradiates the light source. It is possible to increase the brightness of the pointing image projected on the reflecting ring by condensing the light toward the tip surface of the pointer.

In claim 3, claim 1 or the contract
The projection surface of the reflecting ring according to claim 2 is formed as an uneven surface.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the projection surface of the reflecting ring is formed as a concave-convex surface, the light which is output from the tip surface of the pointer and projects the pointing image onto the projection surface of the reflecting ring is formed. The unevenness can be diffused to improve the visibility of the pointing image.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. In these drawings, 1 is a dial 1,
The dial 1 has a through hole 3 penetrating the pointer shaft 2, a numerical value 4 as one of indexes arranged on an arc centered on the pointer shaft 2 on the front surface of the dial 1, and outside the numerical value 4. Scale 5 as another index arranged on the concentric arc
A reflecting ring 6 arranged on a concentric arc outside the scale 5.

The reflecting ring 6 has a projection surface 6a on its inner peripheral surface for projecting a pointing image 10 which will be described later from the front of the dial 1 in a visible manner.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a pointer, which is provided at the tip of a pointer shaft 2 protruding from the front surface of the dial 1 and is formed of a transparent synthetic resin so as to have a length up to the vicinity of the numeral 4. It does not overlap with the scale 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the case of this embodiment, the pointer 7 has an inclined reflecting surface 7 covered with a cap 8.
a, a substantially vertical tip surface 7b, and a light emitting surface 7 in which an outer surface between the reflecting surface 7a and the tip surface 7b is formed in a convex arc shape.
The light emitted from the light source 9 disposed on the back of the dial 1 is incident on the pointer shaft 2 through the through hole 3 of the dial 1, and the incident light is emitted from the reflecting surface 7a to the tip surface 7b. The reflected light is reflected toward the surface 7c, and the reflected light is diffused and emitted from the light emitting surface 7c to the outside, and is output to the outside from the tip surface 7b to project the pointing image 10 on the projection surface 6a of the reflecting ring 6 in a point shape. I am doing it.

According to the structure of the above embodiment, since the pointer 7 is formed to have a length up to the vicinity of the numeral 4 within the range in which the numeral 4 can be seen from the pointer shaft 2, the pointer 7 is provided on the scale 5 or inside thereof. The arranged numeral 4 is not hidden, and the numeral 4 and the scale 5 of the dial 1 indicated by the pointer 7 are set to the dial 1.
You can see it more surely from the front.

When the light source 9 is turned on, the light emitted from the light source 9 is diffused and emitted on the light emitting surface 7c of the pointer 7, and the light output from the tip surface 7b of the pointer 7 is arranged outside the scale 5. On the projection surface 6a of the reflection ring 6, the pointing image 1
Since 0 is projected, the visibility of the numerical value 4 and the scale 5 of the dial 1 indicated by the pointer 7 can be improved.

Therefore, although the mechanism is inexpensive and simple,
The number 4 and the scale 5 of the dial 1 are highly visible due to the composite indication by the pointer 7 and the light indication image 10 that emit light without hitting the number 4 and the scale 5 of the dial 1. Unique instrument lighting can be done.

Since the light emitted from the light source 9 is diffused and emitted by the light emitting surface 7c of the pointer 7 as described above, the visibility of the pointer 7 can be further improved.

In the above embodiment, the light emitting surface 7c is formed in a convex arc shape, but as shown in FIG. 6, the same effect can be obtained by forming it in a linear shape.

The through hole 3 is necessary for the pointer shaft 2, but is not always necessary for the light emitted from the light source 9.

Further, the arrangement of the numerical value 4 and the graduation 5 is such that the numerical value 4 is arranged inside and the numerical value 4 is arranged outside.
In some cases, the scales 5 may be arranged on the inner side and the outer side, or two sets of the numerical values 4 and the scales 5 may be arranged concentrically (parallel).

FIG. 3 shows the second embodiment, in which the tip surface of the pointer 7 is formed as a convex lens 7d, and the convex lens 7d focuses the light toward the projection surface 6a of the reflecting ring 6 and reflects it. The pointing image 10 projected on the projection surface 6a of the ring 6 is shaped into a light point having good visibility such as a linear shape or a dot shape, and the brightness can be increased.

A reflecting surface 7a corresponding to the convex lens 7d
The base of is formed as a concave mirror 7e, and the pointer 7
The light is focused toward the front end surface 7b or the convex lens 7d to increase the brightness of the pointing image 10 projected on the projection surface 6a of the reflection ring 6.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment in which the projection surface 6a of the reflecting ring 6 is formed as an uneven surface 6b, and the uneven surface 6b outputs from the tip surface 7b of the pointer 7 or the convex lens 7d. The light for projecting the pointing image 10 on the projection surface 6a of the reflecting ring 6 is diffused so that the visibility of the pointing image 10 can be improved.

In each of the embodiments, the light emitted from the light source 9 arranged on the back of the dial 1 is directly incident on the pointer 7. However, a light guide plate is arranged on the back of the dial 1, and the light guide plate is used as the light source. The emitted light is guided to the pointer 7, enters the pointer 7, emits the pointer 7, projects the pointing image 10 on the projection surface 6a of the reflection ring 6, and guides the light emitted from the light source by the light guide plate. It is also possible to guide to the dial 1 and illuminate and display the numerical value 4 and the scale 5 of the dial 1.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the pointer is formed so as not to overlap the index of the dial, the index of the dial is not hidden by the pointer, and the dial pointed by the pointer is indicated. The index of can be seen more reliably from the front of the dial.

When the light source is turned on, the light emitted from the light source is incident on the pointer, and the incident light is reflected toward the tip side by the reflecting surface of the pointer to emit the pointer, while the reflecting surface of the pointer is illuminated. The reflected light is output to the outside from the tip surface of the pointer, and the pointing image is projected on the projection surface of the reflecting ring arranged outside the index, without the need to increase the output of the light source. It is possible to improve the visibility of the index on the dial.

Therefore, although the structure is inexpensive and simple,
It is possible to illuminate an instrument that is unique in design and has high visibility of the index of the dial by a composite instruction by the light emitting pointer that does not cover the index of the dial and the pointing image of light.

Further , since the outer surface between the reflecting surface and the tip surface of the pointer is formed as a convex arc-shaped light emitting surface, the light emitted from the light source on the light emitting surface is diffused and emitted to the outside to guide the pointer. The visibility of can be further improved.

Further, by forming the tip surface of the pointer as a convex lens, the light emitted from the light source by the convex lens is condensed toward the projection surface of the reflecting ring, and the shape of the pointing image projected on the reflecting ring is formed. It can be molded to increase brightness and further improve visibility.

According to the second aspect, since the base portion corresponding to the tip surface of the reflecting surface of the pointer is formed as a concave mirror for converging toward the tip surface, the light emitted from the light source by the concave mirror is guided. According to the third aspect, the projection surface of the reflecting ring is formed as an uneven surface, and thus the tip of the pointer is condensed. It is possible to improve the visibility of the pointing image by diffusing the light output from the surface and projecting the pointing image on the projection surface of the reflection ring by the uneven surface.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing an illumination device of a conventional instrument that emits light from a pointer.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the related art.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a conventional illuminating device of an instrument of the type that forms a pointer image with light.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 dial 2 pointer axis 4 numerical values (index) 5 scale (index) 6 reflection ring 6a Projection plane 6b uneven surface 7 guidelines 7a Reflective surface 7b Tip surface 7c Light emitting surface 7d convex lens 7e concave mirror 10 Pointing image

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pointer shaft, which protrudes from the front surface of the dial, is provided with a pointer for indicating an index of the dial, and the light emitted from a light source at the back of the dial is made to enter the pointer, and the incident light is used as a pointer. In the illuminating device of the instrument in which the pointer is made to emit light by reflecting toward the tip side on the reflecting surface, while the pointer is formed to a length that does not overlap the index of the dial,
While arranging a reflection ring having a projection surface for projecting an indication image from the front of the dial with the light output from the tip surface of the pointer on the outside of the index of the dial , the reflection of the pointer
An outer surface between the surface and the tip surface is formed as a light emitting surface,
Focus the tip surface of the pointer toward the projection surface of the reflection ring
Instrument lighting characterized by being formed as a convex lens
apparatus. 2. The instrument illuminating device according to claim 1, wherein a base portion corresponding to a tip surface of the reflecting surface of the pointer is formed as a concave mirror for converging light toward the tip surface. 3. The illuminating device for an instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the projection surface of the reflecting ring is formed as an uneven surface.