JPH0136603B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an indicator display element, and particularly to an indicator display element that displays the operation status of a device on a plurality of display sections.

[Prior Art] Indicators are used in various types of equipment, such as audio equipment or air conditioning equipment, to indicate their operating status. Generally, the indicators include a light-emitting display element provided near a switch operation part, etc.
This blinking allows the operator to recognize the operating status of the device.

For example, modern vehicles are equipped with various onboard devices, especially air conditioners in the cabin, and various switches to switch modes, airflow rates, and temperatures. Indicators are widely used to easily notify the driver of the control status of various in-vehicle devices.

FIG. 3 shows a general operating section of such a vehicle air conditioner.

In the figure, the compartment side panel 1 of the housing 10
0a includes a plurality of mode changeover switches 12a~
12d is provided, and when the operator presses one of the switches, the air conditioning mode in the vehicle interior is switched.

Here, a display section 14a is provided near each switch.
~14d is provided, and when any switch is in the pressed state, the display corresponding to that switch lights up, allowing the operator to easily change the mode of the air conditioner even during operation. You can know.

FIG. 4 shows the push-in of the switch 12 and the display section 14.
An example of an interlocking mechanism with lighting is shown.

In the figure, when the switch 12 is pushed in the direction of arrow A, the shutter 16 integrally formed with the switch 12 also moves in the direction A in conjunction with it, and an opening 18 is formed between it and the housing 10.

A display section 14 composed of a single display element is arranged at one end of the opening 18 (upper side in the figure), and the other end of the opening 18 (lower side in the figure)
A lamp 20 is placed in the lamp 20 and is turned on at all times or when necessary.

As is clear from FIG. 4, when the switch 12 is in the pressed state, light from the lamp 20 is supplied to the display section 14 through the opening 18, and as a result, the display section 14
The panel side of is illuminated to indicate that the switch 12 is in the pressed state and set to the desired mode.

FIG. 5 shows a display element 28 constituting the display section 14, and in the same figure, the display element is made of acrylic resin.

In general, acrylic acid resin has excellent water, acid, alkali, and oil resistance, and methyl methacrylate polymer in particular is a thermoplastic resin with good transparency and is highly elastic and resistant to impact, making it particularly suitable as a display element for vehicle indicators. It is the material.

As is clear from the figure, the display element is formed into a trapezoidal cross-section with one end of a rectangular parallelepiped diagonally cut out, and the light emitted from the lamp 20 enters the light incident surface 22 of the display element, and the reflection surface Reflected at 24 and emitted light from surface 2
Idemitsu starts from 6.

Here, when the light from the lamp 20 enters the light incident surface 22 at a right angle, the angle θ formed by the reflective surface 24 and the light incident surface 22, the incident angle α of the light on the reflective surface 24, and the reflection If the angles .beta. are the same and .theta. is set to 45.degree. in FIG. 5, the light from the lamp 20 changes direction and travels at right angles within the display element, as shown by the broken line in the figure.

In this way, according to the display element of the conventional indicator, the operator can easily recognize the control state of the device as shown in FIG. 3 by emitting light.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Problems of the Prior Art However, according to the conventional display element described above, even in an indicator having a plurality of display parts, a display element must be incorporated for each display part. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the panel 10a is provided with an insertion hole into which the display element 28 is inserted in a portion forming the display section 14a, and the panel 10a is provided with an insertion hole into which the display element 28 is inserted.
The display elements 28 were inserted one after another.

Therefore, there are problems in that a large number of man-hours are required for manufacturing and assembling the display element, and the number of parts also increases.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its purpose is to provide a display element for an indicator that can reduce the number of parts and reduce the number of manufacturing and assembly steps. There is a particular thing.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention connects a plurality of display parts by a connecting part and forms an integral part.

Here, the present invention is characterized in that a stray light trap is provided for reflecting stray light from the display section adjacent to the connecting section and eliminating interference of light between the respective display sections.

[Function] As is clear from the above-described configuration, according to the display element according to the present invention, the plurality of display parts are connected by the connecting part and formed integrally, so that the display element itself can be manufactured easily, and the parts can be easily manufactured. In addition to reducing the number of points, unlike the conventional technology that incorporates display elements into each of the multiple display parts of the indicator, multiple display parts can be assembled at once using one display element, which reduces the number of man-hours required to assemble the indicator. can be reduced.

In addition, a stray light trap was installed at the connecting part, so
Even when one of the display parts emits light, stray light does not leak to the adjacent display part through the connection part, eliminating light interference between each display part, Even when compared with the case where a display element is provided in the display element, there is no inferiority in the light emission characteristics.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

In the present invention, each display section has a light entrance surface and a light exit surface, similar to the display element shown in FIG.
It performs the same light emitting action as the conventional one.

Here, in the present invention, a plurality of display parts are integrally formed by a connecting part.

However, each display section is made of a transparent material such as acrylic resin as in the past, and the connecting section integrally formed with this display section is also made of a transparent material.

What should be noted here is that if each display section is simply connected by a columnar connection section as shown in FIG. 6, light interference will occur between adjacent display sections.

That is, in FIG. 6, the display sections 50a, 5
0b, 50c are independent display parts, display parts 50a, 50b are a connecting part 52a, and display part 5
0b and 50c are connected by a connecting part 52b, and each display part and the connecting part are integrally formed of acrylic resin.

Here, when making the display section 50a emit light,
The light incident on the light incident surface changes its direction at the reflecting surface 54a, travels in the direction indicated by the broken line arrow B in the figure, and emits light from the light exit surface 56a, as in the conventional case.

However, part of the light is diffracted within the display section 50a, and as shown in a, b, and c in the figure, the connecting section 52a
Stray light is generated that travels toward the adjacent display section 50b through the display section 50b. As a result, the stray light from the display section 50a is further diffracted in the display section 50b, and the light emitting surface 5
Some light also leaks from 6b.

Therefore, if the display parts are simply connected by column-shaped connecting parts as shown in FIG. 6, it is impossible for the plurality of display parts to flash independently and serve as indicators to indicate the operating status of the device. This is not possible and is of no practical use.

The present inventors have developed the present invention based on the above findings, and the characteristic feature of the present invention is that the above-mentioned stray light is reflected in the connecting portion to prevent light interference between each display portion. This is because a stray light trap has been installed to eliminate stray light.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which a stray light trap is provided in the connecting portion, and the same parts as in FIG.

A characteristic feature of this embodiment is that the stray light traps are formed from wedge-shaped notches 58a, 58b, and 58c cut from both sides of the connecting portion at different positions along the axial direction of the connecting portion so that their tips overlap. It is being formed.

In this embodiment, the tip of the notch 58 is formed at a right angle, and the notch surface 60 forms a stray light reflecting surface.

In this embodiment, the display section 5 is similar to that shown in FIG.
To explain the case where 0a emits light, when a part of the light passing through the display section 50a is diffracted toward the adjacent display section 50b at A to F, the stray light from A to C is transmitted to the display section of the notch 58a. The reflected light is reflected by the reflecting surface 60a formed by the slope on the side of 50a, and the reflected light travels in the directions A', B', and C', respectively, by the same action as explained in FIG. It is absorbed by the inner surface of a panel (not shown) provided outside the display element.

Further, the stray light diffracted by D to F in the display section 50a is reflected by the stray light reflecting surface 6 formed by the notch 58b.
It is reflected by 0b and travels in the direction of D' to F', and is absorbed and annihilated by a light absorbing material (not shown).

As a result, even when the display section 50a emits light,
The stray light diffracted within the display section 50a is transmitted to the connecting section 52a.
The light does not travel to the adjacent display section 50b via the display section 50b, and in the same way, interference of light between the display sections is reliably eliminated.

Therefore, even though a plurality of display parts and their connecting parts are integrally formed from the same transparent member,
It becomes possible to clearly blink each display section independently.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the display element according to this embodiment is attached to the panel 10a of the housing 10, and as is clear from the figure, the display element according to the present invention can be attached to the panel 10a all at once. It is understood that this makes it possible to simplify the installation work.

In this example, the stray light trap is formed by providing a notch in the front and rear direction of the connecting part.
There is no problem even if the cut portion is formed in the vertical direction.

Further, in this embodiment, the display section is arranged on a straight line, but it goes without saying that it is also possible to arrange it two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the display element of the indicator according to the present invention, a plurality of display parts are integrally formed by a connecting part, and furthermore, the connecting part reflects stray light from adjacent display parts. Since the stray light trap is provided, it is possible to eliminate light interference between each display section and to clearly perform independent blinking of each display section.

Therefore, it is possible to attach a plurality of integrally formed display parts to the indicator at once, which has the effect of reducing the number of parts as well as the man-hours for manufacturing and assembling the display element.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a top view showing a preferred embodiment of the display element of the indicator according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory view showing how the display element according to the invention is attached to a panel, and Fig. 3 is a general view. An explanatory diagram showing the operation section of a vehicle air conditioner, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the interlocking state between the switch operation and the display on the display section, FIG. 5 is a side view of a conventional display element, and FIG. 6 is a simple diagram. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a problem when a plurality of display units are connected by a columnar connection part. 50...Display section, 52...Connection section, 56...Light exit surface, 58...Notch section (stray light trap), 60...
...Stray light reflective surface.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of display sections each having a light entrance surface and a light exit surface, and a connecting section that is integrally formed with each display section and connects each display section, wherein the connecting section includes an adjacent display section. A display element for an indicator, characterized in that it is provided with a stray light trap that reflects stray light from the outside and eliminates light interference between display parts. 2. In the display element according to claim 1,
An indicator display element characterized in that the stray light trap is comprised of wedge-shaped notches cut from both sides of the connecting part at different positions along the axial direction of the connecting part so that their tips overlap.