JP2006059565A - Illuminating structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To illuminate a panel switch without providing an exclusive light source to illuminate the panel switch. <P>SOLUTION: A display device 1 is equipped with a light guide lens 9 to guide light from a liquid crystal panel 10 to the panel switch 4 between the liquid crystal panel 10 and the panel switch, and the panel switch 4 is illuminated by light guided by the light guide lens 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&amp;NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an illumination structure of an electronic device provided with a display device.

Conventionally, as an illumination structure of an electronic apparatus provided with a display device, an illumination structure that illuminates a display unit of a panel of an electronic apparatus by guiding light from a light source with a light guide is proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-22711

  As an electronic apparatus provided with such a display device, for example, there is a navigation device.

  FIG. 5 shows a front view of a display device of a general navigation device.

  The display device 1 includes a liquid crystal panel 10, a plurality of panel switches 4 provided around the liquid crystal panel 10, and a substantially frame-shaped escutcheon (design panel) provided on the display surface side of the liquid crystal panel 10. .

  The liquid crystal panel 10 displays a video corresponding to a video signal input from a liquid crystal display controller (not shown). On the liquid crystal panel 10, for example, a map around the vehicle, a menu screen of a navigation device, a television image, and the like are displayed.

  The panel switch 4 is made of a translucent resin or the like and functions as an operation switch for the navigation device. On the panel switch 4, characters such as “current location”, “destination”, and “menu” are displayed. These character portions are translucent, and portions other than the characters are printed so as to be light-shielding.

  The escutcheon 5 is made of a substantially frame-shaped resin, and is provided on the display surface side of the liquid crystal panel 10 so as to cover the periphery of the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 10.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the escutcheon 5 is provided with a columnar support portion 7, and the printed board 3 is fixed to the support portion 7 by screwing with screws 8. Electronic components such as the LED 2 and the tact switch 6 are mounted on the printed circuit board 3.

  The LED 2 emits light according to a user turning on a small light for night illumination by a user, and is turned off according to an off operation of the small light. The light emitted from the LED 2 illuminates the characters such as “current location”, “destination”, and “menu” of the panel switch 4 so that the user can recognize the characters displayed on the panel switch 4 even when the vehicle interior becomes dark. It can be done. In addition to the LED 2, a bulb or the like is used as the illumination light source for the panel switch 4.

  The panel switch 4 is supported by rails provided on the escutcheon 5. In FIG. 6, when a stress in the direction of the printed circuit board 3 is applied from the upper side of the drawing, the panel switch 4 pushes down the movable part of the tact switch 6 mounted on the printed circuit board 3 to turn on the tact switch 3 and When the stress from is eliminated, the movable parts of the panel switch 4 and the tact switch 6 return to their original positions.

  The conventional illumination structure described above includes a dedicated light source for illuminating the panel switch 4 such as an LED or a bulb, and the panel switch 4 is illuminated by this light source.

  However, such an illumination structure requires a dedicated light source for illuminating the panel switch 4 such as an LED or a bulb, and a drive circuit for driving the light source. In particular, when the brightness of the panel switch 4 and the color of illumination are to be changed, it is necessary to provide a plurality of light sources, a microcomputer for controlling the current flowing through these light sources, and the like.

  In addition, in such an illumination structure using LEDs and bulbs, the ambient temperature of electronic components arranged near the LEDs and bulbs reaches the rated ambient temperature due to the effects of heat generation of the LEDs and bulbs. There was a possibility that the temperature in the vicinity of the bulb would rise and deform the surrounding resin.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to illuminate a panel switch without providing a dedicated light source for illuminating the panel switch.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an illumination structure of a panel switch disposed around the display screen of the electronic device, and light from the display screen is provided between the display screen and the panel switch. A light guide for guiding the light to the panel switch is provided, and the panel switch is illuminated with light guided by the light guide.

  As described above, the light guide that guides the light from the display screen to the panel switch is provided between the display screen and the panel switch, and the panel switch is illuminated by the light guided by the light guide. Therefore, the panel switch is illuminated. The panel switch can be illuminated without a dedicated light source. In addition, since a dedicated light source for illuminating the panel switch is not necessary, heat generated by the dedicated light source for illuminating the panel switch can be eliminated.

  In the invention described in claim 2, a design panel is provided on the display surface side of the display screen so as to cover the periphery of the display panel, and the light guide is light from a region covered with the design panel on the display screen. Is guided to the panel switch.

  Thus, since the light guide guides light from the region covered with the design panel on the display screen to the panel switch, the panel switch can be illuminated without providing a new light source.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the storage means for storing the color of the light illuminating the panel switch and the light guide on the display screen are stored in the storage means in the area for taking in the light guided to the panel switch. A display control means for displaying the color of light is provided.

  Therefore, by changing the color of light that illuminates the panel switch stored in the storage means, it is possible to easily change the color of light that illuminates the panel switch.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided input means for inputting a color of light for illuminating the panel switch in accordance with a user operation, and the display control means is light for illuminating the panel switch input from the input means. The color of the light for illuminating the panel switch stored in the storage means is changed in accordance with the color.

  In this way, the display control means changes the color of the light for illuminating the panel switch stored in the storage means according to the color of the light for illuminating the panel switch input from the input means. The illumination color of the appropriate panel switch can be set and changed.

  Further, the invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that all or part of the panel switch transmits light guided by the light guide.

  FIG. 1 shows a front view of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view according to the line AA in FIG. Note that the same parts as those in the above-described conventional technology are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, different parts will be mainly described. As shown in FIG. 2, the display device 1 according to the present embodiment uses a light guide lens 9 provided between the liquid crystal panel 10 and the panel switch 4 using a part of the liquid crystal panel 10 (illumination region C) as a light source. The light from the illumination area C in the liquid crystal panel 10 is guided to the panel switch 4 to illuminate the panel switch 4.

  The light guide lens (light guide) 9 is fixed between the liquid crystal panel 10 and the panel switch 4 by a support member (not shown). The light guide lens 9 takes in light from the illumination area C in the liquid crystal panel 10 and guides it to the panel switch 4. The illumination area C is an area that is covered with the escutcheon 5 and is not visually recognized by the user.

  Such a light guide lens 9 is provided corresponding to each of the “current location”, “destination”, and “menu” panel switches 4 shown in FIG.

  As a material of the light guide lens 9, a transparent resin material such as acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, or epoxy resin, glass, or the like can be used.

  The panel switch 4 is transmitted and illuminated from the printed circuit board 9 side by the light guided by the light guide lens 9. It should be noted that the color of the light that illuminates the panel switch 4 (illumination color) changes according to the display color of the illumination area C in the liquid crystal panel 10.

  Next, a block configuration of the display device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the display device 1 includes a liquid crystal display controller 20 and a liquid crystal panel 10.

  The liquid crystal display controller 20 includes a RAM as a volatile memory, an EEPROM as a nonvolatile memory, a microcomputer, and the like. Note that the illumination color of the panel switch 4 is stored in advance in the EEPROM of the liquid crystal display controller 20.

  The liquid crystal display controller 20 receives a video signal from the main body of the navigation device (not shown) and a tail signal indicating that the night lighting small light is turned on from the ECU (not shown).

  The microcomputer of the liquid crystal display controller 20 displays a video corresponding to a video signal input from the main body of the navigation device in the video display area B of the liquid crystal panel 10, and a panel switch in the illumination area C of the liquid crystal panel 10. A video signal for displaying a video for illuminating 4 is generated and output to the liquid crystal panel 10.

  The liquid crystal panel 10 displays an image corresponding to the video signal input from the liquid crystal display controller 20.

  In addition, a touch panel (not shown) is laminated on the liquid crystal panel 10. The user can set and change the illumination color of the panel switch 4 by operating a touch panel provided on the liquid crystal panel 10.

  The illumination color of the panel switch 4 is set and changed as follows.

  The microcomputer of the liquid crystal display controller 20 sets the illumination color of the panel switch 4 on the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 10 when a signal instructing the setting of the illumination color of the panel switch 4 is input from the touch panel according to a user operation. Display the menu screen to change.

  The user sets and changes the illumination color of the panel switch 4 from the touch panel according to the menu screen. As the illumination color of the panel switch 4, for example, colors such as white, blue, green, yellow, and red can be set.

  And the microcomputer of the liquid crystal display controller 20 memorize | stores the illumination color of the panel switch 4 input from a touch panel according to operation of a user's touch panel in EEPROM.

  The microcomputer of the liquid crystal display controller 20 displays the illumination area C in the liquid crystal panel 10 according to the illumination color stored in the EEPROM in this way.

  Next, processing of the microcomputer of the liquid crystal display controller 20 will be described.

  When the power switch (not shown) of the display device 1 is turned on, the microcomputer of the liquid crystal display controller 20 displays a video based on a video signal input from the main body of the navigation device in the video display area B of the liquid crystal panel 10. In accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, processing for displaying a predetermined image in the illumination area C in the liquid crystal panel 10 is periodically performed.

  First, it is determined whether a tail signal is input from the ECU (S100).

  If it is determined that the tail signal is not input (NO in S100), the panel switch 4 is turned off. Specifically, “black” having a low luminance is displayed in the illumination area C of the liquid crystal panel 10 to turn off the illumination of the panel switch 4 (S104), and this process is terminated.

  If it is determined in S100 that a tail signal has been input (YES in S100), the panel switch 4 is turned on. Thereby, the user can easily recognize the characters displayed on the panel switch 4 even when the vehicle interior becomes dark. Specifically, the illumination color of the panel switch 4 stored in the EEPROM is read, and the illumination area C in the liquid crystal panel 10 is displayed according to the read illumination color. For example, when “white” is stored as the illumination color of the panel switch 4 in the EEPROM, the illumination of the panel switch 4 is turned on by displaying the illumination area C in the liquid crystal panel 10 as “white” (S104), This process ends.

  As described above, the display device 1 includes the light guide lens 9 that guides the light from the liquid crystal panel 10 to the panel switch 4 between the liquid crystal panel 10 and the panel switch, and the panel is formed by the light guided by the light guide lens 9. Illuminate the switch 4.

  As described above, the light guide lens 9 that guides the light from the liquid crystal panel 10 to the panel switch 4 is provided between the liquid crystal panel 10 and the panel switch 4, and the panel switch 4 is illuminated by the light guided by the light guide lens 9. Therefore, the panel switch 4 can be illuminated without providing a dedicated light source for illuminating the panel switch 4. In addition, since a dedicated light source for illuminating the panel switch 4 is not required, heat generated by the dedicated light source for illuminating the panel switch 4 can be eliminated.

  Further, an escutcheon 5 is provided on the display surface side of the liquid crystal panel 10 so as to cover the periphery of the liquid crystal panel 10, and the light guide lens 9 guides light from a region covered with the escutcheon 5 in the liquid crystal panel 10 to the panel switch 4. It is configured as follows.

  Thus, since the light guide lens 9 guides light from the region covered with the escutcheon 5 in the liquid crystal panel 10 to the panel switch 4, this region is not visually recognized by the user. Therefore, the panel switch 4 can be illuminated without providing a new light source.

  In addition, an EEPROM that stores the color of the light that illuminates the panel switch 4 and a liquid crystal that displays the color of the light stored in the EEPROM in a region where the light guide lens 9 in the liquid crystal panel 10 introduces light guided to the panel switch 4. Since the display controller 20 is provided, the illumination color of the panel switch 4 can be easily changed by changing the illumination color of the panel switch stored in the EEPROM.

  In addition, a touch panel for inputting the illumination color of the panel switch 4 according to the user's operation is provided, and the display control means stores the illumination color of the panel switch 4 input from the touch panel in the EEPROM. The illumination color of the appropriate panel switch can be set and changed.

  In the above embodiment, the storage means corresponds to an EEPROM as a nonvolatile memory, the display control means corresponds to the liquid crystal display controller 20, and the input means corresponds to a touch panel.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Based on the meaning of this invention, it can implement with a various form.

  For example, in the above embodiment, an example in which a liquid crystal panel is used as a display screen of an electronic device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to a liquid crystal panel, and for example, a plasma display panel, an EL panel, a CRT, or the like can be used. .

  Moreover, although the example which changes the illumination color of the panel switch 4 was shown in the said embodiment, you may make it change the brightness (luminance) of illumination. Moreover, you may change illumination color and brightness with progress of time.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which lighting on / off of the panel switch 4 is controlled in accordance with a tail signal input from the ECU has been described. For example, lighting of the panel switch 4 is always performed regardless of the tail signal. It may be controlled to turn on.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the panel switch 4 as a navigation device such as “current location”, “destination”, and “menu” is illuminated has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to application to the navigation device. The present invention can be applied to illumination of various panel switches arranged around the display device of an electronic device.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example which used the light guide lens as a light guide, it is not limited to a light guide lens, For example, you may use an optical fiber and a waveguide.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the touchscreen was provided in the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 10, the example which performs the setting and change of the illumination color of the panel switch 4 from this touchscreen was shown, for example, it has a pushbutton switch or a keyboard, The illumination color of the panel switch 4 may be set or changed from the push button switch or the keyboard.

It is a front view of the display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing according to the AA line of FIG. It is a figure which shows the block configuration of the display apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process by the microcomputer of a liquid crystal display controller. It is a front view of the display apparatus as a prior art. It is a schematic sectional drawing according to the AA line of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Display apparatus, 2 ... LED, 3 ... Printed circuit board, 4 ... Panel switch,
5 ... escutcheon, 6 ... tact switch, 7 ... indicating member, 8 ... screw,
9 ... Light guide lens (light guide), 10 ... Liquid crystal panel, 20 ... Liquid crystal controller.

Claims (5)

An illumination structure of a panel switch disposed around the display screen of an electronic device,
A light guide for guiding light from the display screen to the panel switch between the display screen and the panel switch;
An illumination structure for illuminating the panel switch with light guided by the light guide. Provide a design panel on the display surface side of the display screen so as to cover the periphery of the display screen,
The illumination structure according to claim 1, wherein the light guide guides light from a region covered with the design panel on the display screen to the panel switch. Storage means for storing the color of light illuminating the panel switch;
3. The display control means for displaying the color of the light stored in the storage means in an area where the light guide on the display screen takes in the light guided to the panel switch. Lighting structure. Input means for inputting a color of light for illuminating the panel switch according to a user operation;
4. The illumination structure according to claim 3, wherein the display control unit stores in the storage unit the color of light that illuminates the panel switch input from the input unit. 5. The illumination structure according to claim 1, wherein all or a part of the panel switch transmits light guided by the light guide. 6.

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