JP2009180571A - Meter device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pointer lighting device for accomplishing a cost reduction. <P>SOLUTION: A meter device includes: a pointing member 5 made of a transmitting material, which indicates measurement information by moving on the outside of a prescribed area PA; a driving device 2 for operating the pointing member 5; a light source 7 which moves along with the pointing member 5 integrally and brings the pointing member 5 to light; a circuit board 1 disposed behind the pointing member 5; and a flexible board 8 which brings the circuit board 1 to be in conductive connection with the light source 7. Furthermore, a case body 3 having a recess 31 is disposed between the circuit board 1 and the pointing member 5, and the flexible board 8 is composed of: a first board part 81 ranging from the light source 7 to the inside of the recess 31; a second board part 82 ranging from the circuit board 1 to the inside of the recess 31; and a third board part 83 which is disposed inside the recess 31 and connects the first and second board parts 81, 82, wherein the shape of the third board part 83 is configured to change along with the movement of the pointing member 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an instrument device mounted on, for example, a vehicle, and more particularly, to an instrument device of a type that displays predetermined measurement information by an indicator member made of a translucent material moving outside a predetermined region.

  As this type of instrument device, for example, the instrument device described in Patent Document 1 is known. The instrument device includes an indication member (pointer) for displaying measurement information, a driving device for operating the pointer, a light source that moves together with the pointer and emits the pointer, a circuit board disposed behind the pointer, A flexible substrate is provided that electrically connects the circuit board and the light source.

In this case, the indicator member is formed by marking the outer peripheral portion of the disc plate, and the center of the disc plate can be used as a predetermined area through which other information can be seen through, thereby moving outside the predetermined area. The indicator member which consists of a translucent material which displays measurement information is comprised. The light source is fixed at a position corresponding to the indicating member of the disk plate so that it can move together with the indicating member. The flexible substrate is concentrically curved with respect to the disk plate and is routed between the circuit board and the disk plate via a 180-degree bent portion (slack portion).
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-186948 (FIG. 1)

  However, the instrument device described in Patent Literature 1 is configured such that the flexible substrate routing portion located between the circuit board and the disk plate is deformed and moved in accordance with the rotational movement of the indicating member (disk plate). For this reason, the routing portion interferes with a component located between the circuit board and the disk plate, and there is a concern about damage to the flexible substrate itself or the component. In addition, when considering the deformation movement of the routing portion of the flexible substrate, it is difficult to arrange other components between the circuit board and the disk board, and there is a problem that the component layout is restricted.

  The present invention pays attention to the above-mentioned problems, and can provide an instrument device that can suppress damage to a flexible substrate and the like, and can improve layout flexibility.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an indicator member made of a translucent material that displays measurement information by moving outside a predetermined region, a drive device that operates the indicator member, and the indicator member. In an instrument device comprising: a light source that moves together and emits the indicator member; a circuit board disposed behind the indicator member; and a flexible substrate that electrically connects the circuit board and the light source. A case body is provided between the circuit board and the indicating member, the case body having a recess extending along the moving path of the indicating member and opening toward the opposite side of the circuit board; A first substrate portion extending from the light source into the recess, a second substrate portion extending from the circuit board into the recess, and a first substrate portion connected to the first and second substrate portions located in the recess. 3 substrate parts, A first belt-like portion in which the third substrate portion bends in a direction orthogonal to the first substrate portion, and a second belt that faces the first belt-like portion and continues to the second substrate portion. A band-shaped portion and a third band-shaped portion including a folded portion connecting the second band-shaped portion and the first band-shaped portion, and the lengths of the first band-shaped portion and the second band-shaped portion are It changes with the movement of the indicating member.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that a support member that extends toward the recess along the first substrate portion is provided on the indication member or a predetermined member that moves together with the indication member. To do.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the first belt-like portion side of the first substrate portion is brought into contact with the wall surface of the concave portion.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the first substrate portion abuts on the concave portion via a guide portion provided on the support portion or a spacer member provided on the first substrate portion.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that at least one of the first and second belt-shaped portions is brought into contact with the concave portion.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the concave portion has an insertion portion that guides the second substrate portion into the concave portion, and the position of the insertion portion is set to the center position of the movement path length. To do.

  In the present invention, the concave portion is located between the first and second wall portions opposed to each other with the opening interposed therebetween, and constitutes a bottom wall facing the opening. It comprises a third wall portion, and a space portion is provided between the third substrate portion and the third wall portion.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the instrument which can achieve an initial objective, can suppress damage to a flexible substrate etc., and can improve a layout freedom can be provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 to 3 show a first embodiment of an instrument device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the instrument device (hatching is omitted), and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a characteristic portion in the embodiment. FIGS. 3A to 3F are front views showing changes in the shape of the flexible substrate accompanying the movement of the pointing member in the embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, the instrument device according to the present embodiment includes a circuit board 1, a driving device 2, a case body 3, a rotating arm 4, a pointing member 5, a display unit 6, a light source 7, and flexibility. And a substrate 8.

  The circuit board 1 is a hard circuit board on which circuit patterns and various circuit components (not shown) are mounted.

  The drive device 2 is made of, for example, a stepping motor, and has a shaft that penetrates the circuit board 1.

  The case body 3 is made of, for example, milky white synthetic resin, and is disposed between the circuit board 1 and the rotating arm 4.

  The case body 3 is formed with a recess 31 that extends in an arc shape along the movement path of the pointing member 5 and opens toward the opposite side of the circuit board 1.

  The concave portion 31 includes a first wall portion 32 and a second wall portion 33 that are opposed to each other in the radial direction, and the first and second wall portions 32 and 33 when the axis of the driving device 2 is used as a reference. And a third wall portion 34 that forms a bottom wall facing the opening.

  Of the first to third wall portions 32 to 34 constituting the recess portion 31, the first wall portion 32 has an insertion portion 35 for guiding it into the recess portion 31 through the flexible substrate 8. . In this case, the insertion portion 35 is set at the center position of the length of the movement path ML (see FIG. 3) of the indication member 5.

  The rotating arm 4 is made of, for example, an arbitrary color synthetic resin, and extends in a bar shape along the board surface of the circuit board 1 and from the end of the first arm part 41 toward the pointing member 5. The second arm portion 42 that is bent and extends in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the arm portion 41 is formed in a substantially “L” shape.

  The first arm portion 41 is connected to the shaft of the driving device 2, and thus the rotating arm 4 is configured to rotate the back and side surfaces of the display unit 6 by the driving device 2.

  The indicator member 5 is inserted and connected to the end of the second arm portion 42, for example, and the light source 7 is held at a position corresponding to the end of the indicator member 5.

  The second arm portion (corresponding to a predetermined member in the claims) 42 is formed with a support portion 43 that supports a first substrate portion, which will be described later, of the flexible substrate 8 using its outer wall surface. Yes. In this case, the second arm portion 42 extends toward the recess 31.

  The indicating member 5 is made of, for example, a light-transmitting synthetic resin, and is inserted and connected to the rotating arm 4 so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the second arm portion 42. The front side of the display unit 6 is rotated by the rotation operation.

  The indicating member 5 receives light from the light source 7 mounted on the rotating arm 4 and emits light.

  The display unit 6 includes an electronic display panel 61 (consisting of a liquid crystal panel as an example) that displays various information, and a measurement value display unit (index unit) such as scales and numbers corresponding to the indicating member 5. 62 (consisting of a well-known screen-printed dial) and a synthetic resin housing 63, the display panel 61 is the center, and the measurement value display section is located on the outer periphery of the display panel 61. ing.

  The indication member 5 moves the outside (outer periphery) of the predetermined area PA without obstructing the predetermined area PA, which is the center of the display unit 6, with respect to the display unit 6. It is configured to instruct and display measurement information.

  The light source 7 is formed of, for example, a light emitting diode, and is mounted on the rotating arm 4 as described above to move together with the indicating member 5 and cause the indicating member 5 to emit light.

  The flexible substrate 8 is composed of, for example, an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) for supplying power to the light source 7, and, as shown in detail in FIG. 2, in the assembled (connected) state, the flexible substrate 8 extends from the light source 7 into the recess 31. A first substrate portion 81, a second substrate portion 82 extending from the circuit board 1 into the recess 31, and a third substrate portion located in the recess 31 and connecting the first and second substrate portions 81, 82 to each other. 83.

  The light source 7 is mounted on the tip of the first substrate portion 81, and the side opposite to the light source 7 is supported by the support portion 43 and extends straight toward the recess 31 along the second arm portion 42.

  A connector C is connected to the tip of the second board portion 82, and is electrically connected to the circuit board 1 via the connector C. Further, the opposite side of the second board portion 82 from the connector C has a structure that passes through the insertion portion 35 and reaches the recess 31.

  The third substrate portion 83 is opposed to the first strip portion 84 that is bent in an “L” shape in a direction orthogonal to the first substrate portion 81, and is opposed to the first strip portion 84 and the second strip portion 84. A second belt-shaped portion 85 that is connected to the substrate portion 82, and a third belt-shaped portion 86 that is a folded back portion that connects the second belt-shaped portion 85 and the first belt-shaped portion 84. Yes.

The third substrate portion 83 configured in this manner is used when the pointing member 5 moves on the movement path ML from the MIN position that is the minimum value indicating position to the MAX position that is the maximum value indicating position (for convenience, the position of the light source 7). 3 (a) to 3 (f), the relative lengths of the first strip 84 and the second strip 85 and the first length in the recess 31 are shown. 3, the position of the belt-like portion 86 changes with the minimum movement of the indicating member 5, and the movable member that moves the power from the circuit board 1, which is a stationary member, together with the indicating member 5 due to this shape and position change. The measured value can be displayed by the indicating member 5 while being supplied to the light source 7.
In this embodiment, the position near 8 o'clock in the analog timepiece is set as the minimum indication position MIN of the indication member 5, and the position near 4 o'clock in the analog timepiece is set as the maximum indication position MAX of the indication member 5. The moving path ML of the indicating member 5 is set from the minimum indicating position MIN to the maximum indicating position MAX.
3 (a) to 3 (f), FIG. 3 (a) shows a case where the indication member 5 is located around 8 o'clock which is the minimum indication position MIN, and FIG. 3 (a) shows a case of clockwise movement from a position near 8 o'clock shown in FIG. 3 (a), and FIG. 3 (c) shows that the pointing member 5 is moved from a position near 12 o'clock shown in FIG. 3 (b). FIG. 3 (d) shows a case where the indicator member 5 is moved clockwise to a position near 1 o'clock. FIG. 3 (d) shows the position of the indication member 5 from the position near 1 o'clock shown in FIG. FIG. 3 (e) shows a case where the indicator member 5 moves clockwise, and FIG. 3 (e) shows a case where the indicator member 5 moves counterclockwise from a position near 4 o'clock shown in FIG. 3 (d) to a position near 3 o'clock. (F) shows that the indicating member 5 moves counterclockwise from the position near 3 o'clock shown in FIG. It shows a case returning to the minimum indication position MIN position) shown in (a).

  Here, when the shape of the third substrate portion 83 changes along with the movement of the indication member 5, the first belt-like portion 84 side of the first substrate portion 81 has the recess 31 in the entire movement path ML of the indication member 5. This prevents the third substrate portion 83, particularly the first belt-shaped portion 84 from being lifted in the opening direction.

  Further, the support portion 43 provided on the rotating arm 4 also suppresses the first belt-like portion 84 from being lifted or displaced.

  Further, when the shape of the third substrate portion 83 changes with the movement of the indicating member 5, at least one of the first and second belt-shaped portions 84 and 85 is first and second in the entire movement path ML of the indicating member 5. Even when the driving device 2 incorporating the reduction gear mechanism is employed by the frictional force generated by the contact, the pointing member by the backlash is set. 5 unnatural movements can be prevented.

  Further, when the shape of the third substrate portion 83 changes with the movement of the indicating member 5, the third substrate portion 83 and the third wall portion 34 are not in contact with each other over the entire movement path ML of the indicating member 5. The space S is set so as to be formed (see FIG. 1), thereby preventing damage to the flexible substrate 8 due to contact between the two.

  Note that the third belt-shaped portion 86 is always formed over the entire movement path ML of the pointing member 5 (see FIGS. 3A to 3F).

  As described above, in this embodiment, the indicator member 5 made of a translucent material that displays measurement information by moving outside the predetermined area PA, the drive device 2 that operates the indicator member 5, and the indicator member 5, a light source 7 that causes the indicator member 5 to emit light, a circuit board 1 that is disposed behind the indicator member 5, and a flexible substrate 8 that electrically connects the circuit board 1 and the light source 7. In the instrument device provided, a case body 3 having a recess 31 extending between the circuit board 1 and the indicating member 5 along the movement path ML of the indicating member 5 and opening toward the opposite side of the circuit board 1 is provided. And a first substrate portion 81 in which the flexible substrate 8 extends from the light source 7 into the recess 31, a second substrate portion 82 from the circuit board 1 into the recess 31, and a first substrate located in the recess 31. , A third substrate connecting the second substrate portions 81 and 82 83, and the third substrate portion 83 is bent in a direction orthogonal to the first substrate portion 81, and is opposed to the first strip portion 84 and the second A first belt-shaped portion 84 including a second belt-shaped portion 85 that is continuous with the substrate portion 82, and a third belt-shaped portion 86 that is a folded portion that connects the second belt-shaped portion 85 and the first belt-shaped portion 84. And the length of the second belt-like portion 85 are changed with the movement of the indicating member 5, so that the flexible substrate 8 (third substrate portion 83) is moved along the movement path ML of the indicating member 5. The shape of the substrate can be changed within the recess 31 extending in this manner, thereby preventing the flexible substrate 8 from interfering with other components and preventing damage to the flexible substrate 8 itself and components. it can. Moreover, by limiting the shape change of the flexible substrate 8 to the inside of the recess 31, a space is created and the degree of freedom in layout can be improved.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the rotation arm (predetermined member) 4 is provided with the support portion 43 that extends toward the recess 31 along the first substrate portion 81 and supports the first substrate portion 81, so that the third It is possible to prevent the substrate portion 83, in particular, the first belt-like portion 84 from being lifted in the opening direction of the recess 31.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the first belt-like portion 84 side of the first substrate portion 81 is brought into contact with the wall surface of the concave portion 31 to suppress the first belt-like portion 84 from being lifted or displaced. it can.

In the present embodiment, at least one of the first and second belt-like portions 84 and 85 is brought into contact with the recess 31, so that an unnatural operation of the indicating member 5 can be prevented.
Further, in the present embodiment, the recess 31 has an insertion part 35 that guides the second substrate part 82 into the recess 31, and the position of the insertion part 35 is set to the center position of the movement path ML length. As a result, the total length of the flexible substrate 8 can be shortened (to the minimum necessary length).

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the recessed part 31 is located between the 1st, 2nd wall parts 32 and 33 which oppose on both sides of the said opening, and these 1st, 2nd wall parts 32 and 33, and is in the said opening. And the third wall portion 34 constituting the opposing bottom wall, and by providing a space S between the third substrate portion 83 and the third wall portion 34, Damage can be prevented.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the first substrate portion 81 is provided between the second arm portion 42 and the first substrate portion 81. In this embodiment, a guide portion 44 for pressing the first substrate portion 81 toward the second wall portion 33 is provided.

  In this case, the guide portion 44 extends from the opposite end portion of the second arm portion 42 to the depth position facing the second wall portion 33 in the recess 31, and the first substrate. The part 81 is pressed toward the second wall 33 side. The guide portion 44 may have elasticity by adjusting its thickness.

  According to the present embodiment configured as described above, the first substrate portion 81 can be reliably brought into contact with the wall surface of the recess 31 by the guide portion 44, and the third substrate portion 83 is caused by the frictional force caused by the contact. In particular, it is possible to prevent the first belt-like portion 84 from being lifted in the opening direction of the recess 31.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part showing a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the first substrate portion 81 is interposed between the first substrate portion 81 and the second arm portion 42. A spacer member 9 is provided to press the first belt-like portion 84 side to the wall surface of the recess 31, in the case of this embodiment, to the second wall portion 33 side.
In this case, the spacer member 9 is made of a synthetic resin plate having higher rigidity than the flexible substrate 8 and is fixed to the first substrate portion 81. Further, the concave portion 31 side of the spacer member 9 faces the second wall portion 33.

  According to this embodiment configured as described above, the first substrate portion 81 can be reliably brought into contact with the wall surface of the recess 31 by the spacer member 9, and the third substrate portion 83 is caused by the frictional force caused by the contact. In particular, it is possible to prevent the first belt-like portion 84 from being lifted in the opening direction of the recess 31.

  In the present embodiment, the rotating member 4 is interposed between the driving device 2 and the indicating member 5 so that the indicating member 5 moves outside the predetermined area PA. A configuration in which the pointing member 5 moves outside the predetermined area PA may be achieved by interposing a rotating / rotating body such as a disk or a ring or a belt-like body such as a belt between the member 5.

Sectional drawing of the instrument apparatus by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows the characteristic part in the embodiment. FIGS. 3A to 3F are front views showing a change in the shape of the flexible substrate accompanying the movement of the pointing member in the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the principal part which shows the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Circuit board 2 Drive apparatus 3 Case body 4 Rotating arm 5 Instruction member 6 Display unit 7 Light source 8 Flexible board 9 Spacer member 31 Recessed part 32 1st wall part 33 2nd wall part 34 3rd wall part 35 Insertion portion 41 First arm portion 42 Second arm portion 43 Support portion 44 Guide portion 61 Display panel 62 Display plate 63 Housing 81 First substrate portion 82 Second substrate portion 83 Third substrate portion 84 First substrate portion Belt-like portion 85 Second belt-like portion 86 Third belt-like portion C Connector ML Movement path MIN Minimum indication position MAX Maximum indication position

Claims (7)

An indicator member made of a translucent material that displays measurement information by moving outside a predetermined area;
A driving device for operating the indicating member;
A light source that moves together with the indicating member and causes the indicating member to emit light;
A circuit board disposed behind the indicating member;
A flexible substrate for electrically connecting the circuit board and the light source;
In an instrument device comprising:
A case body having a recess extending between the circuit board and the indicating member along the movement path of the indicating member and opening toward the opposite side of the circuit board is provided.
A first substrate portion extending from the light source into the recess; a second substrate portion extending from the circuit board into the recess; and the first and second substrates positioned in the recess. And a third substrate portion connecting the substrate portions of each other,
A first belt-like portion in which the third substrate portion bends in a direction orthogonal to the first substrate portion; and a second belt that faces the first belt-like portion and continues to the second substrate portion. A band-shaped portion and a third band-shaped portion including a folded portion connecting the second band-shaped portion and the first band-shaped portion; and the lengths of the first band-shaped portion and the second band-shaped portion are An instrument device that changes as the indicator member moves. 2. The support member that supports the first substrate portion is provided on the indication member or a predetermined member that moves together with the indication member and extends toward the concave portion along the first substrate portion. Instrument equipment. The instrument device according to claim 1, wherein the first belt-like portion side of the first substrate portion is brought into contact with a wall surface of the concave portion. The instrument device according to claim 3, wherein the first substrate portion abuts on the concave portion via a guide portion provided on the support portion or a spacer member provided on the first substrate portion. 2. The instrument device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second belt-shaped portions is brought into contact with the concave portion. The said recessed part has the insertion part which guides the said 2nd board | substrate part in the said recessed part, The position of this insertion part is set to the center position of the said movement path | route length. Instrument equipment. A third wall portion which is located between the first and second wall portions facing each other with the opening interposed therebetween and constitutes a bottom wall facing the opening. The instrument device according to claim 1, wherein a space portion is provided between the third substrate portion and the third wall portion.

Images