KR20070112724A - Light Guide and Power Window Switches - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a light guide body capable of dimming a plurality of display units with uniform luminance by one light source and a power window switch capable of dimming the display portions of four seesaw handles with uniform luminance by using a set of light sources and light guide bodies. will be.

To this end, the present invention provides a light guide 1, which is a molded article of a light transmissive resin, comprising a first light guide 1a branched into a bifurcated shape with a predetermined radius of curvature from a light incident part 1d facing the light source 2; A pair of second light guides 1b extending from the distal end of the first light guide 1a in the opposite direction along a plane P parallel to the end face of the light receiver 1d, and these second light guides. Four third light guides 1c and three third light guides 1c each protruding in a planar P direction with a predetermined radius of curvature from the branched ends of the branch 1b divided into two branched shapes. The 4th light guide part 1f which extends and protrudes in the direction orthogonal to the plane P from the front-end | tip of () is integrally formed, and the front end of each 4th light guide part 1f is a display part of various apparatuses, for example, power The display parts 11a of the four seesaw handles 11 provided in the window switch were made to face each other.

Description

Light Guide and Power Window Switch {LIGHT GUIDE BODY AND POWER WINDOW SWITCH}

1 is a perspective view of a light guide according to an example of the first embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a plan view of the light guide;

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2,

4 is an exploded perspective view of a power window switch according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a plan view omitting the seesaw handle of the power window switch,

6 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part of the power window switch;

7 is a perspective view of a light guide according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

8 is a front view of a light guide according to a conventional example.

※ Explanation of code for main part of drawing

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Light guide 1a 1st light guide part

1b: second light guiding part 1c: third light guiding part

1d: light-receiving part 1e: bridging part

1f: fourth light guide portion 2: light source

3: display unit 10: upper case

10a: opening 11: seesaw handle

11a: display unit 12: drive body

13: lower case 14: circuit board

15 rubber sheet 15a through hole

15b: bulge portion 16: LED (light source)

P: flat

The present invention relates to a light guide for guiding light generated from a light source to a plurality of display units, and a power window switch using the light guide.

As shown in FIG. 8, the light guide which made light control of the some display part by the light emitted from one light source is known conventionally (for example, refer patent document 1). As shown in the drawing, the light guide 100 is formed of a single transparent resin in the shape of a comb, and the light source 101 is arranged in a concave incidence portion 100a provided in a part thereof, and is divided into three. The front end of each exit part 100b is opposed to the some display part provided in the display panel 1 which is not shown in figure. Since the light from the light source 101 is guided to each output unit 100b by the configuration as shown by the broken line in the drawing, the display unit corresponding to the light emitted from each output unit 100b is constructed. Can be dimmed.

In addition, the power window switch that automatically opens and closes each window of the driver's seat, the passenger seat, and the rear seat of the vehicle conventionally supports the four seesaw handles arranged in two rows horizontally and correspondingly to the respective windows so as to be able to swing in the housing. A drive mechanism or a switch mechanism corresponding to each of the seesaw handles is installed inside the light guide, and light generated from a plurality of light sources (for example, four LEDs) mounted on the printed board passes through the rubber sheet as a constituent member of the switch mechanism. By irradiating the back surface of each seesaw handle, the display part of each seesaw handle was made to dim in dark places, such as a night and a tunnel (for example, refer patent document 2).

[Patent Document 1]

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-164923

[Patent Document 2]

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-334631

However, in the conventional light guide 100 shown in FIG. 8, the light of the light source 101 reaches the output part 100b positioned at the center as it is, whereas the light source 101 is provided at the emission parts 100b located on both left and right sides. Since light of) reaches after being reflected from the inclined surface, the amount of light emitted from each light emitting part 100b is greatly changed by the distance to the light source 101, and the light emitted from each light emitting part 100b is changed. There is a problem that the luminance of the plurality of display portions to be dimmed is uneven.

On the other hand, in the above-described conventional power window switch, since the display portions of the four seesaw handles are individually adjusted by the light of the plurality of light sources mounted on the printed board, the light emission amount of all the light sources is not set equal to 4 The seesaw handles could not be dimmed with uniform brightness, and it was also difficult to efficiently guide the light from each light source to the back of the seesaw handle. In addition, since the driving mechanisms for driving the rubber sheet of the switch mechanism are respectively provided under the seesaw handles, each exit portion of the light guide as shown in FIG. 8 is shown on the back of all four seesaw handles arranged in two rows in length and width. It was not possible to oppose, and it was difficult to adjust the display parts of four seesaw handles with uniform brightness using such a light guide and one light source.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a situation of the prior art, and a first object thereof is to provide a light guide member capable of dimming a plurality of display units with uniform luminance by light generated from one light source. The second object of the present invention is to provide a power window switch capable of dimming the display portions of four seesaw handles with uniform brightness using a set of light sources and a light guide.

In order to achieve the first object described above, the light guide member of the present invention includes a light guide portion facing the light source, a first light guide portion branched into two branches with a predetermined radius of curvature from the light guide portion, and these first light guides. A pair of second light guiding parts extending in the opposite direction along the same plane from the portion, and a plurality of third light guiding parts branching from each of the second light guiding parts with a predetermined radius of curvature and extending in the plane direction. And guide the light generated from the light source to the plurality of display parts through the first to third light guide parts.

According to the light guide structure configured as described above, the outer circumferential side of the curvature facing the light source is reflected from the inner circumferential side among the first light guide portions branched into two branches with a predetermined radius of curvature from the light incident portion. Since light is reduced compared to the outer circumferential side, in a pair of second light guides extending in the opposite direction along the same plane from these first light guides, the difference in luminance of both sides of the front and back is different in the region close to the first light guide. As it becomes larger and further away from the first light guide portion, the luminance on both sides of the front and back gradually becomes uniform. Accordingly, in the plurality of third light guide portions branched from the second light guide portion with a predetermined radius of curvature, the third light guide portion is formed along the planar direction even when branched at a position close to the first light guide portion, and the surface back surface is one third light guide portion. Since it is comprised as a negative part, the nonuniformity of the brightness | luminance of each other with the 3rd light guide part branched in multiple is suppressed, and the some display part can be adjusted to uniform brightness by the light which generate | occur | produces from one light source.

In this case, both the second light guide portions of the light guide body are set to the same length, and the tips of the second light guide portions are branched into two branches, respectively, to form the third light guide portions of the same length, When the fourth light guiding portions are formed at the tip of the light guiding portion and protrude in a direction orthogonal to the plane, the tip of the fourth light guiding portion is located at four corners of the rectangle in a plane centered on the light source. The four display units arranged in a row are preferable because they can be dimmed with uniform brightness by light from one light source.

Further, in order to achieve the above-mentioned second object, the power window switch of the present invention comprises: a housing having four openings arranged in two vertically and horizontally two rows, four seesaw handles each having a display portion supported to be swingable in each opening; A plurality of driving bodies which are moved up and down by swinging the seesaw handles, a plurality of switch elements operated by these driving bodies, a printed circuit board on which each of the switch elements and a light source are mounted, and each of the seesaw handles; A light guide having the above-described configuration disposed between the printed board and the light source at the center position of each of the seesaw handles, and facing the light incident portion of the light guide to the light source; A tip of each of the fourth light guide portions of the light guide was inserted into the opening to face the back surface of the seesaw handle.

According to the power window switch configured as described above, the light incident part of the light guide member constructed as described above is opposed to the light source on the printed board at the center position of the four seesaw handles arranged in two rows in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the first light incident part is separated from the first light incident part. Since the front ends of the four fourth light guide portions branching through the third light guide portion face the back surface of each seesaw handle, the display portions of the four seesaw handles are dimmed with uniform brightness by using a set of light sources and the light guide. can do.

1 is a perspective view of a light guide according to an example of the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the light guide, and FIG. 3 is a III-III line in FIG. It is the cross section which follows.

The light guide 1 shown in these figures is a molded article which consists of a light transmissive resin, such as an acrylic resin, and this light guide 1 has the 1st light guide part 1a, the 2nd light guide part 1b, and the 3rd light guide part ( 1c) is integrally molded with the fourth light guide portion 1f. The first light guide portion 1a is branched from the light incident portion 1d into a two-pronged shape with a predetermined radius of curvature, and the end face of the light incident portion 1d is disposed to face the light source 2 such as an LED or a lamp. It is. The second light guide portion 1b protrudes in the opposite direction along a plane P (see FIG. 3) parallel to the end surface of the light incident portion 1d at the tip of both first light guide portions 1a. The length of the 2nd light guide part 1b of a pair is set to the same dimension. The 3rd light guide part 1c is formed by branching the front-end | tip of both 2nd light guide part 1b into bifurcated shape with the predetermined curvature radius along the plane P direction, and these 2nd light guide part 1b And the thickness (dimensions in the vertical direction in Fig. 3) of the third light guide portion 1c are the same in all the parts. The fourth light guide portion 1f is four columnar bodies continuous to the third light guide portion 1c, and the fourth light guide portion 1f has a predetermined radius of curvature from the second light guide portion 1b and is flat. It protrudes by the same length in the direction orthogonal to (P). The tip of each of the fourth light guide portions 1f is arranged to face the display portion 3 provided on the operation portion of the switch, the display panel 1, or the like, and the fourth light guide portion 1f is configured to emit light from the light source 2. It is a light exit part which exits toward the display part 3. As shown in FIG. That is, when the light guide 1 is viewed in plan, the light incident portion 1d facing the light source 2 is located at the center of the virtual rectangle, and at the four corners of the rectangle, the display portion 3 faces each other. The tip of the fourth light guide portion 1f is positioned. In addition, a bridging portion 1e is formed at the branching end of the first light guide portion 1a to connect the proximal ends of the second light guide portions 1b, and the light guide is formed by these bridging portions 1e. The mechanical strength at the center of (1) is increasing. The radius of curvature of the first light guide portion 1a and the third light guide portion 1c is a curvature radius of 2 to 5 times the thickness of the light guide body in the radial direction, so that less light leaks to the outside. It can induce light efficiently.

In the light guide 1 configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 3, the curvature of the first light guide portion 1a branched into two branches with a predetermined radius of curvature from the light incident portion 1d is opposed to the light source 2. Since the outer circumferential side of the light reflects a lot of light, the light reflected from the inner circumferential side is less than the outer circumferential side, and thus protrudes in the opposite direction along the same plane P from these first light guides 1a. In the pair of second light guides 1b, the brightness of both sides of the front and back is large in a region close to the first light guide 1a, and the brightness of both sides of the front and back is gradually uniform as the distance from the first light guide 1a is increased. Goes. However, since all three third light guides 1c branched into two branches with a predetermined radius of curvature from the tip of each second light guide 1b, the back surface of the surface is formed as one third light guide, For example, even if the surface side is branched at a position relatively close to the first light guide portion 1a compared with the case where the surface side is one light guide, and the rear surface side is one light guide, the unevenness of the luminance of each other is suppressed and one light source 2 By the light generated from the four display units 3 can be adjusted to a uniform brightness. That is, each of the third light guide portions 1c branches the tip of the second light guide portion 1b in the in-plane direction of the plane P, and the second light guide portion 1b and the third light guide portion 1c are front and back. Since it is comprised as one light guide body with the same thickness between both surfaces, the nonuniformity of the brightness of each 3rd light guide part 1c is suppressed.

4 is an exploded perspective view of the power window switch according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the seesaw knob of the power window switch, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an essential part of the power window switch.

As shown in these figures, the power window switch according to the embodiment of the present embodiment is supported by the upper case 10 having four openings 10a arranged in two columns in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the inside of each of the openings 10a. Four seesaw handles 11, a plurality of drive bodies 12 which are moved up and down by swinging the seesaw handles 11, a lower case 13 integrally formed with the upper case 10, and constituting a housing; The circuit board 14 mounted on the lower case 13, the rubber sheet 15 deposited on the circuit board 14, the light guide 1 according to the first embodiment, and the circuit board ( 14) A light control mechanism constituted by a chip-shaped LED 16 mounted above is provided.

Each seesaw handle 11 is pivotally supported so as to be capable of both a pull operation and a push operation, and a display portion indicating, for example, an operation direction on a ceiling surface of each seesaw handle 11. 11a is formed. The display portion 11a is formed by forming the seesaw handle 11 with a transparent or translucent material and applying an opaque paint or the like to a portion of the surface except for the display portion 11a. The drive bodies 12 are supported by the periphery of each opening 10a, and these drive bodies 12 are assembled two by one with the seesaw handle 11. The LED (light source) 16 mounted on the circuit board 14 is located at the center of each seesaw handle 11, and the LED 16 is exposed from the through hole 15a formed in the rubber sheet 15. . Moreover, the some bulging part 15b is formed in the rubber sheet 15, and the lower end of each drive body 12 is located above these bulging part 15b. Although not shown, movable contacts are installed on the inner bottom surface of each bulge 15b, and a plurality of fixed contacts are provided on the circuit board 14 corresponding to these movable contacts, and these movable contacts and fixed contacts are provided. A plurality of sets of switch elements are formed by pairs of. The light guide 1 is held on the back surface of the upper case 10 by fixing means such as snap coupling. As shown in FIG. 6, the light incidence part 1d of the light guide 1 is connected to the LED 16. The front end of each of the fourth light guide portions 1f is inserted into the opening 10a to face the rear surface of the seesaw handle 11.

In the power window switch configured as described above, the light incidence part 1d of the light guide 1 is opposed to the LED 16 on the printed board 14 at the center position of the four seesaw handles 11 arranged in two rows in length and width. At the same time, the tip ends of the four fourth light guide portions 1f branched through the first light guide portion 1a, the second light guide portion 1b, and the third light guide portion 1c from the light receiving portion 1d are respectively seesawed. Since it faces the back surface of the handle 11, the display part 11a of the four seesaw handles 11 is adjusted to uniform brightness using one set of LEDs (light source) 16 and the light guide 1. Can be.

7 is a perspective view of a light guide according to an example of the second embodiment of the present invention, in which portions corresponding to FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above by arranging four third light guides 1c in the same direction from the proximal end and the front end of both second light guides 1b in the same direction. In addition, the configuration other than that is basically the same. In this case, the length between the two third light guides 1c positioned outward from the light incident portion 1d and the length between the two third light guides 1c located inward from the light incident portion 1d are slightly different. However, as described above, in the second light guide portion 1b, the difference in luminance between both sides of the front and back is large in the region close to the first light guide portion 1a, and as the distance from the first light guide portion 1a increases, the brightness of both sides of the front and back gradually increases. Since the surface back surface is formed as one light guide in each 3rd light guide part 1c, the output light quantity of the 4th 4th light guide part 1f becomes substantially the same regardless of a branch position difference.

In the second embodiment, the two third light guides 1c are branched at the proximal end and the front end of one second light guide 1b, and four of the pair of second light guides 1b are provided. Although the light guide 1 which branched the 3rd light guide part 1c was demonstrated, the number and branching position of the 3rd light guide part 1c can be changed suitably according to the arrangement | sequence of the display part 3 to be light-adjusted, For example, both ends of the second light guide portion 1b of the light guide 1 shown in FIG. 7 are branched again into a two-pronged shape to add a third light guide portion 1c. The light guide 1 in which the six third light guides 1c are branched may be used. In addition, although the display part is arranged, it is not necessary for the fourth light guide part 1f, and a light guide member may be provided separately between the fourth light guide part 1f and the display part.

The light guide of the present invention allows the second light guide portion extending in the opposite direction in the same plane to the tip of the first light guide portion branched from the light incident portion in a two-pronged shape, and at the same time, has a predetermined radius of curvature from the second light guide portion. Since a plurality of third light guides are formed to branch in the direction along the plane, the amount of emitted light from each of the third light guides is the same irrespective of the distance from the light source. The display portion of can be dimmed with uniform brightness.

In addition, the power window switch of the present invention constitutes a light control mechanism using such a light guide and one light source, and the light-receiving portion of the light guide is positioned on the printed board at the center position of four seesaw handles arranged in two rows in length and width. The front end of the four fourth light guide portions branched from the light incidence portion through the first to third light guide portions to the back surface of each seesaw handle was opposed to the light source of the light source portion. The display portions of the four seesaw knobs can be dimmed with uniform brightness.

Claims (3)

A light guide for guiding light generated from a light source to a plurality of display units, A light-receiving portion opposed to the light source, a first light-guiding portion branched into a bifurcation with a predetermined radius of curvature from the light-receiving portion, and a pair of protruding protrusions extending in the opposite direction from the first light-guiding portion in the same plane A second light guiding portion and a plurality of third light guiding portions branching from the second light guiding portion each having a predetermined radius of curvature and protruding along the planar direction, wherein the light generated from the light source is first to third; The light guide body is guided to the display unit through the light guide unit. The method of claim 1, The second light guiding portions are set to the same length, and the tips of the second light guiding portions are branched into two branches, respectively, to form the third light guiding portions of the same length, and at the tip of each third light guiding portion, The light guide body which respectively formed the 4th light guide part extended and extended in the orthogonal direction. A four seesaw handle having a housing having four openings arranged in two vertically and horizontal rows, four display handles which are supported to swing in each of the openings, a plurality of driving bodies which are lifted and lowered by the swinging operation of each of the seesaw handles; A plurality of switch elements operated by these driving bodies, a printed circuit board on which these switch elements and a light source are mounted, and the light guide according to claim 2 disposed between the seesaw handles and the printed board, And placing the light source at a center position of each seesaw handle, opposing the light source of the light guide to the light source, and inserting a tip of each of the fourth light guide portions of the light guide into the opening. Power window switch, characterized in that facing the back.

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