METER FOR VEHICLE

• US 20110018702A1
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nippon Seiki Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nippon Seiki Company Limited
• Inventors: Hayakawa, Naoaki, Takebe, Minoru, Kawaguchi, Tsuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,319,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/458
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices

Abstract

A meter for vehicle capable of improving design and visibility in an after-meter of single face type is provided. The meter for vehicle includes a transmitting ring-shaped member 4 placed to surround an analog display portion 1 between a case body 2 and a cover member 3, a first light source 5 emitting first illumination light L1, and a second light source 6 emitting second illumination light L2. The meter for vehicle also includes a light-guide member 7 placed between the display plate 12 and the first light source 5 and having an entrance portion 72 into which the first illumination light L1 enters, a first exit portion 73 from which the first illumination light L1 exits toward the pointer 11, a first reflecting portion 74 which reflects the first illumination light L1 in a direction in parallel with the display plate 12, a second reflecting portion 75 which reflects the first illumination light L1, reflected by the first reflecting portion 74, in a direction perpendicular to the display plate 12, and a second exit portion 76 from which the first illumination light L1 reflected by the second reflecting portion 75 exits toward the ring-shaped member 4.

Claims

1. A meter for vehicle in which a case body containing a single analog display portion which is consisted of a display plate having an indicating portion and a pointer which rotates on the display plate to point at the indicating portion, the meter for vehicle comprising:

a transmitting or semi-transmitting cover member covering the analog display portion exposed from the case body;

a transmitting ring-shaped member placed to surround the analog display portion between the case body and the cover member;

a first light source placed on a back-face side of the display plate and emitting first illumination light which illuminates the pointer;

a second light source placed on the back-face side of the display plate and emitting second illumination light which illuminates the display plate; and

a light-guide member placed between the display plate and the first light source and having an entrance portion into which the first illumination light enters, a first exit portion from which the first illumination light exits toward the pointer, a first reflecting portion which reflects the first illumination light in a direction in parallel with the display plate, a second reflecting portion which reflects the first illumination light, reflected by the first reflecting portion, in a direction perpendicular to the display plate, and a second exit portion from which the first illumination light reflected by the second reflecting portion exits toward the ring-shaped member.

2. The meter for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the ring-shaped member includes a light-shield layer formed on a side-face portion.

3. The meter for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the ring-shaped member is colored in the same color as a color of light emitted by the first light source.

4. The meter for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the ring-shaped member is colored in a different color from a color of light emitted by the first light source.

5. The meter for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second illumination light transmits through the light-guide member to illuminate the display plate.

6. The meter for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the cover member includes a stepped portion on an outer periphery side and the ring-shaped member is placed at a position opposite to the stepped portion.

7. The meter for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the case body has a cylindrical shape.