LIGHT GUIDE PLATE AND INDICATING INSTRUMENT WITH THE SAME

• US 20130027902A1
• Filed: 04/07/2011
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Miyazawa, Tomohiro, Ogawa, Masayuki
• Application Number:
  US13/640,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20130027902A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/23.14
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0078 Side-by-side arrangements, e.g. for large area displays

Abstract

A light guide plate includes a light emitting section having an arc shape in plan view which is arranged to overlap a dial. On a rear surface of the light guide plate, a reflective section which reflects light traveling through the light emitting section toward a front surface is provided. In addition, in the reflective section, plural reflective bodies formed of plural ridges, which are arranged in a direction intersecting the traveling direction of light traveling through the light emitting section so as to be in contact with each other in a width direction thereof and are provided to be convex on the rear surface, are provided at intervals. The plural ridges are formed so as to cause incident light to pass therethrough while refracting the light toward the front surface and reflect the light in a direction perpendicular to the dial.

Claims

1. A light guide plate comprising:

a light emitting section that is arranged so as to overlap a dial which is provided with translucent designs;

a light guide section that is connected to the light emitting section and has a light incidence surface on which light of a light source is incident; and

a reflective section that reflects light, which is guided to the light emitting section by the light guide section, toward a first surface facing the dial of the light emitting section, and is provided on a second surface facing the first surface of the light emitting section,

wherein, in the reflective section provided on the second surface, a plurality of striated convex or concave portions are formed so as to be arranged in a direction intersecting a traveling direction in which the light travels through the light emitting section, and be in contact with each other, and furthermore a plurality of reflective bodies formed of the plurality of striated portions are provided at intervals, and

the plurality of striated portions are formed so as to cause incident light to pass therethrough while refracting the light toward the first surface and then reflect the light in a direction perpendicular to the dial.

2. The light guide plate according to claim 1,

wherein the reflective body is provided so that a ratio of an area in plan view of the reflective body occupied per unit area of the second surface increases in a direction away from the light source.

3. The light guide plate according to claim 1,

wherein, in a portion of the reflective body which is arranged at a position where an intensity of light, which travels through the light emitting section, is lower than a predetermined reference value, one or a plurality of auxiliary striated portions are provided so as to be in contact with the striated portions of the reflective body in a width direction thereof.

4. An indicating instrument comprising:

a dial that is provided with translucent designs; and

a light guide plate that is arranged so as to overlap a rear surface of the dial,

wherein the light guide plate is the light guide plate according to claim 1.

5. An indicating instrument comprising:

a dial that is provided with translucent designs; and

a light guide plate that is arranged so as to overlap a rear surface of the dial,

wherein the light guide plate is the light guide plate according to claim 3.

6. An indicating instrument comprising:

a dial that is provided with translucent designs; and

a light guide plate that is arranged so as to overlap a rear surface of the dial,

wherein the light guide plate is the light guide plate according to claim 2.