Indication device

Abstract

To provide a display device that can improve versatility. [Solution] In a display device 1 comprising a display panel 5 and an illumination unit 7 that illuminates the display panel 5, the illumination unit 7 consists of LEDs 25 that emit light of a predetermined color, and the display panel 5 has a light-transmitting part 17 that transmits light from the LEDs 25 and a light-shielding part 19 that blocks light from the LEDs 25.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device.

Background Art

[0002] [[ID=…]] Conventionally, as a display device, a device including a display panel and a light source as an irradiation unit that irradiates the display panel is known (see Patent Document 1). In this display device, a display layer formed of a light-transmissive ink and a light-shielding layer formed of a light-shielding ink are formed on the front or back surface of a transparent substrate. In such a display device, light from the light source passes through the display layer, and the light from the light source is blocked by the light-shielding layer, so that characters, patterns, etc. formed in the display layer can be visually recognized.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the display device as in Patent Document 1 above, the display layer as a transmissive portion is formed in a predetermined color, and the transmissive portion is displayed in the predetermined color by transmitting light from the light source as an irradiation unit. Therefore, in order to display the transmissive portion in different colors, the display panel has to be created each time, resulting in a decrease in versatility.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the problems of such conventional technologies. And an object of the present invention is to provide a display device capable of improving versatility.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The display device according to this embodiment comprises a display panel and an illumination unit that illuminates the display panel, wherein the illumination unit consists of LEDs that emit light of a predetermined color, and the display panel has a light-transmitting portion that transmits light from the LEDs and a light-shielding portion that blocks light from the LEDs. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a display device that can improve versatility. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the display device according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is an exploded perspective view of the display device according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of the display device according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of the display device according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of the circuit board of the display device according to this embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of the circuit board of the display device according to this embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a front view showing an example of the display panel of the display device according to this embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a front view showing another example of the display panel of the display device according to this embodiment. [Figure 9] This is a front view showing another example of the display panel of the display device according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The display device according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for illustrative purposes and may differ from the actual ratios.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the display device 1 according to this embodiment is, for example, placed inside the vehicle and illuminated to inform the occupants of vehicle information, etc.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the display device 1 comprises a housing 3, a display panel 5, and an illumination unit 7.

[0012] The housing 3 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The housing 3 is formed in a housing shape with one side open. The bottom wall of the housing 3 is provided with an opening 9 in which a connector (not shown) electrically connected to the vehicle side is located. The side wall of the housing 3 is provided with a plurality of engaging protrusions 11. The housing 3 is fixed to the vehicle, for example, with the opening side facing the vehicle interior, via an engaging portion (not shown) provided between the housing 3 and the vehicle.

[0013] The display panel 5 has a base material 13 made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin with excellent transparency. The base material 13 is formed in the shape of a rectangular flat plate that can close the opening of the housing 3. An engaging piece 15 that can engage with an engaging projection 11 of the housing 3 is provided on the outer edge of the base material 13 so as to be elastically deformable. The engagement of the engaging projection 11 and the engaging piece 15 can maintain the assembled state of the display panel 5 to the housing 3, which is assembled to close the opening of the housing 3. The display panel 5 includes a light-transmitting portion 17 and a light-shielding portion 19.

[0014] The light-transmitting portion 17 is provided on the surface of the base material 13 facing the vehicle interior. Alternatively, the light-transmitting portion 17 may be provided on the back surface of the base material 13. The light-transmitting portion 17 is integrally provided on the surface of the base material 13 by methods such as attaching a light-transmitting decorative film or applying a light-transmitting paint. The light-transmitting portion 17 is formed, for example, to match the shape of the vehicle information. By transmitting light from the illumination unit 7, the light-transmitting portion 17 displays vehicle information to the vehicle occupants, for example. Multiple light-transmitting portions 17 (three in this case) are provided on the display panel 5. By providing multiple light-transmitting portions 17, various vehicle information can be displayed. The light-transmitting portion 17 is set to the same color as the interior wall of the vehicle interior, for example. Therefore, when there is no illumination from the illumination unit 7, the light-transmitting portion 17 is the same color as the interior wall of the vehicle interior, and the light-transmitting portion 17 is not conspicuous.

[0015] The light-shielding portion 19 is provided on the side of the base material 13 where the light-transmitting portion 17 is provided. Alternatively, the light-shielding portion 19 may be provided on the opposite side of the base material 13 from where the light-transmitting portion 17 is provided. The light-shielding portion 19 is integrally provided on the surface of the base material 13 by means of attaching a light-blocking decorative film or applying a light-blocking paint. The light-shielding portion 19 is positioned around the light-transmitting portion 17 and stabilizes the display of the light-transmitting portion 17 by blocking light from the illumination unit 7. The light-shielding portion 19 is set to the same color as the light-transmitting portion 17. Therefore, when there is no illumination from the illumination unit 7, it is the same color as the light-transmitting portion 17, and the light-transmitting portion 17 does not stand out. In addition, for example, even if light is shone from the inside of the vehicle towards the light-transmitting portion 17, since the light-transmitting portion 17 and the light-shielding portion 19 are the same color, the display of the light-transmitting portion 17 does not stand out, and misinterpretation of the display can be suppressed.

[0016] The irradiation unit 7 is provided on a circuit board 21 on which electronic components (not shown) are mounted and a circuit pattern (not shown) is formed. The circuit board 21 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape that can be accommodated in the housing 3. At a position of the circuit board 21 facing the opening 9 of the housing 3, a connector 23 electrically connected to the circuit board 21 is provided. The connector 23 is arranged in the opening 9 in a state where the circuit board 21 is assembled to the housing 3, and power is supplied to the circuit board 21 by fitting with a connector on the vehicle side.

[0017] The irradiation unit 7 is an LED 25 that emits a predetermined color. A plurality (here, three) of the LEDs 25 are provided on the circuit board 21 at positions corresponding to each of the plurality of light-transmitting portions 17 of the display panel 5. The light from the LED 25 passes through the light-transmitting portion 17 and causes the light-transmitting portion 17 to be displayed in a predetermined color. Therefore, when changing the display color of the light-transmitting portion 17, it is only necessary to change the LED 25, and there is no need to change the display panel 5. Accordingly, it is not necessary to create the display panel 5 each time according to the display color of the light-transmitting portion 17, and the versatility can be improved. When the light-transmitting portion 17 has a color, the color of the light emitted by the LED 25 may be selected so that the display color of the light-transmitting portion 17 becomes a predetermined color when mixed with the color emitted by the LED 25.

[0018] The plurality of LEDs 25 are arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of light-transmitting portions 17. Therefore, it is possible to provide variations in the display of one display panel 5, such as displaying one light-transmitting portion 17, making the display colors of the respective light-transmitting portions 17 different, or displaying a plurality of light-transmitting portions 17 as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9. In addition, by intermittently emitting light from the LED 25, the display of the light-transmitting portion 17 can also be made to blink.

[0019] In such a display device 1, the display panel 5 and the irradiation unit 7 that irradiates the display panel 5 are provided. Further, the irradiation unit 7 is composed of an LED 25 that emits a predetermined color. The display panel 5 has a light-transmitting portion 17 that transmits the light from the LED 25 and a light-shielding portion 19 that shields the light from the LED 25.

[0020] Since the light-transmitting portion 17 of the display panel 5 transmits the light from the LED 25 that emits a predetermined color, when the LED 25 emits light, the displayed color is determined according to the color of the light of the LED 25. Therefore, when changing the color of the display of the light-transmitting portion 17, it is only necessary to change the LED 25, and there is no need to change the display panel 5, and there is no need to create the display panel 5 each time according to the color of the display of the light-transmitting portion 17.

[0021] Therefore, in such a display device 1, the versatility can be improved.

[0022] In addition, the light-transmitting portion 17 and the light-shielding portion 19 are set to the same color.

[0023] Therefore, in the state where there is no irradiation from the irradiation portion 7, the light-transmitting portion 17 and the light-shielding portion 19 are the same color, and the light-transmitting portion 17 is not conspicuous. In addition, even when light is irradiated from the side opposite to the irradiation portion 7, since the light-transmitting portion 17 and the light-shielding portion 19 are the same color, the display of the light-transmitting portion 17 is not conspicuous, and misrecognition of the display can be suppressed.

[0024] In addition, a plurality of light-transmitting portions 17 are provided. And the LED 25 is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of light-transmitting portions 17.

[0025] Therefore, it is possible to give variations to the display of one display panel 5, such as displaying one light-transmitting portion 17, making the display colors of the respective light-transmitting portions 17 different, or displaying a plurality of light-transmitting portions 17.

[0026] As described above, the present embodiment has been described, but the present embodiment is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment.

[0027] For example, the display device according to this embodiment is configured to display vehicle information, but it is not limited to this. For example, it may be used as a design element, allowing an occupant or other person to operate it to display preferred text, images, or other designs on the display panel. In addition, it can be applied not only to the passenger compartment of a vehicle, but also to any location, such as a living room in a house. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0028] 1 Display device 5 Display Panel 7. Irradiation area 17 Translucent part 19 Light-shielding part 25 LED

Claims

1. Display panel and An illumination unit that illuminates the display panel, Equipped with, The aforementioned irradiation unit consists of an LED that emits a predetermined color, The display panel is a display device having a light-transmitting portion that transmits light from the LED and a light-shielding portion that blocks light from the LED.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the light-transmitting portion and the light-shielding portion are set to the same color.

3. Multiple light-transmitting sections are provided, The display device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the LEDs are provided in correspondence with each of the plurality of light-transmitting sections.

Images