Indication device

Abstract

This provides a display device with a visually appealing stitch-like decoration. [Solution] The display device 100 includes a display panel 11 for displaying images, and a cover panel 20 that covers the display panel 11 from the front and allows the image to be seen through the portion facing the display panel 11. The cover panel 20 includes a light-transmitting resin panel 30 and a cover film 40 that covers the resin panel 30 from the front and is bonded to the resin panel 30. The resin panel 30 has recesses 31 extending in a predetermined direction. In the recessed areas of the cover film 40 according to the shape of the recesses 31, a plurality of protrusions 48 are provided in a predetermined direction and are arranged to resemble dashed stitching.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a display device including a housing provided in an instrument panel of a vehicle and a decorative panel provided on the housing, the decorative panel having a decoration of the same tone as the decoration of the instrument panel with a texture of a stitch (seam) expressed by printing. Paragraph 0033 of the same document gives an example of the decoration of the decorative panel, including a leather-like decoration including a stitch-like decoration expressed by printing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Merely applying a stitch-like decoration to the display device by printing lacks realism in expressing the stitch and may not look good.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, the present disclosure has been made, and an object thereof is to provide a display device with a good appearance of a stitch-like decoration. [[ID=4l]]

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, a display device according to the present disclosure includes: [[ID=4l]] a display panel for displaying an image; a cover panel that covers the display panel from the front and allows the image to be seen through at a portion facing the display panel. The cover panel comprises a light-transmitting resin panel and a cover film that covers the resin panel from the front and is bonded to the resin panel. The resin panel has a recess extending in a predetermined direction, In the recessed area of ​​the cover film, according to the shape of the recess, a plurality of protrusions resembling dashed stitching are provided in a predetermined direction and are formed in the recessed area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a display device with a good appearance due to stitch-like decoration. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A diagram showing a dashboard equipped with a display device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] A schematic cross-sectional view along line II, shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] A front view of a resin panel according to the same embodiment. [Figure 4] A schematic cross-sectional view along line II-II shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 4 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the cover panel in section III. [Figure 6] Front view of the cover film according to the same embodiment. [Figure 7] Rear view of the cover film according to the same embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] One embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the display device 100 is mounted on the vehicle's dashboard 1 and comprises a display unit 10 and a cover panel 20 that covers the display unit 10 from the front. The cover panel 20 constitutes part of the dashboard 1 (including the instrument panel). Figure 1 shows a configuration where the display device is located mainly behind the steering wheel (not shown) in the driver's seat of the vehicle. The display device 100 functions, for example, as a combination meter. A CID (Center Information Display) 200 is provided to the left of the display device 100 on the dashboard 1.

[0011] In this paper, the direction facing the vehicle's occupant (e.g., the driver) relative to the display device 100 is defined as "front," and the opposite direction is defined as "rear." In the diagrams as appropriate, the front of the display device 100 is represented as "F," and the rear as "B." Furthermore, the left, right, up, and down directions refer to the direction from the occupant's perspective.

[0012] As shown in Figure 2, the display unit 10 comprises a display panel 11, a circuit board 12, and a housing 13.

[0013] The display panel 11 is composed of a liquid crystal panel, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) panel, etc., and displays images. The circuit board 12 is located behind the display panel 11 and is a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) on which a controller (not shown) that controls the operation of the display panel 11 is mounted. This controller communicates with the vehicle's ECU (Electronic Control Unit) and displays images showing various vehicle information on the display panel 11. The circuit board 12 is electrically connected to the display panel 11 by an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuits) 14. The housing 13 is formed in a box shape with an opening towards the front and houses the display panel 11 and the circuit board 12.

[0014] The cover panel 20 covers the display panel 11 from the front, and allows the image displayed on the display panel 11 to be seen through in the window portion 21, which is the portion facing the display panel 11. The outer peripheral end of the cover panel 20 is supported by the outer frame 1a of the dashboard 1.

[0015] The cover panel 20 includes a resin panel 30 and a cover film 40 that covers the resin panel 30 from the front and is bonded to the resin panel 30. The resin panel 30 and the cover film 40 are bonded to each other by lamination to form an integral body, which constitutes the cover panel 20.

[0016] The resin panel 30 is formed of a resin such as PC (Polycarbonate) or PMMA (Polymethyl methacrylate) and has light transmissibility. As shown in FIG. 2, the resin panel 30 has a recess 31 that is recessed backward in a portion above the display 10.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, the recess 31 has a groove shape extending in the left - right direction (an example of a predetermined direction). Further, on both sides of the recess 31 in the left - right direction of the resin panel 30, positioning marks 32 for the cover film 40 are formed. The mark 32 is, for example, a scribed line formed by cross - cutting the front surface of the resin panel 30. Note that the shape of the mark 32 may be represented by a raised portion formed on the front surface of the resin panel 30. Specifically, on both sides of the recess 31 of the resin panel 30, ear portions 33L and 33R that protrude in the left and right directions are provided, and the mark 32 is formed on each of the ear portions 33L and 33R. The ear portions 33L and 33R are located in a position where they cannot be seen by the occupant when the cover panel 20 is provided on the dashboard 1. For example, the ear portion 33L is covered by the CID200, and the ear portion 33R is covered by the outer frame 1a.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 5, the cover film 40 is configured by forming a texture layer 42, a stitch color layer 43, a decorative layer 44, a light-shielding layer 45, a marking layer 47, and convex portions 48 on a film base material 41 by printing or transfer. Further, an adhesive layer 46 provided by coating or laminating is provided on the rearmost surface of the cover film 40. That is, the cover film 40 includes the film base material 41, the texture layer 42, the stitch color layer 43, the decorative layer 44, the light-shielding layer 45, the adhesive layer 46, the marking layer 47, and the convex portions 48.

[0019] The film base material 41 is a base material of the cover film 40 formed with light transmissibility from PC, PMMA, PET (Poly Ethylene Terephthalate), or the like. Note that the film base material 41 only needs to have light transmissibility and may have a smoky color tone.

[0020] The texture layer 42 is formed so as to cover the entire front surface of the film base material 41. The texture layer 42 has, for example, a texture of leather or a pattern imitating the weave of cloth, and is formed by a light-transmissive printing layer. By changing the material or composition type of the texture layer 42, the dry and wet feeling, the coefficient of friction, or the like can be adjusted.

[0021] The stitch color layer 43 is a printing layer formed on the rear surface of the film base material 41 corresponding to each of a plurality of convex portions 48 arranged as described later. The stitch color layer 43 creates the color of the stitch by imparting a color to the convex portion 48 imitating a broken-line stitch. For example, the stitch color layer 43 is formed with a vivid color without light transmissibility. Note that the stitch color layer 43 may be formed on the front surface of the film base material 41 or may be formed with achromatic colors such as gray or black. Further, when the convex portion 48 itself is imparted with a color, the stitch color layer 43 may be omitted.

[0022] The decorative layer 44 is a light-transmitting printed layer for decorating the film substrate 41. The decorative layer 44 is formed by covering the stitch color layer 43 on the back surface of the film substrate 41. The decorative layer 44 expresses a leather-like or fabric-like color and, together with the textured layer 42 formed on the front surface of the film substrate 41, creates a decorative texture. The color of the decorative layer 44 is arbitrary depending on the purpose and is not limited to one color; it may be composed of various colors and layers.

[0023] The light-shielding layer 45 is a light-shielding printed layer formed on the back of the coating layer 44, and is provided to cover the part of the cover panel 20 that does not need to be visible from the rear. The light-shielding layer 45 is provided so as to avoid the window portion 21 (the part facing the display panel 11) of the cover panel 20.

[0024] The adhesive layer 46 is formed on the rearmost surface of the cover film 40 and is provided for bonding the resin panel 30 and the cover film 40 together by lamination.

[0025] The marking layer 47 is a printed layer formed on the back of the light-shielding layer 45, and as shown in Figure 7, it forms corresponding marks 47a that are visible in a cross shape when the cover film 40 is viewed from the rear. As can be seen by comparing Figure 3 and Figure 7, the corresponding marks 47a are provided corresponding to each of the two marks 32 on the resin panel 30. Thus, the corresponding marks 47a are formed on the portion of the rear surface of the cover film 40 that corresponds to the marks 32. Specifically, the cover film 40 is provided with tabs 40L and 40R, as shown in Figure 6, corresponding to the tabs 33L and 33R provided on the resin panel 30. The corresponding marks 47a are formed so as to be visible from the rear surface of each of the tabs 40L and 40R, as shown in Figure 7.

[0026] When laminating the cover film 40 and the resin panel 30, the relative positions of the cover film 40 and the resin panel 30 can be determined by aligning the mark 32 and the corresponding mark 47a using a camera or the like. In other words, the resin panel 30 and the cover film 40 are laminated together based on the mark 32 and the corresponding mark 47a.

[0027] Furthermore, the marks 32 formed on the resin panel 30 are provided on both sides of the recess 31 in the left-right direction, and the corresponding marks 47a formed on the cover film 40 are provided at positions corresponding to each mark 32. This allows for precise alignment of the raised portion 48 representing the stitching on the cover film 40 with respect to the recess 31 on the resin panel 30.

[0028] Furthermore, to facilitate the detection of the position of the corresponding mark 47a when capturing the corresponding mark 47a with a camera, it is preferable that the marking layer 47 has a color that is the exact opposite in brightness to the light-shielding layer 45. For example, if one of the light-shielding layer 45 and the marking layer 47 is black, it is preferable that the other is white.

[0029] The protrusions 48 are light-transmitting printed layers formed on the front surface of the textured layer 42. As shown in Figures 1, 4, or 6, multiple protrusions 48 are arranged in a left-right direction (an example of a predetermined direction) to mimic dashed stitching.

[0030] Specifically, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the protrusions 48 are formed in recessed areas 40a, which are areas that are recessed according to the shape of the recesses 31 in the cover film 40. By forming the protrusions 48 in these recessed areas 40a, the protrusions 48 that represent stitching appear in the recessed parts of the textured layer 42, and the spaces between adjacent protrusions 48 appear recessed. This creates the texture of real fabric that undulates due to the tension of the sewing thread, and the appearance of stitches that look as if they were actually sewn onto the fabric. Therefore, the display device 100 provides a good appearance for the stitch-like decoration.

[0031] The present invention is not limited by the embodiments and drawings described above. Modifications (including the deletion of components) can be made as appropriate, without altering the essence of the invention.

[0032] The above example shows the cover panel 20 constituting a part of the dashboard 1, but the cover panel 20 may be provided over the entire dashboard 1. In other words, the cover panel 20 only needs to constitute at least a part of the dashboard 1. The display device 100 may also be installed in the rear seats of the vehicle. The display device 100 may also be mounted on a vehicle other than a vehicle. Furthermore, the arrangement of each layer constituting the cover film 40 can be arbitrarily changed as long as the purpose is achieved.

[0033] The raised portions 48, which mimic dashed stitching, are not limited to the left-right direction, but may also be arranged in the up-down or diagonal direction. Furthermore, the raised portions 48 are not limited to the straight direction, but may also be arranged in the curved direction. Similarly, the recessed portions 31 located behind the raised portions 48 may have a groove shape that extends in the direction in which the raised portions 48 are arranged. In addition, in order to realistically express the texture created by the tension of the sewing thread, it is preferable that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the rows of raised portions 48 arranged in a predetermined direction and the recessed portions 31. In other words, if there are multiple rows of raised portions 48, it is preferable that there are also multiple recessed portions 31 corresponding to the number of rows of raised portions 48.

[0034] The mark 32 may be provided on only one side of the recess 31 in the resin panel 30, and in accordance with the mark 32 provided in this manner, only one corresponding mark 47a may be provided on the cover film 40.

[0035] The above example shows that mark 32 and corresponding mark 47a are formed in a common cross shape. However, as long as the resin panel 30 and cover film 40 can be bonded together using mark 32 and corresponding mark 47a as a reference, the shapes of mark 32 and corresponding mark 47a can be arbitrarily changed, and their shapes may be different.

[0036] In the above explanation, explanations of publicly known technical matters have been omitted where appropriate to facilitate understanding of this disclosure.

[0037] This invention allows for various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the scope of the invention. In other words, the scope of this invention is indicated not by the embodiments, but by the claims. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the equivalent scope of the meaning of the invention are considered to be within the scope of this invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 100…Display device 1...Dashboard, 1a...Outer frame 10...Indicator 11…Display panel, 12…Circuit board, 13…Enclosure, 14…FPC 20...Cover panel, 21...Window section 30… Resin panel 31…recess, 32…mark, 33L,33R…ear area 40...Cover film, 40a...Recessed area, 40L, 40R...Ear portion 41…Film substrate 42... Textured layer, 43... Stitch color layer, 44... Decorative layer, 45... Light-blocking layer, 46... Adhesive layer 47... Marking layer, 47a... Corresponding mark 48…Convex part 200...CID

Claims

1. A display panel that displays images, The system includes a cover panel that covers the display panel from the front and allows the image to be viewed through the portion facing the display panel, The cover panel comprises a light-transmitting resin panel and a cover film that covers the resin panel from the front and is bonded to the resin panel. The resin panel has a recess extending in a predetermined direction, In the recessed area of ​​the cover film, according to the shape of the recess, a plurality of protrusions are provided in a predetermined direction and are formed to resemble dashed stitching. Display device.

2. The resin panel has a positioning mark formed on at least one side of the recess in the predetermined direction for use with respect to the cover film. A corresponding mark is formed on the rear surface of the cover film in the portion corresponding to the mark. The resin panel and the cover film are bonded together based on the mark and the corresponding mark. The display device according to claim 1.

Images