Indication device

Abstract

It suppresses blurring and light leakage in the display area caused by light. [Solution] The display device 100 is a display device that displays information based on light from a light source 110, and includes a wall member 130 made of synthetic resin and arranged to surround the light emitted from the light source 110, and at least a part of the surface of the wall member 130 is provided with a wall light-shielding portion 133 in which the synthetic resin has changed color due to heat.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device that displays information based on light from a light source.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there are display devices that display information based on light from a light source. When the housing of such a display device is formed of resin, the light from the light source is scattered in the resin, which may impair visibility, such as the display by light being blurred or light leaking from unintended locations. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique for preventing light leakage and blurring by applying a film to the surface of the housing in order to improve the visibility of the display device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, there are cases where light passes through the film and light blurring occurs. In addition, due to the compatibility with the resin or deterioration of the adhesive, etc., a part of the film peels off from the surface of the housing, which may cause light blurring and leakage.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a display device that displays information based on light and can suppress light blurring and leakage.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One of the present inventions is a display device that displays information based on light from a light source, and comprises a wall member made of synthetic resin and arranged to surround the light emitted from the light source, wherein at least a part of the surface of the wall member is a wall light-shielding portion in which the synthetic resin has changed color due to heat. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the visibility of a display device by suppressing blurring and leakage caused by the scattering of light within the synthetic resin. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the display device in a disassembled state. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a plan view showing the display device from the front with the opening / closing door open. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross-section along line AA described in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross-section along the BB line described in Figure 2. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of how the wall light-shielding portion and the cover light-shielding portion are formed. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of how the wall light-shielding portion is formed. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments of the display device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are provided as examples to illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit it. For example, the shapes, structures, materials, components, relative positional relationships, connection states, numerical values, formulas, the content of each step in the method, and the order of each step shown in the following embodiments are examples and may include content not described below. Geometric expressions such as parallel and orthogonal may be used, but these expressions do not indicate mathematical rigor and include substantially acceptable errors and deviations. Similarly, expressions such as simultaneous and identical also include substantially acceptable ranges.

[0010] Furthermore, the drawings are schematic diagrams that have been appropriately emphasized, omitted, or had their proportions adjusted to illustrate the present invention, and therefore differ from the actual shapes, positional relationships, and proportions. Also, the X, Y, and Z axes shown in the drawings represent orthogonal coordinates arbitrarily set for the purpose of explaining the drawings. In other words, the Z axis is not necessarily an axis along the vertical direction, and the X and Y axes are not necessarily located in the horizontal plane.

[0011] Furthermore, in the following, multiple inventions may be described comprehensively as a single embodiment. Also, some of the content described below is described as an optional component relating to the present invention.

[0012] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the display device 100 in a disassembled state. Figure 2 is a plan view showing the display device 100 from the front with the opening / closing door 152 open. The type of display device 100 is not limited; any device that displays information based on light is considered a display device 100. The display device 100 comprises a light source 110 and a wall member 130. In this embodiment, the display device 100 also comprises a cover member 140. Furthermore, the display device 100 includes a man-machine interface such as a tact switch 151, an opening / closing door 152, and a membrane 153 with a transparent window 154 in part, and functions as a remote control unit.

[0013] The light source 110 is not particularly limited as long as it is a material capable of emitting light. Examples of light sources 110 include LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) that emit monochromatic light, organic ELs (organic electroluminescence), and light-emitting devices that emit white light by combining LEDs and fluorescent materials. In this embodiment, the display device 100 is equipped with multiple light sources 110. The multiple light sources 110 are mounted on a substrate 111. Some of the multiple light sources 110 are arranged to enable 7-segment display, while others are arranged near the tact switch 151 to indicate on, off, etc.

[0014] The wall member 130 is made of synthetic resin and is arranged to surround the light emitted from the light source 110. The type of synthetic resin used to form the wall member 130 is not limited. In this embodiment, the synthetic resin contains additives to improve weather resistance. Synthetic resins containing additives to improve weather resistance tend to scatter light easily, making them prone to problems such as light blurring and leakage. The type of synthetic resin used to form the wall member 130 is not limited. Examples of synthetic resins include ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) resin, PS (Polystyrene) resin, and PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) resin.

[0015] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross-section along line AA described in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 3, the surface portion of the wall member 130 surrounding the light source 110 is provided with a wall light-shielding portion 133 formed by the discoloration of the synthetic resin forming the wall member 130 due to heat. The method for forming the wall light-shielding portion 133 on the surface portion of the wall member 130 is not limited. For example, the wall light-shielding portion 133 may be formed by heating the surface portion by irradiating it with laser light. Alternatively, the wall light-shielding portion 133 may be formed by heating the surface portion with a heater. Alternatively, the wall light-shielding portion 133 may be formed by heating the surface portion with plasma. The wavelength of the laser light irradiated onto the surface portion is not limited and can be arbitrarily selected from ultraviolet light with a wavelength of less than 300 nm to infrared light with a wavelength of 10,000 nm or more, depending on the type of synthetic resin. By providing a wall light-shielding section 133 on the surface of the wall member 130 surrounding the light source 110, it is possible to suppress the scattering and transmission of light through the wall member 130, which would cause the light emitted from the light source 110 to blur or leak out to unintended locations.

[0016] An example of a method for forming a wall light-shielding portion 133 on the surface of a wall member 130 is described below. When laser light is shone onto the surface of the wall member 130, the surface of the synthetic resin absorbs the energy of the laser light, and the molecular density increases due to the thermal effect, causing it to condense and change color to a darker shade. This darkened portion may be used as the wall light-shielding portion 133. Further irradiation with laser light causes the synthetic resin to carbonize and change to black. This blackened portion may also be used as the wall light-shielding portion.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section taken along line B-B shown in FIG. 2. The cover member 140 is a synthetic resin member arranged to cover the light from the light source 110. The cover member 140 includes a window portion 141 having higher light transmittance than the surrounding portions. The cover member 140 is provided with a wall member 130 disposed at the outer peripheral edge of the window portion 141 and integrally formed with the cover member 140. For the sake of distinction, the wall member 130 provided on the cover member 140 will be described as the first wall member 131, and the wall member 130 disposed between the cover member 140 and the light source 110 will be described as the second wall member 132. The type of synthetic resin forming the cover member 140 is not limited. Also, the type of synthetic resin forming the second wall member 132 and the type of synthetic resin forming the cover member 140 (including the first wall member 131 in the case of this embodiment) may be the same or different.

[0018] In the case of this embodiment, the first wall member 131 is cylindrical and surrounds the window portion 141, and a wall light-shielding portion 133 is provided on the surface portion of the inner circumference of the first wall member 131. Also, the tip of the first wall member 131 on the light source 110 side is disposed in an inserted state in a groove provided on the cover member 140 side of the second wall member 132. No wall light-shielding portion is provided on the surface portion of the second wall member 132 surrounded by the first wall member 131.

[0019] At least a part of the surface portion between the window portion 141 of the cover member 140 and the wall member 130, that is, the surface portion of the cover member 140 surrounded by the cylindrical first wall member 131 and facing the light source 110, includes a cover light-shielding portion 142 where the synthetic resin forming the surface portion of the cover member 140 has discolored due to heat. Thereby, even if no wall light-shielding portion is provided on the surface portion of the second wall member 132 surrounded by the first wall member 131, the leakage of light generated around the window portion 141 can be effectively suppressed. The formation method of the cover light-shielding portion 142 may be the same as or different from the formation method of the wall light-shielding portion 133.

[0020] In the cover light-shielding portion 142, if the portion where the light from the light source 110 directly hits without passing through the second wall member 132 is defined as the first light-shielding portion 143, and the portion where the light from the light source 110 does not directly hit is defined as the second light-shielding portion 144, the first light-shielding portion 143 has a higher light-shielding ability than the second light-shielding portion 144. Having a high light-shielding ability means that at least one of the following conditions is met: the first light-shielding portion 143 is darker in color than the second light-shielding portion 144, the first light-shielding portion 143 has a higher carbon density, for example, than the second light-shielding portion 144, and the first light-shielding portion 143 is thicker than the second light-shielding portion 144. Thereby, the leakage at the outer peripheral edge of the window portion 141 where the light is directly irradiated from the light source 110 can be effectively suppressed.

[0021] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, another embodiment realized by arbitrarily combining the components described in this specification and excluding some of the components may also be an embodiment of the present invention. Also, modification examples obtained by making various modifications conceivable by those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the present invention, that is, the meaning indicated by the language described in the claims, are also included in the present invention.

[0022] For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the window portion 141 may be the bottom surface portion of a concave portion 145 that recesses in a direction away from the light source 110 from the surface of the cover member 140 on the light source 110 side. In this case, a concave light-shielding portion 146 where the synthetic resin has discolored due to heat may be provided on at least a part of the inner peripheral surface portion of the concave portion 145. The method of forming the concave light-shielding portion 146 may be the same as or different from the method of forming the wall light-shielding portion 133.

[0023] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, a wall light-shielding portion 133 may be provided on the surface portion of the second wall member 132 that surrounds the optical path of the light emitted by the light source 110 disposed at a position facing the window portion 141.

[0024] Also, as shown in FIG. 6, the entire portion surrounded by the wall light-shielding portion 133 existing on the surface portion of the wall member 130 provided on the cover member 140 may be used as the window portion 141.

[0025] (Summary) The first embodiment of the display device 100 is a display device 100 that displays information based on light from a light source 110, and includes a wall member 130 made of synthetic resin and arranged to surround the light emitted from the light source 110, and at least a part of the surface of the wall member 130 is provided with a wall light shielding portion 133 in which the synthetic resin has changed color due to heat.

[0026] According to the first embodiment, the light emitted from the light source 110 is blocked by the wall light-shielding portion 133, and is less likely to pass through the wall member 130 while scattering. Therefore, it is possible to avoid light blurring around the parts necessary for information display and light leaking from unintended places. In addition, since the synthetic resin of the wall light-shielding portion 133 is changed by heat, there is virtually no peeling or detachment of any part of the wall light-shielding portion 133 from the wall member 130, and the light-shielding ability can be stably maintained over time. Therefore, the visibility of the information display can be stably ensured over time.

[0027] The second embodiment of the display device 100 includes the first embodiment and comprises a cover member 140 made of synthetic resin and arranged to cover the light from the light source 110, the cover member 140 having a window portion 141 that transmits light from the light source 110, and the wall member 130 is arranged on the outer edge of the window portion 141 and is provided on the cover member 140.

[0028] According to the second embodiment, light from the light source 110 is irradiated onto the portion of the cover member 140 surrounded by the wall light-shielding portion 133 of the wall member 130, while other portions are not irradiated with light, thereby improving the visibility of the information displayed by the light.

[0029] The third embodiment of the display device 100 includes the second embodiment, wherein at least a portion of the surface between the window portion 141 of the cover member 140 and the wall member 130 is provided with a cover light-shielding portion 142 made of synthetic resin that has discolored due to heat.

[0030] According to the third embodiment, since light can be transmitted to the portion surrounded by the cover light-shielding portion 142 to display information, the visibility of the information can be improved.

[0031] The fourth embodiment of the display device 100 includes the third embodiment, and in the cover light-shielding portion 142, if the portion that is directly hit by light from the light source 110 is designated as the first light-shielding portion 143 and the portion that is not directly hit by light from the light source 110 is designated as the second light-shielding portion 144, then the first light-shielding portion 143 has a higher light-shielding capacity than the second light-shielding portion 144.

[0032] According to the fourth embodiment, since the light-shielding ability of the part directly hit by light from the light source 110 is high, strong light can be effectively suppressed from passing through the cover member 140, and the visibility of the display by light can be improved.

[0033] The fifth embodiment of the display device 100 includes any of the second to fifth embodiments, wherein the cover member 140 has a recess 145 that is recessed away from the light source 110, a window portion 141 is provided at the bottom of the recess 145, and at least a part of the inner circumferential surface of the recess 145 has a recess light-shielding portion 146 made of synthetic resin that has discolored due to heat.

[0034] According to the fifth embodiment, the light transmittance of the window portion 141 is increased, and the area around the window portion 141 is surrounded by the recessed light-shielding portion 146, thereby improving the visibility of information transmitted through the window portion 141.

[0035] The sixth embodiment of the display device 100 includes any of the second to fifth embodiments, and the wall member 130 comprises a first wall member 131 provided on the cover member 140 and a second wall member 132 positioned between the cover member 140 and the light source 110, wherein the tip of the first wall member 131 on the light source 110 side is positioned inserted into a groove provided on the cover member 140 side of the second wall member 132.

[0036] According to the sixth embodiment, the diffusion path of the light emitted from the light source 110 can be made complex, and the blurring and leakage of light can be effectively suppressed. [Industrial applicability]

[0037] This invention can be used in home appliances, remote controllers, automotive parts, and other applications that use light to make information visible. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 100 display device 110 Light source 111 circuit board 130 Wall components 131 First wall member 132 Second wall member 133 Wall light shielding part 140 Cover component 141 Window section 142 Cover light-shielding section 143 First light shielding part 144 Second light shielding part 145 recess 146 Recessed light-shielding part 151 Tact switch 152 Opening and closing doors 153 Membrane 154 Transparent window

Claims

1. A display device that displays information based on light from a light source, It comprises a wall member made of synthetic resin, which is arranged to surround the light emitted from the light source, At least a portion of the surface of the wall member is The wall includes a light-shielding section in which the synthetic resin has discolored due to heat. Display device.

2. It comprises a cover member made of synthetic resin, which is arranged to cover the light from the light source, The cover member is It is equipped with a window that transmits light from the aforementioned light source, The aforementioned wall member is Arranged on the outer edge of the window portion and provided on the cover member The display device according to claim 1.

3. At least a portion of the surface of the cover member between the window portion and the wall member is The cover includes a light-shielding portion in which the synthetic resin has discolored due to heat. The display device according to claim 2.

4. In the light-shielding portion of the cover, if the portion directly hit by light from the light source is designated as the first light-shielding portion, and the portion not directly hit by light from the light source is designated as the second light-shielding portion, The first light-shielding portion has a higher light-shielding capacity than the second light-shielding portion. The display device according to claim 3.

5. The cover member is It has a recess that is recessed in a direction away from the light source, The bottom surface of the recess is provided with the window portion. At least a portion of the inner circumferential surface of the recess is The synthetic resin is discolored by heat, and the recessed light-shielding portion is provided. The display device according to claim 2 or 3.

6. The aforementioned wall member is The first wall member provided on the cover member, The system comprises a second wall member disposed between the cover member and the light source, The tip of the first wall member on the light source side is positioned inserted into a groove provided on the cover member side of the second wall member. The display device according to claim 2 or 3.

Images