Vehicular display device and production method for vehicular display device

Abstract

A vehicular display device (100) is to be used in a vehicle and comprises a display unit (20), windshield glass (30), a window plate (40), and a gasket (60). The display unit (20) has a display panel (21) and a surrounding bezel (26). The window plate (40) is formed in the shape of a frame that surrounds the windshield glass (30) and holds the windshield glass (30). The gasket (60) is provided between a back surface (32) of the windshield glass (30) and the bezel (26). The window plate (40) has a sloped surface (46) that is opposite a side surface (28a) of the display unit (20) in the circumferential direction (RD) and slopes so as to approach the side surface (28a) toward the back surface (32). The gasket (60) contacts the sloped surface (46).

Description

Vehicle display device and method for manufacturing the same CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based on Patent Application No. 2024-146720 filed in Japan on August 28, 2024, and the contents of the original application are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0002] The disclosure of this specification relates to a vehicle display device used in a vehicle and a manufacturing method thereof.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a mobile phone as an electronic device equipped with a liquid crystal display panel. This mobile phone includes a liquid crystal display panel, a diaphragm made of a transparent material, a front case that holds the diaphragm, and a gasket member that is provided between the diaphragm and the front case.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-186691

[0005] When assembling an electronic device such as that described in Patent Document 1, the position of a sealing member such as a gasket member is likely to vary during the process of providing the sealing member. If the position of the sealing member is significantly misaligned, there is a possibility that the front panel, such as the diaphragm, will not be properly sealed.

[0006] The present disclosure aims to provide a vehicle display device that allows a seal member to be disposed in a position suitable for sealing the front panel, and a manufacturing method thereof.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, one disclosed aspect is a vehicle display device for use in a vehicle, comprising: a display unit having a display panel and a bezel surrounding the periphery of the display panel; a front panel formed in a plate shape from a translucent material and positioned in the display direction of the display panel; a frame-shaped member formed in a frame shape surrounding the periphery of the front panel and holding the front panel; and a sealing member provided between the bezel and the back surface of the front panel facing the display panel, the frame-shaped member further having an inclined surface that faces the side surface of the display unit in the circumferential direction and inclined so as to approach the side surface as it moves toward the back surface, and the sealing member is a vehicle display device that is in contact with the inclined surface.

[0008] In this embodiment, the seal member is configured to contact the inclined surface, so that the seal member can be positioned so as to contact the inclined surface during the process of providing the seal member on the rear surface of the front panel. Therefore, the seal member can move along the inclined surface, approaching the side of the display unit and reaching the front panel. As described above, the inclined surface guides the seal member, making it less likely for the position of the seal member positioned between the rear surface and the bezel to vary. As a result, the seal member can be positioned in a position suitable for sealing the front panel.

[0009] Another disclosed aspect is a manufacturing method for a vehicle display device used in a vehicle and equipped with a display unit, the manufacturing method for a vehicle display device including: a holding step of holding a front panel formed in a plate shape from a light-transmitting material on a frame-shaped member formed in a frame shape surrounding the periphery of the front panel; an application step of applying an application agent that serves as a sealing member so that it comes into contact with an inclined surface of the frame-shaped member that inclines circumferentially inward as it approaches the back surface of the front panel; and an arrangement step of arranging the display unit circumferentially inward of the inclined surface so that the bezel comes into contact with the application agent that has moved along the inclined surface toward the back surface.

[0010] In this embodiment, in the application process of applying the sealant, the sealant is applied so as to come into contact with the inclined surface. Therefore, the sealant may move circumferentially inward as it moves toward the rear surface of the front panel due to its own weight. As described above, the inclined surface guides the sealant, making it less likely for the position of the sealant to vary. As a result, the sealant can be positioned in a position suitable for sealing the front panel.

[0011] It should be noted that the reference numbers in parentheses in the claims merely indicate an example of the correspondence with the specific configurations in the embodiments described below, and do not limit the technical scope in any way. Furthermore, claims not explicitly stated in the claims may be combined together if no particular problems arise in the combination.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a vehicle display device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a windshield and a wind plate. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a manufacturing process of a vehicle display device. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining details of the manufacturing process of a vehicle display device. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration in the vicinity of a gasket of a second embodiment, which is a diagram showing a modified example of FIG. 3. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a manufacturing process of a vehicle display device. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration in the vicinity of a gasket of a third embodiment, which is another modified example of FIG. 3.

[0013] Hereinafter, several embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that corresponding components in each embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted. When only a portion of the configuration is described in each embodiment, the configuration of another embodiment described previously can be applied to the remaining portion of the configuration. Furthermore, in addition to the combinations of configurations explicitly stated in the description of each embodiment, configurations of several embodiments can also be partially combined together even if not explicitly stated, as long as there is no particular problem with the combination.

[0014] First Embodiment A vehicle display device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, shown in FIG. 1 , is an in-vehicle electronic device used in a vehicle. The vehicle display device 100 is mainly composed of a display unit 20, and functions as a vehicle combination meter when mounted in the vehicle. The vehicle display device 100 is disposed in front of a seat (driver's seat) in the vehicle interior. The vehicle display device 100 is installed on an instrument panel with its front side facing the headrest of the driver's seat. The vehicle display device 100 provides the driver with various information related to the vehicle. For example, a speedometer, a tachometer, a remaining fuel level, a remaining battery level, fuel efficiency information, map information for a guided route, and the operating status of a driving assistance system are displayed on the vehicle display device 100.

[0015] The vehicle display device 100 is composed of a display unit 20, a windshield 30, a windshield plate 40, a gasket 60, a circuit board 71, heat dissipation fins 72, a lower case 74, and a rear cover 75. In the following description, the direction in which the display surface 22 of the display unit 20 faces and along a virtual axis that is substantially perpendicular to the display surface 22 is referred to as a display direction SD. The direction opposite to the display direction SD is referred to as a back direction BD. Furthermore, the direction along the display surface 22 is referred to as a circumferential direction RD.

[0016] The display unit 20 shown in Figures 1 and 3 has a display panel 21 and a bezel 26. The display panel 21 is a dot-matrix display device such as a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL panel. The display panel 21 is formed in the shape of a rectangular flat plate as a whole. The display panel 21 displays various color images on the display surface 22 by controlling a large number of pixels arranged two-dimensionally along the display surface 22.

[0017] The bezel 26 is made of a light-blocking metal or resin material and is formed in a rectangular ring shape that surrounds the entire periphery of the display panel 21. The bezel 26 is a component that protects the display panel 21. The bezel 26 has an L-shaped cross section and includes an edge surface portion 27 and a side surface portion 28. The edge surface portion 27 covers the peripheral portion of the display surface 22. The side surface portion 28 covers the end surface portion of the display panel 21. The side surface portion 28 forms a side surface 28a of the display unit 20.

[0018] In the following description, the direction in which the side surface 28 a faces is referred to as the outer side in the circumferential direction RD (hereinafter referred to as the outer circumferential direction RDo), and the direction opposite to the outer circumferential direction RDo is referred to as the inner side in the circumferential direction RD (hereinafter referred to as the inner circumferential direction RDi). The outer edge portion of the edge surface portion 27 located on the outer circumferential direction RDo is the front edge portion 27 b. On the other hand, the end portion of the edge surface portion 27 located on the inner circumferential direction RDi is the inner edge portion 27 a.

[0019] The windshield 30 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape from a translucent material such as colorless, transparent acrylic resin or glass. The windshield 30 is positioned in the display direction SD of the display panel 21 and protects the display surface 22. Images formed on the display surface 22 are viewed by the driver through the windshield 30. Of the two surfaces of the windshield 30, one facing the display direction SD is the front surface 31, and the other facing the rear surface direction BD is the back surface 32. An AR (anti-reflective) coating is formed on the front surface 31 to prevent reflection of extraneous light and the like. The back surface 32 faces the display surface 22 of the display panel 21.

[0020] The windshield 30 has a light-shielding layer 34. The light-shielding layer 34 is formed on the outer edge of the back surface 32 by light-shielding printing or the like. The light-shielding layer 34 is located in the display direction SD of the bezel 26 and prevents the bezel 26 from being visible to the driver. In the area where the light-shielding layer 34 is formed, the back surface of the light-shielding layer 34 facing the rear direction BD can be considered as the back surface 32 of the windshield 30.

[0021] Double-sided tape 50 is provided on the windshield 30. The double-sided tape 50 is configured by providing adhesive surfaces on both sides of a substrate such as a sheet-like foam material, nonwoven fabric, or resin film. The double-sided tape 50 is attached to the rear surface 32 of the windshield 30 in an area where the light-blocking layer 34 is formed. By being attached to the rear surface 32, the double-sided tape 50 holds the windshield 30 to the wind plate 40. In the area where the double-sided tape 50 is attached, the back surface of the double-sided tape 50 facing the rear direction BD can be considered to be the rear surface 32 of the windshield 30.

[0022] The windshield 40, together with the lower case 74 and the rear cover 75, constitutes the housing of the vehicle display device 100. The windshield 40 is made of a light-blocking resin material such as polypropylene resin or ABS resin. The windshield 40 has a peripheral wall body 41 and a holding wall 42. The peripheral wall body 41 is formed in a frame shape that surrounds the entire periphery of the display unit 20 (see FIG. 2). The peripheral wall body 41 forms an opening into which the windshield 30 is fitted.

[0023] The retaining wall 42 extends from the peripheral wall main body 41 toward the circumferentially inward RDi. The retaining wall 42 is formed in a rectangular ring shape as a whole (see FIG. 2). The retaining wall 42 is provided with a glass support surface 43 and a flange portion 45. The glass support surface 43 is a flat surface on the front side of the retaining wall 42 that faces the display direction SD. The glass support surface 43 holds the windshield 30 via double-sided tape 50. The double-sided tape 50 is arranged between the glass support surface 43 and the light-shielding layer 34 so as not to protrude from the glass support surface 43 toward the circumferentially inward RDi.

[0024] The flange portion 45 is formed in a flange shape on the inner edge portion of the retaining wall 42 located on the circumferentially inner side RDi. The flange portion 45 extends from the retaining wall 42 in the rear direction BD. The flange portion 45 has an inclined surface 46 formed thereon. The inclined surface 46 faces the side surface 28a of the display unit 20 in the circumferential direction RD. The inclined surface 46 is formed in a rectangular ring shape and is located on the circumferentially outer side RDo of the side surface 28a around the entire circumference of the display unit 20. The inclined surface 46 is inclined so as to approach the side surface 28a as it extends toward the rear surface 32 (display direction SD) of the windshield 30. In other words, the inclined surface 46 is inclined toward the circumferentially outer side RDo as it extends toward the rear direction BD.

[0025] The gasket 60 is a lightweight, flexible sealing material. Foam materials such as urethane foam, silicone foam, EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber) foam, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) foam, and polyethylene foam can be used for the gasket 60. At least a portion of the gasket 60 is provided between the rear surface 32 of the windshield 30 and the bezel 26 of the display unit 20. Another portion of the gasket 60 is provided between the side surface 28a of the display unit 20 and the inclined surface 46 of the flange portion 45. The gasket 60 is formed in a rectangular ring shape along the bezel 26 of the display unit 20, sealing the gap between the windshield 30 and the display unit 20. The gasket 60 is in contact (close contact) with the inclined surface 46 in addition to the bezel 26 and the light-shielding layer 34. The gasket 60 is in contact with the front edge 27b of the display unit 20 formed by the bezel 26, but is not in contact with the inner edge 27a of the bezel 26.

[0026] The circuit board 71 is a hard board made of, for example, a paper phenolic or glass epoxy material. The circuit board 71 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape with an area smaller than that of the display panel 21. The circuit board 71 is located in the rear direction BD of the display unit 20. A display control circuit that controls the display panel 21 is formed on the circuit board 71. The circuit board 71 is electrically connected to the display panel 21.

[0027] The heat dissipation fins 72 are made of a metal material such as aluminum. The heat dissipation fins 72 are located in the rear direction BD of the circuit board 71 and are held by the circuit board 71. The heat dissipation fins 72 cool the circuit board 71 by radiating heat generated in the control circuit into the air.

[0028] The lower case 74 is made of a resin material such as polypropylene resin or ABS resin and has an overall rectangular plate shape. The lower case 74 is located in the rear direction BD of the display unit 20 and the circuit board 71. The circuit board 71 is attached to the lower case 74. The lower case 74 supports the circuit board 71 and the heat dissipation fins 72 from the rear direction BD.

[0029] The rear cover 75 is made of a resin material such as polypropylene resin or ABS resin and has an overall rectangular frame shape. The rear cover 75 is located in the rear direction BD of the window plate 40 and the lower case 74. The rear cover 75 is attached to the window plate 40. The rear cover 75, together with the window plate 40, defines a space that houses the display unit 20, circuit board 71, lower case 74, etc.

[0030] <Method of Manufacturing Vehicle Display Device> Next, the details of the method of manufacturing the vehicle display device 100 described above will be described below based on Figures 4 and 5, and with reference to Figures 1 and 3. As shown in the process flow shown in Figure 4, the process of manufacturing the vehicle display device 100 includes a holding process S10, a setting process S20, an application process S30, an arrangement process S40, a curing process S50, a wiring connection process S60, and a final assembly process S70. These processes are performed sequentially in this order. In the following description, the direction of gravity is referred to as downward Si, and the direction opposite to the direction of gravity is referred to as upward Ue.

[0031] The holding step S10 is a step of holding the windshield 30 to the windshield plate 40. In the holding step S10, the windshield plate 40 is placed on, for example, a workbench with the glass support surface 43 facing upward Ue. The windshield 30 is attached to the glass support surface 43 of the windshield plate 40 with the back surface 32 facing downward Si (see FIG. 5A). The double-sided tape 50 may be attached first to the light-shielding layer 34 of the windshield 30, or may be attached first to the holding wall 42 of the windshield plate 40.

[0032] In the setting step S20, the windshield 30 and the assembled windshield plate 40 (hereinafter referred to as the assembled body 40a) are set in the coating device 80. The coating device 80 has a nozzle 80a that dispenses the coating material 60a. The coating material 60a is the uncured gasket 60. The coating material 60a is paste-like and has viscosity and fluidity. The assembled body 40a is placed in the coating device 80 with the front surface 31 of the windshield 30 facing downward Si, in other words, with the light-shielding layer 34 and the inclined surface 46 facing upward Ue (see FIG. 5B ).

[0033] The coating step S30 is a step of coating the gasket 60 (coating agent 60a) onto the assembled body 40a. In the coating step S30, the coating agent 60a is discharged from a nozzle 80a positioned above Ue of the inclined surface 46. The nozzle 80a applies the coating agent 60a to the assembled body 40a so as to come into contact with the inclined surface 46 (see FIG. 5B ). The nozzle 80a moves continuously along the inclined surface 46 while discharging the coating agent 60a. As a result, the coating agent 60a is applied in a rectangular ring shape.

[0034] The coating material 60a applied in the coating step S30 moves downward Si along the inclined surface 46 due to its own weight. Because the coating material 60a is viscous, it moves slowly along the inclined surface 46, drips straight down at the edge of the inclined surface 46, and reaches the light-shielding layer 34 on the back surface 32. Due to its viscosity, the coating material 60a accumulates at the boundary between the windshield 30 and the windshield plate 40 (see FIG. 6C ).

[0035] The placement step S40 is a step of placing the display unit 20 so that the bezel 26 comes into contact with the coating material 60a that has moved along the inclined surfaces 46 toward the rear surface 32. The display unit 20 is adjusted in the horizontal direction (front-to-back and left-to-right directions) so that the four front edge portions 27b fit within the circumferentially inner sides RDi of the inclined surfaces 46, and then lowered to the lower side Si (see FIG. 5C ). The display unit 20 compresses the coating material 60a toward the lower side Si near each front edge portion 27b (see FIG. 5D ). The coating material 60a is spread to straddle the gap between the edge surface portion 27 and the light-shielding layer 34 and the gap between the side surface portion 28 and the inclined surfaces 46.

[0036] The curing step S50 is a step of curing the coating material 60a. The coating material 60a may be cured over time or by heat or light. The gasket 60 formed by the cured coating material 60a seals the gap between the display unit 20 and the windshield 30. The gasket 60 seals not only the edge surface 27 side of the bezel 26 but also the side surface 28 side. As a result, foreign matter is reliably prevented from entering between the windshield 30 and the display panel 21.

[0037] The wiring connection process S60 is a process of electrically connecting the display unit 20 to the circuit board 71. The circuit board 71 is assembled to the lower case 74 together with the heat dissipation fins 72 and the like. The display unit 20 is connected to a control circuit mounted on the circuit board 71 by a flexible flat cable (FFC), a flexible printed cable (FPC), or the like.

[0038] In the final assembly process S70, a circuit board 71, a lower case 74, a rear cover 75, etc. are assembled to an assembly (hereinafter, assembly 40b) to which the display unit 20 is assembled, thereby completing the vehicle display device 100. In the final assembly process S70, the rear cover 75 is fitted to the window plate 40. The circuit board 71 and the lower case 74 may be pre-assembled to the rear cover 75 or may be pre-assembled to the assembly 40b.

[0039] (Summary of First Embodiment) In the first embodiment described so far, the gasket 60 is configured to contact the inclined surface 46. Therefore, in the application step S30 of providing the gasket 60 on the rear surface 32 of the windshield 30, the gasket 60 (application agent 60a) can be positioned to contact the inclined surface 46. The gasket 60 can move along the inclined surface 46 and reach the windshield 30 while approaching the side surface 28a of the display unit 20. As described above, by being guided by the inclined surface 46, the position of the gasket 60 disposed between the rear surface 32 and the bezel 26 is less likely to vary. As a result, the gasket 60 can be positioned in a position suitable for sealing the windshield 30.

[0040] Additionally, in the first embodiment, the gasket 60 contacts the front edge 27b of the display panel 21 formed by the bezel 26. By arranging the gasket 60 closer to the circumferential outer side RDo of the bezel 26 in this manner, the display unit 20 can bear the load acting on itself at the front edge 27b. In other words, the inner edge 27a of the edge surface 27 does not contact the gasket 60, so even if a load acts on the display unit 20, the display surface 22 is less likely to be damaged. As a result, the damage caused by the bezel 26 to the display panel 21 is reduced.

[0041] In the first embodiment, in the application step S30 of applying the coating material 60a, the coating material 60a is applied so as to come into contact with the inclined surface 46. Therefore, the coating material 60a can move circumferentially inward RDi as it moves toward the rear surface 32 of the windshield 30 due to its own weight. As described above, the gasket 60 is guided by the inclined surface 46, which reduces variation in the position of the gasket 60. As a result, the gasket 60 can be positioned in a position suitable for sealing the windshield 30.

[0042] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the gasket 60 is applied after the windshield 30 and the windshield plate 40 are bonded together. In a manufacturing method employing this process sequence, the shape of the windshield plate 40 makes it difficult to bring the nozzle 80a close to the flange portion 45, potentially preventing the application of the coating material 60a to the appropriate location. For example, by using a nozzle 80a with a specially shaped bent tip, it is possible to avoid interference between the nozzle 80a and the flange portion 45 and apply the coating material 60a near the flange portion 45. However, using a nozzle 80a with a special shape reduces the versatility of the equipment. Additionally, it is difficult to continuously apply the coating material 60a in a rectangular ring shape.

[0043] In contrast, in the first embodiment, by moving the coating material 60a along the inclined surface 46, a versatile straight-shaped nozzle 80a is used, and interference between the nozzle 80a and the flange portion 45 is avoided, and the coating material 60a is applied near the flange portion 45. In addition, because the application step S30 is performed after the holding step S10, it is less likely that the wind plate 40 will run up onto the coating material 60a whose application position is shifted to the circumferential outer side RDo. Furthermore, the guidance of the inclined surface 46 allows the coating material 60a to be accurately positioned near the flange portion 45. Therefore, it is less likely that the coating material 60a whose application position is shifted to the circumferential outer side RDo will protrude from the bezel 26 onto the display surface 22.

[0044] In the first embodiment, the windshield 30 corresponds to the "front panel," the wind plate 40 corresponds to the "frame-shaped member," the double-sided tape 50 corresponds to the "tape member," and the gasket 60 corresponds to the "sealing member."

[0045] Second Embodiment A vehicle display device 200 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure shown in Figures 6 and 7 is a modified example of the first embodiment. The vehicle display device 200 of the second embodiment is provided with a restricting portion 57. The restricting portion 57 is formed in an area of ​​the rear surface 32 of the windshield 30 that is the circumferentially inner side RDi of the inclined surface 46. The restricting portion 57 restricts movement of the gasket 60 (coating material 60a) in a direction along the rear surface 32.

[0046] The restricting portion 57 in the second embodiment is formed by a part of the double-sided tape 50. A part of the double-sided tape 50, the back surface of which is attached to the glass support surface 43, protrudes as a protruding portion 55 toward the circumferentially inner side RDi beyond the glass support surface 43. This protruding portion 55 serves as the restricting portion 57, and restricts movement of the gasket 60, particularly toward the circumferentially inner side RDi.

[0047] In the holding process S10 (see FIG. 7A) of manufacturing the above-described vehicle display device 200, the windshield 30 is attached to the glass support surface 43 so that the protruding portion 55 of the double-sided tape 50 protrudes circumferentially inward RDi relative to the inclined surface 46.

[0048] In the application step S30 (see FIG. 7B ), similar to the first embodiment, the coating agent 60a is applied to the assembled body 40a so as to contact the inclined surface 46. The coating agent 60a moves slowly downward Si along the inclined surface 46 due to its own weight and reaches the rear surface of the protruding portion 55. The adhesive force of the double-sided tape 50 functions as an anti-slip agent, making it difficult for the coating agent 60a to drip from the protruding portion 55 toward the circumferentially inner side RDi (see FIG. 7C ).

[0049] In the placement step S40, the display unit 20 is placed so that the bezel 26 comes into contact with the application material 60a whose movement is restricted by the protrusions 55 (restrictors 57). The application material 60a, which has been pressed downward Si near each front edge 27b, is then spread to straddle the gap between the edge surface 27 and the protrusions 55 and the gap between the side surface 28 and the inclined surface 46 (see FIG. 7D ).

[0050] The second embodiment described so far also has the same effect as the first embodiment, and the inclined surface 46 acts to guide the coating material 60a, thereby suppressing variation in the position of the gasket 60. As a result, the gasket 60 can be positioned in a position suitable for sealing the windshield 30.

[0051] Additionally, in the second embodiment, a restricting portion 57 that restricts movement of the gasket 60 in a direction along the rear surface 32 of the windshield 30 is formed in an area that is the circumferentially inner side RDi of the inclined surface 46. Therefore, because movement is restricted by the restricting portion 57, the inner edge portion 27a of the bezel 26 and its vicinity do not come into contact with the gasket 60. As a result, even if a load is applied to the display unit 20, the bezel 26 is less likely to damage the display surface 22.

[0052] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, a double-sided tape 50 is provided on the back surface 32 of the windshield 30 to hold the windshield 30 to the windshield plate 40. A protruding portion 55 that protrudes circumferentially inward RDi from the inclined surface 46 forms a restricting portion 57. In this manner, if the movement of the gasket 60 is restricted by a portion of the double-sided tape 50, it becomes possible to provide the restricting portion 57 in the area facing the inclined surface 46 without complicating the configuration of the vehicle display device 200 or increasing costs. In the second embodiment, the protruding portion 55 corresponds to a "portion of the tape member."

[0053] Third Embodiment A vehicle display device 300 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 8 is a modified example of the second embodiment. In the vehicle display device 300 of the third embodiment, the restriction portion 37 is formed by the light-shielding layer 34. A portion of the light-shielding layer 34 that extends circumferentially inward RDi from the inclined surface 46 is provided with minute irregularities 35 that form the restriction portion 37. The irregularities 35 are formed integrally with the main body portion of the light-shielding layer 34 by light-shielding printing. The irregularities 35 may also be formed by applying additional printing to the main body portion of the light-shielding layer 34.

[0054] The third embodiment described so far also achieves the same effects as the first and second embodiments, and the inclined surface 46 acts to guide the coating material 60a, thereby suppressing variation in the position of the gasket 60. As a result, the gasket 60 can be positioned in a position suitable for sealing the windshield 30.

[0055] Additionally, in the third embodiment, the irregularities 35 that form the restricting portion 37 are provided in the portion of the light-shielding layer 34 that protrudes circumferentially inward RDi from the inclined surface 46. In this manner, if the movement of the gasket 60 is restricted by a portion of the light-shielding layer 34, it becomes possible to provide the restricting portion 37 in the region facing the inclined surface 46 without complicating the configuration of the vehicle display device 300 or increasing costs.

[0056] (Other Embodiments) Although multiple embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure should not be construed as being limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be applied to various embodiments and combinations within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0057] The inclination angle of the inclined surface 46 with respect to the back surface 32 in the above embodiment may be changed as appropriate depending on the material, viscosity, flowability, etc. of the coating material 60a. In addition, grooves, ribs, etc. for guiding the coating material 60a may be formed on the inclined surface 46.

[0058] The gasket 60 in the above embodiment is provided in a rectangular ring shape. However, the application shape of the gasket 60 is not limited to a rectangular ring shape. The gasket 60 may be applied in a discontinuous ring shape, or may be applied in a linear or curved shape.

[0059] In the above embodiment, the display panel 21 and the windshield 30 are formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. However, the display panel 21 and the windshield 30 may be formed in a circular or elliptical flat plate shape. Furthermore, the display panel 21 and the windshield 30 may be formed in a curved shape.

[0060] The vehicle display device according to the present disclosure is not limited to a configuration that functions as a combination meter, and may be a center information display, a display for an electronic mirror, an entertainment display for the passenger seat or rear seat, a display for air conditioning control, or the like.

[0061] Vehicles equipped with the vehicle display device according to the present disclosure are not limited to POVs (Personally Owned Vehicles) that are generally owned by individuals. The vehicle display device may be installed in rental cars, manned taxis, ride-sharing vehicles, freight vehicles, buses, etc. Furthermore, the vehicle display device may be installed in unmanned vehicles used for mobility services, construction machinery, agricultural machinery, railroad cars, trams, DMVs (Dual Mode Vehicles), etc.

Claims

1. A vehicle display device for use in a vehicle, comprising: a display unit (20) having a display panel (21) and a bezel (26) surrounding the periphery of the display panel; a front panel (30) formed in a plate shape from a light-transmitting material and positioned in the display direction (SD) of the display panel; a frame-shaped member (40) formed in a frame shape surrounding the periphery of the front panel and holding the front panel; and a sealing member (60) provided between the bezel and a back surface (32) of the front panel that faces the display panel, the back surface (32) being one of both surfaces of the front panel, the back surface (32) being opposed to the display panel, wherein the frame-shaped member further has an inclined surface (46) that faces a side surface (28a) of the display unit in the circumferential direction (RD) and is inclined so as to approach the side surface as it approaches the back surface, and the sealing member is in contact with the inclined surface.

2. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is in contact with a front edge (27b) of the display panel formed by the bezel.

3. A vehicle display device as described in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a regulating portion (37, 57) formed in an area on the inner side (RDi) of the inclined surface in the circumferential direction, which regulates movement of the sealing member in a direction along the back surface.

4. A vehicle display device as described in claim 3, wherein the front panel is provided with a tape member (50) that is attached to the back surface to hold the front panel to the frame-shaped member, and a portion (55) of the tape member that extends inward beyond the inclined surface forms the regulating portion.

5. A vehicle display device as described in claim 3, wherein the front panel has a light-shielding layer (34) formed on the outer edge of the back surface, and the portion of the light-shielding layer that extends inward beyond the inclined surface is provided with irregularities (35) that form the regulating portion.

6. A method for manufacturing a vehicle display device used in a vehicle and equipped with a display unit (20), the method comprising: a holding step (S10) of holding a front panel (30) formed in a plate shape from a light-transmitting material on a frame-shaped member (40) formed in a frame shape surrounding the periphery of the front panel; an application step (S30) of applying a coating material (60a) that will become a sealing member (60) so as to contact an inclined surface (46) of the frame-shaped member, the inclined surface inclining circumferentially inward (RDi) as it approaches a back surface (32) of the front panel; and an arrangement step (S40) of arranging the display unit on the circumferentially inner side of the inclined surface so that a bezel (26) contacts the coating material that has moved along the inclined surface toward the back surface.

Images