Patent ID: 8172414
Filing Date: 2012-05-08
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An instrument illuminating device for illuminating display designed parts on a display panel of an instrument, said instrument illuminating device comprising: a light source for emitting light, said light source to be arranged at a rear side of the display panel; and a light guide body having a light receiving surface for receiving the light from said light source, an outer circumferential portion, and a light guide portion configured to guide the light from said light source toward said outer circumferential portion of said light guide body, said light guide body being configured to output the light toward the display designed parts through a front surface of said light guide portion so as to illuminate the display designed parts, said outer circumferential portion having an outer circumferential side wall surface at an outer circumference of said light guide body, said outer circumferential side wall surface being located at a side of said light guide body opposite a side at which said light source is located, said outer circumferential side wall surface being reflective so as to reflect the light toward a front surface of said outer circumferential portion; wherein said light guide body has a projecting portion projecting radially outwardly from a part of said outer circumferential side wall surface, said projecting portion having one of a slotted hole, a slit, or a stepped portion with a reflective inner side wall forming a reflective inner side surface of said projecting portion, said reflective inner side surface being separated from an outer side of said projecting portion and being located at a radially-inner side of said projecting portion, said reflective inner side surface also being formed along a remaining part of said outer circumferential side wall surface so that said reflective side surface reflects the light traveling through said light guide portion so that the light is output through said front surface of said light guide portion to thereby prevent the light from reaching said outer side of said projecting portion through said reflective side surface.