Display panel

A sensor that includes a switch unit and that detects a pressure applied from the front side to the switch unit or a finger approaching the switch unit from the front side is located on the back side of upholstery. A base member has a protruding portion on its surface. The upholstery includes: a light-transmitting region that is located over a light guide portion of the base member and the switch unit of the sensor and that allows light from a light source to transmit therethrough to the front side; and a non-light-transmitting region that blocks the light from the light source. A raised portion that is raised on the front side of the upholstery is located near the light-transmitting region in the non-light-transmitting region of the upholstery. The protruding portion of the base member is placed in the raised portion from the back side of the upholstery.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to display panels including a base member and upholstery located on the front side of the base member.

Japanese Patent No. 5212229 discloses a display panel including: a base member having a light guide portion that guides light from a light source toward the front side; and upholstery located on the front side of the base member. In this display panel, a sensor that includes a switch unit and that detects a pressure applied from the front side to the switch unit is located on the back side of the upholstery. The entire upholstery is made of a light-transmitting material, and a mask plate having a light-transmitting region that allows light from the light source to transmit therethrough and a light-shielding region that blocks light from the light source is located on the back side of the upholstery. A predetermined pattern appears on the surface of the upholstery by the light from the light source transmitted through the light-transmitting region of the mask plate from the back side.

SUMMARY

In such a display panel as shown in Japanese Patent No. 5212229, the mask plate may not be provided, and the upholstery may have a light-transmitting region that allows light from the light source to transmit therethrough to the front side and a non-light-transmitting region that blocks light from the light source. In this case, however, the light-transmitting region tends to be displaced as the upholstery is stretchy.

The present disclosure was made under the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present disclosure to reduce displacement of a light-transmitting region of upholstery.

In order to achieve the above object, the present disclosure is characterized in that a part of upholstery located near a light-transmitting region is engaged with a part of a base member.

Specifically, a first aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a display panel including: a base member including a light guide portion that guides light from a light source toward a front side; and upholstery located on a front side of the base member. The first aspect of the present disclosure has the following means for solving the problem.

That is, the first aspect is characterized in that a sensor that includes a switch unit and that detects a pressure applied from the front side to the switch unit or a finger approaching the switch unit from the front side is located on a back side of the upholstery, the base member has a protruding portion on its surface, and the upholstery includes: a light-transmitting region that is located over the light guide portion of the base member and the switch unit of the sensor and that allows the light from the light source to transmit therethrough to the front side; and a non-light-transmitting region that blocks the light from the light source, a raised portion that is raised on a front side of the upholstery is located near the light-transmitting region in the non-light-transmitting region of the upholstery, and the protruding portion of the base member is placed in the raised portion from the back side of the upholstery.

A second aspect is characterized in that, in the display panel according to the first aspect, the raised portion of the upholstery sandwiches the light-transmitting region from at least two directions.

A third aspect is characterized in that, in the display panel according to the first or second aspect, a cushioning layer made of a light-transmitting material with cushioning properties is located on the front side of the base member, the cushioning layer has a through portion, the protruding portion of the base member extends through the through portion of the cushioning layer, and a tip end of the protruding portion of the base member is in contact with a back side of the raised portion of the upholstery.

According to the first aspect, the raised portion of the upholstery located near the light-transmitting region of the upholstery is positioned with respect to the base member by inserting the protruding portion of the base member into the raised portion of the upholstery. This configuration reduces displacement of the light-transmitting region of the upholstery with respect to the base member.

A user who remembers the positional relationship between the raised portion and the light-transmitting region of the upholstery would identify the position of the light-transmitting region by merely touching the raised portion of the upholstery. It is therefore easy for the user to operate the display panel without looking at it.

According to the second aspect, the raised portion of the upholstery located at least on both sides of the light-transmitting region is positioned with respect to the base member. This configuration reduces variation in amount by which the light-transmitting region of the upholstery is stretched, and therefore reduces distortion of the shape of the light-transmitting region.

According to the third aspect, since there is no cushioning layer between the raised portion of the upholstery and the tip end of the protruding portion of the base member, the raised portion of the upholstery will not move even when the cushioning layer is deformed. Accordingly, the light-transmitting region of the upholstery can be more accurately positioned.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows a console1placed between a driver's seat and a passenger seat of an automobile so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle body. The console1includes a console box3, and the console box3includes a box body3athat is open upward and a lid3battached to the box body3asuch that the lid3bcan be opened and closed. The lid3bcan be used as an armrest when closed. A switch device5is located below the lid3bin front of the console box3in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The switch device5includes a display panel7according to the embodiment with its front surface facing upward.

As shown inFIGS.2and3, the display panel7includes a substantially rectangular plate-like base member9that is long in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The base member9is made of a hard light-transmitting resin such as polypropylene (PP) or acrylic resin. The entire base member9forms a light guide portion that guides light L from a light-emitting diode (LED)23(described later) serving as a light source toward the front side. First ridges9a, which are a pair of protruding portions extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, are formed on an intermediate part of the front surface of the base member9in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body so as to face each other at an interval in the lateral direction of the vehicle body. The tip ends of the first ridges9ahave a semicircular cross section that becomes narrower toward the top. Second ridges9b, which are a pair of protruding portions located inward of the first ridges9ain the lateral direction of the vehicle body and extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, are formed in front of the first ridges9aon the front surface of the base member9so as to face each other at an interval in the lateral direction of the vehicle body. The tip ends of the second ridges9balso have a semicircular cross section that becomes narrower toward the top. The length LO2of the second ridges9bin the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body is about ⅓ of the length LO1of the first ridges9ain the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.

A sheet-like light-transmitting electrostatic sensor11is located on the front surface of the base member9. The electrostatic sensor11includes: a wide portion11ahaving a width larger than the interval between the outer edges of the first ridges9ain the lateral direction of the vehicle body and smaller than the width of the base member9and extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body; and a narrow portion11bhaving a width smaller than the width of the wide portion11aand extending from the front edge of the wide portion11atoward the front of the vehicle body. Elongated first through holes11cextending parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body are formed near both ends of the wide portion11ain the lateral direction of the vehicle body. Elongated second through holes11dextending parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body are formed in the narrow portion11bat positions dividing the narrow portion11binto three substantially equal parts in the lateral direction of the vehicle body. The first ridges9aof the base member9extend through the first through holes11c, and the second ridges9bof the base member9extend through the second through holes11d. The electrostatic sensor11includes a transparent film base member11eand transparent electrodes11fthat are a plurality of switch units formed in the film base member11e. The electrostatic sensor11detects a finger approaching each transparent electrode11ffrom the front side, and outputs the detection result to in-vehicle equipment such as an audio device (not shown) or a navigation device (not shown). The plurality of transparent electrodes11fforms central switches11garranged between the first through holes11c, three front switches11hlocated on the left side of the left second through hole11d, between the second through holes11d, and on the right side of the right second through hole11d, and three rear switches11ilocated near the rear end of the wide portion11a.

A cushioning layer13having the same shape as the base member9as viewed in plan is located over the entire surface of a region of the base member9where the electrostatic sensor11is not located and the entire surface of the electrostatic sensor11. The cushioning layer13is made of a light-transmitting material with cushioning properties such as urethane foam or silicone resin. Third through holes13a, which are through portions in the shape of an elongated hole, are formed in the cushioning layer13at positions corresponding to the first ridges9aof the base member9. Fourth through holes13b, which are through portions in the shape of an elongated hole, are also formed in the cushioning layer13at positions corresponding to the second ridges9bof the base member9. The first ridges9aof the base member9extend through the third through holes13a, and the second ridges9bof the base member9extend through the fourth through holes13b.

Stretchy upholstery15is located over the entire surface of the cushioning layer13. The upholstery15is made of a stretchy material such as polyvinyl chloride. The upholstery15is fixed to the cushioning layer13and the base member9by attaching the entire back surface of the upholstery15or a part of the back surface of the upholstery15to the surface of the cushioning layer13by either bonding with an adhesive or welding with the ends of the upholstery15placed on the back side of the base member9. The upholstery15has a non-light transmitting light-shielding layer17having a plurality of openings17aand colored with a black pigment, and a light-transmitting smoke layer19placed over the entire light-shielding layer17and the entire openings17afrom the front side. Areas of the smoke layer19that cover the openings17ain the light-shielding layer17form light-transmitting regions R1of the upholstery15. The entire light-shielding layer17and an area of the smoke layer19that covers the light-shielding layer17form a non-light-transmitting region R2. The openings17ain the light-shielding layer17of the upholstery15are formed in such a manner that the openings17aform a dotted line group L1extending substantially from the center of the upholstery15outward in both the longitudinal and lateral directions of the vehicle body, first, second, and third shapes F1, F2, and F3located in this order from left to right in front of the dotted line group L1in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and fourth, fifth, and sixth shapes F4, F5, and F6located in this order from left to right behind the dotted line group L1in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Accordingly, the light-transmitting regions R1also form the dotted line group L1and the first to sixth shapes F1to F6. Those light-transmitting regions R1forming the dotted line group L1are located over those transparent electrodes11fforming the central switches11gof the electrostatic sensor11. Those light-transmitting regions R1forming the first to third shapes F1to F3are located over those transparent electrodes11fforming the front switches11hof the electrostatic sensor11. Those light-transmitting regions R1forming the fourth to sixth shapes F4to F6are located over those transparent electrodes11fforming the rear switches11iof the electrostatic sensor11. First raised portions15athat are raised on the front side of the upholstery15are formed on both sides of those light-transmitting regions R1forming the dotted line group L1in the lateral direction of the vehicle body at positions near these light-transmitting regions R1. The first raised portions15ahave a semicircular arc cross section and extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. That is, the first raised portions15aface each other with those light-transmitting regions R1forming the dotted line group L1sandwiched therebetween from both sides in the lateral direction of the vehicle body (from two directions). Second raised portions15bthat are raised on the front side of the upholstery15are formed on both sides of the light-transmitting region R1forming the second shape F2in the lateral direction of the vehicle body at positions near this light-transmitting region R1. The second raised portions15bhave a semicircular arc cross section and extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. That is, the second raised portions15bface each other with the light-transmitting region R1forming the second shape F2sandwiched therebetween from both sides in the lateral direction of the vehicle body (from two directions). Both of the second raised portions15bare located inward of those light-transmitting regions R1forming the first and third shapes F1, F3in the lateral direction of the vehicle body at positions near these light-transmitting regions R1. The tip ends of the first ridges9aof the base member9are placed in the first raised portions15aso as to be in contact with the back sides of the first raised portions15a. The tip ends of the second ridges9bof the base member9are placed in the second raised portions15bso as to be in contact with the back sides of the second raised portions15b.

A substrate21is located on the back side of the base member9with a component side of the substrate21facing substantially the central part of the base member9. The LED23is mounted on the component side of the substrate21.

Side covers25are placed on both sides of the switch device5in the lateral direction of the vehicle body so as to cover both ends of the surface of the display panel7in the lateral direction of the vehicle body from above and sides.

In order to assemble the display panel7configured as described above, the electrostatic sensor11is first placed on the front surface of the base member9. At this time, the electrostatic sensor11can be positioned with respect to the base member9by inserting the first ridges9aof the base member9through the first through holes11cin the electrostatic sensor11and inserting the second ridges9bof the base member9through the second through holes11din the electrostatic sensor11. This configuration facilitates the positioning of the electrostatic sensor11. Next, the cushioning layer13is placed on the surface of the region of the base member9where the electrostatic sensor11is not located and the surface of the electrostatic sensor11. At this time, the cushioning layer13can be positioned with respect to the base member9and the electrostatic sensor11by inserting the first ridges9aof the base member9through the third through holes13ain the cushioning layer13and inserting the second ridges9bof the base member9through the fourth through holes13bin the cushioning layer13. This configuration facilitates the positioning of the cushioning layer13. Thereafter, the upholstery15is fixed to the cushioning layer13and the base member9by stretching the upholstery15and attaching the back surface of the upholstery15to the surface of the cushioning layer13by either bonding with an adhesive or welding with the ends of the upholstery15placed on the back side of the base member9. At this time, the upholstery15can be positioned with respect to the base member9by inserting the first ridges9aof the base member9into the first raised portions15aof the upholstery15and inserting the second ridges9bof the base member9into the second raised portions15bof the upholstery15. This configuration facilitates the positioning of the upholstery15. The first raised portions15aof the upholstery15that are located on both sides of those light-transmitting regions R1forming the dotted line group L1in the lateral direction of the vehicle body are positioned with respect to the base member9. This configuration reduces variation in amount by which those light-transmitting regions R1forming the dotted line group L1are stretched in the lateral direction of the vehicle body. Moreover, the second raised portions15bof the upholstery15that are located on both sides of the light-transmitting region R1forming the second shape F2in the lateral direction of the vehicle body are positioned with respect to the base member9. This configuration reduces variation in amount by which the light-transmitting region R1forming the second shape F2is stretched in the lateral direction of the vehicle body. Accordingly, distortion of the shapes of those light-transmitting regions R1forming the dotted line group L1and the second shape F2can be reduced.

When the LED23of the switch device5configured as described above emits light L, the light L is incident on the back side of the upholstery15through the base member9, the electrostatic sensor11, and the cushioning layer13. A part of the incident light L passes through the light-transmitting regions R1, but the remaining incident light L is blocked by the non-light-transmitting region R2. As a result, the shapes of the light-transmitting regions R1, that is, the dotted line group L1and the first to sixth shapes F1to F6clearly appear on the surface of the upholstery15. When the user brings his or her finger toward the area of the surface of the upholstery15where the dotted line group L1appears and rotates the finger, the electrostatic sensor11detects the finger approaching the transparent electrodes11fforming the central switches11gand outputs the detection result to the audio device or the navigation device in the vehicle. The audio device or the navigation device in the vehicle then operates according to the detection result received from the electrostatic sensor11. At this time, the user who remembers the positional relationship between the first raised portions15aof the upholstery15and those light-transmitting regions R1forming the dotted line group L1would identify the positions of those light-transmitting regions R1forming the dotted line group L1by merely touching the first raised portions15aof the upholstery15. It is therefore easy for the user to operate the display panel7without looking at it. Similarly, when the user brings his or her finger toward one of the areas of the surface of the upholstery15where the first to sixth shapes F1to F6appear, the electrostatic sensor11detects the finger approaching a corresponding one of the transparent electrodes11f(front switches11hand rear switches11i), and outputs the detection result to the audio device or the navigation device in the vehicle. The audio device or the navigation device in the vehicle then operates according to the detection result received from the electrostatic sensor11.

According to the present embodiment, the first raised portions15athat are located near those light-transmitting regions R1forming the dotted line group L1of the upholstery15are positioned with respect to the base member9by inserting the first ridges9aof the base member9into the first raised portions15a. This configuration reduces displacement of those light-transmitting regions R1forming the dotted line group L1with respect to the base member9.

Moreover, the second raised portions15bthat are located near those light-transmitting regions R1forming the first to third shapes F1to F3of the upholstery15are positioned with respect to the base member9by inserting the second ridges9bof the base member9into the second raised portions15b. This configuration reduces displacement of those light-transmitting regions R1forming the first to third shapes F1to F3with respect to the base member9.

Since there is no cushioning layer13between the first and second raised portions15a,15bof the upholstery15and the tip ends of the first and second ridges9a,9bof the base member9, the first and second raised portions15a,15bof the upholstery15will not move even when the cushioning layer13is deformed. Accordingly, the light-transmitting regions R1of the upholstery15can be more accurately positioned.

In the present embodiment, the entire base member9is made of a light-transmitting resin. However, a part of the base member9may be made of an opaque resin so that only the remaining part of the base member9serves as the light guide portion. In this case, the upholstery15may be placed such that the light-transmitting regions R1of the upholstery15are located over the light guide portion.

In the present embodiment, the electrostatic sensor11is located between the cushioning layer13and the base member9. However, the electrostatic sensor11may be located at any other position such as on the back side of the base member9as long as the electrostatic sensor11is located on the back side of the upholstery15.

In the present embodiment, the sensor mounted on the front surface of the base member9is the electrostatic sensor11. However, a pressure sensor that has a switch unit and that detects a pressure applied from the front side to the switch unit may be mounted on the front surface of the base member9.

In the present embodiment, the two first raised portions15aand the two second raised portions15bare formed so as to sandwich the light-transmitting region(s) R1therebetween from two directions. However, three or more first raised portions15aand three or more second raised portions15bmay be formed so as to surround the light-transmitting region(s) R1from three directions. Alternatively, the first raised portion15aand the second raised portion15bmay be formed in an annular pattern so as to surround the light-transmitting region(s) R1from all directions.

In the present embodiment, the non-light-transmitting region R2of the upholstery15is composed of the smoke layer19and the light-shielding layer17. However, the non-light-transmitting region R2of the upholstery15may be composed of a light-transmitting upholstery material and a coating film formed on the upholstery material by coating.

In the present embodiment, the first ridges9aand the second ridges9bof the base member9extend through the third through holes13aand the fourth through holes13bin the cushioning layer13. However, the cushioning layer13may have slits or cutouts, and the first ridges9aand the second ridges9bof the base member9may extend through the slits or the cutouts.

In the present embodiment, the first ridges9aand the second ridges9bof the base member9have a semicircular cross section that becomes narrower toward the top, and the first raised portions15aand the second raised portions15bof the upholstery15have a semicircular arc cross section. However, the first ridges9aand the second ridges9bof the base member9may have a polygonal cross section, and the first raised portions15aand the second raised portions15bof the upholstery15may have a cross-sectional shape that conforms to the cross-sectional shape of the first ridges9aand the second ridges9b.

The present disclosure is useful as a display panel including a base member and upholstery located on the front side of the base member.