Automotive meter with illuminator

Abstract: Herein disclosed is an automotive meter which comprises an opaque base plate constructed of one of natural wood and natural stone; graduations provided on a front face of the base plate, the graduations containing a fluorescent material; and an ultraviolet lamp located in front of the base plate.

Description: The present invention relates to an automotive meter in accordance with the generic clause of claim 1 In order to clarify the task of the present invention, two conventional automotive speedometers of the above-mentioned type will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In Fig. 2, there is shown one conventional speedometer of a so-called "back lamp" type. The meter comprises a transparent base plate 1 constructed of acrylate resin or the like, an opaque film 3 attached to a front surface of the base plate 1 and an electric lamp 4 positioned behind the base plate 1. The opaque film 3 has graduations 2 each being cut out therefrom. The base plate 1 and the graduated opaque film 3 thus constitute a so-called "dial board". Although not shown in the drawing, a pointer is arranged in front of the dial board. Upon energization, the lamp 4 produces visible light rays which pass through the cut out graduations 2 from the back of the base plate 1. With this, the graduations are clearly viewed from the front of the meter particularly in surroundings which receive little light. In Fig. 3, there is shown another conventional speedometer of a so-called "front lamp" type. The meter comprises an opaque base plate 5 and an electric lamp 4 positioned in front of the base plate 5. Graduations 6 are printed on a front surface of the base plate 5 using colored paint, colored ink or the like. Thus, the base plate 5 thus graduated serves as a dial board. Upon energization, the lamp 4 produces visible light rays and thus illuminate the graduated front surface of the dial board. Thus, the graduations are easily read by a viewer even in dark surroundings. However, due to usage of the lamp 4 which emits visible light rays, the above-mentioned conventional speedometers fail to provide the graduations of the dial board with an elegant illumination. Furthermore, due to the nature of the lamp 4 used, uneven illumination tends to occur on the graduated face of the dial board. That is, the graduations located near the lamp 4 are highly illuminated, while the graduations located remote from the lamp 4 are poorly illuminated. Doküment GB 2 152 886 describes an illuminating motor vehicle instrument board, wherein that graphical and alphanumerical markings are formed from fluorescent material. When an ultraviolet lamp is fed with current, it emits ultraviolet rays that are directed to strike the fluorescent material disposed on various sectors of a panel. Said fluorescent materials are excited and luminous when struck by ultraviolet rays. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an automotive meter which is free of the above-mentioned drawbacks. According to the present invention, there is provided an automotive meter whose dial board is constructed of a natural wood or a natural stone to assure elegancy of the meter particularly in daytime. According to the present invention, there is further provided an automotive meter whose graduations are made of a fluorescent material and thus emit elegant visible light when receiving ultraviolet rays. These objects are met by the characterizing features of claim 1. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematically illustrated perspective view of an automotive speedometer of the present invention, with a pointer removed; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a first conventional speedometer; and Fig. 3 is a view also similar to Fig. 1, but showing a second conventional speedometer. Referring to Figs. 1, there is shown, but schematically, an automotive speedometer according to the present invention. The meter comprises an opaque base plate 11 constructed of a natural wood or a natural stone, and an ultraviolet electric lamp 13 positioned in front of the base plate 11. Graduations 6 are printed on a front surface of the base plate 11 using a paint which contains a fluorescent material. Thus, the base plate 11 thus graduated serves as a dial board. As is known, the fluoresent material emits elegant visible light when receiving ultraviolet rays. Although not shown in the drawing, a pointer is arranged in front of the dial board. When, for example at night, the ultraviolet lamp 13 is energized, ultraviolet rays are emitted from the lamp 13, and thus, the graduations 12 of the fluorescent material are excited to emit visible light. Because the light produced by the fluorescent material has an elegant and unique brightness and color, the graduations 12 are easily distinguished from the darkened other face part of the dial board. Due to the nature of the ultraviolet rays, they are equally received by the fluorescent material, and thus, even illumination of the graduations 12 is achieved in the invention. In the daytime with the ultraviolet lamp 13 kept deenergized, the dial board is illuminated by natural light. Thus, the external appearance of the natural wood or stone of the dial board is stressed assuring the elegancy of the same.

Claims: An automotive meter comprising: an opaque base plate (11); graduations (12) printed on a front face of said base plate (11), said graduations (12) being of a paint which contains a fluorescent material; and an electric ultraviolet lamp (13) emitting ultraviolet rays toward the graduated front face of said base plate (11) characterized in that said opaque base plate (11) is constructed of one of a natural wood or a natural stone.

Inventors: KAMEDA TSUYOSHI, KAMEDA, TSUYOSHI
Applicants: KANTO SEIKI CO, KANTO SEIKI CO., LTD.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: G01D11
IPC codes: G01D13, G01D11, G12B11