Abstract:
Provided is a vehicle display device which exhibits high visibility, and which has an attractive external appearance. A vehicle display device according to the present invention is provided with: pointer-type instruments (a speedometer and an engine tachometer; a display disposed next to the pointer-type instruments; and a planar protective plate which has, formed on the front surface thereof, a first reflected-light suppression layer. The protective plate is disposed so as to cover the front surfaces of the display and the pointer-type instruments. Furthermore, in the protective plate, light-blocking layers for concealing spaces between the display and the pointer-type instruments are formed. Moreover, a light-transmitting bonding layer, which covers and bonds a display surface of the display, and second reflected-light suppression layers, which cover the front surfaces of the pointer-type instruments, are formed on the rear surface of the protective plate so as to not overlie each other.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a vehicle display device that exhibits high visibility and has an attractive external appearance. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    In a vehicle display device for indicating vehicle information such as the travel speed of a vehicle using a pointer-type instrument disposed in the vicinity of the front glass of the driver&#39;s seat of the vehicle, external light (sunlight) having entered the vehicle is reflected by the display surface of the vehicle display device, thereby impairing the visibility. Accordingly, there are various types of conventional vehicle display devices that eliminate excess light by providing a visor or prevent light reflected by the lens surface from entering the driver&#39;s eyes by curving the protective plate for protecting the display surface. 
         [0003]    However, since the visor or the curved protective plate reduces the driver&#39;s forward openness, PTL 1 and PTL 2 have proposed, as vehicle display devices that eliminate such a problem, vehicle display devices having a planar protective plate for protecting the display surface of a vehicle display device and reflected-light suppression layers for suppressing reflected light on the front surface and back surface of the protective plate thereof. 
         [0004]    In recent years, there are various types of vehicle display devices that indicate vehicle information such as the travel speed of a vehicle on a display such as a liquid crystal display using images and PTL 3 has proposed a vehicle display device in which the portion between a protective plate for protecting the display surface of a display and the display is filled with light-transparency resin to form a bonding layer for bonding the display to the protective plate. 
       CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
       [0005]    PTL 1: JP-A-63-137043 
         [0006]    PTL 2: JP-A-2003-80974 
         [0007]    PTL 3: JP-A-2011-22523 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0008]    However, when a pointer-type instrument having three-dimensional effects as disclosed in PTL 1 and PTL 2 is combined with a display enabling extensive display representation as disclosed in PTL 3 to configure a vehicle display device having an attractive external appearance in which both instruments are integrated with each other on a single protective plate, if a reflected-light suppression layer for suppressing light reflected to the driver using external light illuminating the pointer-type instrument is also formed on the rear surface of the protective layer, during formation of a bonding layer for bonding the display to the protective layer on the reflected-light suppression layer formed on the rear surface, air bubbles maybe included between the reflected-light suppression layer and the bonding layer, adhesiveness may be lost, and the display may fall off the protective plate. 
         [0009]    In addition, when the pointer-type instrument and the display are integrated with each other using a single protective plate so that a plurality of display instruments are arranged adjacently to each other on the protective plate, since light emitted from these instruments interferes with each other on the rear surface of the protective plate or, for example, important information (such as the travel speed of the vehicle) for driving the vehicle indicated by the pointer-type instrument is buried in various types of information indicated by the display because a plurality of display instruments are present on a single plane, possibly impairing visibility. 
         [0010]    The invention addresses the above problem with an object of providing a vehicle display device that exhibits high visibility and has an attractive external appearance. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0011]    A vehicle display device according to the invention includes 
         [0012]    a pointer-type instrument, 
         [0013]    a display provided adjacently to the pointer-type instrument, and 
         [0014]    a planar protective plate having a front surface on which a first reflected-light suppression layer is formed, the protective plate being provided so as to cover front surfaces of the pointer-type instrument and the display, 
         [0015]    in which the protective plate includes a light blocking layer for concealing a space between the pointer-type instrument and the display and 
         [0016]    the protective plate includes, on a back surface, a light-transparency bonding layer covering and boding a display surface of the display and a second reflected-light suppression layer covering the front surface of the pointer-type instrument so that the light-transparency bonding layer and the second reflected-light suppression layer are not laminated with each other. 
         [0017]    In addition, preferably, the vehicle display device according to the invention further includes 
         [0018]    an alert instrument provided adjacently to the pointer-type instrument and the display, the alert instrument having a front surface covered with the protective plate, 
         [0019]    in which the light blocking layer conceals a space between the pointer-type instrument and the alert instrument and a space between the display and the alert instrument. 
         [0020]    In addition, preferably, in the vehicle display device according to the invention, 
         [0021]    a light blocking wall is disposed in a part on the back surface of the protective plate, the part being positioned between the pointer-type instrument and the display, the light blocking wall preventing emitted light from the pointer-type instrument and emitted light from the display from being mixed with each other on a rear surface of the protective plate. 
         [0022]    In addition, preferably, in the vehicle display device according to the invention, 
         [0023]    the pointer-type instrument indicates a travel speed of a vehicle and 
         [0024]    contrast between the light blocking layer and the pointer-type instrument is higher than contrast between the light blocking layer and instruments other than the pointer-type instrument. 
       Advantageous Effects of Invention 
       [0025]    According to the invention, a vehicle display device that exhibits high visibility and has an attractive external appearance can be provided. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a front view illustrating a vehicle display device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view illustrating the vehicle display device according to the embodiment taken along line A-A. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view illustrating the vehicle display device according to the embodiment taken along line B-B. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    An embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 
         [0030]    A vehicle display device  1  according to the invention includes a pointer-type instrument  2 , a display  3 , an alert instrument  4 , a protective plate  5 , an inner case  6 , and an outer case  7 . 
         [0031]    The pointer-type instrument  2  includes a pointer  21 , a dial plate  22  having an indication part on its a surface, a light guiding body  23 , a decorative member  24 , light sources  25  and  26 , a motor  27 , and a circuit board  28  and indicates the measurement values of a vehicle by indicating a position corresponding to the measurement values of the vehicle on the indication part of the dial plate  22  using the pointer  21 . 
         [0032]    The vehicle display device  1  includes a speedometer  2   a  and an engine tachometer  2   b  as the pointer-type instruments  2 . The speedometer  2   a  indicates the travel speed of a vehicle and the engine tachometer  2   b  indicates the engine revolutions of the vehicle. 
         [0033]    In the dial plate  22 , a black printed layer  221  is formed in a position other than that corresponding to an indication part including numbers, shapes, and the like on a light guiding body  220  made of synthetic resin having transparent or translucent light-transparency (including light-translucency) . In addition, the light guiding body  220  guides light emitted from the white light source  25  including a LED or the like mounted on the circuit board  28  from a part in which the printed layer  221  is not formed to the upper surface of the dial plate  22  to illuminate the indication part. In addition, the light guiding body  220  also guides light emitted from the light source  25  to the pointer  21  to illuminate the pointer  21 . 
         [0034]    The light guiding body  23  guides light emitted from the blue light source  26  including an LED or the like so as to illuminate the dial plate  22  from the side. 
         [0035]    The decorative member  24  is made of synthetic resin, surrounds the pointer-type instrument  2 , and projects from the dial plate  22  to the protective plate  5  to provide the pointer-type instrument  2  with three-dimensional effects. In addition, the decorative member  24  is provided with a ring frame part  240  having a metallic mirror luster obtained by coating the surface with chrome plating in the part of the outer periphery closest to the protective plate  5 . 
         [0036]    The motor  27  includes, for example, a stepping motor and the pointer  21  is attached to its rotational shaft. In addition, the motor  27  rotates by a specified angle clockwise or counterclockwise according to control from control means mounted on the circuit board  28  described later. 
         [0037]    On the front and rear of the circuit board  28 , the light source  25 , the light source  26 , the motor  27 , a light source  40  described later, and a CPU and various types of electronic parts controlling these components are mounted. 
         [0038]    The display  3  includes, for example, a thin-film transistor type color liquid crystal module and indicates vehicle information such as the remaining amount of fuel, fuel economy information, and guide information using images. In addition, the display  3  may be of multi-dot or segment type or an EL (Electro Luminescence) module. 
         [0039]    The alert instrument  4  reports a predetermined alert by illuminating or blinking the alert design formed in the protective plate  5  using light emitted by the light source  40  on the circuit board  28  provided on the rear surface of the protective plate  5 . In addition, the alert design is configured by a combination of shapes and characters for indication of an alert or caution, such as indication of, for example, the blinking of directional signals of a vehicle or indication of a function failure of an engine or air bag of a vehicle. In addition, the light source  40  is configured by one of red, orange, and yellow light sources depending on the corresponding alert design. 
         [0040]    The protective plate  5  includes a first reflected-light suppression layer  51 , a light blocking layer  52 , a second reflected-light suppression layer  53 , a bonding layer  54 , and a semitransparent layer  55  on a base material  50 . In addition, the protective plate  5  covers and protects the display surfaces of the speedometer  2   a,  the engine tachometer  2   b,  the display  3 , and the alert instrument  4 . 
         [0041]    The inner case  6  is made of opaque synthetic resin and supports the circuit board  28 . In addition, the inner case  6  is provided with light blocking walls  60  for blocking light between the speedometer  2   a  and the display  3  and between the engine tachometer  2   b  and the display  3 . In addition, the inner case  6  is provided with a light guiding wall  61  for guiding light emitted by the light source  40  mounted on the circuit board  28  to the alert design formed in the protective plate  5 . 
         [0042]    The outer case  7  is made of opaque synthetic resin and accommodates instruments (the speedometer  2   a,  the engine tachometer  2   b,  the display  3 , and a waning meter  4 ) and the inner case  6  and supports the protective plate  5 . 
         [0043]    The base material  50  is made of inorganic glass. Functional layers formed on the base material  50  will be described below assuming that the surface close to the driver is the front surface and the opposite surface is the rear surface. 
         [0044]    The first reflected-light suppression layer  51  is configured by a thin film reducing reflected light using properties such as, for example, polarization, AR (Anti Reflect), AG (Anti Glare), and translucency and the first reflected-light suppression layer  51  is formed on the front surface of the base material  50  using vapor deposition, sputtering, or another method. The first reflected-light suppression layer  51  may be formed by attaching a thin film separately formed to the front surface of the base material  50  through pressing or bonding agent. 
         [0045]    The light blocking layer  52  is configured by, for example, a black printed layer and forms an alert design (so as to surround the alert design) in the position corresponding to the alert instrument  4 . In addition, the light blocking layer  52  covers the space between the speedometer  2   a,  the display  3 , and the alert design of the alert instrument  4  and the space between the engine tachometer  2   b,  the display  3 , and the alert design of the alert instrument  4  so that the spaces cannot be seen via the protective plate  5 . Alternatively, the light blocking layer  52  may be formed on the surface of the base material  50 . 
         [0046]    The second reflected-light suppression layer  53  is configured by a functional thin film reducing reflected light using properties such as, for example, polarization, AR (Anti Reflect), AG (Anti Glare), and translucency and the second reflected-light suppression layer  53  is formed on the rear surface of the base material  50  using vapor deposition, sputtering, or another method so as to cover the position corresponding to the display area of the pointer-type instrument  2 . 
         [0047]    The bonding layer  54  is formed by irradiating, for example, silicone, urethane, or acrylic transparent and colorless liquid photo-curable resin (for bonding the protective plate  5  to the front surface of the display  3  using optical bonding) with an ultraviolet ray to cure the resin. The bonding layer  54  and the second reflected-light suppression layer are formed so as not to be laminated with each other. The bonding layer  54  is not limited to a photo-curable type and may be a heat-curable type. 
         [0048]    The anti-dazzle layer  55  is made of a translucent black resin and formed on the rear surface of the base material  50  so as to cover the position of the alert design formed in the protective plate  5 . In addition, the transparency of the anti-dazzle layer  55  is preferably set so that the driver is not dazzled when the light source  40  of the alert instrument  4  illuminates and the driver cannot see the inside of the alert instrument  4  when the light source  40  of the alert instrument  4  does not illuminate. 
         [0049]    As described in the above embodiment, in the vehicle display device  1  according to the invention, the light blocking layer  52  concealing a space between the pointer-type instrument  2  and the display  3  is formed on the protective plate  5  and the light-transparent bonding layer  54  covering and bonding the display surface of the display  3  and the second reflected-light suppression layer  53  covering the front surface of the pointer-type instrument  2  are formed on the back surface of the protective plate  5  so that these layers are not laminated with each other. 
         [0050]    This reduces the probability of inclusion of air bubbles between the display  3  and the protective plate  5  and the probability of separation of the display  3  from the protective plate  5 . 
         [0051]    Since the instruments included in the vehicle display device  1  are disposed adjacently to each other on a single surface of the protective plate  5  and the spaces between the instruments are concealed by the light blocking layers  52 , the sense of unity among the instruments and the smoothness of the surface are achieved by the surface of the protective plate  5 . In addition, the pointer-type instrument  2  provides three-dimensional effects at the back of the protective plate  5 , so the vehicle display device  1  has an attractive external appearance and improved marketability. 
         [0052]    In addition, in the vehicle display device  1  according to the invention, the color of the light blocking layer  52  of the protective plate  5  is adjusted to a low-contrast color similar to the color of the display surface of the display  3  when the display  3  is not illuminated and the color of the display surface of the alert instrument  4  when the alert instrument  4  is not illuminated. On the other hand, the metallic ring frame part  240  is provided in the outer periphery of the decorative member  24 , which is the frame of the pointer-type instrument  2 , so that the contrast between the light blocking layer  52  and the pointer-type instrument  2  is higher than the contrast between the light blocking layer  52  and the display  3  and the contrast between the light blocking layer  52  and the alert instrument  4 . 
         [0053]    This makes the pointer-type instrument  2  more prominent for the driver than the display  3  and the alert instrument  4 , thereby making it easy for the driver to preferentially recognize important information during driving of the vehicle, such as the travel speed and engine revolutions of the vehicle indicated by the pointer-type instrument  2 . 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0054]    The invention is particularly suitable for a vehicle display device in which a pointer-type instrument and a display are provided adjacently to each other. 
       REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       [0055]      1 : vehicle display device
   2 : pointer-type instrument
   2   a : speedometer (pointer-type instrument)
   2   b : engine tachometer (pointer-type instrument)
   21 : pointer
   22 : dial plate
   220 : light guiding body
   221 : printed layer
   23 : light guiding body
   24 : decorative member
   240 : ring frame part
   25 : light source
   26 : light source
   27 : motor
   28 : circuit board
   3 : display
   4 : alert instrument
   40 : light source
   5 : protective plate
   50 : base material
   51 : first reflected-light suppression layer
   52 : light blocking layer
   53 : second reflected-light suppression layer
   54 : bonding layer
   55 : semitransparent layer
   6 : inner case
   60 : light blocking wall
   61 : light guiding wall
   7 : outer case