JPH11174164A - El-lighting dial - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a color tone that is not affected by mixed color of a luminescent color of an EL element and that of a luminescent substance being added to a dial, by arranging a light-shielding means that is smaller than the dial in front of the dial so that the luminescent range of the EL element can be shielded. SOLUTION: A light-shielding print 20 that is a light-shielding means is formed on the front surface of a dial 10. The light-shielding print 20 is printed in a circle on the front surface of the dial 10 with a light-shielding paint. A character 40 and a scale 41 are formed on the rear surface around the light-shielding print 20 of the dial 10 by a white color. When an EL element 30 emits light, light enters inside from the rear surface of the dial 10 that opposes the emission range of the EL element 30, and is partially transmitted through the dial 10 and emits light with a mixed color between the luminescent color of the EL element 30 and that of a luminescent substance being added to the dial 10 on the front surface of the dial 10. However, the light-shielding print 20 cannot be transmitted and the printing color of the light- shielding print 20 can be visually recognized as it is from the front surface, thus obtaining an EL lighting dial with a tone color that cannot be affected by the mixed color.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an EL illuminated dial.

2. Description of the Related Art For some time, EL has been placed on the back of a translucent dial.
An EL illuminated dial has been proposed in which an element is provided and the dial is illuminated by the light emitted from the EL element. For example, it is used as a timepiece dial, such as an EL light-emitting timepiece disclosed in Utility Model Registration No. 2501778.
The EL illuminated dial used in this EL luminescent watch is:
An EL element having a light emitting surface area smaller than that of the dial is provided on the back of the central region of the translucent dial formed by the fluorescent plate, and the back of the donut-shaped outer peripheral region outside the central region of the dial is provided. The time scale is formed in white color.

When the EL element emits light, the center area becomes a mixed color of the emission color of the EL element and the fluorescent color of the fluorescent screen, and the time scale in the outer peripheral area becomes the fluorescent color of the fluorescent screen, thereby changing the color of the dial. The time scale arranged outside the EL element is displayed in a bright fluorescent color by emitting an EL element smaller than the dial, so that the time scale can be easily visually recognized. , Which contributes to a reduction in the cost of the EL luminescent watch.

[0003]

However, as in the EL illumination dial disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2501778, the central region has a mixed color of the emission color of the EL element and the fluorescent color of the fluorescent plate. In some cases, the variety of color of the dial can be increased, but on the contrary, depending on the combination of the fluorescent color of the fluorescent plate and the emission color of the EL element, the color difference may be increased.
The color tone is good when the L element does not emit light.
When the L element emits light, the mixed color of the emission color of the EL element and the fluorescent color of the fluorescent plate may not be in harmony with the surrounding color tone, and may not give a consumer a willingness to purchase.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and even if an EL element having a light emitting surface area smaller than that of the dial is provided on the back surface of the translucent dial to which a fluorescent substance is added, the light emission of the EL element is achieved. An object of the present invention is to provide an EL lighting dial having a color tone which is not influenced by a mixed color of a color and a fluorescent color of a fluorescent substance added to the dial.

[0005]

A translucent dial to which a fluorescent substance is added, and an EL having a light emission range smaller than that of the dial.
An EL illumination dial having a back surface of the dial and a light-emitting surface of the EL element facing each other, wherein the front face of the dial is arranged such that the dial shields a light-emitting range of the EL element. And light shielding means smaller than the dial.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing the structure of an EL illumination dial according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a front view and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view. The cross-sectional view (b) shows a cross section taken along the line AA ′ in the front view (a). This EL illuminated dial is used by being incorporated into a pointer-type timepiece to display the time of the pointer-type timepiece.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a dial, and the dial 10 is formed of a fluorescent plate obtained by adding a fluorescent substance to translucent plastic. A light-shielding print 20 as a light-shielding means is formed on the front surface of the dial 10. The light-shielding print 20 is printed in a circular shape on the front surface of the dial 10 using a light-shielding paint. Further, on the back surface around the light-shielding print 20 of the dial 10, a character 40 and a scale 41 are formed in white color.

The character 40 is a time display character for indicating the time, and the numerals 12, 3, 6, 9 on the back of the dial 10 are shown.
Is printed with a white printing paint. The scale 41 is a time scale for reading the time pointed by the hands of a pointer-type timepiece (not shown), and is printed on the back of the dial 10 with a white printing paint, like the characters 40.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a disk-shaped EL element provided on the back of the dial 10, and its light emitting surface is arranged to face the back of the dial 10. The EL element 30 can be turned on and off by operating an illumination switch of a pointer-type timepiece (not shown). When the light emitting surface of the EL element 30 emits light, the light is also radiated around the light emitting surface of the EL element 30. Therefore, light is emitted also around the light emitting surface, but it becomes darker as the distance from the outer periphery of the light emitting surface increases. Since the diameter of the light-shielding print 20 is larger than the diameter of the EL element 30, the light-emitting portion around the light-emitting surface can be covered. At the center of the dial 10, the EL element 30 and the light-shielding print 20, there is provided a pointer shaft insertion hole 50 for passing a pointer shaft of a pointer type timepiece (not shown).

Next, a description will be given of colors that can be visually recognized on the front face of the dial 10 when the EL element 30 emits light and when the EL element 30 is turned off. In the state where the EL element 30 is turned off, the color of the portion of the dial 10 facing the dial 10 of the pointer type timepiece (not shown) and the color of the dial 10 Is visually recognized as a mixed color with the fluorescent substance added to. In the light-shielding print 20, the color of the paint is visually recognized as it is. The character 40 and the scale 41 are visually recognized as a color in which a white color is mixed with the color of the fluorescent substance added to the dial 10.

When the EL element 30 emits light, the light is
The light enters the inside of the dial 10 from the back surface facing the light emitting range of the element 30, and a part of the light passes through the dial 10 as it is and is added to the dial 10 with the emission color of the EL element 30 on the front surface of the dial 10. It emits light in a mixed color with the fluorescent color of the fluorescent substance. However, since the light-shielding print 20 is provided on the front surface of the portion of the dial 10 that emits the mixed color light, the light is not printed.
, And the print color of the light-shielding print 20 can be visually recognized from the front.

The remaining light travels inside the dial 10 toward the outer periphery while repeating total reflection. The light traveling toward this outer periphery has a long optical path length, so that the dial 1
Due to the fluorescent substance added inside 0, the color is changed to a fluorescent color and the brightness is condensed, and irregularly reflected at the character 40 and the scale 41. For this reason, the condensed fluorescent color is reflected toward the front, and when viewed from the front, the character 40 and the scale 41 are displayed in a bright fluorescent color, making the character 40 and the scale 41 extremely easy to recognize.

As described above, in the first embodiment, even if the EL element 30 having a light emission range smaller than that of the dial 10 emits light, the fluorescence of the fluorescent substance added to the dial 10 remains on the front of the dial 10. A mixed color of the color and the emission color of the EL element 30 is not visually recognized, and an EL illumination dial having a color tone not influenced by the mixed color can be formed. The diameter of the light-shielding print 20 is
Since the diameter is larger than the diameter of the EL element 30, it is possible to cover a portion that becomes a mixed color of the light radiated around the light emitting surface of the EL element and the fluorescent substance added to the dial 10, thereby more reliably mixing the color. The part can be made invisible.

FIG. 2 shows E according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
It is the figure which showed the structure of the L illumination dial, (a) is a front view, (b) is sectional drawing. Sectional view (b) is front view (a)
3 shows a cross section taken along line BB ′ of FIG. FIG. 3 is FIG.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of the EL element 31 shown in FIG.

The same components as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description is omitted. This E
The L-illuminated dial is used by being incorporated in a pointer-type clock to display the time of the pointer-type clock, as in the first embodiment.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a dial, which has the same configuration as the dial 10 shown in FIG. 1, except that an exposure hole 60 is provided at the center, and the dial 11 is annular. Further, the light-shielding print 21 is provided on the exposure hole 6 on the front face of the dial 11.
0, and is also annular. Therefore, in the exposure hole 60 of the dial 11, the EL element 31 provided on the back of the dial 11 is exposed on the front. As in the first embodiment, the diameter of the light-shielding print 21 is larger than the diameter of the EL element 31. Reference numeral 51 denotes a pointer shaft insertion hole provided in the EL element 31 for passing a pointer shaft of a pointer type timepiece (not shown).

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 31 denotes an EL element.
Reference numerals 21 and 322 denote light emitting surfaces of the EL element 31. The light emitting surface 322 is located at the center of the EL element 31 and is an exposed surface exposed on the front of the dial 11. Light emitting surface 321
Is annularly located around the light emitting surface 322, that is, the outer peripheral portion of the light emitting surface, and is arranged so as to overlap with the peripheral portion of the exposure hole 60 on the back surface of the dial 11. Reference numeral 33 denotes halftone printing provided on the exposed surface 322. In the halftone dot printing 33, many small dots are densely printed using a light-shielding paint.

Next, the colors visually recognized on the front face of the dial 11 when the EL element 31 emits light and when the EL element 31 emits light will be described.

When the EL element 31 is turned off, the portion around the light-shielding print 21 of the dial 11 and excluding the characters 40 and the scale 41 is a portion opposed to the dial 10 of the hands (not shown). And the color mixed with the fluorescent substance added to the dial 10. In the light-shielding print 21, the color of the paint is visible as it is. Character 40
The scale 41 is visually recognized as a color in which the color of the white printing paint is mixed with the color of the fluorescent substance added to the dial 11. Also, the exposed surface 322 of the EL element 31 is
3, the color is visually recognized not as the color of the EL element but as the color of the printing paint of the halftone printing.

In a state where the EL element 31 emits light, light emitted from the light emitting surface 321 of the EL element 31 enters the inside of the dial 11 from the back surface overlapping the light emitting surface 321 of the EL element 31, and a part of the light enters. The light passes through the dial 11 as it is. As a result, EL around the exposure hole 60 on the front surface of the dial 11
Light is emitted in a mixed color of the emission color of the element 31 and the fluorescent color of the fluorescent substance added to the dial 11. However, this dial 11
Since the light-shielding print 21 is provided so as to cover all the portions emitting light of the mixed color on the front surface of the light-shielding print 21, the light cannot pass through the light-shielding print 21, and the print color of the light-shielding print 21 is visually recognized from the front.

The character 40 and the scale 41 correspond to the first
As in the case of the first embodiment, the display is performed in a bright fluorescent color, and the character 40 and the scale 41 are extremely easily recognized. Exposed surface 3
Reference numeral 22 indicates that the entire exposed surface 322 is illuminated by light emitted between the dots of the dot printing 33.

If the exposed surface 322 is configured so that at least a part of the light emitting surface of the EL element 31 is exposed, when the EL element 31 emits light, the entire exposed surface exposed to the front emits light.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the first embodiment
As in the embodiment, the light emission range is smaller than that of the dial 11.
Even if the L element 31 emits light, the mixed color of the fluorescent color of the fluorescent substance added to the dial 11 and the emission color of the EL element 31 is not visually recognized on the front surface of the dial 11, and the EL of a color tone not influenced by the mixed color. A lighting dial can be configured.

In the second embodiment, the dial 11
Has an exposure hole 60 for exposing at least a part of the light-emitting surface of the EL element 31 to the front, and the light-shielding means 21 is provided around the exposure hole 60 on the front of the dial 11. The exposed surface 322 of the EL element 11 exposed in the exposed hole 60 of the plate 11 emits light, and brighter illumination can be performed.

In the second embodiment, the EL element 3
Since a halftone print 33 printed with a light-shielding paint is provided on an exposed surface 322 exposed to the front of 1,
The exposed surface 322 of the EL element 31 can be harmonized with the surrounding color tone, and brighter illumination can be performed on the exposed surface 322.

In the second embodiment, the light-shielding means is light-shielding printing in which light-shielding paint is printed on the front surface of the dial, so that the light-shielding means can be easily formed and the surrounding color tone can be easily adjusted. Can be easily reconciled.

In the second embodiment, the halftone print 33 is provided on the exposed surface 322 of the EL element 31. However, the light emitting surface of the EL element 31 may be directly exposed without providing the halftone print 33. good.

In the first and second embodiments, both the characters and the scale are formed in white color on the back surface around the light-shielding means of the dial, but the present invention is not limited to this. Either a character or a scale may be formed. By forming either the character or the scale in a white color on the back surface around the light-shielding means of the dial, reading of the character or the scale is facilitated.

In the first and second embodiments, light-shielding printing provided on the front face of the dial is used as light-shielding means. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a light-shielding sheet may be used as light-shielding means. It may be attached to the front of the dial.

Also, the first and second embodiments are examples of the EL illuminated dial which is incorporated in a pointer-type timepiece.
The present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to, for example, a dial of a pointer-type measuring instrument.

[0031]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, even when an EL element having a light emission range smaller than that of the dial is emitted, a mixed color of the fluorescent color of the fluorescent substance added to the dial and the emission color of the EL element. Is not visually recognized, and an EL illumination dial having a color tone not influenced by the mixed color can be formed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the EL
To expose at least a part of the light emitting surface of the device to the front,
The exposed light emitting surface of the EL element emits light, which has the effect of enabling brighter illumination.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the EL
The light-emitting surface of the element is covered at the outer peripheral portion, and a wider area of the light-emitting surface of the EL element can be exposed to the front.

Further, according to the fourth aspect of the invention, there is an effect that the mixed color portion of the fluorescent color of the fluorescent substance added to the dial and the emission color of the EL element can be more reliably shielded from light.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, E
There is an effect that the exposed light emitting surface of the L element can be harmonized with the surrounding color tone, and brighter illumination can be performed at the exposed portion.

According to the invention described in claim 6,
When the EL element emits light, the characters or the scales are displayed in a bright fluorescent color, so that the characters and the scales can be easily visually recognized.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention,
There is an effect that the light-shielding means can be easily formed and can be easily harmonized with the surrounding color tone.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a structure of an EL illumination dial according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) is a front view and (b)
It is sectional drawing.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a structure of an EL illumination dial according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a front view and FIG.
It is sectional drawing. This is a first embodiment, and FIG.
It is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of the EL element shown in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 11 Dial 20, 21 Light-shielding printing 30, 31 EL element 321 Light-emitting surface 322 Light-emitting surface (exposure surface) 33 Halftone dot printing 40 Character 41 Scale 50, 51 Pointer shaft insertion hole 60 Exposure hole

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A translucent dial to which a fluorescent substance is added,
An EL element having a light emission range smaller than the dial,
In an EL illumination dial in which a back surface of the dial and a light emitting surface of the EL element are arranged to face each other, the dial is arranged on a front surface of the dial so as to block a light emission range of the EL element. Characterized by having light shielding means smaller than the dial.
Illuminated dial. 2. The dial has an exposure hole for exposing at least a part of the light emitting surface of the EL element to the front, and the light shielding means is provided around the exposure hole on the front of the dial. The EL illumination dial according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A light shielding means, a periphery of an exposure hole of the dial,
3. The EL illumination dial according to claim 2, wherein an outer peripheral portion of a light emitting surface of the EL element is disposed so as to overlap. 4. The EL illuminated dial according to claim 1, wherein the outer shape of the light shielding means is larger than the outer shape of the light emitting surface of the EL element. 5. The EL illuminated dial according to claim 2, wherein a halftone dot printed with a light-shielding paint is provided on a portion exposed to the front of the EL element. 6. The EL illuminated character according to claim 1, wherein the dial has a character or a scale formed of a white color disposed around the light shielding means on the back of the dial. Board. 7. The light-shielding means according to claim 1, wherein the light-shielding means is light-shielding printing in which a light-shielding paint is printed on the front surface of the dial.
7. The EL lighting dial according to any one of claims 1 to 6.