RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention is a Nonprovisional Application under 35 USC 111(a), claiming priority to Serial No. JP 2020-131707, filed 3 Aug. 2020 the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates to a panel device that displays representations.

2. Description of Related Art

Japanese Patent No. 6350489 discloses a conventional display device as an example of a panel device for a vehicle that is used for operating on-board devices of a vehicle. The display device includes, for example, an outer panel, a liquid crystal display, and a display formation plate. An image displayed by the liquid crystal display is projected through the display formation plate onto the outer panel so that the display device shows various representations on the outer panel.

SUMMARY

The display formation plate includes, for example, a light-projecting base material sheet, a light-blocking printed layer, and a tinted printed layer. In the display formation plate, a light-blocking printed layer is arranged on the rear surface of the tinted printed layer. The order in which the layers are arranged may affect the quality of the panel device.

For example, when viewing the panel device from the outer side, a step formed between the tinted printed layer and the light-blocking printed layer may be visible and thereby lower the aesthetic appeal. Further, when the outer panel is of a touch-operable type, a sheet of a capacitance sensor or the like is attached to the rear surface of the light-blocking printed layer. In this case, the sheet may not be securely fixed to the light-blocking printed layer at the boundary of the tinted printed layer and the light-blocking printed layer. This may affect the sensitivity of the sensor.

One objective of the present disclosure is to provide a panel device with improved quality.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In one general aspect, a panel device includes a panel unit, a light-blocking layer, a light source, and a light attenuation layer. The panel unit is light-transmissive and one of colored or colorless. The light-blocking layer includes an opening shaped in correspondence with a representation displayed on the panel unit. The light source emits light from a rear side of the panel unit and displays the representation on the panel unit with the light passing through the opening. The light attenuation layer attenuates ambient light to further darken light in cooperation with the light-blocking layer. The light attenuation layer is located between the light source and the light-blocking layer.

Definitions

The opening includes at least one of a window frame, a mark opening, and an indicator opening. The representation includes at least one of an image, a mark, and an indicator.

The present disclosure improves quality of the panel device.

Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims.

