1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an illuminating device which makes an annular luminous body emit light, an operating device having the illuminating device, and an audio apparatus including the operating device.
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. Hei. 11-4435, which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been known an operating knob used in an electric apparatus such as an audio apparatus or the like. FIG. 1 shows an example of an operating knob and a related illuminating device that emits light to illuminate the outer circumferential side of the operating knob. A light guiding member 2 is formed in a hollow cylindrical manner. A knob 1 is fittable into a hollow portion of the light guiding member 2. The light guiding member 2 has an annular luminous surface 3 at an end side thereof (the left side in FIG. 1) , and a plurality of illuminants 4 (two illuminants in FIG. 1) such as LEDs or the like are disposed at the opposite end side of the light guiding member 2. Under this construction, light is emitted from the illuminants 4 toward portions of the light guiding member 2, and is guided by the light guiding member 2 so as to be emitted from the luminous surface 3.
Incidentally, in the aforementioned illuminating device disposed on the outer circumferential side of the knob 1, only two parts of the luminous surface 3 existing in the direction of irradiation of the illuminants 4 shine brightly as hatched portions in FIG. 2, the whole region of the outer circumference of the knob 1 cannot be illuminated. If the whole region of the outer circumferential of the knob 1 is to be illuminated, it is necessary to provide a large number of illuminants 4, and therefore, the construction is made to be complicated.
With the above aforementioned circumstances in view, it is an object of the present invention is to provide an illuminating device which can make an annular luminous body emit light in a wider range with a simple construction, an operating device having such the illuminating device, and an audio apparatus including the operating device.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an illuminating device for receiving light emitted from a light source and emitting light, the illuminating device which comprises a tubular-light guiding member that is capable of guiding light, and an annular luminous body connected to a first end portion of the light guiding member, the luminous body which is made to emit light by the light guided by the light guiding member.
According to the second aspect of the present invention depending on the first aspect, it is preferable that the luminous body includes a tapered surface which is made to emit the light.
According to the third aspect of the present invention depending on the second aspect, it is preferable that the tapered surface is processed in one of an aventurine-like manner and a frosted-glass like manner.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention depending on the second aspect, it is preferable that the tapered surface has a concave surface.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention depending on the first aspect, it is preferable that the light source is directed to a second end portion of the light guiding member, and emits the light in a direction substantially parallel with an axial direction of the light guiding member.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention depending on the first aspect, it is preferable that the illuminating device further comprises a light entering portion for leading the light emitted from the light source into the light guiding member so as to be spirally guided in the light guiding member.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention depending on the first aspect, it is preferable that the light guiding member formed in a hollow cylindrical manner.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention depending on the first aspect, it is preferable that the light source emits beam-like light toward the light guiding member.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention depending on the first aspect, it is preferable that the light guiding member is capable of spirally guiding the light.
According to the tenth aspect of the present invention depending on the first aspect, it is preferable that the illuminating device further comprises a reflection member, wherein the light emitted from the light source is reflected by the reflection member, and enters the light guiding member.
According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention depending on the sixth aspect, it is preferable that the illuminating device further comprises a reflection member disposed on the light entering portion, wherein the light emitted from the light source is reflected by the reflection member, and enters the light guiding member.
According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention depending on the first aspect, it is preferable that the light emitted from the light source enters a second end portion of the light guiding member, and is spirally guided by the light guiding member.
According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention depending on the second aspect, it is preferable that the tapered surface has a convex surface.
According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention depending on the second aspect, it is preferable that the tapered surface has an angular surface.
Further, in order to achieve the above object, according to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operating device which comprises a light source which emits light, a tubular-light guiding member having a hollow portion, the light guiding member that receives the light emitted from the light source, and is capable of guiding the light, an annular luminous body connected to a first end portion of the light guiding member, the luminous body which is made to emit light by the light guided by the light guiding member, and an operating knob partially insertable in the hollow portion of the light guiding member.
According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention depending on the fifteenth aspect, it is preferable that the luminous body includes a tapered surface which is made to emit the light.
According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention depending on the sixteenth aspect, it is preferable that the tapered surface is processed in one of an aventurine-like manner and a frosted-glass like manner.
According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention depending on the sixteenth aspect, it is preferable that the tapered surface has a concave surface.
According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention depending on the fifteenth aspect, it is preferable that the light source is directed to a second end portion of the light guiding member, and emits the light in a direction substantially parallel with an axial direction of the light guiding member.
According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention depending on the fifteenth aspect, it is preferable that the operating device further comprises a light entering portion for leading the light emitted from the light source into the light guiding member so as to be spirally guided in the light guiding member.
According to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention depending on the fifteenth aspect, it is preferable that the light guiding member formed in a hollow cylindrical manner.
According to the twenty-second aspect of the present invention depending on the fifteenth aspect, it is preferable that the light source emits beam-like light toward the light guiding member.
According to the twenty-third aspect of the present invention depending on the fifteenth aspect, it is preferable that the light guiding member is capable of spirally guiding the light.
According to the twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention depending on the fifteenth aspect, it is preferable that the operating device further comprises a reflection member, wherein the light emitted from the light source is reflected by the reflection member, and enters the light guiding member.
According to the twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention depending on the twenties aspect, it is preferable that the operating device further comprises a reflection member disposed on the light entering portion, wherein the light emitted from the light source is reflected by the reflection member, and enters the light guiding member.
According to the twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention depending on the fifteenth aspect, it is preferable that the light emitted from the light source enters a second end portion of the light guiding member, and is spirally guided by the light guiding member.
According to the twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention depending on the sixteenth aspect, it is preferable that the tapered surface has a convex surface.
According to the twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention depending on the sixteenth aspect, it is preferable that the tapered surface has an angular surface.
According to the twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that an audio apparatus comprises an operating device defined in the aforementioned fifteenth aspect of the present invention.