JP5397344B2 - Display device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device.

  In recent years, there have been various proposals for higher functionality for display devices for automobiles. For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a technique for expressing glossiness with a ring image, which is a frame portion of a meter, and automatically adjusting the portion indicated by the pointer to a luminance that is easy to visually recognize.

JP 2004-157434 A

  In the conventional instrument display of a vehicle, a mechanical pointer and a dial (a dial) are displayed from the early days, but in recent years, an image display represented by a liquid crystal display or the like has been used. Instrument display using the device has come to be performed. However, there are few proposals regarding these combinations.

  By considering the combination of mechanical display and image display, the possibility of various display forms opens up, giving appropriate information according to the demands of the driver (occupant), and further displaying the entire display area on a liquid crystal display It is also possible to reduce the cost as compared with the case of making a part.

  Accordingly, in view of the above problems, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to appropriately meet the demands of the driver (occupant) by combining mechanical display and image display in a display device for a vehicle instrument. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device that is less expensive than a case where the entire display area is a liquid crystal display unit in order to give correct information and display appropriate information.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  In order to achieve the above object, a display device according to the present invention is arranged in a partial area of the entire display area of the vehicle instrument and displays an image, and in the entire display area of the vehicle instrument. A scale display unit that is formed in a region other than the display region of the image display unit and displays at least a part of the scale of a vehicle instrument, and a scale displayed on the scale display unit on the image display unit. Display control means for controlling to display images of continuous scales, and a scale that is displayed on the image display unit up to a position where the pointer mechanically indicates the value of the instrument, and the scale board It has the scale displayed on the display part, and the mechanical pointer | guide part which moves on the top, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  Thus, in the display device according to the present invention, the entire display area is divided into the display area of the image display unit and the display area of the scale display unit, and at least a part of the scale of the vehicle instrument is displayed on the scale display unit. After displaying the remainder of the scale as an image on the image display section, the scale on the scale is moved to a mechanical pointer section to notify the numerical value of the instrument. Accordingly, a display device that can change the display area by displaying a part of the scale as an image, achieving a visual effect different from the conventional one, and changing the information area requested by the driver or the occupant. realizable. Further, since the image display unit is a part of the display area, the cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the entire display area is the image display unit.

  The scale display unit emits light to one scale among a scale forming part formed in a region where the scales of a plurality of meters of the vehicle are different from each other and a plurality of scales formed in the scale forming part. A light emitting unit that allows the scale to be visually recognized, and a switching unit that switches to which scale the light emitting unit emits light, and the display control unit visually recognizes light emitted from the light emitting unit. An image of a scale that is continuous with the scale that is to be displayed may be displayed on the image display unit.

  As a result, a plurality of scales are formed on the scale display part, and which of them is to be viewed is switched, and an image of the scales continuous with the scales to be viewed is displayed on the image display part. By switching the continuous scale from the scale display unit to the image display unit, it is possible to realize a display device that gives the driver or passenger a strong impression that the display unit changes more greatly.

  The pointer portion may include a plurality of pointers, and the scale display unit may display a plurality of scales for the individual pointers to indicate in the movement areas of the plurality of pointers.

  Thereby, since a plurality of pointers and a plurality of scales corresponding thereto are arranged, the scale is continuously displayed from the scale board display unit to the image display unit in the display using the plurality of pointers. It is possible to notify the driver and the occupant of a plurality of pieces of instrument information with a strong impression that the display section is not greatly changed.

  The display area of the image display unit may be arranged in the center of the display area of the vehicle instrument.

  As a result, the scale is displayed across the image display section arranged at the center of the display area and the other scale display section, and the pointer moves on the scale, so that the display section is larger than before. It is possible to realize a display device that produces a visual effect and a strong impression that change.

  The scale board display unit is formed on the right side of the display area of the image display unit and on the left side of the display area of the image display unit, and is displayed on the right scale display unit. A left scale display portion on which scales of different instruments are displayed, and the pointer section includes two pointers arranged one by one in the left and right areas of the display area of the image display section, and the display control The means may display a scale continuous with the scale of the right scale display section and a scale continuous with the scale of the left scale display section on the image display section.

  As a result, using the image display unit in the center of the display area, the scale display units on both the left and right sides, and the pointers arranged on the left and right, the scales continuous with the left and right scales are displayed on the center image display unit. The left and right pointers move on the scale, and the left and right scales are continuously displayed on the center image display unit. This realizes a display device with a strong impression and visual effect. it can.

The block diagram of the display apparatus in the Example of this invention. The figure which shows the structural example of a scale board. The figure which shows examples, such as the arrangement position of each scale part. The figure which shows the example of the 1st display content. The figure which shows the example of the 2nd display content. The figure which shows the example of the 3rd display content.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are schematic views of a device configuration of a display device 1 for a vehicle according to the present invention. The display device 1 is installed in, for example, an automobile vehicle 2. In the following example, the vehicle 2 is a hybrid vehicle, that is, a vehicle having both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as power sources for running the vehicle, and having a function of generating power by the internal combustion engine and receiving power from the battery.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the display device 1 includes a meter electronic control unit (ECU) 3, a body ECU 4, an engine ECU 5, a dial plate 6, and a liquid crystal display device 7 (LCD: Liquid Crystal Display). Prepare.

  The meter ECU 3 has a normal computer structure, a CPU that executes various calculations and information processing, a RAM that is a temporary storage unit as a work area thereof, a ROM that stores various information, and an in-vehicle communication An interface unit or the like may be provided. Note that the ROM includes an EEPROM capable of erasing and rewriting stored contents.

  Display of the meter (instrument) of the vehicle 2 is controlled by the meter ECU 3. The control system 1 includes, as a meter display mechanism, a driving unit 30, a mechanical pointer unit 31 (pointer, mechanical pointer), a driving unit 32, a mechanical pointer unit 33 (pointer, mechanical pointer), a driving unit 34, and a light emitting diode. 35 (LED: Light Emitting Diode) and an input unit 36.

  The drive unit 30 is a part that rotates the pointer 31 about the rotation axis by a rotation angle corresponding to the numerical values of various meters (instruments) of the vehicle. The pointer 31 displays a numerical value of the meter of the vehicle 2 by a scale pointed to by the pointer portion by rotating a bar-shaped pointer portion on the scale plate 6 or the LCD 7 about the rotation axis.

  The drive unit 32 is a part that rotates the pointer 33 about the rotation axis by a rotation angle corresponding to the numerical values of various meters (instruments) of the vehicle. The pointer 33 displays the numerical value of the meter of the vehicle 2 by the scale pointed to by the pointer portion by rotating the bar-shaped pointer portion on the scale plate 6 or the LCD 7 around the rotation axis.

  The pointer 31 and the pointer 33 may be arranged at different positions in the entire display area of the display device 1. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the pointer 31 is arranged on the left side of the display area, and the pointer 33 is arranged on the right side of the display area.

  The drive part 34 is a part which drives LED35 and switches light emission, non-light emission (light extinction). The LED 35 is a light emitting diode for supplying light to the pointers 31 and 33 and the scale board 6 as will be described later. The input unit 36 is a part that is operated by a driver (occupant, user) to perform various inputs.

  The scale board 6 is a member in the display device 1 that is arranged at a position that can be visually recognized by the driver (occupant), and scales of various instruments of the vehicle 2 are formed and arranged. The LCD 7 (Liquid Crystal Display) is a liquid crystal display unit that is arranged in a part of the display area of the display device 1 and displays an image related to (numerical value) information of various instruments of the vehicle.

  The body ECU 4 (ECU) is connected to a vehicle speed sensor 40, an engine speed sensor 41, a remaining fuel sensor 42, and a remaining battery sensor 43. The vehicle speed sensor 50 detects the speed of the vehicle. The vehicle speed sensor 40 includes a rotation detection unit such as a known rotary encoder, and is installed near the wheel mounting unit, for example, and detects the rotation of the wheel as a pulse signal. The rotation speed of the wheel is converted into the speed of the vehicle.

  The engine speed sensor 41 measures the engine speed (per unit time). Specifically, the engine speed sensor 41 is, for example, a crank angle sensor that measures the rotation angle of a crank connected from the engine, and the detected value is sent to the ECU 3 to calculate the engine speed. The remaining fuel sensor 42 detects the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank of the vehicle.

  The battery remaining amount sensor 43 is a sensor that detects the remaining power of the battery of the vehicle 2. The body ECU 4 also acquires position information of the shift lever 44 of the vehicle 2. The information acquired by the body ECU 4 in this way is sent to the meter ECU 3 and displayed on the instrument display unit.

  The engine ECU 5 is an ECU that controls the engine of the vehicle 2. The injector 50 injects fuel into the cylinder of the engine of the vehicle 2 in response to an instruction from the engine ECU 5. The meter ECU 3, the body ECU 4, and the engine ECU 5 are connected by a multiple communication bus, for example, CAN (Controller Area Network) communication, so that information can be transferred.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of a portion where light is supplied to the scale plate 6 by the LED 35. The display device 1 is a combination meter that displays the various numerical information of the vehicle 2 in combination, and the scale plate 6 has scales of various instruments formed at different positions. For each scale area of each instrument, light is irradiated by the LED 35 from the back side of the scale panel 6 (the side opposite to the side visually recognized by the driver and the occupant. The side visually recognized by the driver and the occupant is the front side). The scale is visible from the driver and passengers.

  Specifically, the scale plate 6 includes a left scale part 601 and a right scale part 602, and the left scale part 601 includes a tachometer display scale part 610, a remaining fuel scale part 611, and a hybrid display scale part 612. In the right scale portion 602, a fuel consumption scale portion 620, a speedometer scale portion 621, and a battery remaining amount scale portion 622 are formed.

  A plurality of LEDs 35 are arranged corresponding to each of the scale parts 610, 611, 612, 620, 621, and 622. The light emitted from the LED 35 is applied to the diffusion plate, and after the light is diffused by the diffusion plate, the scale portions 610, 611, 612, 620, 621 and 622 are applied. The diffusion plate may be an acrylic plate, for example, and may have a property of diffusing light.

  Specifically, the diffusion plate 650 is disposed on the back side (the side opposite to the driver) of the tachometer scale unit 610. The diffusion plate 650 may have a plate shape having the same size and shape as the display area of the tachometer scale unit 610, for example. An LED 35 is arranged on the further back side of the diffusion plate 650 and emits light toward the diffusion plate 650 in response to a command from the meter ECU 3. The light irradiated from the LED 35 toward the diffusion plate 650 is diffused in the diffusion plate. As a result, light is emitted from the entire diffusion plate 650. This light is applied to the entire tachometer scale unit 610 from the back side, and the tachometer scale is visually recognized by the driver (occupant).

  Similarly, a diffusion plate 651 is disposed on the back side of the remaining fuel scale portion 611. The diffusion plate 651 may have a plate shape having the same size and shape as the display area of the remaining fuel scale unit 611, for example. An LED 35 is arranged on the further back side of the diffusion plate 651. Light is emitted toward the diffusion plate 651 in response to a command from the meter ECU 3, diffused in the diffusion plate 651, and light is diffused from the entire diffusion plate 651. This light is irradiated from the back side to the entire fuel remaining amount scale unit 611, and the scale of the fuel remaining amount indicator is visually recognized by the driver (occupant).

  A diffusion plate 652 is disposed on the back side of the hybrid display scale portion 612. The diffusion plate 652 may have a plate shape having the same size and shape as the display area of the hybrid display scale unit 612, for example. The LED 35 is disposed on the further back side of the diffusion plate 652, emits light toward the diffusion plate 652 according to a command from the meter ECU 3, diffuses in the diffusion plate 652, and emits light from the entire diffusion plate 652. This light is applied to the entire hybrid display scale unit 612 from the back side, and the scale of the hybrid display meter is visually recognized by the driver (occupant).

  A diffusion plate 653 is disposed on the back side of the fuel consumption scale unit 620. The diffusion plate 653 may have a plate shape having the same size and shape as the display area of the fuel efficiency scale unit 620, for example. An LED 35 is arranged on the further back side of the diffusion plate 653, and emits light toward the diffusion plate 653 in response to a command from the meter ECU 3, diffuses in the diffusion plate 653, and diffuses light from the entire diffusion plate 653. This light is applied to the entire fuel consumption scale unit 620 from the back side, and the scale of the fuel consumption indicator (eco display unit, eco gauge) is visually recognized by the driver (occupant).

  A diffusion plate 654 is disposed on the back side of the speedometer scale 621. The diffusion plate 654 may have a plate shape having the same size and shape as the display area of the speedometer scale unit 621, for example. An LED 35 is arranged on the further back side of the diffusion plate 654. Light is emitted toward the diffusion plate 654 in response to a command from the meter ECU 3, is diffused in the diffusion plate 654, and light is diffused from the entire diffusion plate 654. This light is applied to the entire speedometer scale portion 621 from the back side, and the scale of the speedometer (speedometer) is visually recognized by the driver (occupant).

  A diffusion plate 655 is disposed on the back side of the battery remaining amount scale unit 622. The diffusion plate 655 may have a plate shape having the same size and shape as the display area of the battery remaining amount scale unit 622, for example. An LED 35 is disposed on the further back side of the diffusion plate 655, emits light toward the diffusion plate 655 in response to a command from the meter ECU 3, diffuses in the diffusion plate 655, and emits light from the entire diffusion plate 654. This light is irradiated from the back side to the entire battery remaining amount scale unit 622, and the scale of the battery remaining amount indicator is visually recognized by the driver (occupant).

  An LED 35 is also arranged on the back side of the pointer 31 to emit light toward the pointer 31. As a result, the pointer 31 emits light, and the pointer 31 is easily visible to the driver (occupant). Similarly, an LED 35 is arranged on the back side of the pointer 33 and emits light toward the pointer 33. As a result, the pointer 33 emits light, and the pointer 33 is easily visible to the driver (occupant).

  In FIG. 3, the above left scale portion 601, tachometer scale portion 610, fuel remaining amount scale portion 611, hybrid display scale portion 612, right scale portion 602, fuel consumption scale portion 620, speedometer scale portion 621 in the display device 1 are shown. Examples of arrangement positions of the battery remaining amount scale unit 622, the pointers 31, 33, and the like are shown. In the example of FIG. 3, the pointer 31 is disposed on the left side from the driver, and the pointer 33 is disposed on the right side from the driver.

  In the left scale portion 601, a tachometer scale portion 610, a fuel remaining amount scale portion 611, and a hybrid display scale portion 612 are arranged side by side in an arc shape, and the tachometer scale portion 610 is disposed radially outwardly in the remaining fuel amount. A scale part 611 and a hybrid display scale part 612 are arranged side by side in the radial direction. However, only a part of the scale of the hybrid indicator (CHARGE, EV part) is formed in the hybrid display scale part 612 in the left scale part 601. As will be described later, the image of the remaining scale portion of the hybrid display is displayed in the LCD 7.

  Further, in the right scale portion 602, a fuel consumption scale portion 620, a speedometer scale portion 621, and a remaining battery level scale portion 622 are arranged in an arc shape, and the fuel consumption scale portion 620 is arranged radially outwardly. The part 621 and the battery remaining amount scale part 622 are arranged side by side in the radial direction. However, only a part of the scale of the speedometer is formed in the speedometer scale 621 in the right scale 602. As will be described later, the image of the remaining scale portion of the speedometer is displayed in the LCD 7.

  The display device 1 can switch display contents (combinations of displayed instruments) in three ways. Three display contents are shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. The display content may be switched by, for example, a driver (occupant) performing a switching input using the input unit 37.

  When the display content switching command is received, the meter ECU 3 controls which of the LEDs 35 emits light and which is turned off (non-lighted). In conjunction with this, the image content displayed on the LED 7 is controlled.

  In the case of FIG. 4, the tachometer scale portion 610 is displayed in the left scale portion 601, and the speedometer scale portion 621 is displayed in the right scale portion 602. In conjunction with this, an image of the remaining scale portion of the speedometer continuous from the speedometer scale portion 621 is displayed on the LCD 7. Further, in the example of FIG. 4, characters such as a shift lever display, an odometer, and a trip meter of the vehicle 2 are displayed on the LCD 7 in an area other than the remaining scale portion of the speedometer.

  The pointer 31 rotates within the range of the tachometer scale unit 610 in the left scale unit 601 and displays the engine speed of the vehicle 2. The pointer 33 rotates within the range of the speedometer scale 621 in the right scale section 602 and the speedometer scale displayed on the LCD 7, and displays the speed (vehicle speed) of the vehicle 2.

  In the case of FIG. 5, the left scale portion 601 displays a hybrid display scale portion 612, and the right scale portion 602 displays a fuel consumption scale portion 620. In conjunction with this, an image of the remaining scale portion of the hybrid display meter continuous from the hybrid display scale portion 612 is displayed on the LCD 7. Further, in the example of FIG. 5, characters such as the vehicle speed, average fuel consumption, odometer, shift lever, etc. of the vehicle 2 are displayed on the LCD 7 in an area other than the remaining scale portion of the hybrid indicator.

  The pointer 31 is rotated within the range of the scale of the hybrid display scale 612 in the left scale 601 and the hybrid display meter displayed on the LCD 7, so that the operating condition in the hybrid vehicle 2, that is, the charging of the battery by driving the internal combustion engine. State (CHARGE), traveling state (EV) using a battery as a power source, relatively low fuel consumption (eco) traveling state (ECO) using the power of the internal combustion engine, or relative using the power of the internal combustion engine Whether the vehicle is traveling with high fuel efficiency (POWER) is displayed. The pointer 33 rotates within the range of the fuel consumption scale unit 620 in the right scale unit 602 and displays the fuel consumption information of the vehicle 2.

  In the case of FIG. 6, the left fuel scale 611 is displayed on the left scale 601, and the remaining battery scale 622 is displayed on the right scale 602. Further, in the example of FIG. 6, characters such as other instruments such as the vehicle speed of the vehicle 2, the engine speed, the odometer, the shift lever, etc. are displayed on the LCD 7. The pointer 31 rotates within the range of the remaining fuel scale 611 in the left scale 601 and displays the remaining fuel of the vehicle 2. The pointer 33 is rotated within the range of the remaining battery capacity scale 622 in the right scale section 602 to display the remaining battery capacity of the vehicle 2.

  As described above, the display form is switched in the three patterns (or three modes) shown in FIGS. This switching may be performed by a driver or an occupant using the input unit 36. Or meter ECU3 may change automatically so that the meter which should be displayed according to the running state of vehicles 2, and the numerical value of each meter may be displayed. Alternatively, the navigation device may be mounted on the vehicle 2 and the display content may be switched in conjunction with the position information of the vehicle 2 acquired by the navigation device.

  As apparent from FIGS. 4 to 6, the movable ranges (rotation range, rotation angle range, movement range) of the pointers 31 and 33 are also switched in accordance with the switching of the display contents. In the case of FIG. 4, the LCD 7 does not enter the movable range of the pointer 31, and the LCD 7 enters the movable range of the pointer 33. In the case of FIG. 5, the LCD 7 enters the movable range of the pointer 31, and the LCD 7 does not enter the movable range of the pointer 33. In the case of FIG. 6, the LCD 7 does not enter the movable range of both the pointers 31 and 33. By switching the driving range of the pointer in this way, flexible display is possible, and switching of the display pattern gives a clearer impression to the driver and the occupant.

  The pointers 31 and 33 do not have a shape that extends straight from the fulcrum (rotation center) toward the scale, but a “bow” shape that is bent in the middle. Therefore, the pointer moves in such a manner that it is long in the horizontal direction and short in the vertical direction. This makes it possible to display an LCD that is elongated in the horizontal direction in order to increase the normal display area in a wider area than the normal pointer.

  The above-described example is merely one embodiment of the present invention, and may be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention described in the claims. In the above-described embodiment, the pointers 31 and 33 are rotating pointers, but may be of a parallel moving type. In FIG. 3 and the like, the number of pointers is two, but the number of pointers is not limited to one, three, and four.

  The arrangement position of the LCD 7 is not limited to the center of the display area, and may be a left area, a right area, an upper area, and a lower area. The number of LCDs 7 may be two or more. That is, the arrangement area of the LCD 7 and the scale display unit is appropriately set, and in this state, the scale is displayed across the LCD 7 and the scale display units 601 and 602, and the pointer moves on the pointer (rotation motion, translational motion, etc.). ) And inform the numerical information of the instrument.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3 and the like, various image information and character information may be displayed in an area other than the display area of the scale image on the LCD 7. Thereby, the display area of the LCD 7 can be used effectively.

1 Display device 2 Vehicle 3 Meter ECU
4 Body ECU
6 Scale board 7 LCD (image display part)

Claims (5)

An image display unit arranged in a partial area of the entire display area of the vehicle instrument and displaying an image;
A scale display unit for displaying at least a part of the scale of the vehicle instrument, which is formed in an area other than the display area of the image display unit in the entire display area of the vehicle instrument,
Display control means for controlling the image display unit so as to display an image of a scale continuous with the scale displayed on the scale display unit;
A mechanical unit that moves on the scale displayed on the image display unit and the scale displayed on the scale display unit until the pointer mechanically indicates the numerical value of the instrument. The guide section,
A display device comprising: The scale display section is
A scale forming portion formed in different areas of the scales of a plurality of meters of the vehicle,
A light-emitting unit that emits light to one scale among the plurality of scales formed in the scale-forming unit, so that the scale is visually recognized;
Switching means for switching which scale the light emitting unit emits light;
With
The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit causes the image display unit to display an image of a scale continuous with a scale visually recognized by light emission from the light emitting unit. The pointer portion includes a plurality of pointers,
3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of scales for the individual hands to point are displayed on the movement area of the plurality of hands on the dial display unit.   The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display area of the image display unit is arranged in the center of the display area of a vehicle instrument. The scale display section is
A right scale display part formed on the right side of the display area of the image display part;
A left scale display unit that is formed on the left side of the display area of the image display unit and displays a scale of an instrument different from the scale displayed on the right scale display unit,
With
The pointer section includes two pointers arranged one by one in the left and right areas of the display area of the image display section,
The display device according to claim 4, wherein the display control unit displays a scale continuous with the scale of the right scale display section and a scale continuous with the scale of the left scale display section on the image display section.

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