JPH0344301B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a display device suitable for being mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile.

(B) Prior Art For example, the driver's seat of an automobile is provided with a display device for displaying vehicle speed, engine rotational speed, various warning displays, and the like. Recently, some devices using an electrical display system instead of a mechanical meter display system have been put into practical use, and research is progressing with the aim of creating even better ones.

In view of this, it has been proposed to display information in color on the display section. In other words, this method attempts to further improve the visibility of the display by vividly coloring the backs of displayed characters, figures, etc., or the display itself.In particular, this method is intended to improve the visibility of the display by applying vivid coloring to the backs of displayed characters, figures, etc., or to the display itself. In the case of a multi-display system in which various types of information are arranged in different colors, it can be very effective. As for the specific structure of the display body for performing this color display, as a prior art, the U.S. Pat.
No. 128471, it is equipped with a light-transmissive liquid crystal display panel and a fluorescent lamp for back-up illumination arranged on the back side of the display panel (generally used with a color filter interposed between the two). ), as also shown in Utility Model Application No. 58-119436, which is equipped with an indicator light and a filter that changes the illumination of the indicator light into a plurality of colored lights, and the liquid crystal display board itself has a color display function. There are things like that. In addition, as another prior art, there is one that uses a color cathode ray tube, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 58-174800.

However, the disadvantage of these color displays is that under conditions where colored ambient light enters the driver's seat and is reflected by the display, the visibility of the display may deteriorate significantly. . A specific example of this is when a vehicle is traveling on a road surface illuminated with sodium lamps. In other words, at this time, the horizontal orange lamp light is reflected by the display, making the display extremely difficult for the driver to see, especially if the display color of the display is similar to this. In such a case, it becomes inconvenient that it becomes almost impossible to distinguish.

(c) Purpose The present invention has been made with attention to the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is possible to display necessary information in color on a predetermined display section using a color cathode ray tube. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device for a vehicle whose visibility is not impaired even under certain conditions.

(d) Structure In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cathode ray tube for displaying color on a display section, a control means for controlling the operation of the color cathode ray tube, and ambient light reflected by the display section. a light color detection means for detecting a color, the control means normally causes the display unit to display a predetermined color;
The present invention is characterized in that only when a certain light color is detected by the light color detection means, the display section displays a color complementary to the light color.

(e) Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

A multi-display device 1 according to the present invention is provided in an instrument panel (not shown) of a driver's seat of an automobile. This display device 1
As shown schematically in the side view in FIG. 1, a color cathode ray tube 3 is installed on the rear side of the transmissive two-layer guest-host liquid crystal display panel 2, that is, on the side opposite to the driver.
are arranged with their screens aligned. That is, in this embodiment, the two-layer guest-host liquid crystal display board 2 is used as a display board that directly displays various information on its display section, while the color cathode ray tube located on the back side thereof is used as a display board that directly displays various information on its display section. 3 is mainly used as a backup light source that gives a background color to the display section of the display panel 2.

The two-layer guest-host liquid crystal display panel 2 is a stack of liquid crystal panels 4 and 5 in which a liquid crystal material is sandwiched between transparent electrodes.As shown in exploded view in FIG. The liquid crystal panel 4 is used for display, and the second layer liquid crystal panel 5 is used for masking. That is, the first layer liquid crystal panel 4 has a second layer.
A speed display section 6, an engine speed display section 7, a remaining fuel amount display section 8, a cooling water temperature display section 9, various warning display sections 11, etc. are set at positions as shown in the figure. In addition, the second layer liquid crystal panel 5 has a transparent section 1 corresponding to each of the display sections 6, 7, 8, and 11.
The entire area other than 2, 13, 14, 15, and 16 is used as a mask portion 17, and this mask portion 17 is designed to exhibit a light-shielding property when a voltage is applied. The mask portion 17 uses liquid crystal mixed with a predetermined dye. Moreover, between this liquid crystal display board 2 and the color cathode ray tube 3,
A plate 18 for preventing static electricity is provided. This plate 18 is for preventing the liquid crystal display panel 2 from malfunctioning due to static electricity generated on the surface of the color cathode ray tube 3, and for example,
It is made by coating a transparent acrylic plate with conductive transparent paint, and the painted part is electrically grounded.

The two-layer guest-host liquid crystal display panel 2 and the color cathode ray tube 3 are provided with an LCD driver 19 and a CRT driver 21, respectively.
The LCD driver 19 causes displays such as line diagrams, bar graphs, patterns, or characters to appear or disappear on each of the display sections 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11 of the liquid crystal panel 4, and also causes the mask section of the liquid crystal panel 5 to appear or disappear. 17
While the CRT driver 21
causes a predetermined image to be projected on the screen of the color cathode ray tube 3. And these separate drivers 19, 2
1 are both controlled by display control means 22. That is, in this example
A control means for controlling the operation of the color cathode ray tube 3 via the CRT driver 21, and an LCD driver 19.
A control means for controlling the operation of the liquid crystal display panel 2 through the display control means 22 is built into the single display control means 22.

The display control means 22 is mainly composed of a microcomputer 28 comprising a central processing unit (CPU) 23 and a storage device 27 consisting of a ROM 24, a RAM 25, a video RAM 26, and the like. Necessary information is inputted to this microcomputer 28 from various detection means, and information regarding the color of ambient light is inputted from the light color detection means. First, detection signals a and b from the fuel sensor 29 and the water temperature sensor 31 are inputted via an interface and an A/D converter 32 (not shown). Further, an ignition pulse c for determining the engine speed, a signal d from the vehicle speed sensor 33, and a signal e from the illuminance sensor 34 are inputted via an interface (not shown). Along with the input signals a, b, c, d, and e from these detection means, the microcomputer 28 also receives a detection signal f from a color sensor 30 placed at a required position through an interface (not shown). It is now entered via That is, this color sensor 30, which serves as a light color detection means, detects the color of ambient light, particularly the ambient light that enters the driver's seat and is reflected by the display sections 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11, and detects this color. Information regarding the ambient light color is input into the computer 28. On the other hand, from this computer 28, the LCD driver 19
and the display signal g toward the CRT driver 21,
h is outputted via an interface (not shown).

The computer 28 has built-in programs that can perform the following tasks. First, based on the signals a and b from the fuel sensor 29 and the water temperature sensor 31 and the ignition pulse c inputted from the outside, line diagrams and bar graphs are displayed on the display sections 7, 8, and 9, and the image is The fuel level, coolant temperature, and engine speed are displayed accordingly. In addition, the display section 6
Furthermore, the traveling speed calculated based on the signal d from the vehicle speed sensor is digitally displayed. Furthermore, when displaying on the display sections 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11 of the first layer liquid crystal panel 4, a voltage is also applied to the second layer liquid crystal panel 5 to perform a masking function. At the same time, each of the display sections 6, 7, 8 of the color cathode ray tube 3
Different predetermined back colors 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39 are projected on the parts corresponding to numbers 9 and 11, respectively. In addition, the sensor 2
9, 31, 33, 34 or other sensors (not shown), when the computer 28 determines that there is some kind of abnormality, the back color 39 corresponding to the warning display section 11 of the color cathode ray tube 3 is displayed. Warnings are displayed by displaying text, characters, etc. Also, based on the signal e from the illuminance sensor 34, the brightness around the driver's seat is detected,
The brightness of the cathode ray tube 3 is adjusted depending on the brightness. And also, the color sensor 30
Based on the signal f from the display section 6, 7, 8,
Part or all of 9 and 11 can be changed to a background color that is complementary to the ambient light color. That is, the ROM 24 constituting the storage device 27 of the computer 28 stores in advance a certain complementary color relationship (for example, horizontal orange and blue) or a relationship close to this based on the hue wheel. The computer 28 normally displays each display section 6, 7,
8, 9, and 11, respectively, and when the input signal f from the color sensor 30 indicates that colored light is incident on the display section, the CPU 2
3 is calculated to temporarily set some or all of the back colors 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39 to colors that have a complementary color relationship with the light color detected by the color sensor 30. It is programmed to behave strangely.

Note that 41 is a television antenna, and 42 is a television channel. This television channel 42 is for enjoying television broadcasts while parking or the like. That is, each of the liquid crystal panels 4 and 5 of the liquid crystal display board 2 is completely switched to transparent, and then the broadcast screen is projected on the entire surface of the color cathode ray tube 3. Further, 43 is a terminal for connecting a television game or the like.

In a multi-display device with such a configuration, the two-layer guest-host liquid crystal display board 2 displays the necessary information on each display part, and at the same time, the color cathode ray tube 3 projects the background color on it to display vivid colors. Color display can be performed. Therefore, it is possible to always give a predetermined color to each display section and color-code the displayed information to make it easier for the driver to visually check the information. It is also possible to easily make the driver aware of the information mainly through color changes, such as by changing the speed display color depending on the value. On the other hand, under special conditions in which colored ambient light enters the driver's seat and is reflected by each display, the displays that would otherwise be difficult to see with their original background color depending on the color of the light may be stored in advance. Based on a certain relationship, a color that is complementary to the ambient light color is projected on the background color of the display area, so that a contrasting effect is obtained and a clear display is created in that area. It becomes possible to force them. To explain this using a specific example, suppose that the display section 7 indicating the engine rotation speed in this embodiment is displayed in a yellow background color, for example, and the vehicle is exposed to yellow-orange ambient light. When driving on a road surface illuminated with sodium lamps, the back color of the display section 7 automatically changes to blue, resulting in a wonderful contrast between the liquid crystal display that reflects the yellow-orange lamp light and the blue back color. will appear. Therefore, even under such special conditions, there is no fear that color display will worsen visibility, and it is possible to provide an easy-to-read display to the driver at any time.

In this embodiment, the display body for color display is composed of the two-layer guest-host liquid crystal display panel 2 as described above and a color cathode ray tube 3 mainly used as a backup light source. Therefore, it has the following merits. That is, first of all, it is possible to obtain better contrast and vivid color tones compared to a display using only a color liquid crystal display panel. In addition, characters and detailed figures can be displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 2 side, and color cathode ray tube 3 can also be displayed.
Display portions 6, 7, 8 of the first layer of liquid crystal panel 4 from
Since the boundaries of the color light projected on the screens 9 and 11 are clarified by the second-layer mask liquid crystal panel 5, it is sufficient to use a color cathode ray tube 3 with a relatively low resolution. Furthermore, the display function of the liquid crystal display board 2 and the display function of the color cathode ray tube 3 can be used in combination.
It may also be possible to perform a wide variety of displays with a three-dimensional effect. In addition, it is also possible to easily make both panels 4 and 5 of the liquid crystal display panel 2 completely transparent so that the color cathode ray tube 3 can be used alone.

Note that in the above embodiment, the storage device 2
7. In particular, the complementary color relationships stored in the ROM 24 may include hues that are opposite to each other for each hue that makes up the hue wheel, or those that are opposite only to the hue of the expected ambient light. You may remember it. Further, the color sensor 30 constituting the light color detection means may be capable of detecting all light colors or only a specific light color, depending on the memory in the storage device 27. Good too,
The name doesn't matter.

In addition, the display section that changes its back color according to the color of the surrounding light may be part or all of it, and when a part of the display section changes, it should be ensured that no display section with the same back color appears. It is possible to devise a color classification in advance, or it is possible to temporarily display a display section with the same background color.

Next, other embodiments not shown will be described. In the embodiment described above, the color display body is constructed by combining the color cathode ray tube 3, which is mainly used as a backup light source, and the two-layer guest-host liquid crystal display panel 2, but the structure of the display body is limited to this. Not done. For example, a color cathode ray tube, which is mainly used as a backup light source, is disposed on the back side of a light-transmissive liquid crystal display panel, and a light-shielding material is constructed between the cathode ray tube and the liquid crystal display panel to display the display on the liquid crystal display panel. A color display body may be used in which a mask member having a light-transmitting part is interposed in a part corresponding to the part. Furthermore, what is used in combination with a color cathode ray tube, which is mainly used as a backup light source, is not limited to a liquid crystal display panel, but may be any device that can electrically display fine figures, characters, etc. on its display section.

Next, the present invention can also be implemented by configuring the display body only with a color cathode ray tube and directly using the screen as the display section. In this case, the color cathode ray tube displays the necessary display and its background color at the same time.
Of course, the LCD driver 19 and its control means circuit are unnecessary, and the control means 22 simultaneously controls the display and color of the display section via the CRT driver 21. In this case, the display color may be changed in accordance with the ambient light color by changing the background color of the display section or by changing the color of the display itself.

Although the present invention is particularly effective when applied to multi-display systems that display various displays in different colors, it is basically applicable to all display devices for vehicles that are configured to display in color. It is something.

(f) Effects Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, necessary information is displayed in color on a predetermined display section using a color cathode ray tube, thereby providing a display that is easy for the driver to visually recognize. In addition, under special conditions affected by colored ambient light, such as with sodium lamps, the display color changes to a contrasting color that is complementary to the ambient light color, ensuring constant visibility. The company provides display devices for vehicles.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a display body of a multi-display device in the same embodiment. 1... Multi-display device, 2... Two-layer guest host liquid crystal display board, 3... Color cathode ray tube, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11... Display unit, 21...
CRT driver, 22... (display) control means, 2
3...Central processing unit, 27...Storage device, 2
8... Microcomputer, 30... Color sensor (light color detection means), 35, 36, 37, 38, 39
...back color.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A color cathode ray tube for displaying color on a display section, a control means for controlling the operation of the color cathode ray tube, and a light color detection means for detecting the color of ambient light reflected by the display section, The control means causes the display section to display a predetermined color at all times, but only when the light color detection means detects a certain light color, displays a color complementary to the light color on the display section. A display device for a vehicle, characterized in that it is configured to display.