An instrument cluster

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of instruments and meters, and particularly relates to a combined instrument, which includes a housing, a circuit board, a bracket, a TFT screen and a segment code screen. The bracket is fixedly connected to the housing; the circuit board is fixed between the housing and the bracket; the TFT screen is fixed on the bracket. The segment code screen is arranged outside the TFT screen, and the light valve areas of the TFT screen and the segment code screen are arranged opposite to each other; the segment code screen is fixedly connected to the bracket. A microcontroller, a first control circuit and a second control circuit are integrated on the circuit board; the microcontroller is electrically connected to the first control circuit and the second control circuit; the first control circuit is connected to the LED module of the TFT screen; the second control circuit is connected to the LED module of the segment code screen. The combined instrument provided by the present invention makes the brightness and color of the TFT screen and the segment code screen tend to be consistent, realizes the overall consistency of the TFT screen and the segment code screen, and enhances the display effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of instruments and meters, and particularly relates to a combined instrument. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, with the strong promotion of the concepts of automotive electrification, intelligence, and lightweighting, automotive electronic technology has developed by leaps and bounds. Users' requirements for the diversification and personalization of automotive instruments are getting higher and higher. They not only require the instrument to have a high-definition screen and a dynamic and technological human-machine interaction interface, but also require the product to have a certain cost advantage. The automotive instrument composed of a segment display screen and a color liquid crystal display screen not only has a refreshing display effect, with a high-definition screen, smooth animation, a friendly interface, and information rich in technological dynamic elements, but also has an obvious cost advantage for the product, and the price is even only one-third of that of a full liquid crystal instrument of the same specification. However, the combined instrument of the segment display screen and the liquid crystal screen on the current market still has the following defects: First, the overall integrity of the existing combined instrument is not good. The colors and brightness of the two areas of the segment display screen and the liquid crystal screen of the existing combined instrument are not consistent enough, and the splicing traces of the two screens are very obvious. Second, in the night working condition, the existing combined instrument is prone to ghosting on the surface of the segment display screen, that is, the displayed content and its ghosting overlap within the range of the instrument, which affects the user's accurate and rapid reading of driving information. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention provides a combined instrument for the technical problems existing in the prior art that the colors and brightness of the two areas of the segment display screen and the liquid crystal screen of the existing combined instrument are not consistent enough, and ghosting occurs on the surface of the segment display screen.

[0004] The technical solution of the present invention to solve the above technical problems is as follows:

[0005] A combined instrument includes: a housing, a circuit board, a bracket, a TFT screen, and a segment display screen; the bracket is fixedly connected to the housing; the circuit board is fixed between the housing and the bracket; the TFT screen is fixed on the bracket; the segment display screen is arranged outside the TFT screen, and the light valve areas of the TFT screen and the segment display screen are arranged opposite to each other; the segment display screen is fixedly connected to the bracket; the circuit board is integrated with a microcontroller, a first control circuit, and a second control circuit; the microcontroller is electrically connected to the first control circuit and the second control circuit; the first control circuit is connected to the LED module of the TFT screen; the second control circuit is connected to the LED module of the segment display screen.

[0006] In its preferred embodiment, the first control circuit includes: a first filter circuit, a first electronic switch, a first current limiting circuit, a second filter circuit, and a first lighting power supply integrated on the circuit board; the microcontroller is connected to one end of the first electronic switch through the second filter circuit, the first electronic switch is connected to one end of the LED module of the TFT screen, the other end of the LED module of the TFT screen is connected to one end of the second filter circuit through the first current limiting circuit, and the other end of the second filter circuit is connected to the first lighting power supply.

[0007] In its preferred embodiment, the second control circuit includes: a third filter circuit, a second electronic switch, a second current limiting circuit, a fourth filter circuit, and a second lighting power supply integrated on the circuit board; the microcontroller is connected to one end of the second electronic switch through the third filter circuit, the second electronic switch is connected to one end of the LED module of the segment display screen, the other end of the LED module of the segment display screen is connected to one end of the fourth filter circuit through the second current limiting circuit, and the other end of the fourth filter circuit is connected to the second lighting power supply.

[0008] In its preferred embodiment, it further includes: a backing plate and glass; the backing plate is fixed outside the bracket; the inner side of the backing plate abuts against the segment display screen, and the glass is fixed outside the backing plate.

[0009] In its preferred embodiment, the backing plate is fixedly connected to the bracket by screws; the glass is snap-fixed outside the backing plate.

[0010] In its preferred embodiment, a frosted layer is provided on the polarizer of the segment display screen.

[0011] In its preferred embodiment, the light valve area of the segment display screen is arranged in the exact middle of the segment display screen.

[0012] In its preferred embodiment, the segment display screen is a 12.3-inch display screen; the TFT screen is a 7-inch display screen.

[0013] In its preferred embodiment, the circuit board is fixedly connected to the housing by screws; the bracket is fixedly connected to the housing by screws; the TFT screen and the segment display screen are respectively fixedly connected to the bracket by snap members.

[0014] The combined instrument provided by the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects or advantages:

[0015] The combined instrument provided by the present invention has a microcontroller, a first control circuit and a second control circuit integrated on a circuit board; the microcontroller is electrically connected to the first control circuit and the second control circuit; the first control circuit is connected to the LED module of the TFT screen; the second control circuit is connected to the LED module of the segment display screen. By adjusting the current value of the first control circuit through the microcontroller, the brightness of the LED module of the TFT screen is adjusted, and by adjusting the current value of the second control circuit through the microcontroller, the brightness of the LED module of the segment display screen is adjusted, so that the brightness of the two is made consistent. The combined instrument provided by the present invention controls the on-off time of the LED module of the TFT screen through the microcontroller and the first control circuit to adjust the brightness of the LED module of the TFT screen; and controls the on-off time of the LED module of the segment display screen through the microcontroller and the second control circuit to adjust the brightness of the LED module of the segment display screen; so that the brightness of the two is made consistent. The combined instrument provided by the present invention can also adjust the warm or cold color of the backlight of the LED module of the segment display screen, the shape and thickness of the light guide body of the light guide medium, the ink tone and thickness of the color film, the light transmittance and roughness of the polarizing plate; and adjust the warm or cold color of the backlight of the TFT screen, the RGB values of the UI picture, and the color resolution of the liquid crystal screen, so that the colors of the TFT screen and the segment display screen are made consistent; realizing the overall consistency of the TFT screen and the segment display screen and enhancing the display effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 is an exploded view of the structure of the combined instrument provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of the first control circuit provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of the second control circuit provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] In the drawings, the list of components represented by each reference numeral is as follows:

[0020] 1 - housing, 2 - circuit board, 3 - bracket, 4 - TFT screen, 5 - segment display screen, 6 - lining board, 7 - glass. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0021] The present invention provides a combined instrument for solving the technical problems existing in the prior art that the colors and brightness of the segment display screen and the liquid crystal screen in the existing combined instrument are not consistent enough, and ghosting appears on the surface of the segment display screen.

[0022] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0023] An embodiment of the present invention provides a combined instrument. Refer to Figures 1 - 3 , which mainly includes: a housing 1, a circuit board 2, a bracket 3, a TFT screen 4, a segment code screen 5, a lining board 6, and a glass 7. Among them, the segment code screen 5 is a 12.3-inch display screen; the TFT screen 4 is a 7-inch display screen. The bracket 3 is fixedly connected to the housing 1 by bolts; the circuit board 2 is arranged between the housing 1 and the bracket 3, and the circuit board 2 is fixedly connected to the inner side of the housing 1 by screws. The TFT screen 4 is snap-fixed on the bracket 3, which is convenient for the assembly and disassembly of the TFT screen 4. The segment code screen 5 is arranged outside the TFT screen 4, and the light valve areas of the TFT screen 4 and the segment code screen 5 are arranged opposite to each other; in this embodiment, the light valve area of the segment code screen 5 is arranged in the exact middle of the segment code screen 5. The segment code screen 5 is fixedly connected to the bracket 3 by a snap member. A matte layer is provided on the polarizer of the segment code screen 5; a vehicle-grade matte factor is added on the polarizer in the segment code screen 5 to form a matte layer, increasing the roughness and reducing the specular reflectivity of the segment code screen 5, thereby eliminating specular ghosting and ensuring the clarity of information display. The circuit board 2 is integrated with a microcontroller, a first control circuit, and a second control circuit; the microcontroller is electrically connected to the first control circuit and the second control circuit; the first control circuit is connected to the LED module of the TFT screen 4; the second control circuit is connected to the LED module of the segment code screen 5. The lining board 6 is fixed to the outside of the bracket 3 by screws; the inner side of the lining board 6 abuts against the segment code screen 5, and the glass 7 is snap-fixed to the outside of the lining board 6.

[0024] The following is a further introduction to the first control circuit and the second control circuit:

[0025] Refer to Figure 2 , the first control circuit includes: a first filtering circuit, a first electronic switch, a first current limiting circuit, a second filtering circuit, and a first lighting power supply integrated on the circuit board 2. The microcontroller is connected to one end of the first electronic switch through the second filtering circuit, one end of the first electronic switch is connected to one end of the LED module of the TFT screen 4, the other end of the LED module of the TFT screen 4 is connected to one end of the second filtering circuit through the first current limiting circuit, and the other end of the second filtering circuit is connected to the first lighting power supply.

[0026] Refer to Figure 3, the second control circuit includes: a third filter circuit, a second electronic switch, a second current limiting circuit, a fourth filter circuit, and a second lighting power supply integrated on the circuit board 2. The microcontroller is connected to one end of the second electronic switch through the third filter circuit. The second electronic switch is connected to one end of the LED module of the segment display screen 5. The other end of the LED module of the segment display screen 5 is connected to one end of the fourth filter circuit through the second current limiting circuit. The other end of the fourth filter circuit is connected to the second lighting power supply.

[0027] Among them, the microcontroller, filter circuit, electronic switch, current limiting circuit, and lighting power supply are common electronic components in the art, and their specific structures will not be elaborated here.

[0028] The control processes of the TFT screen 4 and the segment display screen 5 are the same, that is, the microcontroller outputs a pulse width modulation signal, which is processed by the filter circuit and then connected to the electronic switch tube. The electronic switch tube is connected to the cathode of the LED module whose brightness needs to be adjusted. The anode of the LED module is connected to the lighting power supply module through the current limiting circuit. The lighting power supply module undergoes multiple-stage filtering and outputs a stable voltage.

[0029] The adjustment of the brightness of the LED modules (including the LED modules of the TFT screen 4 and the segment display screen 5) provided by the present invention is mainly achieved in two aspects: hardware and software. In terms of hardware, the lighting power supply first passes through the filter circuit and then is connected to the LED module whose brightness needs to be adjusted through the current limiting circuit. The current finally flows to the instrument ground through the electronic switch, thereby lighting up the LED module. Among them, the current value of the circuit loop is adjusted by adjusting the threshold value of the current limiting circuit, so as to overall brighten or dim the brightness of the LED module. In terms of software, when the threshold value of the current limiting circuit is fixed, the LED module lights up when the electronic switch is turned on; the LED module does not light up when the electronic switch is turned off. The conduction frequency of the electronic switch can be controlled by a square wave of a certain frequency, and the conduction time of the waveform is related to the duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal output by the microcontroller. That is, the brightness of the LED module is adjusted by the duty cycle. As a preferred solution, the brightness level of the LED module can be mapped through the test program message for convenient and quick debugging.

[0030] The process of adjusting the color of the combined instrument provided by the present invention is as follows: Select a color displayed on the TFT color liquid crystal screen, such as red, and then select the red color displayed on the segmental display screen 5. Pick up the red samples respectively, and read indicators such as color temperature, wavelength, and brightness through an optical instrument. According to the display principle of the combined instrument and the color influencing factors, adjust the warm and cold colors of the backlight of the segmental display screen 5, the shape and thickness of the light guide body of the light guide medium, the ink tone and thickness of the color film, the light transmittance and roughness of the polarizer; and adjust the warm and cold colors of the backlight of the TFT screen 4, the RGB values of the UI picture, and the color resolution of the liquid crystal screen to be strong. Continuously measure and record the test data for the above parameters, and then adjust the color synchronously through the above method until the colors of the two are basically the same.

[0031] The combined instrument provided by the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects or advantages:

[0032] In the combined instrument provided by the present invention, a microcontroller, a first control circuit and a second control circuit are integrated on a circuit board; the microcontroller is electrically connected to the first control circuit and the second control circuit; the first control circuit is connected to the LED module of the TFT screen; the second control circuit is connected to the LED module of the segmental display screen. Adjust the current value of the first control circuit through the microcontroller to adjust the brightness of the LED module of the TFT screen, and adjust the current value of the second control circuit through the microcontroller to adjust the brightness of the LED module of the segmental display screen, so that the brightness of the two tends to be the same. In the combined instrument provided by the present invention, control the on-off time of the LED module of the TFT screen through the microcontroller and the first control circuit to realize the adjustment of the brightness of the LED module of the TFT screen; and control the on-off time of the LED module of the segmental display screen through the microcontroller and the second control circuit to realize the adjustment of the brightness of the LED module of the segmental display screen; so that the brightness of the two tends to be the same. The combined instrument provided by the present invention can also adjust the warm or cold color of the backlight of the LED module of the segmental display screen, the shape and thickness of the light guide body of the light guide medium, the ink tone and thickness of the color film, the light transmittance and roughness of the polarizer; and adjust the warm or cold color of the backlight of the TFT screen, the RGB values of the UI picture, and the color resolution of the liquid crystal screen, so that the colors of the TFT screen and the segmental display screen tend to be the same; realizing the overall consistency of the TFT screen and the segmental display screen and enhancing the display effect.

[0033] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A combined instrument, characterized in that, Including: A housing (1), a circuit board (2), a bracket (3), a TFT screen (4) and a segment code screen (5); the bracket (3) is fixedly connected to the housing (1); the circuit board (2) is fixed between the housing (1) and the bracket (3); the TFT screen (4) is fixed on the bracket (3); the segment code screen (5) is arranged outside the TFT screen (4), and the light valve areas of the TFT screen (4) and the segment code screen (5) are arranged opposite to each other; the segment code screen (5) is fixedly connected to the bracket (3); a microcontroller, a first control circuit and a second control circuit are integrated on the circuit board (2); the microcontroller is electrically connected to the first control circuit and the second control circuit; the first control circuit is connected to the LED module of the TFT screen (4); the second control circuit is connected to the LED module of the segment code screen (5). The first control circuit includes: a first filter circuit, a first electronic switch, a first current limiting circuit, a second filter circuit and a first lighting power supply integrated on the circuit board (2); the microcontroller is connected to one end of the first electronic switch through the second filter circuit, one end of the first electronic switch is connected to one end of the LED module of the TFT screen (4), the other end of the LED module of the TFT screen (4) is connected to one end of the second filter circuit through the first current limiting circuit, and the other end of the second filter circuit is connected to the first lighting power supply. The second control circuit includes: a third filter circuit, a second electronic switch, a second current limiting circuit, a fourth filter circuit and a second lighting power supply integrated on the circuit board (2); the microcontroller is connected to one end of the second electronic switch through the third filter circuit, one end of the second electronic switch is connected to one end of the LED module of the segment code screen (5), the other end of the LED module of the segment code screen (5) is connected to one end of the fourth filter circuit through the second current limiting circuit, and the other end of the fourth filter circuit is connected to the second lighting power supply. Select a color displayed on the TFT color liquid crystal screen, such as red, and then select the red displayed on the segment code screen (5); pick up red samples respectively, and read indicators such as color temperature, wavelength, and brightness through an optical instrument; according to the display principle of the combination instrument and color influencing factors, adjust the warm and cold colors of the backlight of the segment code screen (5), the shape and thickness of the light guide body of the light guide medium, the ink tone and thickness of the color film, and the light transmittance and roughness of the polarizing plate; and adjust the warm and cold colors of the backlight of the TFT screen (4), the RGB values of the UI pictures, and the strong color resolution of the liquid crystal screen; continuously measure and record the test data for the above parameters, and then adjust the color synchronously through the above method until the colors of the two are basically the same.

2. The combined instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that, It further includes: A lining plate (6) and glass (7); the lining plate (6) is fixed outside the bracket (3); the inner side of the lining plate (6) abuts against the segment code screen (5), and the glass (7) is fixed outside the lining plate (6).

3. The combined instrument according to claim 2, characterized in that, The lining plate (6) is fixedly connected to the bracket (3) by screws; the glass (7) is fixed to the outside of the lining plate (6) by snap fasteners.

4. The combined instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that A matte layer is provided on the polarizer of the segment display screen (5).

5. The combined instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that The light valve area of the segment display screen (5) is arranged in the exact middle of the segment display screen (5).

6. The combined instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that, The segment display screen (5) is a 12.3-inch display screen; the TFT screen (4) is a 7-inch display screen.

7. The combined instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that, The circuit board (2) is fixedly connected to the housing (1) by screws; the bracket (3) is fixedly connected to the housing (1) by screws; the TFT screen (4) and the segment display screen (5) are respectively fixedly connected to the bracket (3) by snap fasteners.

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