Display device

Abstract

To provide a display device capable of improving the visibility of shift timing.SOLUTION: A display device comprises: a display unit which displays an indicator of shift timing for a driver of a vehicle to perform a shift operation of a transmission; and a control unit which performs control such that the indicator extends from left and right ends of a display area toward the center in a horizontal direction of the vehicle with respect to the display unit, with the approach of the shift timing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device. [Background technology]

[0002] Regarding in-vehicle display devices, for example, Patent Document 1 describes that a shift timing indicator installed in the driver's seat rotates a pointer, and when the pointer reaches the end of the index mark, it notifies the driver of the shift timing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-145240 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, for example, when the vehicle is cornering, the driver's field of vision becomes narrower depending on the direction of the cornering, making it difficult to check the shift timing from the shift timing indicator.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a display device that can improve the visibility of shift timing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The display device of the present invention comprises a display unit that displays an indicator of the shift timing at which the driver of the vehicle shifts the transmission, and a control unit that controls the display unit so that the indicator extends from the left and right ends of the display area toward the center in the horizontal direction of the vehicle as the shift timing approaches.

[0007] In the above display device, the indicator includes a plurality of lighting areas that are arranged in the horizontal direction within the display area and that light up individually according to the control of the control unit, and the control unit may control the display unit so that the plurality of lighting areas light up sequentially from the left end and the right end toward the center as the shift timing approaches, and so that all of the plurality of lighting areas light up at the shift timing.

[0008] In the display device, the control unit may set the timing at which at least one of the plurality of lighting areas lights up based on an instruction from a terminal device.

[0009] In the above-mentioned display device, the control unit may control the display unit so that the indicator extends toward the center each time the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine of the vehicle increases and reaches each of a plurality of threshold values ​​provided for each gear stage of the transmission.

[0010] In the above display device, the control unit may control the display unit so that the indicator starts extending from the left end and the right end toward the center a predetermined time before the shift timing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, the visibility of the shift timing can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a vehicle system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram (part 1) showing a display example of the screen of the in-vehicle display. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram (part 2) showing a display example of the screen of the in-vehicle display. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the rotation speed table. [Figure 5]Fig. 5(a) is a diagram showing an example of readjustment of the rotation speed threshold value, and Fig. 5(b) is a diagram showing an example of setting of the rotation speed table in the gear sequential mode. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a display process of the shift indicator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] (Vehicle system configuration) FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a system of a vehicle 9. The vehicle 9 has an engine (ENG) 20, a clutch 21, a manual transmission (MT) 22, a shift lever 220, a differential gear 23, and drive wheels 24. The engine 20 is an example of an internal combustion engine. The engine 20 is, for example, a gasoline engine, but may also be a diesel engine. The clutch 21 is connected to a crankshaft 30 of the engine 20.

[0014] The clutch 21 is provided between the engine 20 and the manual transmission 22. The clutch 21 is switched between an engaged state and a disengaged state in response to operation of a clutch pedal (not shown). An output shaft 31 of the clutch 21 is connected to the input side of the manual transmission 22. Therefore, when the clutch 21 is in an engaged state, the driving force of the engine 20 is transmitted to the manual transmission 22.

[0015] The manual transmission 22 is one example of a transmission. The manual transmission 22 is provided in a power transmission path between the engine 20 and drive wheels 24. A shift lever 220 is used by the driver to shift the manual transmission 22. When the driver operates the shift lever 220, the gear position of the manual transmission 22 is changed according to the shift position of the shift lever 220. An output shaft 32 of the manual transmission 22 is connected to a differential gear 23, which is a final reduction gear. Left and right axles 33 are connected to the differential gear 23. Driving force is transmitted from the output shaft 32 of the manual transmission 22 to the drive wheels 24 via the axles 33.

[0016] The vehicle 9 also has a crank angle sensor 34, a shift position sensor 35, a vehicle speed sensor 36, and a display device S. The display device S has an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 1, an in-vehicle display 6, and a data communication module (DCM) 7.

[0017] The crank angle sensor 34 detects the number of revolutions per unit time (rpm) of the engine 20 from the rotation angle of the crankshaft 30. The vehicle speed sensor 36 detects the speed of the vehicle 9 from the rotation angle of the output shaft 32. The shift position sensor 35 is provided on the shift lever 220 and detects the gear position of the manual transmission 22. The crank angle sensor 34, the vehicle speed sensor 36, and the shift position sensor 35 each output their detection values ​​to the ECU 1.

[0018] The ECU 1 is an example of a control unit. The ECU 1 is a computer including a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM), all of which are not shown. The ECU 1 controls the display on the in-vehicle display 6.

[0019] The ECU 1 has, for example, a display processing unit 10 and a setting processing unit 11 as software functions that drive a CPU. Note that the display processing unit 10 and the setting processing unit 11 may be realized by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit).

[0020] The ECU 1 also includes a nonvolatile memory 12 such as a flash memory. The memory 12 stores setting information 120 and a rotation speed table (TBL) 121.

[0021] The display processing unit 10 outputs image information to the in-vehicle display 6. The in-vehicle display 6 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and is arranged in front of the driver's seat of the vehicle 9. The in-vehicle display 6 displays an image based on the image information from the display processing unit 10. As will be described later, the in-vehicle display 6 displays an indicator of the shift timing (hereinafter, "shift indicator") for the driver of the vehicle 9 to operate the manual transmission 22, and the like.

[0022] The setting processing unit 11 sets a rotation speed table 121 based on the setting information 120. The rotation speed table 121 sets the rotation speed of the engine 20 that indicates the lighting timing of a plurality of lighting areas of the indicator for each gear position of the manual transmission 22. The setting information 120 includes information for setting the lighting timing of the lighting areas, as will be described later.

[0023] The data communication module 7 is equipped with wireless communication means such as an antenna, and is connected to a communication network (not shown) such as the Internet. The setting processing unit 11 communicates with a terminal device 8 on the communication network via the data communication module 7. The terminal device 8 is, for example, a smartphone carried by the driver or a passenger of the vehicle 9, but is not limited to this and may also be a personal computer or a tablet terminal. The setting processing unit 11 can accept setting changes to the setting information 120 from the terminal device 8. After receiving a notification from the setting processing unit 11 that the setting of the rotation speed table 121 has been completed, the display processing unit 10 causes an indicator to be displayed on the in-vehicle display 6.

[0024] (Example of in-vehicle display screen configuration) 2 and 3 are diagrams showing display examples of screens 60 to 65 of the in-vehicle display 6. The screens 60 to 65 display a shift indicator Ma, a rotation speed meter Mb, a speed meter Mc, and a gear position indicator Md when the in-vehicle display 6 is viewed from the front from the driver's seat. Note that the horizontal direction H and vertical direction V of the vehicle 9 are also shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0025] The display processing unit 10 generates image data for the shift indicator Ma, the tachometer Mb, the speedometer Mc, and the gear position indicator Md, and outputs them to the in-vehicle display 6. Screens 60 to 65 show an example of how the display of the in-vehicle display 6 changes over time when the vehicle 9 accelerates.

[0026] The shift indicator Ma is an example of an indicator of the shift timing of the manual transmission 22. In Figures 2 and 3, the dotted frame showing the shift indicator Ma is an example of a display area. The shift indicator Ma extends from the left and right ends of the display area toward the center in the horizontal direction H of the vehicle 9 as the shift timing approaches, and reaches the center at the shift timing. This allows the shift indicator Ma to prompt the driver to perform a shift operation at the appropriate timing.

[0027] The shift indicator Ma includes a set of lighting areas #1 to #7 that extend in the horizontal direction H within the display area and are arranged symmetrically on either side of the center of the display area. As an example, each of the lighting areas #1 to #7 has a substantially parallelogram shape and is arranged at a predetermined interval in the horizontal direction H. The display processing unit 10 can individually turn on or off each of the right and left lighting areas #1 to #7.

[0028] Lighting areas #1 are located at the left and right ends of the display area of ​​shift indicator Ma. Two lighting areas #7 are located adjacent to each other in the center of shift indicator Ma. The other lighting areas #2 to #6 are located adjacent to each other from the left and right lighting areas #1 toward the central lighting area #7.

[0029] The tachometer Mb is disposed below the shift indicator Ma in the vertical direction V when viewed from the center of the shift indicator Ma in the horizontal direction H, and indicates the engine rpm. The display processing unit 10 acquires the engine rpm from the crank angle sensor 34. The display processing unit 10 controls the in-vehicle display 6 to display the engine 20 rpm on the tachometer Mb.

[0030] The gear position indicator Md is disposed below the revolution speed meter Mb in the vertical direction V and indicates the gear position of the manual transmission 22. The display processing unit 10 acquires the gear position of the manual transmission 22 from the shift position sensor 35. The display processing unit 10 controls the in-vehicle display 6 so that the gear position is displayed on the gear position indicator Md. In this example, the manual transmission 22 is in third gear.

[0031] The speedometer Mc is disposed below the shift indicator Ma in the vertical direction V and to the right of the gear position indicator Md in the horizontal direction H, and indicates the speed of the vehicle 9. The display processing unit 10 acquires the speed of the vehicle 9 with the manual transmission 22 from the vehicle speed sensor 36. The display processing unit 10 controls the in-vehicle display 6 to display the vehicle speed on the speedometer Mc.

[0032] The display processing unit 10 controls the in-vehicle display 6 so that each of the lighting areas #1 to #7 lights up sequentially from the left and right ends toward the center in the horizontal direction H as the shift timing approaches, and all of the lighting areas #1 to #7 are lit at the shift timing. The display processing unit 10 determines which of the lighting areas #1 to #7 to light up by referring to the rotation speed table 121 based on the rotation speed obtained from the crank angle sensor 34.

[0033] 4 is a diagram showing an example of the rotation speed table 121. In the rotation speed table 121, the rotation speed thresholds that are the conditions for lighting up each of the left and right illumination areas #1 to #7 are set for each gear stage (for example, 1st to 6th gear) of the manual transmission 22. The thresholds increase in the order of illumination areas #1 to #7, and the higher the gear stage, the larger the thresholds.

[0034] The display processing unit 10 controls the in-vehicle display 6 so that only lighting areas among the lighting areas #1 to #7 that satisfy the engine rotation speed ≧ threshold are lit based on the rotation speed table 121. The setting processing unit 11 sets each threshold value of the rotation speed in the rotation speed table 121 based on the setting information 120.

[0035] The setting information 120 includes a shift rotation speed and an illumination mode. The shift rotation speed is the rotation speed of the engine 20 when the driver shifts (shifts up) the manual transmission 22. When the engine rotation speed is equal to or greater than the shift rotation speed, the display processing unit 10 illuminates the two central illumination areas #7 of the shift indicator Ma. For this reason, the setting processing unit 11 sets the shift rotation speed of the setting information 120 as the threshold value of the illumination area #7 of the rotation speed table 121.

[0036] Furthermore, the lighting mode of the setting information 120 can be selectively set to one of a "time mode" and a "gear sequence mode," in which the lighting conditions for the left and right lighting areas #1 are different. In the "time mode," the lighting timing of the lighting area #1 can be set to T seconds before the shift timing. Here, the time T seconds can be selected from, for example, a plurality of predetermined times t1, t2, . . . , tn (n: positive integer). In the "gear sequence mode," the lighting timing of the lighting area #1 can be set to the timing of shifting up from the previous gear. Note that in this example, the "time mode" is used, and the "gear sequence mode" will be described later.

[0037] As described above, the setting processing unit 11 sets the shift rotation speed in the setting information 120 as the threshold value of the illumination region #7 in the rotation speed table 121. As an example, when the shift rotation speed is 6500 rpm, the threshold value of the illumination region #7 for all gear stages is set to 6500 rpm. Note that in this example, the shift rotation speed is set to a common setting value for all gear stages, but the shift rotation speed may be set individually for each gear stage.

[0038] In the "time mode," the display processing unit 10 lights up each of the left and right lighting areas #1 T seconds before the shift timing, lights up lighting areas #2 to #6 in order toward the center as the engine speed increases, and lights up the two central lighting areas #7 at the shift timing. For this reason, the setting processing unit 11 sets the threshold value of lighting area #1 for each gear position based on the time change in engine speed when the engine speed reaches the shift rotation speed after T seconds, based on the output of engine 20 when the accelerator (not shown) is fully open. For example, the threshold value of lighting area #1 in the engine speed table 121 when T=t1 seconds is greater than the threshold value of lighting area #1 for the same gear position in the engine speed table 121 when T=t2 seconds (>t1).

[0039] Furthermore, the setting processing unit 11 sets the thresholds for the lighting areas #2 to #6 for each gear position based on the time change in the rotation speed and the thresholds for the lighting area #1 and the thresholds for the lighting area #7 (shift rotation speed) so that the lighting areas #2 to #6 for each gear position are illuminated at regular time intervals. Note that the setting of the thresholds for the lighting areas #2 to #6 may use map data that is generated from experimental results or simulation results on the acceleration performance of the vehicle 9 and that is stored in advance in the ROM of the ECU 1.

[0040] 2 and 3, an example of the lighting operation of lighting areas #1 to #7 will be described. In this example, a case where the gear position of the manual transmission 22 is third gear in the "time mode" where T=t1 seconds is described, but the lighting operation is performed in the same manner as described below even when the time T seconds is set to another time or when the gear position is a shift position other than third gear. Note that in FIGS. 2 and 3, lighting areas #1 to #7 in the lit state are indicated by hatching.

[0041] Screen 60 shows a state in which all lighting areas #1 to #7 are turned off. At this time, the engine speed is smaller than the threshold value of any of lighting areas #1 to #7 for the three speeds in rotation speed table 121, so display processing unit 10 controls in-vehicle display 6 to turn off all lighting areas #1 to #7.

[0042] Screen 61 shows a state in which only illumination area #1 is illuminated. At this time, the engine speed has reached 5400 rpm, which is the threshold value for illumination area #1 for third gear in rotation speed table 121, but is lower than the threshold value for illumination area #2 for third gear. Therefore, display processing unit 10 controls in-vehicle display 6 so that only illumination area #1 is illuminated.

[0043] By checking that illumination area #1 is illuminated, the driver knows that the shift timing is approaching and can prepare for the shift operation. As described above, in the "time mode," the time T seconds can be set from the terminal device 8, so the driver can determine the timing for illumination area #1 according to his or her driving ability.

[0044] Next, screen 62 shows a state in which only illumination areas #1 and #2 are illuminated. At this time, the engine speed has reached 5600 rpm, which is the threshold value for illumination area #2 for third gear in rotation speed table 121, but is lower than the threshold value for illumination area #3 for third gear. Therefore, display processing unit 10 controls in-vehicle display 6 so that only illumination areas #1 and #2 are illuminated.

[0045] Next, screen 63 shows a state in which only illumination areas #1 to #3 are illuminated. At this time, the engine speed has reached 5,800 rpm, which is the threshold value for illumination area #3 for third gear in rotation speed table 121, but is lower than the threshold value for illumination area #4 for third gear. Therefore, display processing unit 10 controls in-vehicle display 6 so that only illumination areas #1 to #3 are illuminated. Thereafter, although not shown in the figure, display processing unit 10 controls in-vehicle display 6 in the same manner as above so that illumination area #4 is illuminated further when the rotation speed reaches the threshold value for illumination area #4 for third gear, and illumination area #5 is illuminated further when the rotation speed reaches the threshold value for illumination area #5 for third gear.

[0046] Next, screen 64 shows a state in which only illumination areas #1 to #6 are illuminated. At this time, the engine speed has reached 6400 rpm, which is greater than the threshold for illumination area #6 of third gear in rotation speed table 121, but is less than the threshold for illumination area #7 of third gear, i.e., the shift rotation speed. Therefore, display processing unit 10 controls in-vehicle display 6 so that only illumination areas #1 to #6 are illuminated.

[0047] Next, screen 65 shows a state in which all illumination areas #1 to #7 are illuminated. At this time, the engine speed has reached 6500 rpm, which is the threshold value for illumination area #7 for third gear in rotation speed table 121, so display processing unit 10 controls in-vehicle display 6 to illuminate all illumination areas #1 to #7. By confirming that all illumination areas #1 to #7 are illuminated, the driver can know that it is time to shift and perform a shift operation. Here, display processing unit 10 may flash all illumination areas #1 to #7 to make it easier for the driver to notice that it is time to shift.

[0048] In this way, the display processing unit 10 controls the in-vehicle display 6 so that the shift indicator Ma extends from the left and right ends toward the center in the horizontal direction H of the vehicle 9 as the shift timing approaches. Therefore, the driver of the vehicle 9 can confirm the shift timing by looking at either the right or left area of ​​the shift indicator Ma. Therefore, even if the driver's field of vision narrows unevenly toward either the right or left side of the in-vehicle display 6 while the vehicle 9 is cornering, the driver can easily confirm the shift timing. Therefore, the display device S can improve the visibility of the shift timing.

[0049] Furthermore, as described above, in the "time mode," the display processing unit 10 controls the in-vehicle display 6 to light up the illumination areas #1 at the left and right ends of the shift indicator Ma T seconds before the shift timing. As a result, the shift indicator Ma begins to extend from the left and right ends toward the center T seconds before the shift timing. Therefore, by visually noticing that the shift indicator Ma has begun to extend, the driver can make preparations, such as placing his or her hand on the shift lever 220, in preparation for the shift operation.

[0050] Furthermore, as described above, when the rotation speed of the engine 20 is equal to or greater than the threshold value for a corresponding gear position in the rotation speed table 121, the display processing unit 10 controls the in-vehicle display 6 so that the illumination areas #1 to #7 corresponding to that threshold value are illuminated. As a result, the shift indicator Ma extends toward the center each time the rotation speed of the engine 20 increases and reaches a threshold value provided for each gear position of the manual transmission 22. Therefore, when the vehicle 9 accelerates, the shift indicator Ma extends at a pace according to the gear position, and the driver can feel a stronger sense of comfort in the acceleration compared to when the shift indicator Ma extends at a uniform pace regardless of the gear position.

[0051] The display processing unit 10 controls the in-vehicle display 6 so that the illumination areas #1 to #7 sequentially light up from the left and right ends toward the center as the shift timing approaches, and all of the illumination areas #1 to #7 light up at the shift timing. Therefore, compared to when the shift indicator Ma is not divided into illumination areas #1 to #7, the driver can more clearly sense that the shift timing is approaching. Note that in this example, the illumination areas #1 to #7 light up individually, but two or more adjacent illumination areas #1 to #7 may light up substantially simultaneously. In this case, the setting processing unit 11 sets the threshold values ​​for the illumination areas #1 to #7 that light up simultaneously in the rotation speed table 121 to be the same value.

[0052] Furthermore, the setting processing unit 11 changes the setting information 120 based on an instruction from the terminal device 8. For example, the setting processing unit 11 can change the number of shift rotations from an initial value, change the lighting mode to the "time mode," and then change the time T seconds from the initial value in accordance with the instruction. Therefore, the setting processing unit 11 can set the lighting timing of lighting area #1 by changing the number of shift rotations, and set the lighting timing of lighting area #1 by changing the time T seconds. Furthermore, the setting processing unit 11 may update each threshold value in the number of rotations table 121 based on an instruction from the terminal device 8.

[0053] In this way, the setting processing unit 11 sets the timing at which at least one of the lighting areas #1 to #7 lights up based on an instruction from the terminal device 8. This makes it possible to adjust the lighting timing of the lighting area #1 according to the driving technique of the driver, for example, thereby improving convenience.

[0054] (Readjusting the threshold) The setting processing unit 11 sets the shift rotation number in the setting information 120 to the threshold value of the lighting area #7 of the rotation number table 121, and sets each threshold value of the other lighting areas #1 to #6 according to the shift rotation number. When an instruction to change the shift rotation number is received from the terminal device 8, the setting processing unit 11 calculates the difference between the initial value and the changed value of the shift rotation number, and changes each threshold value of the rotation number table 121 according to the difference.

[0055] For example, if at least one of the changed thresholds falls below the engine 20's idling rotation speed (hereinafter referred to as idle rotation speed) R_idle, the setting processing unit 11 readjusts each threshold so that the lighting areas #1 to #7 corresponding to that threshold are not lit due to idling.

[0056] Fig. 5(a) is a diagram showing an example of readjustment of the rotation speed threshold. In Fig. 5(a), the horizontal axis indicates lighting areas #1 to #7, and the vertical axis indicates the rotation speed threshold (rpm). Symbol L1 indicates the initial value, symbol L2 indicates the threshold after change (changed value) in response to an instruction from terminal device 8, and symbol L3 indicates the threshold after readjustment.

[0057] In this example, the initial value of the threshold (shift rotation speed) for lighting area #7 is set to 6500 (rpm), and the changed value is set to 4000 (rpm). Because the difference between the initial value and the changed value is 2500 (rpm), the setting processing unit 11 also changes the changed values ​​for the other lighting areas #1 to #6 to values ​​that are 2500 (rpm) smaller than the initial values.

[0058] In this case, for example, it is assumed that the change value of lighting areas #1 to #3 falls below the idle rotation speed R_idle. In response to this, setting processor 11 readjusts the threshold of lighting area #1 by adding adjustment value Δr to change value Va of lighting area #1. Here, setting processor 11 calculates adjustment value Δr by, for example, adding a predetermined value to the difference between change value Va of lighting area #1 and idle rotation speed R_idle.

[0059] Furthermore, setting processor 11 readjusts the change values ​​of other lighting regions #2 to #6 so that the change values ​​increase at equal intervals toward the change value of lighting region #7 between threshold value Vb of lighting region #1 after readjustment and the change value (4000 (rpm)) of lighting region #7. As a result, all thresholds are readjusted to exceed idle rotation speed R_idle, and therefore lighting of lighting regions #1 to #7 is suppressed while engine 20 is idling.

[0060] (Gear continuous mode) When the lighting mode of the setting information 120 is set to the gear successive mode, the setting processing unit 11 sets the rotation speed threshold of the lighting area #1 of each gear stage so that the vehicle speed of each gear stage before and after shifting up the manual transmission 22 is substantially the same.

[0061] Fig. 5(b) is a diagram showing an example of the setting of the rotation speed table 121 in the gear sequential mode. Fig. 5(b) shows the change characteristics of the rotation speed of the engine 20 with respect to the vehicle speed of the vehicle 9, and the rotation speed table 121 in the gear sequential mode. In this example, the shift rotation speed is assumed to be 6500 (rpm).

[0062] The multiple dotted arrows D in the rotation speed change characteristics show an example of the change in rotation speed when the gears of the manual transmission 22 are continuously shifted up from first to sixth gear. Because the vehicle speed before and after the upshift is substantially the same, the setting processing unit 11 sets the rotation speed corresponding to the vehicle speed as the threshold value of the illumination region #1 for the gear after the upshift. For example, if the rotation speed immediately after the gear is shifted up from first to second gear is Ra, the setting processing unit 11 sets Ra as the threshold value of the illumination region #1 for second gear in the rotation speed table 121.

[0063] Furthermore, for example, if the rotation speed immediately after a gear is shifted up from second to third is Rb (>Ra), then setting processing unit 11 sets Rb as the threshold value of lighting area #1 for third gear in rotation speed table 121. Note that setting processing unit 11 sets the rotation speed at which lighting areas #2 to #6 are sequentially lit at substantially regular time intervals as the threshold value of lighting areas #2 to #6 for each gear in rotation speed table 121, based on, for example, the threshold values ​​of lighting areas #1 and #7 and the output of engine 20 when the accelerator is fully open.

[0064] As a result, when the gear stage of the manual transmission 22 is shifted up, the lighting areas #2 to #7 other than the lighting area #1 are temporarily turned off, and then the lighting areas #2 to #7 are sequentially lit as the rotation speed increases. Therefore, when the gear stage of the manual transmission 22 is shifted up successively from 1st to 7th gear, the lighting areas #1 to #7 are repeatedly lit up in sequence, providing a sense of exhilaration to the driver.

[0065] When the shift rotation speed is changed in accordance with an instruction from the terminal device 8, the setting processing unit 11 changes the thresholds of the lighting regions #1 to #7 for each gear position in the rotation speed table 121 based on the ratio of the rotation speeds before and after the change. For example, when the shift rotation speed is changed from 7200 (rpm) to 6100 (rpm), the setting processing unit 11 also changes the threshold of the lighting region #7 from 7200 (rpm) to 6100 (rpm). Furthermore, when the threshold of the lighting region #1 before the change is 3500 (rpm), the setting processing unit 11 changes the threshold of the lighting region #1 from 3500 (rpm) to 2965 (rpm) (≈ 3500 × 6100 / 7200).

[0066] (Display Processing of Shift Indicator) FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the display processing of the shift indicator Ma. First, the setting processing unit 11 sets the rotation speed table 121 based on the setting information 120 (step St1). Here, when the setting information 120 has received an instruction from the terminal device 8, before setting the rotation speed table 121, the setting information 120 is changed based on the instruction.

[0067] Next, the display processing unit 10 acquires the rotation speed of the engine 20 from the crank angle sensor (step St2), and acquires the gear stage of the manual transmission 22 from the shift position sensor 35 (step St3). Next, the display processing unit 10 acquires threshold values Rth1 to Rth7 corresponding to the gear stage from the rotation speed table 121 (step St4).

[0068] Next, the display processing unit 10 sets "1" to a variable i (= 1, 2, ···, 7) for identifying each lighting area #1 to #7 (step St5). Next, the display processing unit 10 compares the rotation speed with the threshold value Rthi (step St6). When the rotation speed ≥ Rthi is satisfied (Yes in step St6), the display processing unit 10 lights the lighting area #i (step St7). Also, when the rotation speed < Rthi is satisfied (No in step St6), the display processing unit 10 turns off the lighting area #i (step St8).

[0069] Next, the display processing unit 10 determines whether the variable i is "7" (step St9). When the variable i is not "7" (No in step St9), the display processing unit 10 adds "1" to the variable i (step St11), and executes each process after step St6 again.

[0070] Furthermore, if the variable i is "7" (Yes in step St9), the display processing unit 10 determines whether or not to end the display of the shift indicator Ma (step St10). If the display is not to end (No in step St10), the processes from step St2 onwards are executed again. Furthermore, if the display is to end because, for example, the power of the in-vehicle display 6 is turned off (Yes in step St10), this process ends. In this manner, the display process of the shift indicator Ma is executed.

[0071] In this example, the transmission is a manual transmission 22, but the display device S described above can also be used in the case of an automatic transmission, as long as the vehicle is equipped with, for example, a paddle shift function for switching gear positions. The lighting colors of the illumination areas #1 to #7 may be the same or different. For example, the illumination areas #1 to #4 may be green, the illumination areas #5 and #6 may be red, and the illumination area #7 may be blue, but this is not limiting, and other color schemes may also be used.

[0072] The above-described embodiment is a preferred example of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1 ECU (control unit), 6 in-vehicle display (display unit), 8 terminal device, 10 display processing unit, 11 setting processing unit, 20 engine (internal combustion engine), 22 manual transmission (transmission), S display device, Ma shift indicator (indicator)

Claims

1. a display unit that displays an indicator of the shift timing at which a driver of the vehicle shifts the transmission; a control unit that controls the display unit so that the indicator extends from the left and right ends of a display area toward the center in the horizontal direction of the vehicle as the shift timing approaches, Display device.

2. the indicator includes a plurality of lighting areas that are arranged in the horizontal direction within the display area and that light up individually under the control of the control unit; the control unit controls the display unit so that the plurality of lighting areas are sequentially lit from the left end and the right end toward the center as the shift timing approaches, and all of the plurality of lighting areas are lit at the shift timing. The display device according to claim 1 .

3. The control unit sets a timing at which at least one of the plurality of lighting areas lights up based on an instruction from a terminal device. The display device according to claim 2 .

4. the control unit controls the display unit so that the indicator extends toward the center each time the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine of the vehicle increases and reaches each of a plurality of thresholds provided for each gear position of the transmission.

4. The display device according to claim 1.

5. the control unit controls the display unit so that the indicator starts extending from the left end and the right end toward the center a predetermined time before the shift timing.

4. The display device according to claim 1.

Images