Display device and vehicle including display device

Abstract

To provide a display device capable of expressing alphanumeric characters and having a simple configuration that allows cost reduction, and a vehicle using the display device.SOLUTION: A display device comprises: an information display section 31C having a plurality of segments present independently and capable of expressing an alphanumeric character; a drive circuit section 34 that selectively switches display states of the plurality of segments; and a control section 33 that controls operation of the drive circuit section 34. The drive circuit section 34 includes: a common drive circuit that can simultaneously switch a plurality of particular segments constituting only a portion of a particular alphanumeric character predetermined in the information display section 31C; and a single drive circuit that can switch the other single segment other than the particular segments. The control section 33 uses the single drive circuit and the common drive circuit in combination to control the operation of the drive circuit section so that the particular alphanumeric character is displayed in the information display section 31C.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device having a display unit with a plurality of segments, and a vehicle having the display device. [Background technology]

[0002] Among the above-mentioned display devices, there is one that has a display unit with 16 segments capable of representing alphabets and numbers, and each segment is provided with a separate connection wire to selectively switch the display state of the segments (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-170102 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The above-mentioned conventional configuration requires connecting wiring corresponding to 16 segments, which has the disadvantage that, particularly in display devices with a multi-digit display section, the number of wirings becomes large, and the configuration of the drive circuit section that selectively switches the display state of the multiple segments becomes complex, resulting in high costs.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a display device that can display alphabets and numbers while being simple in configuration and enabling cost reduction, and a vehicle using the display device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The characteristic configuration of the display device of the present invention is that it comprises an information display unit having a plurality of segments each existing independently and capable of representing letters and numbers, a drive circuit unit that selectively switches the display state of the plurality of segments, and a control unit that controls the operation of the drive circuit unit, wherein the drive circuit unit comprises a common drive circuit that can simultaneously switch a plurality of specific segments that constitute only a portion of predetermined specific letters and numbers in the information display unit, and an individual drive circuit that can switch other individual segments other than the specific segments, and the control unit controls the operation of the drive circuit unit so as to display the specific letters and numbers in the information display unit by using the individual drive circuit in combination with the common drive circuit.

[0007] According to the present invention, when displaying predetermined specific alphabets and numbers, the display states of a plurality of specific segments are switched simultaneously by a common driving circuit, and the display states of the segments other than the specific segments are switched individually by individual driving circuits.

[0008] As a result, a separate drive circuit is required for each segment other than the specific segment, but a single common drive circuit can be used for the specific segment, so it is possible to reduce the number of connecting wires and simplify the configuration compared to when separate drive circuits are provided for all segments.

[0009] Therefore, it has become possible to provide a display device that can display alphabets and numbers, yet has a simple configuration and allows for cost reduction.

[0010] In the present invention, it is preferable that the information display section has 16 segments that exist independently.

[0011] According to this configuration, the information display section has 16 segments, so that the alphabet can be displayed well.

[0012] In the present invention, it is preferable that the control unit and the drive circuit unit are capable of performing a lighting check operation to switch all segments in the information display unit to a lighting state by using a combination of the individual drive circuit and the common drive circuit.

[0013] According to this configuration, by using corresponding individual drive circuits for all segments other than the specific segment and using a common drive circuit for the specific segment, it is possible to perform lighting checks for all segments.

[0014] A characteristic feature of the vehicle according to the present invention is that it is a vehicle equipped with the display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and the display device displays the accumulated mileage or accumulated operating time as numerical information.

[0015] According to this configuration, two different display modes can be used: one that displays the total mileage or total operating time, and one that displays a specific alphabet that has been set in advance. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a utility vehicle. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a display device. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a connection state of a drive circuit unit in a numeric display. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection state of an independent driving circuit. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection state of an independent driving circuit. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display state of a specific alphabet. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection state of a common driving circuit. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display state in which all lights are on. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection state of a common driving circuit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of a display device according to the present invention and a multi-purpose vehicle as an example of a vehicle equipped with a display device will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0018] In the following explanation, unless otherwise specified, the direction of arrow F in the figure is "forward," the direction of arrow B is "backward," the direction of arrow L is "left," and the direction of arrow R is "right." The direction of arrow U in the figure is "upward," and the direction of arrow D is "downward."

[0019] [Overall configuration of multipurpose vehicle] The utility vehicle shown in Figure 1 is used for multiple purposes such as transporting luggage and recreation. The utility vehicle is equipped with a body 4 having a body frame 1, front wheels 2 which are a pair of left and right running wheels provided at the front of the body frame 1 in a steerable and drivable manner, and rear wheels 3 which are a pair of left and right running wheels provided at the rear of the body frame 1 in a drivable manner.

[0020] A riding section 5 is provided in a portion of the vehicle body 4 between the front wheels 2 and the rear wheels 3. The riding section 5 is provided with a front riding section 5A and a rear riding section 5B, and a rope rope 6 that surrounds the riding space of the front riding section 5A and the riding space of the rear riding section 5B. The front riding section 5A is provided with a driver's seat 7 and a driver's section 8 located in front of the driver's seat. A luggage rack 9 is provided behind the riding section 5. Below the luggage rack 9 are provided an engine 10 as a power source, a belt-type continuously variable transmission 11 that continuously changes the speed of the power from the engine 10 and outputs it, and a power transmission device 12 that changes the speed of the power from the continuously variable transmission 11 and outputs it to the front wheels 2 and the rear wheels 3.

[0021] The power transmission device 12 has a transmission case 13 and a gear transmission mechanism provided inside the transmission case 13, and is configured to be able to change speeds between a forward transmission state, a neutral state, and a reverse transmission state by shifting the transmission gear.

[0022] In the power transmission device 12, the power input from the continuously variable transmission 11 is changed in speed by a gear transmission mechanism and output toward the front wheels 2 and rear wheels 3. The rear wheel output of the power transmission device 12 is transmitted to a rear wheel differential mechanism (not shown) provided inside the transmission case 13, and then transmitted from the rear wheel differential mechanism to the left and right rear wheels 3. The front wheel output of the power transmission device 12 is transmitted to a front wheel differential mechanism (not shown) by a rotating shaft (not shown) extending forward from the transmission case 13, and then transmitted from the front wheel differential mechanism to the left and right front wheels 2.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the driver's section 8 is equipped with a steering wheel 14 for steering the front wheels, which is located in front of the driver's seat 7, a forward / backward swinging gearshift lever 15 located adjacent to the right side of the steering wheel 14, and a display device 16 located adjacent to the right side of the gearshift lever 15 for displaying various information.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 3, the display device 16 includes a vehicle display unit 31 that displays numerical information related to the engine 10, vehicle speed, etc., a warning display unit 32 that has various warning indicator lights illuminated by LED lamps, and a display control unit 33 that serves as a control unit that controls the operation of the vehicle display unit 31 and the warning display unit 32.

[0025] Although not shown, in addition to the display device 16, the vehicle is also equipped with a vehicle control unit that controls the operation of the entire vehicle, an engine control unit that controls the operation of the engine, etc., and the display control unit 33 controls the operation of the vehicle display unit 31 and the warning display unit 32 so as to display desired information based on commands from the vehicle control unit and the engine control unit.

[0026] As shown in Figure 4, the vehicle display unit 31 is composed of a liquid crystal display element and includes a vehicle speed display unit 31A that displays the vehicle speed, a gear change display unit 31B that displays the operating position of the gear change lever 19, an information display unit 31C that is arranged above the vehicle speed display unit 31A and can display various information described below, an engine speed display unit 31D that displays the engine speed, a temperature display unit 31E that displays the temperature of the engine coolant, a remaining amount display unit 31F that displays the remaining amount of fuel, and an auxiliary display unit 31G that can display various other information.

[0027] Vehicle speed display unit 31A has a 2-digit display area with a 7-segment display. Gear change display unit 31B has a 1-digit display area with a 14-segment display. RPM display unit 31D has a 4-digit display area with a 7-segment display. Temperature display unit 31E has a 7-segment display area with a bar graph display. Remaining amount display unit 31F has a 7-segment display area with a bar graph display. Auxiliary display unit 31G has a 4-digit display area with a 7-segment display.

[0028] [Information display section] As shown in Fig. 5, the information display unit 31C is configured to display six digits, with each digit having 16 segments that exist independently and can represent letters and numbers. Each of the six digits can display specific letters and numbers by switching the 16 segments between an on state and an off state. From left to right, each of the six digits has a first digit section DG1, a second digit section DG2, a third digit section DG3, a fourth digit section DG4, a fifth digit section DG5, and a sixth digit section DG6.

[0029] The information display unit 31C is configured to be able to display various information such as the accumulated mileage or the accumulated engine operating time as numerical information, and also to be able to display the text information "KUBOTA" as a specific alphabet that represents the manufacturer of the vehicle.

[0030] The information display unit 31C is provided with a drive circuit unit 34 that selectively switches the display state of a plurality of segments in each of the six digits, and the operation of the drive circuit unit 34 is controlled by the display control unit 33.

[0031] The drive circuit unit 34 includes a common drive circuit 35 that can simultaneously switch a plurality of specific segments that make up only a portion of predetermined specific alphabets and numbers in each of the six digits, and an individual drive circuit 36 ​​that can switch individual segments other than the specific segments. The display control unit 33 controls the operation of the drive circuit unit 34 so as to display the specific alphabets and numbers by using the individual drive circuit 36 ​​and the common drive circuit 35 in combination.

[0032] A specific configuration will be described. Each of the six digits can display specific letters and numbers by switching 16 segments between the on and off states. As shown in Figure 6, the first digit section DG1 has 16 segments, and we will explain the segments that correspond to the number display section among the 16 segments. Segments A and B are connected internally and appear to function as one segment, segments E and F are connected internally and appear to function as one segment, and segments C, D, G, H, I, and J each function as one segment. These segments correspond to individual segments.

[0033] Therefore, the numeric display portion has an eight-segment configuration, and each segment is connected to the display control unit 33 via a connecting wire 38 and is configured to be switchable between an on state and an off state. A total of eight connecting wires 38 are provided. The numeric display portion in the third digit portion DG3 also has an eight-segment configuration like the first digit portion DG1, and a total of eight connecting wires 38 are provided.

[0034] In the numeric display sections of the second digit section DG2, the fourth digit section DG4, the fifth digit section DG5, and the sixth digit section DG6, excluding the first digit section DG1 and the third digit section DG3, segment I and segment J are internally connected and appear to function as one segment, as shown in Figure 7, and the other segments are the same as the first digit section. As a result, the display has a seven-segment configuration for displaying numeric characters, with a total of seven wires provided for each segment display section and drawn out to the outside.

[0035] Therefore, the drive circuit section 34 is provided with a total of 44 wires [(8×2)+(7×4)] for displaying numbers, and these 44 wires 38 correspond to the individual drive circuits 36 .

[0036] The six segments K, L, M, N, O, and P located in the center outside the numeric display area can be combined with some of the single segments to display a specific alphabet (the character information "KUBOTA").

[0037] That is, as shown in Figure 9, segments M and N of the first digit section 27A, segments L and O of the third digit section DG3, and segments L and O of the fifth digit section DG5 are internally connected and appear to function as a single segment. This single apparent segment is called a character common segment. This character common segment is equipped with one connecting wire 39.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 8, by switching the common character segments and the target segments in the first to sixth digit sections (DG1 to DG38F) to the ON state, a specific alphabet (character information "KUBOTA") can be displayed.

[0039] Furthermore, by combining the six segments K, L, M, N, O, and P located in the center other than the numeric display portion with all the individual segments, all the segments in the information display section 31C can be turned on.

[0040] That is, as shown in Figure 11, segments K, L, and O in the first digit section DG1, segments K, L, M, N, O, and P in the second digit section DG2, segments K, M, N, P in the third digit section DG3, segments K, L, M, N, O, and P in the fourth digit section DG4, segments K, M, N, P in the fifth digit section DG5, and segments K, L, M, N, O, and P in the sixth digit section DG6 are all internally connected and function as a single segment. This single segment is called a common segment for lighting all lights. One connecting wire 40 is provided for each common segment for lighting all lights.

[0041] The multiple segments that make up the common segment for character lighting and the multiple segments that make up the common segment for all lighting correspond to specific segments. Two wires 39 and 40 are provided to drive the common segment for character lighting and the common segment for lighting, and these two wires 39 and 40 correspond to the common drive circuit 35.

[0042] Based on instructions from the engine control unit or the vehicle control unit, the display control unit 33 outputs a signal to the connection wiring 38 for the segment of the individual drive circuit 36 ​​that corresponds to the display content, and controls the operation of the drive circuit unit 34 so that the desired numerical information, i.e., the accumulated mileage or the accumulated engine operating time, is displayed as numerical information on the information display unit 31C.

[0043] Furthermore, based on instructions from the engine control unit and the vehicle control unit, the display control unit 33 outputs signals to the connection wiring 38 of the individual drive circuit 36 ​​for the segment corresponding to the display content, and to the connection wiring 39 of the common drive circuit 35 for the common segment for characters, thereby controlling the operation of the drive circuit unit 34 so as to display a specific alphabet (character information such as "KUBOTA") on the information display unit 31C (see Figure 8).

[0044] Furthermore, based on commands from the engine control unit or the vehicle control unit, the display control unit 33 can perform a lighting check operation to switch all segments in the information display unit 31C to the lighting state by outputting signals to the connection wiring 38 for all segments of the individual drive circuit 36 ​​and to the connection wiring 39 for the common segments for characters and the common segments for all lighting of the common drive circuit 35 (see Figure 10).

[0045] Instead of the above configuration, if a separate connection wire were used for each of the 16 segments in each of the six digit portions of the information display unit 31C, a total of 96 (16 x 6) connection wires would be required. However, with the configuration of this embodiment, the number of connection wires is reduced, and the configuration of the drive circuit unit 34 can be simplified.

[0046] [Another embodiment] (1) In the above embodiment, the character information "KUBOTA" representing the manufacturer of the vehicle is displayed as a specific alphabet, but various other character information may be displayed as the specific alphabet. Furthermore, the specific alphabet is not limited to one, and multiple types of character information may be displayed.

[0047] (2) In the above embodiment, the information display unit 31C displays six digits, but it is not limited to six digits, and may display five digits or less, or seven digits or more.

[0048] (3) In the above embodiment, the information display unit 31C has 16 segments that exist independently, but is not limited to this configuration and may have 14 segments, for example.

[0049] (4) In the above embodiment, it is possible to execute a lighting check operation in which all segments in the information display unit 31C are switched to a lighting state. However, such a lighting check operation may not be executed.

[0050] (5) In the above embodiment, the information display unit 31C is shown to be configured as a liquid crystal display device, but it is not limited to a liquid crystal display, and may be configured to use a light-emitting diode (LED) or a fluorescent display tube, and various configurations of display devices can be used.

[0051] (6) In the above embodiment, a multipurpose vehicle is shown as the vehicle, but the vehicle is not limited to a multipurpose vehicle as long as it is equipped with a display device, and may be an agricultural vehicle, a passenger car, etc., and the type of vehicle is not limited. [Industrial Applicability]

[0052] The present invention can be applied to a display device having a display unit with a plurality of segments and a vehicle having a display device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 31C Information display section 33 Display control unit (control unit) 34 Drive circuit section 35 Common drive circuit 36 Single drive circuit

Claims

1. an information display unit having a plurality of segments each of which exists independently and can represent alphabets and numbers; a drive circuit section for selectively switching the display states of the plurality of segments; a control unit that controls the operation of the drive circuit unit, The drive circuit unit a common drive circuit capable of simultaneously switching a plurality of specific segments constituting only a part of predetermined specific alphabets and numbers in the information display unit; an individual drive circuit capable of switching individual segments other than the specific segment; The control unit A display device that controls the operation of the drive circuit unit so as to display the specific alphabet and numbers on the information display unit by using the independent drive circuit and the common drive circuit in combination.

2. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the information display section has 16 segments that exist independently.

3. 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is capable of performing a lighting check operation for switching all segments in the information display unit to a lighting state by using the individual driving circuit and the common driving circuit in combination.

4. A vehicle equipped with the display device according to claim 1, A vehicle in which the display device displays the accumulated mileage or accumulated operating time as numerical information.

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