Vehicle display device

Abstract

The system allows the user to recognize whether a specific function assigned to the switch is enabled or disabled. [Solution] The vehicle display device 10 includes a switching unit 66 that switches the on / off status of symbols corresponding to switches assigned to predetermined functions in the vehicle, depending on whether the predetermined function is enabled in the vehicle. Furthermore, when the switching unit 66 is instructed to turn off the symbol corresponding to a specific switch, it turns off the symbol corresponding to the specific switch, regardless of whether the function assigned to that specific switch is enabled in the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle display device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a technique for lighting a light source unit that illuminates a symbol mark of a switch provided on an operation panel when an approach of a finger to the operation panel of a vehicle is detected.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The technique described in Patent Document 1 uniformly lights symbols corresponding to individual switches provided on an operation panel when an approach of a finger to the operation panel of a vehicle is detected. There may be a mix of switches that do not function depending on the state of the vehicle among the switches for which the corresponding symbols are lit, so there is room for improvement.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above facts, and an object thereof is to obtain a vehicle display device that can allow a user to recognize whether a predetermined function assigned to a switch is in an effective state.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The vehicle display device according to the first aspect includes a switching unit that switches on and off a symbol corresponding to a switch to which a predetermined function of the vehicle is assigned according to whether the predetermined function is in an effective state in the vehicle.

[0007] In the first embodiment, the on / off state of the symbol corresponding to a switch to which a predetermined function is assigned is switched depending on whether the predetermined function is enabled or disabled, thereby allowing the user to recognize whether the predetermined function assigned to the switch is enabled or disabled.

[0008] In the second embodiment, the switching unit, when instructed to turn off the symbol corresponding to a specific switch, turns off the symbol corresponding to the specific switch, regardless of whether the function assigned to the specific switch is active in the vehicle.

[0009] In the second embodiment, when an instruction is given to turn off the symbol corresponding to a specific switch, the symbol corresponding to that specific switch is turned off, making it possible for the user to customize the system to turn off the symbols corresponding to switches that are not being used.

[0010] A third aspect is that, in the first aspect, a predetermined function assigned to the switch is a function to turn the vehicle's driver assistance function on or off, and the switching unit turns off the symbol corresponding to the switch when the driver assistance function is off and the operating conditions for the driver assistance function are not met.

[0011] In the third embodiment, when the driver assistance function is turned off and the operating conditions for the driver assistance function are not met, the symbol corresponding to the switch assigned to the function of turning the vehicle's driver assistance function on and off is turned off. This allows the user to recognize when the operating conditions for the vehicle's driver assistance function are not met, that is, when the function to turn on the vehicle's driver assistance function is not enabled.

[0012] A fourth aspect is that, in the first aspect, the switch is a toggle switch assigned a function to increase or decrease a setting value of the vehicle's driving assistance function as the predetermined function, the symbol includes a first symbol indicating the direction of operation of the toggle switch to increase the setting value, and a second symbol indicating the direction of operation of the toggle switch to decrease the setting value, the switching unit turns off the first symbol when the setting value is at the upper limit, and turns off the second symbol when the setting value is at the lower limit.

[0013] In the fourth embodiment, if the setting value of the vehicle's driver assistance function is at its upper limit, a first symbol indicating the direction of operation of the toggle switch for increasing the setting value is turned off, and if the setting value is at its lower limit, a second symbol indicating the direction of operation of the toggle switch for decreasing the setting value is turned off. This allows the user to recognize when the setting value of the vehicle's driver assistance function is at its upper or lower limit, that is, when the function for increasing or decreasing the setting value of the vehicle's driver assistance function is not enabled.

[0014] A fifth aspect is that, in the first aspect, a touch sensor is superimposed on a display unit capable of displaying arbitrary information, and a portion of the touch panel provided on the steering body of the vehicle is used as the switch, and the switch is assigned a function selected from among a plurality of functions of the vehicle, and the switching unit causes a symbol corresponding to the selected function to be displayed on the touch panel at a position corresponding to the area of ​​the switch.

[0015] In the fifth embodiment, a portion of the touch panel on the vehicle's steering wheel is used as a switch, and the switch is assigned a function selected from among several functions of the vehicle. A symbol corresponding to the selected function is then displayed on the touch panel at the location corresponding to the switch area. This allows the user to customize the function assigned to the switch on the steering wheel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] This disclosure has the effect of allowing the user to recognize whether or not a predetermined function assigned to the switch is enabled. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a vehicle display device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a close-up view of a portion of the steering wheel. [Figure 3] This is a diagram showing an example of a function assignment table. [Figure 4] This is a flowchart showing the symbol illumination control process. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart showing the display control process 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows a vehicle display device 10 according to this embodiment. The vehicle display device 10 includes a group of switches 12 provided on the steering wheel 76 of the vehicle (see Figure 2) and including a plurality of switches assigned different functions to each other, and a display control ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 50 that controls the illumination and extinguishing of symbols corresponding to each switch included in the group of switches 12.

[0019] As shown in Figure 2, the left spoke portion 82 of the vehicle's steering wheel 76, which connects the annular rim portion 78 and the left end of the hub portion 80 of the vehicle, is provided with a roughly L-shaped left steering switch area 84. As shown in Figure 1, the left steering switch area 84 is provided with a switch unit 16 and a toggle switch unit 22, respectively, which are connected to the system bus 46. Note that the steering wheel 76 is an example of a steering body in this disclosure.

[0020] The switch unit 16 includes an on-off type switch 18 to which a function of turning on and off ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control), which is an example of a vehicle driving support function, is fixedly assigned. The switch 18 is provided at a lower position in the vehicle vertical direction within the left steering switch area 84, and a symbol 86 indicating that the function of turning on and off the ACC is assigned to the switch 18 is engraved on the operating element. The symbol 86 is formed of a light-transmissive material and penetrates through the front and back of the operating element, and a lighting unit 20 (see FIG. 1) for illuminating the symbol 86 is arranged behind the operating element. The lighting and extinguishing of the lighting unit 20 are controlled by the display control ECU 50.

[0021] The toggle switch unit 22 includes a toggle type switch (toggle switch) 24 to which a function of increasing or decreasing the set vehicle speed of the ACC is fixedly assigned. The toggle switch 24 has a thin rod-shaped operating element and is provided at approximately the center in the vehicle vertical direction within the left steering switch area 84 in a direction in which the longitudinal direction of the operating element is approximately along the vehicle left-right direction. The toggle switch 24 is capable of performing an operation of displacing the operating element upward in the vehicle vertical direction and an operation of displacing it downward.

[0022] At a position above the toggle switch 24 within the left steering switch area 84, a first symbol 88 indicating that a function of increasing the set vehicle speed of the ACC is assigned to the toggle switch 24 (the operation of displacing it upward) is engraved. The first symbol 88 is formed of a light-transmissive material and penetrates through the front and back of the member forming the left steering switch area 84, and a first lighting unit 26 (see FIG. 1) for illuminating the first symbol 88 is arranged at a position corresponding to the first symbol 88 behind the member.

[0023] Furthermore, a second symbol 90 is engraved in the left steering switch area 84 at a position below the toggle switch 24, indicating that the operation of displacing the toggle switch 24 downwards is assigned the function of reducing the ACC set vehicle speed. The second symbol 90 is made of a translucent material and penetrates both the front and back surfaces of the component forming the left steering switch area 84. A second illumination unit 28 (see Figure 1) is positioned behind the component at a position corresponding to the second symbol 90 to illuminate the second symbol 90. The on / off switching of the first illumination unit 26 and the second illumination unit 28 is controlled by the display control ECU 50.

[0024] Furthermore, on the right spoke portion 92 of the vehicle's steering wheel 76, which connects the annular rim portion 78 and the vehicle's right end portion of the hub portion 80, a roughly inverted L-shaped right steering switch area 94 is provided. A touch panel 32 (see Figure 1) connected to the system bus 46 is provided across the entire surface of the right steering switch area 94. The touch panel 32 consists of a display unit 34 made of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or OLED (Organic ElectroLuminescent Display) capable of displaying arbitrary information, with a touch sensor 36 superimposed on it.

[0025] In this embodiment, the right steering wheel switch area 94 is divided into five areas, and the portion of the touch panel 32 corresponding to each area is used as five switches (hereinafter referred to as touch switches 96A to 96E) each assigned a different function. In this embodiment, the functions assigned to touch switches 96A to 96E can be changed, and each is assigned a function selected by the user from among several functions of the vehicle.

[0026] The display control ECU 50 controls the display unit 34 of the touch panel 32 so that symbols indicating the functions assigned to each touch switch 96A to 96E are displayed on each touch switch 96A to 96E with a display brightness of a predetermined value or higher. Displaying symbols on the touch panel 32 with a display brightness of a predetermined value or higher is also included in the illumination of symbols in this disclosure. However, in this embodiment, the user can select whether to illuminate or extinguish the symbols on an individual switch included in the switch group 12. As an example, Figure 2 shows a state in which symbols 98 and 100 are displayed for touch switches 96A and 96B, and no symbols are displayed for touch switches 96C to 96E, depending on the user's selection of whether to illuminate or extinguish the symbols.

[0027] Note that the number of divisions in the right steering wheel switch area 94 is not limited to 5, and the touch panel 32 may be located in an area other than the right steering wheel switch area 94 (for example, the left steering wheel switch area 84).

[0028] As shown in Figure 1, the display control ECU 50 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 52 and memory 54 such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory). The display control ECU 50 also includes non-volatile storage 56 such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive), a communication I / F (Interface) 58, and an I / F 60. The CPU 52, memory 54, storage 56, communication I / F 58, and I / F 60 are connected to each other via an internal bus 62 so that they can communicate with one another.

[0029] The storage 56 stores a symbol illumination control program 64. The display control ECU 50 reads the symbol illumination control program 64 from the storage 56 and expands it into the memory 54. The CPU 52 then executes the symbol illumination control program 64 expanded into the memory 54, and the ECU 50 functions as a switching unit 66, performing the symbol illumination control processing described later. The switching unit 66 switches the illumination of symbols corresponding to switches assigned to predetermined functions in the vehicle, depending on whether the predetermined function is enabled in the vehicle or not.

[0030] Furthermore, the display control ECU 50 is connected to the system bus 46, to which the in-vehicle equipment 68 and the switch management ECU 70 are connected. The in-vehicle equipment 68 includes devices such as air conditioners, audio systems, car navigation systems, and voice input devices, as well as driving assistance devices such as ACC devices.

[0031] The switch management ECU 70, although not shown in the diagram, includes a CPU, memory, storage, communication interface, input / output interface, etc., similar to the display control ECU 50. The function assignment table 72 is stored in the storage of the switch management ECU 70. As shown in Figure 3, the function assignment table 72 registers the following information for each switch included in the switch group 12: "switch ID", "switch type", "whether the assigned function can be changed", "currently assigned function", and "whether the symbol is turned off".

[0032] In this embodiment, the function assigned to touch switches 96A to 96E can be changed only. When the user instructs the switch management ECU 70 to change the function assigned to any of the touch switches 96A to 96E, the ECU 70 receives the instruction and updates the "currently assigned function" of any of the touch switches 96A to 96E according to the instruction. In addition, in this embodiment, the user can select whether to light up or turn off the symbol for each switch. When the user instructs the switch management ECU 70 to switch the on / off status of the corresponding symbol for a specific switch, the ECU 70 updates the "symbol on / off status" of that specific switch according to the instruction.

[0033] Furthermore, when any switch in the switch group 12 is operated, the switch management ECU 70 reads the function assigned to the operated switch from the function assignment table 72 and notifies the in-vehicle device 68 corresponding to the read function that the switch has been operated. For example, switch 18 of the switch unit 16 is assigned the function of turning the ACC on and off, so when switch 18 is pressed by the user, the switch management ECU 70 notifies the ACC device among the in-vehicle devices 68 that it has been instructed to switch the ACC on or off.

[0034] Next, the symbol illumination control process, which is repeatedly performed by the switching unit 66 while the vehicle's ignition switch is ON, will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. In step 150 of the symbol illumination control process, the switching unit 66 sets the variable i, which represents the ID of each switch in the switch group 12, to 1. In step 152, the switching unit 66 obtains the function j assigned to switch i from the switch management ECU 70.

[0035] In step 154, the switching unit 66 determines whether the function j acquired in step 152 is a function to turn ACC on or off. In this embodiment, the function to turn ACC on or off is assigned to switch 18, and if switch i is switch 18, the determination in step 154 ​​is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 156. In step 156, the switching unit 66 determines whether the symbol (symbol 86) corresponding to switch i (switch 18) is instructed to turn off.

[0036] If the determination in step 156 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 162. In step 162, the switching unit 66 turns off the illumination unit (illumination unit 20) that illuminates the symbol (symbol 86) corresponding to switch i (switch 18), and the process proceeds to step 182. In this embodiment, for example, if the user does not use ACC, the user can customize the system to turn off the symbol 86 corresponding to the unused switch 18. This prevents the user from finding the illumination of the symbol 86 corresponding to the unused switch 18 cumbersome.

[0037] Furthermore, if the determination in step 156 is denied, the process proceeds to step 158, in which step 158 the switching unit 66 determines whether the ACC is currently off and whether the current vehicle status does not meet the operating conditions for ACC. An example of the operating conditions for ACC is that "the vehicle speed is within a predetermined range (e.g., 0 to 120 km / h)". If the determination in step 158 is denied, the process proceeds to step 160, where the illumination unit (illumination unit 20) that illuminates the symbol (symbol 86) corresponding to switch i (switch 18) is turned on, and the process proceeds to step 182. In this case, the illumination of symbol 86 allows the user to recognize that it is possible to turn ACC on and off by operating switch 18.

[0038] On the other hand, if the determination in step 158 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 162. In step 162, the switching unit 66 turns off the illumination unit (illumination unit 20) that illuminates the symbol (symbol 86) corresponding to switch i (switch 18), and proceeds to step 182. In this case, the user is made aware that the ACC cannot be turned on even if switch 18 is operated because symbol 86 is turned off.

[0039] Furthermore, if the determination in step 154 ​​is denied, the process proceeds to step 164, in which step 164 the switching unit 66 determines whether the function j assigned to switch i is a function to increase or decrease the ACC set vehicle speed. In this embodiment, the function to increase or decrease the ACC set vehicle speed is assigned to toggle switch 24, and if switch i is toggle switch 24, the determination in step 164 is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 166. In step 166 the switching unit 66 determines whether the symbols (first symbol 88 and second symbol 90) corresponding to switch i (toggle switch 24) are instructed to turn off.

[0040] If the determination in step 166 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 172. In step 172, the switching unit 66 turns off the illumination units (first illumination unit 26 and second illumination unit 28) that illuminate the symbols (first symbol 88 and second symbol 90) corresponding to switch i (toggle switch 24), and the process proceeds to step 182. Thus, in this embodiment, for example, if the user does not use ACC, it is possible for the user to customize the system by turning off the first symbol 88 and second symbol 90 corresponding to the toggle switch 24 that is not being used. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from finding the illumination of the first symbol 88 and second symbol 90 cumbersome when the user does not use ACC.

[0041] Furthermore, if the determination in step 166 is negative, the process proceeds to step 168. In step 168, the switching unit 66 queries the switch management ECU 70 for the current set speed of the ACC and determines whether the current set speed of the ACC is set to the upper limit (for example, 120 km / h). If the determination in step 168 is positive, the process proceeds to step 174. The switching unit 66 then turns off the first symbol 88 (first illumination unit 26) indicating the operating direction of the toggle switch 24 for increasing the set speed of the ACC, and illuminates the second symbol 90 (second illumination unit 28) indicating the operating direction of the toggle switch 24 for decreasing the set speed. This allows the user to recognize that the set speed of the ACC cannot be increased any further.

[0042] Furthermore, if the determination in step 168 is negative, the process proceeds to step 170, in which the switching unit 66 determines whether the current set speed of the ACC is set to the lower limit (for example, 30 km / h). If the determination in step 170 is positive, the process proceeds to step 176. The switching unit 66 then illuminates the first symbol 88 (first illumination unit 26) indicating the operating direction of the toggle switch 24 for increasing the set speed of the ACC, and turns off the second symbol 90 (second illumination unit 28) indicating the operating direction of the toggle switch 24 for decreasing the set speed. This allows the user to recognize that the set speed of the ACC cannot be reduced any further.

[0043] Furthermore, if the determination in step 170 is rejected, the process proceeds to step 178. The switching unit 66 then illuminates a first symbol 88 (first illumination unit 26) indicating the direction of operation of the toggle switch 24 for increasing the ACC set vehicle speed, and a second symbol 90 (second illumination unit 28) indicating the direction of operation of the toggle switch 24 for decreasing the set vehicle speed. This allows the user to recognize that it is possible to either increase or decrease the ACC set vehicle speed.

[0044] Furthermore, if the determination in step 164 is denied, the process proceeds to step 180, in which step 180 the switching unit 66 performs display control processing 2. As shown in Figure 5, in display control processing 2, first in step 186 the switching unit 66 determines whether or not switch i is one of the touch switches 96A to 96E realized by the touch panel 32. If switch i is one of the touch switches 96A to 96E, the determination in step 186 is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 188. In step 188 the switching unit 66 determines whether or not the symbol corresponding to switch i (one of the touch switches 96A to 96E) is instructed to be turned off.

[0045] If the determination in step 188 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 192, in which step 192 the switching unit 66 hides the symbol on the touch panel 32 corresponding to the function j assigned to switch i (any of the touch switches 96A to 96E). In this embodiment, for example, if the user does not use function j, the user can customize the system by hiding the symbol on the touch panel 32 corresponding to any of the touch switches 96A to 96E to which the unused function j is assigned. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from finding the display (lighting) of the symbol corresponding to any of the touch switches 96A to 96E to which the unused function j is assigned to bothersome.

[0046] Furthermore, if the determination in step 188 is rejected, the process proceeds to step 190. In step 190, the switching unit 66 displays a symbol corresponding to function j at a position on the touch panel 32 corresponding to any of the touch switches 96A to 96E, with a brightness of a predetermined value or higher. This allows the user to recognize the function assigned to any of the touch switches 96A to 96E. After processing in step 192 or step 190, the process proceeds to step 182.

[0047] In step 182, the switching unit 66 determines whether the variable i has reached the total number of switches imax included in the switch group 12. If the determination in step 182 is negative, the process proceeds to step 184, in which step 184, the switching unit 66 increments the variable i by 1 and returns to step 152. Thus, steps 152 to 184 are repeated until the determination in step 182 is positive, and the processing from step 152 onward is performed for each switch included in the switch group 12. When the determination in step 182 is positive, the symbol lighting control process ends.

[0048] As described above, the vehicle display device 10 according to this embodiment includes a switching unit 66 that switches the illumination of symbols corresponding to switches assigned to a predetermined function of the vehicle, depending on whether the predetermined function is enabled in the vehicle or not. This allows the user to recognize whether the predetermined function assigned to the switch is enabled or not.

[0049] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the switching unit 66 is instructed to turn off the symbol corresponding to a specific switch, it turns off the symbol corresponding to the specific switch, regardless of whether the function assigned to that specific switch is active in the vehicle. This makes it possible for the user to customize the system by turning off the symbols corresponding to switches that are not being used.

[0050] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the predetermined function assigned to the switch 18 is the function of turning the vehicle's driver assistance function on and off, and the switching unit 66 turns off the symbol 86 corresponding to the switch 18 when the driver assistance function is off and the operating conditions for the driver assistance function are not met. This allows the user to recognize when the operating conditions for the vehicle's driver assistance function are not met, that is, when the function to turn on the vehicle's driver assistance function is not enabled.

[0051] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the switch is a toggle switch 24 assigned a predetermined function of increasing or decreasing the setting value of the vehicle's driver assistance function. The symbol includes a first symbol 98 indicating the operating direction of the toggle switch 24 for increasing the setting value, and a second symbol 90 indicating the operating direction of the toggle switch 24 for decreasing the setting value. The switching unit 66 turns off the first symbol 98 when the setting value is at the upper limit, and turns off the second symbol 90 when the setting value is at the lower limit. This allows the user to recognize when the setting value of the vehicle's driver assistance function is at the upper or lower limit, that is, when the function of increasing or decreasing the setting value of the vehicle's driver assistance function is not enabled.

[0052] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a touch sensor 36 is superimposed on a display unit 34 capable of displaying arbitrary information, and a portion of the touch panel 32 provided on the vehicle's steering wheel 76 is used as a switch. The switch is assigned a function selected from among the vehicle's multiple functions, and the switching unit 66 displays a symbol corresponding to the selected function at the position on the touch panel 32 corresponding to the switch area. This makes it possible for the user to customize the function to be assigned to the switch provided on the steering wheel 76.

[0053] In the above embodiment, a method for controlling the illumination (display / hide) of a symbol corresponding to a switch provided on the steering wheel 76 was described. However, the switch in this disclosure may be a switch provided on a part of the vehicle other than the steering wheel 76, for example, on the vehicle's instrument panel.

[0054] Furthermore, although ACC was described as an example of a driver assistance function in the above embodiment, the driver assistance function in this disclosure may be other driver assistance functions such as LKA (Lane Keeping Assist).

[0055] Furthermore, although the above describes a configuration in which the symbol lighting control program 64 is pre-stored (installed) in the storage 56, the symbol lighting control program 64 can also be provided in a form recorded on a non-temporary recording medium such as an HDD, SSD, or DVD. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0056] 10 Vehicle display devices 18 switches 20 Lighting Section 24 Toggle switches (switches) 26. First Lighting Section 28. Second Lighting Section 32 Touch Panel 34 Display section 36 Touch Sensors 50 Display Control ECU 66 Switching section 72 Function Assignment Table 76. Steering wheel (steering body) 86, 98, 100 symbols 88 First Symbol 90 Second Symbol 96 Touch Switches (Switches)

Claims

1. A vehicle display device including a switching unit that switches the on / off state of a symbol corresponding to a switch assigned a predetermined function of the vehicle, depending on whether the predetermined function is enabled or disabled in the vehicle.

2. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit, when instructed to turn off the symbol corresponding to a specific switch, turns off the symbol corresponding to the specific switch, regardless of whether the function assigned to the specific switch is active in the vehicle.

3. The predetermined function assigned to the switch is the function of turning the vehicle's driver assistance functions on and off. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit turns off the symbol corresponding to the switch when the driving assistance function is turned off and the operating conditions for the driving assistance function are not met.

4. The switch is a toggle switch assigned the function of increasing or decreasing the setting value of the vehicle's driver assistance function as a predetermined function. The symbol includes a first symbol indicating the operating direction of the toggle switch for increasing the set value, and a second symbol indicating the operating direction of the toggle switch for decreasing the set value. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit turns off the first symbol when the set value is at the upper limit, and turns off the second symbol when the set value is at the lower limit.

5. A touch sensor is superimposed on a display unit capable of displaying arbitrary information, and a portion of the touch panel provided on the steering body of the vehicle is used as the switch, and the switch is assigned a function selected from among the multiple functions of the vehicle. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit displays a symbol corresponding to the selected function at a position on the touch panel corresponding to the area of ​​the switch.

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