Vehicle display device

Abstract

To make it possible to display vehicle speed without interruption by inexpensive composition when switching between vehicle speed display by a first display part and vehicle speed display by a second display part.SOLUTION: When both of an LCD display part 22 and a 7 segment display part 23 display vehicle speed during prescribed time predefined from changeover control start by a display control part 21a according to operation of an operation switch 8, presentation which fades in or out from vehicle speed image display by the LCD display part 22 is performed and the vehicle speed display is performed by only one of the LCD display part 22 and the 7 segment display part 23 after the prescribed time elapses.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device for a vehicle that displays driving information. [Background technology]

[0002] As a vehicle display device for displaying driving information, there is a type that displays vehicle speed digitally using a display unit consisting of a 7-segment LED instead of the conventional analog meter display. In recent years, for example as described in Patent Document 1, an image display unit such as a liquid crystal display is provided and an image that combines meter displays such as vehicle speed and engine RPM as well as displays showing various types of driving information is displayed on the display screen.

[0003] In addition, a display unit consisting of a 7-segment LED is provided alongside an image display unit consisting of an LCD display, allowing vehicle speed to be selectively displayed as an image or digital display, and the vehicle speed can be switched between being displayed as an image display unit or as an LED by operating a change-over switch provided on the handlebars, etc., thereby meeting the various display needs of users. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-83192 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, there are rules, such as UN regulations and safety standards, that state that vehicle speed displays, including numerical values ​​and units, must be clearly legible regardless of whether it is day or night. If the vehicle speed display disappears even for an instant, it becomes non-compliant with the regulations, and such non-compliant devices cannot be installed in vehicles.

[0006] When vehicle speed is displayed digitally using a display consisting of the above-mentioned segment LEDs, the segment LEDs and their control means are inexpensive, simple to configure, and capable of displaying at high brightness. In addition, because the responsiveness is good, there is no risk of the vehicle speed display being interrupted. However, there is a problem in that the display position, size, font, design, etc. cannot be switched or changed, making it difficult to meet the diverse preferences and needs of users regarding vehicle speed display.

[0007] On the other hand, when the vehicle speed is displayed as an image using an image display unit consisting of a liquid crystal display, the display position, size, font, design, etc. can be easily switched or changed, which has the advantage that it is easy to meet the diverse preferences and needs of users regarding vehicle speed display. However, liquid crystal displays are expensive, and the responsiveness of liquid crystal displays decreases in low-temperature environments below freezing, causing a delay in the vehicle speed display by the image display unit, and this delay may cause the vehicle speed display to be interrupted for a moment, resulting in non-compliance with regulations.

[0008] Furthermore, even in the case of a device that allows the display of vehicle speed by an image display unit to be switched between that by an LED, as described above, when switching from displaying vehicle speed by an LED to displaying vehicle speed by an image display unit, a situation may occur in which the vehicle speed is not displayed for a moment due to a display delay caused by a decrease in the responsiveness of the liquid crystal display.

[0009] In order to prevent a decrease in the responsiveness of an LCD display in such a low-temperature environment below freezing, it is possible to provide a separate heating means, such as a heater to heat the LCD display, or a dedicated circuit to prevent display delays. However, providing a heating means would create a new problem in that it would increase costs.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to enable a vehicle speed to be displayed without interruption using an inexpensive configuration when switching between displaying the vehicle speed using a first display unit and displaying the vehicle speed using a second display unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the vehicle display device of the present invention is a vehicle display device that displays driving information, and comprises: a first display unit that displays at least the vehicle speed; a second display unit that is provided at a position different from the first display unit and that displays at least the vehicle speed; an operation unit for switching between the vehicle speed display by the first display unit and the vehicle speed display by the second display unit; and a control unit that performs switching control of the display of the first display unit and the second display unit in response to operation of the operation unit, wherein the control unit causes both the first display unit and the second display unit to display the vehicle speed for a predetermined period of time from the start of the switching control, and performs an effect to notify the user of the switching to only one of the first display unit or the second display unit, and after the predetermined period of time has elapsed, causes the vehicle speed to be displayed by only one of the first display unit or the second display unit.

[0012] According to such a configuration, in response to the operation of the operation unit, the control unit displays the vehicle speed on both the first display unit and the second display unit for a predetermined time from the start of the switching control, and performs an effect of notifying the user that the display will switch to only one of the first display unit or the second display unit, and after the predetermined time has elapsed, the display of the vehicle speed is performed on only one of the first display unit or the second display unit, so that it is possible to prevent the display of the vehicle speed from being interrupted, and the user can select the display of the vehicle speed on either the first display unit or the second display unit according to his / her preference. Here, the effect of notifying the user that the display will switch to only one of the first display unit or the second display unit means switching or changing the display position, size, font, design, etc. of the vehicle speed.

[0013] It is also preferable that the first display unit is a liquid crystal display and the second display unit is a backlight display. In this way, even at extremely low temperatures where a delay in displaying the first display unit with a liquid crystal display may occur due to a decrease in responsiveness, vehicle speed is displayed by both the first display unit which is a liquid crystal display and the second display unit which is a backlight display such as an LED for a predetermined period of time from the start of switching control, so that there is no need to provide a heating means such as a heater for heating the liquid crystal display, and interruption of the vehicle speed display can be reliably prevented. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to this invention, when switching between vehicle speed display by the first display unit and vehicle speed display by the second display unit, the vehicle speed can be displayed without interruption using an inexpensive configuration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a display device for a vehicle according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] 2 is an external view of a display unit in the display device of the vehicle in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 3 is a time chart for explaining the operation of FIG. 2; [Figure 4] 3 is a time chart for explaining the operation of FIG. 2; [Diagram 5] 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of FIG. 2. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of FIG. 2. [Figure 7] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of FIG. 2. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of a modified example. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] An embodiment of a display device for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0017] 1, the vehicle 1 includes a meter unit 2, a vehicle speed sensor 3, an engine ECU (Electric Control Unit) 4, a fuel level sensor 5, and a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)-ECU 6. The vehicle speed sensor 3 is a sensor that detects the vehicle speed of the vehicle 1, generates a pulse signal synchronized with the rotation of the wheels, and outputs it to the meter unit 2, while, for example, a meter ECU 21 of the meter unit 2 calculates the vehicle speed of the vehicle 1 based on the frequency of the pulse signal input from the vehicle speed sensor 3. Note that the pulse signal of the vehicle speed sensor 3 may be input to an ECU other than the meter ECU 21, and the meter ECU 21 may acquire the vehicle speed calculated by that ECU.

[0018] The engine ECU 4 is a microcomputer equipped with a CPU and memory that handles electronic control of the engine. It controls the starting and stopping of the engine, and adjusts the throttle valve to control the engine speed input from an engine speed sensor (not shown) to a target speed, and outputs the engine speed detected by the engine speed sensor to the meter unit 2.

[0019] The remaining fuel amount sensor 5 is a sensor that detects the remaining amount of fuel, and outputs a detection signal corresponding to the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank to the meter unit 2, and the remaining amount of fuel is calculated by the meter ECU 21 based on the input detection signal. Note that the detection signal of the remaining fuel amount sensor 5 may be input to an ECU other than the meter ECU 21, and the remaining amount of fuel calculated by that ECU may be acquired by the meter ECU 21.

[0020] The CVT-ECU 6 is a microcomputer equipped with a CPU and memory that performs electronic control to control the continuously variable transmission. It sets the gear and the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission according to the operating position of the shift lever (shift position) detected by a shift position sensor, and outputs the shift position detected by the shift position sensor to the meter unit 2.

[0021] Although not shown in Fig. 1, various vehicle information is input to the meter unit 2 from various other sensors and ECUs. Examples of the vehicle information include navigation information, accumulated mileage, time, outside air temperature, direction indication information, parking brake information, information indicating whether the lights are on or off, seat belt fastening / unfastening information, cooling water temperature, information related to fault diagnosis, security information, etc. The vehicle information input to the meter unit 2 is not limited to these.

[0022] In addition to the meter ECU 21, the meter unit 2 includes an LCD display unit (corresponding to the "first display unit" in the present invention) 22 consisting of a liquid crystal display, a 7-segment display unit (corresponding to the "second display unit" in the present invention) 23 consisting of a plurality of 7-segment IEDs, and an operation switch 24 for the user to select a desired display mode from a plurality of display modes. The meter unit 2 is disposed on the instrument panel so as to face the driver's seat, and processes and displays information input from various sensors and the ECU in a form that the driver can visually understand.

[0023] The meter ECU 21 is a microcomputer having a CPU and a memory that performs electronic control for processing and displaying vehicle information input from various sensors and the ECU. The meter ECU 21 controls the LCD display unit 22 to display the input vehicle information as an image. At this time, the meter ECU 21 displays the input vehicle information in a display mode corresponding to an operation signal input from the operation switch 24.

[0024] 1, the meter ECU 21 further includes a display control unit 21a, a drawing unit 21b, and a storage unit 21c. The storage unit 21c stores programs for controlling the LCD display unit 22 and the 7-segment display unit 23, image data for displaying an image showing vehicle information on the LCD display unit 22, and the like.

[0025] This image data includes image data of display parts for each vehicle information, such as a speedometer that displays vehicle speed, a tachometer that displays engine RPM, a fuel gauge that displays the amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank, a shift indicator that displays the shift position, etc. The image data also includes data on the display positions of the display parts to be displayed and data specifying the sizes of the display parts, among the image data of each display part.

[0026] The display control unit 21a reads out corresponding image data from the storage unit 21c in accordance with the display mode selected by operating the operation switch 24, and outputs the read out image data to the drawing unit 21b. Then, the display control unit 21a reads out image data of display parts such as a speedometer, a tachometer, a fuel gauge, and a shift indicator, and layout information of the selected display mode, and performs display control of the LCD display unit 22.

[0027] The drawing unit 21b has a function of generating an image to be displayed on the LCD display unit 22, and is configured by, for example, a drawing LSI. Based on information such as the engine speed input from the engine ECU 4 and information read from the storage unit 21c and input by the display control unit 21a, the drawing unit 21b generates an image for displaying each piece of input information at a predetermined display position on the LCD display unit 22 according to the selected display mode. Then, the image data of the image generated by the drawing unit 21b is output by the meter ECU 21 to the LCD display unit 22 and displayed.

[0028] A specific example of the display of the meter unit 2 is shown in FIG. 2, in which an image of the vehicle speed (including units) is displayed by the LCD display unit located in the center of the meter unit 2, the vehicle speed is displayed digitally by the 7-segment display unit 23 located to the right of the LCD display unit 22, and display areas 25L, 25R on both the left and right sides of the meter unit 2 display images of the high and low beam headlights, the fog lamps, the engine water temperature, whether the seat belt is fastened, the left turn indicator, the hazard lamps, the right turn indicator, as well as an image showing the remaining fuel level using a bar display.

[0029] The greatest feature of the present invention is that the display of information relating to vehicle speed can be switched between display by the LCD display unit 22 and display by the 7-segment display unit 23, and the display control unit 21a has this switching function. For example, in response to the operation of a changeover switch 8 provided on the steering wheel, which corresponds to the "operation unit" in the present invention, the display control unit 21a controls the switching of the display of information relating to vehicle speed between display by the LCD display unit 22 and display by the 7-segment display unit 23. This switching control function by the display control unit 21a corresponds to the "control unit" in the present invention.

[0030] The switching control by the display control unit 21a is a control to display the vehicle speed on both the LCD display unit 22 and the 7-segment display unit 23 for a predetermined time from the start of the switching control, and to perform an effect to notify the user that the vehicle speed display on the LCD display unit 22 has been switched to only one of the LCD display unit 22 or the 7-segment display unit 23, and to display the vehicle speed on only one of the LCD display unit 22 or the 7-segment display unit 23 after the predetermined time has elapsed, and is executed, for example, according to the time charts in Figures 3 and 4. Note that this effect refers to, for example, switching or changing the display position, size, font, design, etc. of the vehicle speed, and the user can recognize the switching to only one of the LCD display unit 22 or the 7-segment display unit 23 through this effect.

[0031] Now, when the change-over switch 8 is operated to switch from displaying an image of the vehicle speed on the LCD display unit 22 to displaying the vehicle speed digitally on the 7-segment display unit 23, as shown in FIG. 3, the 7-segment display unit 23 is controlled to light up and the vehicle speed is displayed digitally by the display control unit 21a at the timing when the change-over switch 8 is operated, while the image display of the vehicle speed on the LCD display unit 22 is faded out as a performance for a preset time t1 by the display control unit 21a at the timing when the change-over switch 8 is operated, and after the time t1 has elapsed, the display on the LCD display unit 22 is stopped and only the 7-segment display unit 23 displays the vehicle speed.

[0032] Furthermore, when the change-over switch 8 is operated to switch from a digital display of the vehicle speed on the 7-segment display unit 23 to an image display of the vehicle speed on the LCD display unit 22, as shown in FIG. 4, the display control unit 21a causes the image display of the vehicle speed on the LCD display unit 22 to fade in as a performance over a preset time t2 (>t1) at the timing when the change-over switch 8 is operated, and after the t2 time has elapsed, the display on the 7-segment display unit 23 is stopped and only the LCD display unit 22 displays the image.

[0033] In this way, when the display is switched from an image of the vehicle speed on the LCD display unit 22 to a digital display of the vehicle speed on the 7-segment display unit 23 in response to the operation of the change-over switch 8, the vehicle speed is displayed on both display units 22, 23 for a period of t1, and when the display is switched from a digital display of the vehicle speed on the 7-segment display unit 23 to a digital display of the vehicle speed on the LCD display unit 22 in response to the operation of the change-over switch 8, the vehicle speed is displayed on both the LCD display unit 22 and the 7-segment display unit 23 for a period of t2, which is longer than t1.

[0034] Therefore, even if the responsiveness of the LCD display unit 22 decreases in an extremely low temperature environment, when switching between the digital display of the vehicle speed by the 7-segment display unit 23 and the display of the vehicle speed image on the LCD display unit 22, the vehicle speed is displayed by both the LCD display unit 22 and the 7-segment display unit 23, so that it is possible to prevent a momentary interruption in the vehicle speed display and non-compliance with regulations. In particular, when switching from the digital display of the vehicle speed by the 7-segment display unit 23 to the display of the vehicle speed image on the LCD display unit 22, the vehicle speed is displayed by both the LCD display unit 22 and the 7-segment display unit 23 for t2 time, which is longer than t1 time, so that it is possible to reduce the influence of the decrease in responsiveness of the LCD display unit 22 in an extremely low temperature environment and to reliably prevent interruption in the vehicle speed display.

[0035] Next, the order of switching control of the vehicle speed display by the display control unit 21a will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 5, a determination is made as to whether or not the user has operated the change-over switch 8 (step S1). When the display on the 7-segment display unit 23 is switched to the vehicle speed display on the LCD display unit 22, in step S2, the display control unit 21a continues the digital display of the vehicle speed on the 7-segment display unit 23, and at the timing when the change-over switch 8 is switched, the image display of the vehicle speed on the LCD display unit 22 is faded in for a period of t2 (see FIG. 4) (step S2). Then, a determination is made as to whether or not the period t2 has elapsed (step S3). If the determination result shows that the period t2 has not elapsed, the processing of step S2 is repeated. If the period t2 has elapsed, the display of the vehicle speed on the 7-segment display unit 23 is stopped, and the vehicle speed display on the LCD display unit 22 is continued at a predetermined brightness, and the process transitions to the display of the vehicle speed only on the LCD display unit 22 (step S4), and then returns to the start.

[0037] Furthermore, if it is determined in step S1 that the display has been switched from the LCD display unit 22 to the vehicle speed display by the 7-segment display unit 23, then in step S5, the display control unit 21a fades out the image display of the vehicle speed by the LCD display unit 22 for a time t1 (see FIG. 3), and at the timing when the change-over switch 8 is operated to switch, the digital display of the vehicle speed by the 7-segment display unit 23 begins (step S5). Then, it is determined whether or not the time t1 has elapsed (step S6). If the determination result shows that the time t1 has not elapsed, the processing of step S5 is repeated. If the time t1 has elapsed, the vehicle speed display by the LCD display unit 22 is stopped, and the vehicle speed display by the 7-segment display unit 23 is continued, transitioning to vehicle speed display only by the 7-segment display unit 23 (step S7), and then returning to start.

[0038] 6 and 7 show specific examples of vehicle speed display.

[0039] 6(a) to (d) show the state of switching from the 7-segment display unit 23 to the LCD display unit 22. At the timing when the change-over switch 8 is operated, the display control unit 21a continues the digital display of the vehicle speed on the 7-segment display unit 23 while fading in the image display of the vehicle speed on the LCD display unit 22 for a period of t2. In the state shown in FIG. 6(a), the brightness of the image of the vehicle speed on the LCD display unit 22 is dark and difficult to see, and as time passes, the brightness of the image of the vehicle speed on the LCD display unit 22 increases as shown in FIG. 6(b) and (c). After the period of t2 has passed, as shown in FIG. 6(d), the brightness of the image of the vehicle speed on the LCD display unit 22 reaches its maximum, while the display of the vehicle speed on the 7-segment display unit 23 is stopped and the display on the 7-segment display unit 23 disappears, and the display switches to vehicle speed display only on the LCD display unit 22.

[0040] Figs. 7(a) to 7(d) show how the display switches from the LCD display unit 22 to the 7-segment display unit 23. At the timing when the changeover switch 8 is operated, the display control unit 21a starts the digital display of the vehicle speed by lighting the 7-segment display unit 23, and at the same time, the image display of the vehicle speed by the LCD display unit 22 starts to fade out over a time period of t1 (< t2). As time passes as shown in Figs. (a), (b), and (c) of the same figure, the brightness of the vehicle speed image by the LCD display unit 22 becomes darker. When the time t1 has elapsed, as shown in Fig. (d) of the same figure, the brightness of the vehicle speed image by the LCD display unit 22 becomes darker and the image display of the vehicle speed by the LCD display unit 22 completely disappears. On the other hand, the vehicle speed display by the 7-segment display unit 23 continues and switches to the vehicle speed display by only the 7-segment display unit 23.

[0041] Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, in response to the operation of the changeover switch 8, the display control unit 21a causes both the LCD display unit 22 and the 7-segment display unit 23 to display the vehicle speed for a predetermined time period from the start of the changeover control. Thus, even if the responsiveness of the LCD display unit 22 deteriorates in an extremely low temperature environment, until the LCD display unit 22 becomes capable of stably displaying, by displaying the vehicle speed by both the LCD display unit 22 and the 7-segment display unit 23, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost without providing a heating means such as a heater or a dedicated circuit for preventing display delay, and to prevent in advance the vehicle speed display from being interrupted and becoming non-compliant with regulations. Moreover, the user can select the vehicle speed display by either the LCD display unit 22 or the 7-segment display unit 23 according to their preference.

[0042] In addition, an effect of fading in and fading out the vehicle speed image display by the LCD display unit 22 is performed, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the vehicle speed is displayed by only one of the LCD display unit 22 or the 7-segment display unit 23. Therefore, by viewing the fading-in and fading-out display effect by the LCD display unit 22, the user can easily recognize the switchover to only one of the LCD display unit 22 or the 7-segment display unit 23.

[0043] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications other than those described above can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0044] In addition, in the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the vehicle speed image displayed on the LCD display unit 22 is faded in or faded out to notify switching to only one of the first display unit or the second display unit, but such a presentation is not limited to fade in or fade out.

[0045] For example, the size of the car window image displayed on the LCD display unit 22 may be changed. Specifically, as shown in Figures 8(a) to (c), when switching from the 7-segment display unit 23 to the LCD display unit 22, at the timing when the change-over switch 8 is operated, the display control unit 21a may continue to digitally display the vehicle speed on the 7-segment display unit 23 while gradually increasing the size of the image of the vehicle speed on the LCD display unit 22 over a period of t2, and as shown in Figures 9(a) to (c), when switching from the LCD display unit 22 to the 7-segment display unit 23, at the timing when the change-over switch 8 is operated, the display control unit 21a may start to digitally display the vehicle speed on the 7-segment display unit 23 while gradually decreasing the size of the image of the vehicle speed on the LCD display unit 22 over a period of t1.

[0046] As another effect, the display position, font, and design of the vehicle speed image on the LCD display unit 22 may be changed over time.

[0047] In addition, in the above embodiment, the second display unit is described as a 7-segment display unit 23 consisting of a 7-segment LED, but the second display unit is not limited to a 7-segment LED and may be a backlight display such as an electroluminescence (EL) display or a plasma display.

[0048] The present invention can be applied to a display device of a vehicle that displays driving information. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1 … Vehicle 2. Meter unit 3... Vehicle speed sensor 4. Engine ECU 5. Fuel level sensor 6. CVT-ECU 8 … Changeover switch (operation part) 21a...Display control unit (control unit) 22 ... LCD display unit (first display unit) 23 ... 7-segment display (second display)

Claims

1. A display device for a vehicle that displays driving information, A first display unit that displays at least a vehicle speed; A second display unit is provided at a position different from that of the first display unit and displays at least a vehicle speed; an operation unit for switching between displaying the vehicle speed by the first display unit and displaying the vehicle speed by the second display unit; a control unit that controls switching of the display of the first display unit and the second display unit in response to an operation of the operation unit, The control unit is A vehicle speed is displayed on both the first display unit and the second display unit for a predetermined time from the start of the switching control, and a performance is performed to notify the driver that the display is switched to only one of the first display unit and the second display unit; After the predetermined time has elapsed, the vehicle speed is displayed on only one of the first display unit and the second display unit. A display device for a vehicle.

2. 2. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first display portion is a liquid crystal display, and the second display portion is a backlight display.

Images