Vehicle Instruments

Abstract

To provide a meter for vehicle which can suppress the consumption of an on-vehicle battery while having an answer-back function.SOLUTION: A meter 10 for vehicle having an answer-back function that answer-back-operates directional lights 2FL, 2FR, 2RL, 2RR according to a wireless signal from a remote control key comprises: a control unit 20; a power supply circuit 30 which is activated according to the input of a vehicle activation signal and supplies the power to the control unit 20; and an answer-back power supply activation circuit 70 which activates the power supply circuit 30 when an answer-back request signal is input from a wireless signal reception unit 5 that receives the wireless signal. The control unit 20 answer-back operates the directional lights 2FL, 2FR, 2RL, 2RR when the answer-back request signal is input in such a state that the vehicle activation signal is not input.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to vehicle instruments. [Background technology]

[0002] Two-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles are equipped with vehicle instruments that display indicators, etc. Conventionally, vehicle instruments input the state of an operation signal (turn switch signal) for turn signal lights to display the operating state of the turn signal lights on an indicator or to make the turn signal lights flash (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Furthermore, some vehicle instruments are equipped with an answerback function that causes a notification unit (for example, turn signal lights on both the left and right sides) to perform an answerback operation (for example, blinking hazard lights) in response to a wireless signal from a remote control key (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Such an answerback function makes it possible to check the vehicle's location and lock status. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-172128 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-84616 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, since the answerback function operates when the ignition switch is OFF (when the vehicle is not running), the vehicle instrument must periodically start up the control unit to input the answerback request signal and check for the input of the answerback request signal, which poses the problem of consuming the vehicle battery.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle instrument that has an answerback function and yet can reduce the consumption of the vehicle battery. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In one aspect, the following solution is provided. (1) A vehicle instrument having an answerback function that causes a notification unit to perform an answerback operation in response to a wireless signal from a remote control key, The vehicle is provided with a left turn signal lamp operation signal input means for inputting an operation signal for a left turn signal lamp, and a right turn signal lamp operation signal input means for inputting an operation signal for a right turn signal lamp. a control unit; a power supply circuit that starts up in response to an input of a vehicle start signal and supplies power to the control unit; and a wireless signal receiving unit that receives the wireless signal and, when an answerback request signal is input, via the left turn signal lamp operation signal input means and the right turn signal lamp operation signal input means, a power supply starting circuit for answerback that starts the power supply circuit, and the control unit includes a vehicle start signal input unit that inputs the vehicle start signal, and a vehicle start signal input unit that, when the vehicle start signal is not input, When signals are input simultaneously to the left turn signal lamp operation signal input means and the right turn signal lamp operation signal input means, and an answerback control means for causing the notification unit to perform an answerback operation.

[0007] (2) In the configuration of (1) above, the control unit is characterized by further comprising a power supply maintaining means for maintaining the power supply circuit in an activated state until the answerback operation of the alarm unit is completed when the answerback request signal is input without the vehicle start signal being input. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce consumption of the vehicle battery while providing an answerback function. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a configuration of an input side of a vehicle instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a configuration of an output side of a vehicle instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3]FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the operation of the vehicle instrument according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle meter according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a block circuit diagram showing the configuration of the input side of a conventional vehicle instrument. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] 1 and 2 is provided on a vehicle 1 such as a motorcycle powered by an engine or a motor. If the vehicle 1 is divided into an actual vehicle side A and an instrument side B, the actual vehicle side A is provided with a front left turn signal light 2FL, a front right turn signal light 2FR, a rear left turn signal light 2RL, a rear right turn signal light 2RR, a left turn signal light switch 3L, a right turn signal light switch 3R, an emergency indicator light switch 4, a wireless signal receiver 5, an on-board battery (not shown), an ignition switch (not shown), etc.

[0013] The front left turn signal light 2FL, front right turn signal light 2FR, rear left turn signal light 2RL, and rear right turn signal light 2RR are each configured with multiple LEDs (light-emitting diodes) and are arranged at the left front, right front, left rear, and right rear of the vehicle 1. The left turn signal light switch 3L and the right turn signal light switch 3R are selectively operated when turning left or right, etc. The emergency indicator light switch 4 is operated when parking, etc. The wireless signal receiver 5 receives wireless signals from a key switch (not shown). The on-board battery supplies power to each part of the vehicle 1. The ignition switch is the start switch for the vehicle 1 and remains in the ON state when the vehicle is operating.

[0014] The vehicle instrument 10 has a turn signal light flashing function, an emergency indicator light flashing function, and an answerback function. The turn signal light flashing function is a function that flashes the front left turn signal light 2FL and the rear left turn signal light 2RL in response to an ON operation of the left turn signal light switch 3L, and flashes the front right turn signal light 2FR and the rear right turn signal light 2RR in response to an ON operation of the right turn signal light switch 3R. The emergency indicator light flashing function is a function that flashes all the turn signal lights 2FL, 2FR, 2RL, and 2RR in response to an ON operation of the emergency indicator light switch 4. The answerback function is a function that flashes all the turn signal lights 2FL, 2FR, 2RL, and 2RR a predetermined number of times in response to a radio signal from the remote control key.

[0015] Next, the configuration of the instrument side B will be described. First, the configuration common to the vehicle instrument 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1 and the vehicle instrument 100 according to the conventional example shown in Fig. 5 will be described. The configuration shown in Fig. 2 is common to the vehicle instruments 10 and 100.

[0016] Each of the vehicle instruments 10 and 100 includes a control unit 20, a power supply circuit 30, a battery connection circuit 31, a vehicle start signal input circuit 32, a left turn signal light operation signal input circuit 41, a right turn signal light operation signal input circuit 42, an emergency indicator light operation signal input circuit 51, a front LED drive circuit 61, and a rear LED drive circuit 62.

[0017] The control unit 20 is composed of a microcomputer and the like, and realizes a turn signal light flashing function, an emergency indicator light flashing function, and an answerback function through cooperation between hardware and software. The power supply circuit 30 transforms 12V power supplied from the vehicle battery via a battery connection circuit 31 to 5V and supplies the power to the control unit 20. The power supply circuit 30 also inputs an ignition switch ON / OFF signal via a vehicle start signal input circuit 32. When the ignition switch is ON, the power supply circuit 30 starts up and supplies power to the control unit 20, and when the ignition switch is OFF, the power supply circuit 30 stops supplying power, and the control unit 20 goes into a sleep state.

[0018] The left turn signal light operation signal input circuit 41 is connected to the left turn signal light switch 3L and inputs a left turn signal light operation signal to an input port of the control unit 20. The right turn signal light operation signal input circuit 42 is connected to the right turn signal light switch 3R and inputs a right turn signal light operation signal to an input port of the control unit 20. The emergency indicator light operation signal input circuit 51 is connected to the emergency indicator light switch 4 and inputs an emergency indicator light operation signal to an input port of the control unit 20.

[0019] The front LED drive circuit 61 is connected to an output port of the control unit 20, and selectively causes the front left turn signal light 2FL and the front right turn signal light 2FR to flash in response to a drive command from the control unit 20. The rear LED drive circuit 62 is connected to an output port of the control unit 20, and selectively causes the rear left turn signal light 2RL and the rear right turn signal light 2RR to flash in response to a drive command from the control unit 20.

[0020] An answerback request signal input circuit 110 is provided in the conventional vehicle instrument 100 shown in Fig. 5 but is not provided in the vehicle instrument 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1. The answerback request signal input circuit 110 is connected to the wireless signal receiving unit 5 and inputs an answerback request signal to an input port of the control unit 20. This input port is a dedicated input port for inputting only the answerback request signal.

[0021] The answerback request signal is input to the control unit 20 when the ignition switch is in the OFF state. Therefore, in the conventional vehicle instrument 100 shown in Fig. 5, when the ignition switch is in the OFF state, it is necessary to periodically start up the power supply circuit 30 and the control unit 20 to check for the input of the answerback request signal, which poses an issue of consumption of the vehicle battery due to this input check.

[0022] An element that is provided in the vehicle instrument 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1 and that is not provided in the conventional vehicle instrument 100 shown in Fig. 5 is an answerback power supply start circuit 70. When an answerback request signal is input from the wireless signal receiving unit 5, the answerback power supply start circuit 70 starts the power supply circuit 30 and causes the control unit 20 to perform an answerback operation. This eliminates the need to periodically start the power supply circuit 30 and the control unit 20 to check for the input of the answerback request signal, making it possible to reduce consumption of the vehicle battery.

[0023] The answerback power supply starting circuit 70 includes a first circuit unit 71 and a second circuit unit 72. The first circuit unit 71 inputs the answerback request signal from the wireless signal receiving unit 5 to the left turn signal light operation signal input circuit 41 and the right turn signal light operation signal input circuit 42. The second circuit unit 72 connects the left turn signal light operation signal input circuit 41 and the right turn signal light operation signal input circuit 42 to the vehicle start signal input circuit 32 via an AND circuit 72a.

[0024] According to the answerback power supply starting circuit 70, when an answerback request signal is input from the wireless signal receiving unit 5, the power supply circuit 30 can be started via the left turn signal light operation signal input circuit 41 and the right turn signal light operation signal input circuit 42. Furthermore, the control unit 20 can determine whether an answerback request signal has been input based on simultaneous inputs from the left turn signal light operation signal input circuit 41 and the right turn signal light operation signal input circuit 42. This eliminates the need for the answerback request signal input circuit 110 and its dedicated input port shown in FIG. 5 of the related art. Note that a power supply for inputting an answerback request signal to the power supply circuit 30 and the control unit 20 when the ignition switch is in the OFF state is connected to the output side of the wireless signal receiving unit 5 of the vehicle instrument 10.

[0025] The control unit 20 of the vehicle instrument 10 has a functional configuration realized by cooperation between hardware and software, which includes a vehicle start signal input means, a left turn signal light operation signal input means, a right turn signal light operation signal input means, an emergency indicator light operation signal input means, an answerback request signal input means, an answerback control means, and a power supply maintenance means.

[0026] The vehicle start signal input means inputs a vehicle start signal from the vehicle start signal input circuit 32 via the branch circuit 81. The left turn signal light operation signal input means inputs a left turn signal light operation signal from the left turn signal light operation signal input circuit 41. The right turn signal light operation signal input means inputs a right turn signal light operation signal from the right turn signal light operation signal input circuit 42. The emergency indicator light operation signal input means inputs an emergency indicator light operation signal from the emergency indicator light operation signal input circuit 51. The answerback request signal input means determines whether an answerback request signal has been input based on simultaneous inputs from the left turn signal light operation signal input circuit 41 and the right turn signal light operation signal input circuit 42. The answerback control means flashes all of the turn signal lights 2FL, 2FR, 2RL, and 2RR a predetermined number of times when an answerback request signal is input without the vehicle start signal being input. When an answerback request signal is input without a vehicle start signal being input, the power supply holding means outputs a signal to the vehicle start signal input circuit 32 via the power supply holding circuit 82, thereby holding the power supply circuit 30 in an activated state until the answerback operation by the turn signal lights 2FL, 2FR, 2RL, and 2RR is completed.

[0027] Next, the operation of the vehicle instrument 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0028] 3, when an operation signal is input from the left turn signal light switch 3L while the vehicle start signal IGN is being input, the vehicle instrument 10 blinks the front left turn signal light 2FL and the rear left turn signal light 2RL. When an operation signal is input from the right turn signal light switch 3R while the vehicle start signal IGN is being input, the vehicle instrument 10 blinks the front right turn signal light 2FR and the rear right turn signal light 2RR.

[0029] 3 and 4, when the vehicle instrument 10 receives an answerback request signal (e.g., two pulse signals spaced 0.35 seconds apart) from the wireless signal receiver 5 without receiving the vehicle startup signal IGN (S1 in FIG. 4), the vehicle instrument 10 inputs the answerback request signal to the vehicle startup signal input terminal 5V_EN of the power supply circuit 30 via the answerback power supply start circuit 70 (S2 in FIG. 4). This activates the power supply circuit 30 (S3 in FIG. 4) and starts supplying power to the control unit 20. When the control unit 20 activates in response to the power supply, it outputs a signal to the power supply holding circuit 82 to hold the power supply circuit 30 in an activated state (S4 in FIG. 4).

[0030] Next, the control unit 20 determines whether an answerback request signal has been input based on simultaneous inputs from the left turn signal lamp operation signal input circuit 41 and the right turn signal lamp operation signal input circuit 42 (S5, S6 in FIG. 4). However, since the first pulse of the answerback request signal cannot be read correctly due to the timing of activation, the control unit 20 determines whether an answerback request signal has been input based on the OFF time (e.g., 0.35 seconds) from the OFF of the first pulse to the rising edge of the second pulse and the ON time (e.g., 0.35 seconds) of the second pulse.

[0031] When the control unit 20 confirms that the answerback request signal has been input, it causes the direction indicator lights 2FL, 2FR, 2RL, and 2RR to perform an answerback operation (for example, blink twice at 0.35 second intervals) (S7 in FIG. 4). After the answerback operation is completed, the control unit 20 stops outputting signals to the power supply holding circuit 82 (S8 in FIG. 4), and returns the power supply circuit 30 and the control unit 20 to the sleep state.

[0032] Although the embodiments have been described in detail above, they are not limited to specific embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the claims. Furthermore, it is also possible to combine all or a plurality of the components of the above-described embodiments. For example, the notification unit used for the answerback operation is not limited to the turn signal lights 2FL, 2FR, 2RL, and 2RR, but may be a horn or speaker. Furthermore, the answerback power supply starting circuit 70 may input the answerback request signal directly to the power supply circuit 30 without passing through the turn signal light operation signal input circuits 41 and 42. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1 vehicle 2FL Front left direction indicator light 2FR front right direction indicator light 2RL Rear left direction indicator light 2RR Rear right direction indicator light 3L Left turn signal switch 3R Right turn signal switch 4 Emergency indicator light switch 5. Wireless signal receiver 10 Vehicle instruments 20 Control Unit 30 Power circuit 31 Battery connection circuit 32 Vehicle start signal input circuit 41 Left turn signal operation signal input circuit 42 Right turn signal operation signal input circuit 51 Emergency indicator light operation signal input circuit 61 Front LED driver circuit 62 Rear LED driver circuit 70 Answerback power supply start circuit 71 1st circuit section 72 2nd circuit section 72a AND circuit 81 Branch Circuit 82 Power holding circuit 100 Vehicle Instruments 110 Answerback request signal input circuit

Claims

1. A vehicle instrument having an answerback function that causes a notification unit to perform an answerback operation in response to a wireless signal from a remote control key, a control unit including a left turn signal lamp operation signal input means for inputting an operation signal for a left turn signal lamp and a right turn signal lamp operation signal input means for inputting an operation signal for a right turn signal lamp; a power supply circuit that starts up in response to an input of a vehicle start signal and supplies power to the control unit; an answerback power supply starting circuit that starts the power supply circuit via the left turn signal lamp operation signal input means and the right turn signal lamp operation signal input means when an answerback request signal is input from a wireless signal receiving unit that receives the wireless signal, The control unit a vehicle start signal input means for inputting the vehicle start signal; and an answerback control means for causing the notification unit to perform an answerback operation when signals are simultaneously input to the left turn signal light operation signal input means and the right turn signal light operation signal input means in a state where the vehicle start signal is not input.

2. 2. The vehicle instrument according to claim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises a power supply maintaining means for maintaining an activated state of the power supply circuit until an answerback operation of the notification unit is completed when the answerback request signal is input without the vehicle startup signal being input.

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