Vehicle meter device

Abstract

To provide a meter device for a vehicle with a meter display part where at least at a center part in a vehicle width direction is composed of a flat panel display, which can attract a driver's visual line from the meter display part toward a portion directly thereabove.SOLUTION: A meter display part 161 made of an LCD can displays objects 161a-161c. A frame body 162 is arranged surrounding a meter display part 161 while in contact with an outer peripheral edge of the meter display part, and extending toward a driver seat side. The frame body 162 above the meter display part 161 includes a left wall part 162a, a right wall part 162b, and a central wall part 162c. The center wall part 162c is formed such that a lower side wall surface is curved having a center part in a vehicle width direction upwardly protruded in comparison with both sides, an interval between a left edge line that is a boundary with the left wall part and a right edge line that is a boundary with the right wall part expands as it goes toward the driver seat side, and the central wall part is oblique from a lower side to an upper side as it goes toward the driver seat side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a meter device for a vehicle, and more particularly to a meter device having a display panel. [Background technology]

[0002] Vehicles are equipped with meter devices that transmit information such as vehicle speed and engine RPM to the driver. In many vehicles, the meter devices are disposed in front of the steering wheel. When driving the vehicle, the driver looks ahead through the windshield and, as needed, glances down at the meter devices to obtain various information.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle equipped with a meter device disposed in front of the steering wheel, a head-up display device capable of projecting an image onto the front windshield, and a gaze detection sensor for detecting the driver's gaze. The vehicle disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured to be able to stop the display of the meter device when it is detected that the driver's gaze is directed toward the meter device for more than a predetermined period of time. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5679449 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] From the viewpoint of ensuring safety while the vehicle is running, it is necessary to draw the driver's gaze, which has been fixed on the meter device, straight up and return the driver's gaze to the area ahead of the vehicle through the front windshield.

[0006] However, with conventional meter devices, the driver's line of sight may shift sideways from the meter device. This is because a center display device and various indicators are provided on the side of the meter device on the instrument panel, and the driver's line of sight is drawn to these. In particular, because the light emitted from the center display device is strong, the driver's line of sight is likely to be drawn to the center display device when driving at night.

[0007] Here, conventional meter devices used analog meters with meter needles, so by placing a light-reflective ring element around the outer periphery of the meter and reflecting the light emitted from the meter panel toward the driver at the top of the ring element, it was possible to prevent the driver's line of sight from being drawn to the left and right of the meter device, and instead to draw it directly above the meter device.

[0008] However, in recent years, meter devices with meter display units formed with flat panel displays such as liquid crystal displays have become common in vehicles. In such meter devices, the objects displayed on the display unit change in a timely manner depending on the driving conditions, etc., so it is not possible to attach a light-reflective ring member like in meter devices using analog meters.

[0009] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a vehicle meter device that has a meter display section in which at least the central portion in the vehicle width direction is made up of a flat panel display, yet can attract the driver's gaze directly above the meter display section. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] A vehicle meter device according to one aspect of the present invention is a meter device disposed in front of a driver's seat in a vehicle. The vehicle meter device according to this aspect includes a meter display unit and a frame body. At least a central portion of the meter display unit in the vehicle width direction is configured with a flat panel display and emits light to the outside. The frame body is disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the meter display unit while abutting against or adjacent to the outer periphery of the meter display unit and to extend from the portion surrounding the outer periphery toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0011] The portion of the frame disposed above the meter display unit has a central wall portion, a left wall portion, and a right wall portion. The central wall portion corresponds to the central portion of the meter display unit and portions adjacent to the left and right of the central portion. The left wall portion is continuous with the central wall portion across a left ridge line and extends to the left in the vehicle width direction. At the same time, the lower wall surface is formed in a flat plate shape. The right wall portion is continuous with the central wall portion across a right ridge line and extends to the right in the vehicle width direction. At the same time, the lower wall surface is formed in a flat plate shape.

[0012] In the vehicle meter device according to this aspect, the lower wall surface of the central wall portion is curved so that the central portion in the vehicle width direction is more convex upward than the left ridge line and the right ridge line, and is formed so that the distance between the left ridge line and the right ridge line gradually increases and the wall surface is gradually tilted upward from the portion surrounding the outer periphery toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0013] The vehicle meter device according to the above aspect includes a frame body having a central wall portion above the meter display unit. The lower wall surface of the central wall portion of the frame body is curved so that the central portion is convex upward, and the distance between the left ridgeline and the right ridgeline increases toward the driver's seat, and the central wall surface is inclined upward. Therefore, a portion of the light emitted from the meter display unit is irradiated onto the lower wall surface of the central wall portion and is diffusely reflected by the wall surface to be concentrated at the central portion. As a result, bright light is emitted from the central portion of the lower wall surface of the central wall portion toward the driver. In addition, in the vehicle meter device according to the above aspect, since the lower wall surfaces of the left and right wall portions are flat, even when light from the meter display portion is incident on the left and right wall portions, the light is less likely to be concentrated on the lower wall surfaces of the left and right wall portions, which prevents bright light from being concentrated and emitted from the left and right wall portions, thereby preventing the driver's line of sight from being drawn to the upper left or upper right.

[0014] Therefore, in the vehicle meter device according to the above aspect, the driver's line of sight, which has been fixed on the object (meter display) displayed on the meter display unit, can be attracted directly upward by the light emitted from the central portion.

[0015] In the vehicle meter device according to the above aspect, the meter display unit may display an object related to driving-related information and having an arc-shaped upper part in a portion below the central wall portion of the frame body, and when the meter display unit and the frame body are viewed from the rear side of the vehicle, the lower wall surface of the central wall portion may be formed in a shape that follows the arc-shaped portion of the object.

[0016] In the vehicle meter device according to the above aspect, the central wall portion of the frame is formed in a shape that follows the arc-shaped upper portion of the object displayed on the meter display unit, so that light emitted when the object is displayed can be made to be incident on the lower wall surface of the central wall portion of the frame with high efficiency. Thus, in the vehicle meter device according to the above aspect, bright light can be emitted from the center of the central wall portion of the frame, which is effective in attracting the driver's gaze directly upward.

[0019] In the vehicle meter device according to the above aspect, the meter display unit may have a display surface that is entirely formed by the flat panel display.

[0020] In the vehicle meter device according to the above aspect, the entire display surface of the meter display unit is made up of a flat panel display, which is effective in allowing the driver to recognize a large amount of information, such as vehicle information and information about the vehicle's surroundings, through the large display surface.

[0021] The vehicle meter device according to the above aspect may further include a meter hood that surrounds the outer periphery of the frame body while abutting against the outer edge of the frame body and extends from the portion surrounding the outer periphery toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0022] The vehicle meter device according to the above aspect further includes a meter hood, which can prevent light from inside or outside the vehicle from entering the meter display unit or frame body, thereby ensuring that the driver can recognize the light emitted from the central portion of the frame body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] The vehicle meter device according to each of the above aspects has a meter display unit in which at least the central portion in the vehicle width direction is made up of a flat panel display, and yet can attract the driver's line of sight directly above the meter display unit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle interior of a vehicle to which a vehicle meter device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a vehicle meter device. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 4 is a plan view of the frame shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from direction A. FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is a front view showing the positional relationship between a meter object displayed on a liquid crystal display panel and a central wall portion of a frame body. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a central wall portion of the frame body as viewed obliquely from below. [Figure 7] 10 is a front view showing the positional relationship between a meter object displayed on a liquid crystal display panel and an emission point on a central wall of a frame body. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment except for its essential configuration.

[0026] In the figures used in the following explanation, "Fr" indicates the front in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, "Re" indicates the rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, "Le" indicates the left in the transverse direction of the vehicle, "Ri" indicates the right in the transverse direction of the vehicle, "Up" indicates the top in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and "Lo" indicates the bottom in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0027] 1. Configuration of the interior of the vehicle compartment 1a of the vehicle 1 to which the vehicle meter device 16 is applied The configuration of a vehicle interior 1a of a vehicle 1 to which a vehicle meter device 16 according to this embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 1, vehicle 1 is a right-hand drive vehicle in which a steering wheel 15 is disposed on the right side in the vehicle width direction. A driver's seat 11 and a passenger seat 12 are disposed in the front part of the passenger compartment 1a. Driver's seat 11 is disposed behind steering wheel 15, and passenger seat 12 is disposed to the left of driver's seat 11.

[0029] A front windshield 13 is disposed in front of a steering wheel 15 in the passenger compartment 1a, and an instrument panel 14 is disposed at the lower end of the front windshield 13. A vehicle meter device 16 is disposed on the instrument panel 14 in front of the steering wheel 15, and a center display 17 is disposed in the center in the vehicle width direction.

[0030] 2. Configuration of the vehicle meter device 16 The configuration of the vehicle meter device 16 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG.

[0031] 2, the vehicle meter device 16 includes a meter display unit 161, a frame body 162, and a meter hood 163. The entire display unit of the meter display unit 161 is configured as a flat panel display (for example, a liquid crystal display), and is capable of displaying objects relating to driving-related information such as vehicle speed information, engine rotation information, water temperature information, and fuel information. Note that the meter display unit 161 emits light outward when displaying the objects.

[0032] The frame body 162 is provided so as to surround the outer periphery of the meter display unit 161 while being in contact with the outer edge of the meter display unit 161. As shown in Fig. 3, the frame body 162 has a shape that extends from the meter display unit 161 side toward the rear side of the vehicle 1 (toward the driver's seat 11).

[0033] The meter hood 163 is provided to surround the outer periphery of the frame body 162 while being in contact with the outer periphery of the frame body 162. As shown in Fig. 3, the meter hood 163 has a shape that extends from the portion surrounding the outer periphery of the frame body 162 toward the rear side of the vehicle 1 (toward the driver's seat 11).

[0034] 3. Upper structure of frame body 162 The structure of the upper part of the frame body 162 will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 is a view of the upper part of the frame body 162 as seen in the direction of arrow A in Figure 3.

[0035] 4 and 5, the frame 162 has a central wall 162c, a left wall 162a, and a right wall 162b at an upper portion located above the meter display unit 161. The central wall 162c and the left wall 162a are continuous with each other across a left ridge line Ln1. The central wall 162c and the right wall 162b are continuous with each other across a right ridge line Ln2.

[0036] 5, at least the lower wall surface of each of the left wall portion 162a and the right wall portion 162b is formed in a flat plate shape. In contrast, the lower wall surface of the central wall portion 162c has a curved shape such that the central portion in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction) is convex upward (a shape that is convex upward) relative to the left ridge line Ln1 and the right ridge line Ln2 (see FIG. 4).

[0037] 4, when the lower wall surface of the central wall portion 162c is viewed from below, the lower wall surface of the central wall portion 162c has a fan shape that widens from an inner edge portion 162d (the portion that abuts against the meter display portion 161) toward an outer edge portion 162e (the portion that abuts against the meter hood 163). In other words, the distance (the distance in the left-right direction) between the left ridge line Ln1 and the right ridge line Ln2 that define the left and right sides of the central wall portion 162c gradually widens from the inner edge portion 162d toward the outer edge portion 162e.

[0038] Also, as shown in Figure 5, the lower wall portion of the central wall portion 162c is formed at an angle in the center in the vehicle width direction so that it is positioned gradually higher as it moves from the inner edge portion 162d (see Figure 4) to the outer edge portion 162e (see Figure 4).

[0039] 5, circular objects 161a to 161c can be displayed on the meter display unit 161. The central wall portion 162c of the frame body 162 is formed in a shape that fits along the upper portion of the outer circumferential edge 161d of the circular object 161c displayed in the central region of the meter display unit 161 in the width direction.

[0040] 4. Light guide on the lower wall surface of the central wall portion 162c Light guiding on the lower wall surface of central wall portion 162c of frame body 162 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 6, light emitted from the meter display unit 161 passes through the inner edge portion 162d and is incident on the lower wall surface of the central wall portion 162c. The light incident on the lower wall surface of the central wall portion 162c is concentrated toward the center in the vehicle width direction (arrow Lm1). This is because the lower wall surface of the central wall portion 162c is formed in the curved shape as described above. The light concentrated at the center is emitted from the outer edge portion 162e toward the rear of the vehicle 1 (toward the driver seated in the driver's seat 11) (arrow Lm2).

[0042] The left and right sides of the central wall 162c are defined by the left ridge line Ln1 and the right ridge line Ln2, so that light incident on the lower wall surface of the central wall 162c is prevented from leaking out to the left wall 162a or the right wall 162b.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 7, the light emitted from the center of the outer edge portion 162e is seen by the driver seated in the driver's seat 11 as a light point P Lm Therefore, the driver's line of sight, which has been fixed on the objects 161a to 161c displayed on the meter display unit 161, is directed to the light point P Lm The light can be guided through the hole and onto the front windshield 13 directly above (arrows B1 and B2).

[0044] 5.Effects The vehicle meter device 16 according to this embodiment includes a frame 162 having a central wall 162c above the meter display unit 161. The central wall 162c of the frame 162 has a lower wall surface that is curved so that the central portion is convex upward, and the distance between the left ridge line Ln1 and the right ridge line Ln2 increases toward the driver's seat 11 (rearward), and the central wall 162c is inclined so that the light is positioned higher toward the driver's seat 11 (rearward). Thus, a portion of the light emitted from the meter display unit 161 is incident on the lower wall surface of the central wall 162c and diffusely reflected by the wall surface, resulting in concentrated light at the center in the vehicle width direction. As a result, bright light is concentrated and emitted toward the driver from the center of the lower wall surface of the central wall 162c.

[0045] Therefore, in the vehicle meter device 16, the driver's line of sight, which was fixed on the objects 161a to 161c displayed on the meter display unit 161, is directed to the light emitted from the center (light point P Lm ) can be used to attract the plants directly upwards.

[0046] Furthermore, in the vehicle meter device 16 according to this embodiment, the lower wall surface of the central wall portion 162c of the frame body 162 is formed in a shape that follows the arc-shaped portion (the upper part of the outer peripheral edge 161d) of the object 161c displayed on the meter display unit 161, so that light emitted when the object 161c is displayed can be made to be highly efficiently incident on the lower wall surface of the central wall portion 162c of the frame body 162. Therefore, in the vehicle meter device 16, bright light can be emitted from the center of the central wall portion 162c of the frame body 162, which is effective in attracting the driver's gaze directly upward.

[0047] Furthermore, in the vehicle meter device 16 according to this embodiment, the lower wall surfaces of the left wall portion 162a and the right wall portion 162b are formed in a flat plate shape, so that even when light from the meter display unit 161 is incident on the lower wall surfaces of the left wall portion 162a and the right wall portion 162b, the light is less likely to be concentrated on the lower wall surfaces of the left wall portion 162a and the right wall portion 162b. This prevents bright light from being concentrated and emitted from the left wall portion 162a and the right wall portion 162b, and prevents the driver's line of sight from being drawn leftward or rightward (for example, to the center display 17 provided on the instrument panel 14).

[0048] In addition, in the vehicle meter device 16 according to this embodiment, the entire display surface of the meter display unit 161 is made up of a liquid crystal display (flat panel display), which is effective in allowing the driver to recognize a large amount of information, such as vehicle information and information about the surroundings of the vehicle, through the large display surface.

[0049] Furthermore, the vehicle meter device 16 according to this embodiment further includes a meter hood 163, which can prevent light from inside the vehicle compartment 1a or from outside the vehicle from entering the meter display unit 161, the frame body 162, etc., and can ensure that the driver is aware of the light emitted from the center of the lower wall surface of the frame body 162.

[0050] As described above, the vehicle meter device 16 according to this embodiment has a meter display unit 161 in which at least the central portion in the vehicle width direction is made up of a liquid crystal display, and can attract the driver's gaze directly upward from the meter display unit 161.

[0051] [Variations] In the above embodiment, the entire display surface of the meter display unit 161 is configured as a liquid crystal display (LCD), but the present invention is not limited to this. At least the central portion of the meter display unit needs to be configured as a flat panel display, and it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which analog meters with meter needles are provided on the left and right portions.

[0052] In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which three circular objects 161a to 161c were displayed on the meter display unit 161, but the present invention is not limited to this. Rectangular objects, triangular and oval objects, text objects, route guidance information objects, etc. may also be displayed. Furthermore, semicircular objects with only the upper part shaped like an arc may also be displayed. Furthermore, the objects displayed on the meter display unit may be changed in a timely manner depending on the situation of the vehicle.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the meter display 161 is configured as a liquid crystal display (LCD), but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an organic EL display, an inorganic EL display, a plasma display, a field emission display, etc. may also be used.

[0054] In the above embodiment, the vehicle meter device 16 is applied to the vehicle 1 which is a right-hand drive vehicle, but the present invention can also be applied to a left-hand drive vehicle.

[0055] In the above embodiment, there is no particular mention of whether or not a head-up display device (HUD device) is provided, but the present invention may include a HUD device. In this case, the light spot P Lm It is also possible to use light emitted from the HUD device to further attract the driver's gaze upward, once it has been attracted by light from the head-up display.

[0056] In the above embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which the central wall portion 162c of the frame body 162 is formed in a shape that follows the outer periphery 161d of the object 161c displayed on the meter display portion 161, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is sufficient that the lower wall surface of the central wall portion of the frame body has an upwardly convex curved shape, and it does not necessarily have to follow the outer periphery of the object displayed on the meter display portion.

[0057] In the above embodiment, the vehicle meter device 16 is configured to include the meter hood 163, but in the present invention, the vehicle meter device 16 does not necessarily have to include the meter hood. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1 vehicle 11 Driver's seat 14 Instrument panel 16 Vehicle meter device 161 Meter display 161a~161c Objects 162 Frame 162a Left wall 162b Right wall section 162c central wall 163 Meter Hood

Claims

1. A vehicle meter device disposed in front of a driver's seat in a vehicle, a meter display unit that emits light to the outside and has at least a central portion in the vehicle width direction formed of a flat panel display; a frame body that surrounds the outer periphery of the meter display unit while being in contact with or close to the outer periphery of the meter display unit and that extends from the portion surrounding the outer periphery toward the rear side of the vehicle; Equipped with The portion of the frame disposed above the meter display unit is a central wall portion corresponding to the central portion of the meter display portion and portions adjacent to the central portion on the left and right sides; a left wall portion that is continuous with the central wall portion across a left ridge line, extends to the left in the vehicle width direction, and has a lower wall surface that is formed in a flat plate shape; a right wall portion that is continuous with the central wall portion across a right ridge line, extends to the right in the vehicle width direction, and has a lower wall surface that is formed in a flat plate shape, the lower wall surface of the central wall portion is curved so that the central portion in the vehicle width direction is convex upward relative to the left ridge line and the right ridge line, and is formed so that the distance between the left ridge line and the right ridge line gradually increases and the wall surface is gradually inclined upward from the portion surrounding the outer periphery toward the rear side of the vehicle. Vehicle meter device.

2. 2. The vehicle meter device according to claim 1, an object having an arc-shaped upper portion relating to driving-related information is displayed in a portion of the meter display unit below the central wall portion of the frame body; when the meter display unit and the frame body are viewed from the rear side of the vehicle, a lower wall surface of the central wall portion is formed in a shape that follows the arc-shaped portion of the object. Vehicle meter device.

3. 3. The vehicle meter device according to claim 1, The meter display unit has a display surface entirely formed by the flat panel display. Vehicle meter device.

4. 4. The vehicle meter device according to claim 1, a meter hood that surrounds the outer periphery of the frame body while being in contact with the outer edge of the frame body and extends from the portion surrounding the outer periphery toward the rear of the vehicle; Vehicle meter device.

Images